No. 1 Headband

"No. 1 Headband"Song by Lupe Fiasco
from the album Samurai
Released	June 28, 2024 (2024-06-28)
Genre	Jazz rap R&B
Length	4:23
Songwriter(s)	Wasalu Jaco
Producer(s)	Soundtrakk
Samurai chronology
"No. 1 Headband"
Media

Samurai songs: "Samurai" "Mumble Rap" "Cake" "Palaces" "No. 1 Headband" "Bigfoot" "Outside" "Til Eternity" Songs 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

"No. 1 Headband" is a song by American rapper Lupe Fiasco, the fifth track from his ninth studio album, Samurai (2024). It features background vocals from the Chicago musical duo, Luvstruck, with production handled by Soundtrakk and co-production from Brian Brown. Kush Baby is credited as an additional producer, providing the drum switch on the third verse.

The song's title references the Japanese manga series, Afro Samurai, where the "Number One Headband" is a sacred cloth headband believed to grant the wearer extreme powers, including immortality and great knowledge. In the album's narrative, Amy Winehouse aims to become the top battle rapper.

Background

In an exclusive track-by-track interview with Rolling Stone, Soundtrakk shared that the beat was the oldest one on the album, dating back to 2016. He requested the keyboardist to infuse it with a "Paris, Tokyo" nineties vibe, where the loop was quickly created and he added the drum breaks. He opted for a "one to do two different drum break techniques," similar to "Dumb It Down," where he "kept switching back and forth between two different sets of drums every four bars." Fiasco pondered whether the song was meant to function as a "filler extension of 'Cake,'" or the final boss battle Winehouse encounters. He also explained that he created some of the album at different times for different things; the third verse of "No. 1 Headband" was the final one he recorded for the project.

Music video

The official music video was directed by Chris & Blaq, premiering to Fiasco's YouTube channel on June 28, 2024, the same day of the album's release. Like "Cake," it was filmed at Ace Universal Group in Chicago. It includes cameo appearances by Keeks Harris as the video girl, and backing vocalists LaJé and Luv Moore.

Music Video	Information
	Released	June 28, 2024 (2024-06-28)
	Director	Christopher "Chris" Adams Hana "Blaq" Mitchell
	Prod. Company	Impakt Studio
	Cinematographer	Chris Adams Courtney Harris
	Editor	Hana Mitchell
	Length	4:23

Personnel

• Abel Garibaldi – mixer
• Brian Brown – co-producer, electric piano loop
• Greg "Brahmulus" Brookshire – electric guitar
• Joey Fernandez – masterer
• Kush Baby – additional producer, drum programmer
• Luvstruck
  • LaJé – background vocals
  • Luv Moore – background vocals
• Maxwell Steger – assistant mixer
• Rudolph "Soundtrakk" Lopez – producer, drum programmer, FX, arranger
• Wasalu "Lupe Fiasco" Jaco – lead artist, vocals, writer

Gallery

@lajeofficial: "Samurai is OUT NOW @lupefiasco 🍾 and I’m singing background on track #5 “No. 1 Headband” alongside my sister @luvmooreofficial 💕🤞🏾
Congratulations and thank you to everyone who brought this to life. It truly is an honor to be a part. 🫶🏾❤️"

• June 28, 2024
• Instagram

Cultural references

• Afro Samurai is a Japanese manga series created by Takashi Okazaki. The story revolves around a legendary headband, where the wearer of Number 1 is designated as the world's greatest warrior and believed to be granted divine powers. Afro, the protagonist, embarks on a quest for revenge after his father, the former Number 1, is killed by Justice, who wore the Number 2 headband at the time. In this world, only the bearer of the Number 2 headband can challenge the Number 1, while anyone can challenge the Number 2.
• Kanye West appeared on Sway in the Morning, where one of the most memorable moments was Sway encouraging Kanye to empower himself and take control. Ye responded, "How, Sway!" and said the host didn't have the answers.
• The Starship Enterprise is the name of several fictional spacecraft in the Star Trek franchise.
• In sumo wrestling, the highest rank given is yokozuna, which means "horizontal rope."
• Puma is a German brand that designs and manufactures athletic and casual footwear and apparel.
• Gary Ablett, Jr. is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club and Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League (AFL).
• Gohan is a character in the Dragon Ball series who is a half-breed Saiyan.
• Voltron is an American animated TV series franchise that features a team of space explorers who pilot a giant super robot.
• Farrah Fawcett (February 2, 1947 – June 25, 2009) was an American actress, known for her starring role in the first season of Charlie's Angels.
• Vera Wang is an American fashion designer.
• Larry Wheels is a world-record-holding powerlifter.

Lyrics

"No. 1 Headband"

[Intro: Lupe Fiasco]
All
All that I want is a little bit of—
And they say that what I want, they say all that I want, that I want
All that I want is a little—
And I say that all that I want is just a little bit of bam, bam, ba-bam, bam, bown, bown
It's the—

[Verse 1: Lupe Fiasco]
It's the way of the warrior, wading the waters of waters for crystal clear
Lyrical smears, pierces the ears, like Mike
Like mics pointed at monitors, receivin' fever like a thermometer
We burnin', well turn it back, like thermostats
Burnin' like Mississippi and furnaces and thermoses and gats
Right after brats, right after that
We be coolin', jump back in the pool and
This is the Samurai, how are you doin'?

[Chorus: Lupe Fiasco, Luvstruck, Both]
I'mma be the one that you—
Yeah, I'mma be the one that you—
(I'mma be the one)
(Oh yeah, I'ma be the—)
(That you— that you— that you—)
(I'mma be the one, I'mma be the one that you—)
I'ma be the one (I'mma be the one, I'mma be the one)
(Bum, bum, bum, bum)
(I'mma be the one)

[Verse 2]
I turn letters to rhetoric
Turnin' feathers to fetishes, dispersin' treasure
Like turkeys in the ghetto, gather 'round, you receptors
Come and look inside of these walls like metal detectors
If they could talk, they would probably say it's soft
Them is just my thoughts go off, even if it's off, but never caught
How Sway? How Ye?
Trial day, know exactly just what I'll say
When they ask whatever, I'll say "No idea"
Can you approach the bench with no Ikea to build your case?
Feelin' safe, but still escape, a chilling place
Around a bunch of sinners who feelin' great
Or around a bunch of n****s who innovate, take real estate
Gentrify different sides like Geminis
Energize like the Starship Enterprise

[Chorus: Lupe Fiasco, Luvstruck, Both]
I'ma be the one that you—
Yeah, I'mma be the one that you—
(I'll be the one)
I'mma be the one that you—
(I'mma be the one)
(I'mma be the one)
(I'mma be the one) I'mma be the one
I'mma be the one (I'mma be the one)

[Verse 3: Lupe Fiasco]
Yeah, numero uno, yokozuna and sumo
To try to run in my shoes, gotta throw yo' Pumas to Pluto
Karate in those huaraches, only zookas get that judo
How far your soul go is so far and solar
And Solo is no-show and anti and social
Turned Gary to Gold Coast, from goalpost
From soldier to toll roads, I told bro, "I'm number one"
Put the "go" in the Gohan, turn go into Voltron
I'm the number-one headband wearer
Walk it like I talk it, never false it like Farrah
Headphones on the train, headbanging to the snare-a
I'll put it in your range, let it wang like Vera
For everyone, stereo feel like steroids to carry
Heavy shit to pick up, but you could barely lift, now you Larry Wheels
Done, so bring it back to the flex
Just flip it over, put it back in the deck

[Chorus: Lupe Fiasco, Luvstruck, Both]
I'mma be the one that you—
Yeah, I'mma be the one that you—
(I'ma be the one)
I'ma be the one that you—
(I'll be the one)
(I'mma be the one)
(I'mma be the one)
(I'mma be the one)
(I'mma be the one)