song of the week: paris, tokyo

Lupe Fiasco, "Paris, Tokyo"



Doesn't this song remind you of something from the early '90s? It's one of the few times I mean that as a compliment.

have no fear, the camera is here

"Superstar"
Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos
dir., Hype Williams

I can't tell if Lupe is lampooning celebrity culture or wants to be part of it. He has the quintessential ingredients for a rap video (girls, cars, mythic backlighting, and glitter falling from the sky in slow motion), but the catchy and intensely melodic chorus examines our current obsession and yearning for being famous and posing, not actually being notable for an actual talent or skill. I appreciate Lupe's intelligence and desire to explore issues and concerns in contemporary popular culture but forgetting the words to my favorite A Tribe Called Quest song is definitely deplorable.