"Words I Never Said" | ||||
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Single by Lupe Fiasco featuring Skylar Grey | ||||
from the album Lasers | ||||
Released | February 8, 2011 | |||
Recorded | 2010 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:21 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Alex da Kid | |||
Lupe Fiasco singles chronology | ||||
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Skylar Grey singles chronology | ||||
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"Words I Never Said" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Lupe Fiasco, released February 8, 2011, as the second single from his third studio album Lasers . [1] The song was produced by British music producer Alex da Kid and features vocals from American singer-songwriter Skylar Grey. The song contains references to controversial political and socioeconomic topics, including the September 11 attacks, government fiscal policy, and the Gaza War. [2] The song's message of standing up for the people and being against the government has been used as a theme song for Internet group Anonymous. It was named the 41st best song of 2011 by XXL magazine. [3]
A teaser video was uploaded on YouTube on January 18, 2011, featuring only samples of lyrics and audio from the song. 'Words I Never Said' officially premiered on Lupe Fiasco's website on February 1, 2011, along with its single cover. When the full audio was released, #wordsineversaid was a trending topic on Twitter. [4] It became available to stores and iTunes on February 8, 2011. [5]
On February 18, 2011, in an interview with DJ Semtex on BBC 1Xtra, Lupe revealed that the record was given to him by Atlantic, but he cut out a bridge sung by Skylar Grey, who meant for it to be a song about relationships. [6] This is the second time Fiasco and Grey have been featured on a track together, the first being "Be Somebody" from Fort Minor's album The Rising Tied , with Grey performing under the name Holly Brook.
The song, which was one of the last written for the album, can also be interpreted as a thinly disguised message aimed at Atlantic Records producer, who in Fiasco's opinion forced a lot of material on the album that did not sit right with him. [7]
On April 29, 2011, the official music video for "Words I Never Said" was premiered by MTV and later onto YouTube. It was directed by Sanaa Hamri, who was previously directing Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass".
British rapper Lowkey sampled the lyric "Limbaugh is a racist, Glenn Beck is a racist, Gaza Strip was getting bombed, Obama didn’t say shit" from the first verse of "Words I Never Said", for the chorus in his song "Obama Nation (Pt. 2)", featuring M-1 and Black the Ripper, from Lowkey's second studio album Soundtrack to the Struggle (2011).
Chart (2011) | Peak position |
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US Billboard Hot 100 [8] | 89 |
US R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs (Billboard) [9] | 26 |
"Words" | ||||
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Single by Skylar Grey | ||||
from the album The Buried Sessions of Skylar Grey | ||||
Released | March 10, 2015 | |||
Recorded | 2010 | |||
Genre | Synthpop | |||
Length | 5:06 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Skylar Grey singles chronology | ||||
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Grey's solo record of Words I Never Said under the title of Words was first released in 2012, and included on her extended play The Buried Sessions of Skylar Grey, released on January 17, 2012. [10] After that, the song was also included on the Step Up Revolution film soundtrack, along with another track by the singer, called "Dance Without You" and songs by other artists like Fergie, Jennifer Lopez, Yelawolf, and many more. On March 10, 2015, Skylar Grey officially released the song on iTunes. [11]
This song was dedicated to her grandfather who has died. She never really spent time with her grandfather because of her music career. [12]
Lasers is the third studio album by American rapper Lupe Fiasco, released on March 7, 2011 by Atlantic Records. Production for the album took place between 2008 and 2010. Lasers features production by The Audibles, The Neptunes, Needlz, Alex da Kid, Syience, and long-time collaborator Soundtrakk, among others. Trey Songz, John Legend, Skylar Grey, Sway, Matt Mahaffey, MDMA, Eric Turner and Sarah Green contribute vocals to the album.
Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco, is an American rapper and record producer. He rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor. He also performs as the frontman of rock band Japanese Cartoon under his real name. As an entrepreneur, Fiasco was the chief executive officer of 1st and 15th Entertainment.
"Touch the Sky" is a song recorded by American hip hop artist Kanye West for his second studio album, Late Registration (2005). The song features Lupe Fiasco on his career debut. It was produced by Just Blaze, standing as the album's only track to not include production from West. The song was released in the United Kingdom as a digital EP through Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam on January 1, 2006. On February 14, the aforementioned labels serviced the song to US mainstream radio stations as the album's fourth single. The next month, it was released in various countries for digital download by Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam and as a CD single through Universal Music, respectively.
Holly Brook Hafermann, known professionally as Skylar Grey, is an American singer and songwriter from Mazomanie, Wisconsin. In 2004, at the age of 17, Grey signed a publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group and a recording contract with Machine Shop Recordings under the name Holly Brook. In 2006, she released her debut studio album, Like Blood Like Honey, under the aforementioned labels.
Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor is the debut studio album by American rapper Lupe Fiasco, released on September 19, 2006, on 1st & 15th Entertainment and Atlantic Records. The album features production from The Neptunes, Kanye West, Mike Shinoda, Craig Kallman, Prolyfic, Needlz, Soundtrakk, and Brandon Howard. Jay-Z, Chill, and Fiasco himself are credited as the executive producers for the album. Songs on the record discuss poverty, Islam, terrorism, racism, and individuality.
American rapper Lupe Fiasco has released eight studio albums, six mixtapes, seven soundtrack albums, 38 singles, and 37 music videos.
Child Rebel Soldier, shortened CRS, was an American hip hop supergroup composed of hip hop recording artists and record producers Lupe Fiasco (child), Kanye West (rebel), and Pharrell Williams (soldier).
"Superstar" is a song performed by rapper Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos. It is the first single off his 2007 album Lupe Fiasco's The Cool. iTunes released "Superstar" on September 25, 2007 along with a radio version of "Dumb It Down."
"Nothin' on You" is the debut single of both American rapper B.o.B and featured American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars. It is the lead single from the former's debut studio album, B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray (2010). It was first released on December 15, 2009, via digital download by Atlantic Records. The track was written by B.o.B, Mars, Philip Lawrence, and Ari Levine, with the latter three producing it as the Smeezingtons. "Nothin' on You" was initially written for Lupe Fiasco, but Atlantic Records' chairman, Craig Kallman, gave it to B.o.B after being displeased with Fiasco's version. The song took several months to finish and was born from a hummed melody by Mars and Lawrence.
"The Show Goes On" is a song by American recording artist Lupe Fiasco, released on October 26, 2010, as the lead single from his third studio album Lasers. The song was produced by Kane Beatz, and the melody of the song was based on the 2004 song "Float On" by Modest Mouse. The song features backing vocals from JR Get Money. It was released to iTunes on November 9, 2010, and debuted at No. 57 on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually reaching a peak of No. 9. It was released in the UK on February 20, 2011. The song was a major point of contention for the artist and a reason for the lengthy delay of the album, making the title fitting; as Lupe was told unequivocally by record producers: "If you don't do 'The Show Goes On', your album's not coming out." However, XXL named it 14th Best Song of 2011. The song was nominated for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the 54th Grammy Awards.
Don't Look Down is the second studio album by American recording artist Skylar Grey. It was released on July 5, 2013 by KidinaKorner and Interscope Records. The album's production was primarily handled by Alex da Kid and J.R. Rotem, along with Eminem, who served as an executive producer on the album. The album features guest appearances from Big Sean, Eminem, Travis Barker and Angel Haze.
Soundtrack to the Struggle is the second studio album by British rapper Lowkey. It was released on 16 October 2011 independently on the Lowkey-founded label Mesopotamia Music. It is the follow-up to his 2008 album Dear Listener. Four singles were released to promote the album from 2009 to 2010. Production for the album took place during 2009 to 2011 and was handled by Red Skull, Big G, Nutty P, K-Salaam, Last Resort, Show N Prove, among others. It includes guest appearances from Immortal Technique, Mai Khalil, M1, Black the Ripper, Klashnekoff, and more. The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 57 on 23 October 2011 – becoming Lowkey's first national chart entry. It is regarded as one of the greatest albums in the UK hip-hop scene.
Daniel Dwayne "Diggy" Simmons III is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, model, and actor and the fourth child of Joseph "Rev. Run" Simmons of Run DMC. He currently stars as Doug Edwards on Grown-ish. He, along with his parents and five siblings, were the primary subjects of the MTV reality television show Run's House. Diggy was also the youngest member of Lupe Fiasco's short-lived rap collective, All City Chess Club.
Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 is the fourth studio album by American rapper Lupe Fiasco, released on September 25, 2012. Production for the album took place between 2009 and 2012. The album was intended to be released in June 2009, but was postponed due to the Lasers album. Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 features production by The Audibles, 1500 or Nothin', B-Sides, Simonsayz, The Runners, and long-time collaborator Soundtrakk among others. Bilal, Poo Bear, Guy Sebastian, Casey Benjamin, Jason Evigan, and Jane $$$ contribute vocals to the album.
"Battle Scars" is a song performed by Australian recording artist Guy Sebastian featuring American rapper Lupe Fiasco. It was released digitally in Australia and New Zealand on 10 August 2012 by Sony Music Entertainment. The song lyrics and music were written by Sebastian and David Ryan Harris, with the rap written by Fiasco. It was the third single lifted from Sebastian's seventh album Armageddon. Fiasco added "Battle Scars" to his fourth album, Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 in countries other than Australia. It was released as the fourth single on 28 August 2012, credited as a duet.
Tetsuo & Youth is the fifth studio album by American rapper Lupe Fiasco. The album was released on January 20, 2015, by 1st & 15th Entertainment and Atlantic Records.
"Poor Decisions" is a song by American rapper Wale featuring fellow American rappers Rick Ross and Lupe Fiasco, released as the lead single from the Maybach Music Group compilation album, Self Made Vol. 3. The song peaked on the US Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles at number nine.
"Old School Love" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Lupe Fiasco. The song was released on October 14, 2013, in promotion of his fifth studio album Tetsuo & Youth. English singer Ed Sheeran contributed vocals to the song's hook. The song peaked at number 93 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 18 on the New Zealand Singles Chart.
Drogas Light is the sixth studio album by American rapper Lupe Fiasco, released by 1st and 15th Productions on February 10, 2017. This is also his first album under Thirty Tigers following his departure from Atlantic Records.
Drogas Wave is the seventh studio album by American hip hop recording artist Lupe Fiasco, released by 1st and 15th Productions and Thirty Tigers on September 21, 2018. This album is a follow-up to his 2017 album, Drogas Light.