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"Shining Down" is a song by American rapper Lupe Fiasco, released as a promotional single on July 7, 2009. It was included in the iTunes deluxe version of Lasers (2011) and features guest vocals from American singer Matthew Santos.[1] It was intended to be the lead single from Everywhere off Fiasco's triple album, LupEND (Everywhere, Nowhere, Down Here), though was scrapped by the decision of Atlantic Records.
It appeared in the soundtrack of the video game Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (2010).
Background[]
On June 16, 2009, the track leaked online in full quality, much to Fiasco's frustration. This led to the launch of cease-and-desist over many websites to remove it. Fiasco stated in his blog, "I DON'T LEAK MY OWN RECORDS!!! I'M NOT A FAN OF LEAKING RECORDS OR OF DOWNLOADING!!!" This also happened with his debut studio album, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor, which pushed back the release date and "possibly cost [him] from going platinum."
He continued, "If you come across it and you like it and keep it to yourself that's all cool with me but to make it where as other people are able to download it in a public forum is honestly an insult to me. Especially because of how much I love you guys. That shit is kinda like a slap in the face." He added that someone hacked into his e-mail account, which was how they leaked the song. He explained, "I was about to fire my entire staff and cut off relationships over shining down leaking last night. […] the only possible explanation is my email chain with the mix studio (which is air tight…the studio that is) was hacked and thats where the record came from."[2][3] Santos himself tweeted out: "Shinning Down was hacked and leaked, it's not the final version though! please wait for the official release!"[4]
Reception[]
Zach Kelly of Pitchfork wrote in their review that "Shining Down" was a "bland refix" of "Superstar" and had "None of Lupe's effervescent wit or flow".[5]
Personnel[]
- Matthew Santos – vocals, writer
- Rudolph "Soundtrakk" Lopez – vocals, writer
- Wasalu "Lupe Fiasco" Jaco – vocals, writer
Gallery[]
Cultural references[]
- Jerry Lawler, also known as "The King," is an American color commentator and professional wrestler.
- Rebel Without a Cause is a 1955 American film focused on teen Jim Stark, who has a troubled past.
- Fabolous is an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York.
- The Federal Reserve System is United States' central banking system.
- National Geographic is an American monthly magazine.
- Dancing with the Stars is an American dance competition TV series.
Lyrics[]
[Intro: Matthew Santos]
Look up in the sky
Look up in the sky
Look up in the sky (Sky, sky)
[Chorus: Matthew Santos]
You thought I was down
You thought I was gone
Thought I wasn't around
That I left you alone
But look up in the sky (Look up in the sky)
Just look up in the sky (Look up in the sky)
See that I'm everywhere, everywhere
Shining down on you
[Verse 1: Lupe Fiasco]
Well, well, is that our little author?
Coming back, humming his hymns, a little altered
Your attention, put back on the flow like the department of water
Taking off with the dough, like Little Walter
Chess, yes, baby, I'm Jerry Lawler
Rebel with a cause, outlaw with the lawyer
Judge, jury, like a loop
Rap name Lupe, but my daddy named me warrior
This is his memorial, shoot
[Chorus: Matthew Santos]
You thought I was down
You thought I was gone
Thought I wasn't around
That I left you alone
But look up in the sky (Look up in the sky)
Just look up in the sky (Look up in the sky)
See that I'm everywhere, everywhere
Shining down on you
[Verse 2: Lupe Fiasco]
No, I ain't that n***a trying to get a liquor line
When I be scripting lines, want this petition signed
It says I'm sick of dyin', sick of this prison time
I really love my people, I'm sick of pimping mine
Now if we Auto-Tune that shit
We can hear the songs from that opera groomed fat bitch
Telling us not to pursue it, just to shoe it like a blacksmith
We're trapped, and moving round in circles like it's ChapStick
And that's the same encircled way of thinking that we chat with
We'll wrap this around your head
Like the bandanas Fabolous used to wrap his hats with
Rather be in FEDS instead of National Geographics
Well, I'm not having it, nawwww
[Chorus: Matthew Santos]
You thought I was down
You thought I was gone
Thought I wasn't around
That I left you alone
But look up in the sky (Look up in the sky)
Just look up in the sky (Look up in the sky)
See that I'm everywhere, everywhere
Shining down on you
[Verse 3: Lupe Fiasco]
So, I say hello and this is for the third time
To everybody out there who ain't never heard mine
And if you have, then you know you ain't never heard lying
Lu don't moo, no, cow-ards, you only heard lines
Not a facade cherisher, I'd rather have the scars
I don't idolize America, I'm dancing with the stars
Uh-huh, all of them? Yeah, they are, too
You look up and you see us shining down on you
[Chorus: Matthew Santos]
You thought I was down
You thought I was gone
Thought I wasn't around
That I left you alone
But look up in the sky (Look up in the sky)
Just look up in the sky (Look up in the sky)
See that I'm everywhere, everywhere
Shining down on you
[Outro: Matthew Santos]
Shining down on you
Shining down on you
Shining down on you
References[]
- ↑ "Shining Down (feat. Matthew Santos)" by Lupe Fiasco". Apple Music. July 7, 2009.
- ↑ Medina, Jeremy (June 17, 2009). "Kanye Is Latest to Leak Lupe Fiasco Track; Lupe Already Caps-Lock Mad". Entertainment Weekly.
- ↑ Roberts, Steven (June 17, 2009). "Lupe Fiasco Calls 'Shining Down' Leak 'A Slap in the Face'". MTV.
- ↑ "Matthew Santos (@MatthewSantos)". Twitter. June 16, 2009.
- ↑ Kelly, Zach (June 28, 2009). ""Shining Down" [ft. Matthew Santos]". Pitchfork.