Killer Mike

Killer Mike Making 'Mayhem' With El-P, Grand Hustle, Big Boi

03 Apr 2012 19:31:38 EDT

MC is especially 'excited' to reunite with Big, along with Pill, on an album.
By Rob Markman

Killer Mike is working overtime. Not only does the Atlanta rhyme slinger have R.A.P. Music, his collaborative album with underground hip-hop producer El-P, Mike told "RapFix Live" that fans can expect an array of different projects coming very soon.

"El-P from Company Flow and Def Jux, he produced the entire album," Mike said. "I got R.A.P. Music dropping May 15. A week later, my man El-P is dropping Cancer for Cure, so we're trying to make mayhem."

Mike's R.A.P. Music acronym stands for Rebellious African People's Music, and the lead single, "Big Beast," features Bun B, Trouble and T.I. After he releases that, the Grind Time Official boss plans to drop more material with T.I. After all, Killer's 2011 album, Pl3dge, was released through Tip's Grand Hustle label and was received rather well.

Also in the works is a collaborative project from Killer, Big Boi and Pill. The trio have been talking about releasing a project for some time now, but no music has surfaced yet. "Me and [Big Boi] ain't really got in on a project in six years, so I'm excited to be working with him," Killer Mike said, referencing their 2005 compilation album, Got Purp? Vol. 2.

In a January interview with MTV News, Pill talked about what the upcoming project meant to him. "Them two are rap greats, and for them two to actually want to do a project with me, it's unbelievable," he said.

Still, the trio are still recording, and there is no telling when the album will drop; they haven't even revealed a name for the group yet. "I'm gonna let Big hold it down. He ain't tellin' nobody, so I ain't tellin' nobody," Killer Mike said.

Which upcoming Killer Mike project are you looking forward to the most? Tell us in the comments!

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'RapFix Live' With Nas & Killer Mike

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Nas To Make His First-Ever Appearance On 'RapFix Live'

26 Mar 2012 18:35:04 EDT

Atlanta MC Killer Mike will also stop by on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com
By Rob Markman

Last week Odd Future dropped by for a crazy episode of "RapFix Live," but this week, things are about to get real nasty. Nasty Nas will stop by MTV on Wednesday to chop it up with Sway, taking a trip down memory lane and looking toward the future and his upcoming album Life is Good.

Wednesday will mark the first time the rap legend has sat on the "RapFix Live" couch. It's been 18 years since Nas dropped his iconic debut Illmatic, and the Queensbridge MC proved that he is just as vicious as ever when he dropped his latest single, "The Don," earlier this month. Backed by a reggae-tinged beat (co-produced by the late Heavy D), "The Don" finds Nas delivering lyrics with the tenacity of hungry teen who is looking for his first break. It's a vibe that Esco successful captured on his 2011 single "Nasty" as well.

If "The Don" and "Nasty" are any indication, Nas' 10th LP, Life is Good, is already shaping up to be one of the most-anticipated rap albums of the year. We're sure he will have plenty to say about his upcoming release as well as his career in retrospect.

Atlanta MC Killer Mike will also be stopping by the "RapFix" set this week. Killa Kill made his rap debut on OutKast's unforgettable 2000 album Stankonia and has since carved out a unique lane for his brand of street-laced, politically charged raps. Last year, Mike partnered with T.I.'s Grand Hustle label and dropped PL3DGE, the third album of his I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind series. Next up, Mike is partnering with former Company Flow MC/producer El-P to release their collaborative R.A.P. Music LP. The album's first single, "Big Beast," features Bun B, T.I. and Atlanta newcomer Trouble.

Catch Nas and Killer Mike on "RapFix Live" Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com, and be sure to join the Twitter conversation using the hashtags #RapFixLive. Send your questions for the artists to @MTVRapFiX!

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SL Jones Carves Out His Own Identity, Aside From Killer Mike

14 Jul 2011 17:37:11 EDT

'Everything I've experienced is someone else's experience,' he tells Mixtape Daily of starting from 'ground zero.'
By Rob Markman

Fire Starter: SL Jones
Little Rock, Arkansas, native SL Jones didn't start out wanting to rap, but moving to Atlanta and hanging around acts like Outkast and Killer Mike can provide plenty of inspiration.

"I started out as a graphic artist, so I love to draw, and then I went to Atlanta with a passion for drawing, and when I got there, I found my passion for music," Jones told Mixtape Daily.

After making the move three years ago, SL began recording music that found its way into the hands of Killer Mike, thanks to a studio engineer who worked at Outkast's Stankonia Studios in ATL. Mike took Jones under his wing and added him to his Grind Time crew, a collective that also includes Maybach Music Group's Pill. The first order of business for Jones was to drop his 2008 debut mixtape, C.O.L.O.R.S.

"C.O.L.O.R.S was just me wanting to exist," he said. "I remember that year in particular, Weezy had emerged, and he was just killing everything, and I was like, 'Maaaan.' I know I'm just as good as anybody out here, but how could people take you seriously if you don't have one project out?"

Still, for a young spitter, hanging around more established acts can skew one's perspective. Though he was hardly established, Jones was experiencing things that most rap rookies don't get a chance to. It was important for him not to get caught in the hype.

"I'm in the studio, I'm around everybody. I'm around Outkast, Killer Mike. He done took me on tour with him, I done been around the country twice," SL said. "At what point do you just go back to ground zero and say, 'I gotta work for mines.' Everything I've experienced is someone else's experience."

On his latest mixtape, The Number 23 — which serves as a nod to his native 23rd and Wolfe streets in Little Rock — SL hooked up with tape host and producer DJ Don Cannon and continued to carve out his identity.

"That meant a whole lot, because Don watched me grind," he said. "It wasn't like I came out of nowhere and just came with a check like, 'Hey, Don, do this for me.' "

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

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Killer Mike Says PL3DGE Is A Pledge To Himself

10 May 2011 13:58:25 EDT

'I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind 2 was about the fan,' Mike tells MTV News of contrast with his May 17 release.
By Rob Markman

To the casual listener, Killer Mike's upcoming album, PL3DGE, might seem like just the third installment in the Atlanta rapper's I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind series. Mike, however, told MTV News that the LP is a pledge to himself.

"I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind 1 was a double CD, and it was for the crew. It was for the crew to get morale because we had just left a pretty comfy situation," Mike said of his 2006 album. "It was to get them all riled up to say, 'We're a band of pirates, we can go take on the world, we can do it.' "

In 2007, Killer dropped the second volume in the Pledge series, which focused more on his fans. "I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind 2 was about the fan," he said. " 'Supporters' is what we call 'em; laymens call 'em 'fans.' "

For PL3DGE, Mike switched it up. "The album is decidedly happier and groovier, not as menacing and beating up. It was not about the supporters, it was about me and my influences," he explained. "It was about my mother and grandmother wanting to see me on TV and hear me on the radio before they die.

"It was about those things and because of that I decided to shorten the name from I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind to just PL3DGE. Because the first pledge you make is always going to be to yourself, to better yourself."

PL3DGE is set to be released on May 17 on Grind Time/ Grand Hustle/ SMC and is being anchored by the single "Ready, Set, Go" featuring T.I.

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Killer Mike

Killer Mike Talks Reconciling With Big Boi

27 Apr 2011 16:21:59 EDT

Mike describes relationship with Outkast MC as 'a brotherhood.'
By Rob Markman

Thinking back to his past beef with Outkast's Big Boi, Killer Mike (also known as Mike Bigga) admitted to MTV News that the tiff was sad for him, but now that the two have buried the hatchet, fans can expect more collaborations and a new group.

"It's a brotherhood more than a friendship," Mike said.

The feud, stemming back to 2006, began after Killer, who was signed to Big Boi's Purple Ribbon label, became disenfranchised with the business side of things. The road to repairing the friendship began in 2008, and according to Mike, transpired over three phases. Now that things are completely patched up, Mike and Big Boi announced in February that they will be forming a new group, rounding out a trio with Atlanta rapper and Maybach Music signee Pill.

Phase one of their reconciliation took place when Big Boi's son Cross encouraged his dad to patch things up with his former friend. "My children love him, his children love me, so it's kinda hard to stay an a--hole when my children are telling me, 'Don't be an a--hole, dad,' and his kids was telling him that," Mike explained.

He credits the second phase of the patch-up to Atlanta-based hip-hop journalist Maurice Garland. "He got [Big Boi and I] together, and we started listening to each other's album, and I was like, 'Sh--, I gotta step it up,' " Mike recalled. "That's when I went back in to record PL3DGE."

It was Twitter that would ultimately get the two friends back in a comfortable place, where they could eventually work together. "He just hit me out on Twitter like six, seven months ago — just outta nowhere like, 'Call me,' " Mike said.

Questioning the authenticity of the tweet, Killer reached out to the Outkast MC's cousin, who later confirmed that it was in fact Big Boi who sent the online olive branch. A couple of days later, Killer Mike and Big Boi were at Club Obsessions in Atlanta performing their 2005 hit "Kryptonite." Big Boi has since appeared on Mike's "Ready Set Go (Remix)" in March.

"We've been in the studio knocking sh-- out, talking every few days," Killer Mike said.

Still, little is known about the group, and while Mike does confirm that they have a name, he is reluctant to announce it just yet, saving that honor for his longtime friend. "Big has a name, but he's holding on to it," Mike said. "I've assigned him group leader."

Are you excited to hear Killer Mike and Big Boi's new project with Pill? Tell us below!

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Killer Mike Says T.I.'s Support 'Almost Brought A Tear To My Eye'

26 Apr 2011 17:04:15 EDT

'Instead of spending that night before he went to jail with his family, he spent it shooting a video with me,' Mike tells MTV News about Grand Hustle boss.
By Rob Markman

T.I. may be locked up, but the Grand Hustle CEO is still providing inspiration for his artists from behind bars.

While gearing up to release his new album PL3DGE on Grind Time/ Grand Hustle/ SMC in May, ATL rapper Killer Mike paid a visit to MTV News and spoke about T.I.'s involvement on his new project. "He was involved as I needed him to be. If I needed him a lot, he was there a lot," he said. "If I needed him a little, he was there a little."

Before turning himself in to authorities to begin serving his latest 11-month sentence for a probation violation, T.I. spent his last few hours of freedom helping Mike film the music video for PL3DGE's first single, "Ready Set Go."

"I needed him to shoot the video before he went to jail, and instead of spending that night before he went to jail with his family, he spent it shooting a video with me," Mike said with admiration. "So, if that's any expression to how dedicated he is on helping see the artists on Grand Hustle — or associated with Grand Hustle — win, then that's it."

In fact, Mike has been so overwhelmed by Tip's support of PLE3DGE that he was nearly moved to tears. After sending T.I. an email asking about his well-being, Mike was taken aback by Tip's response. "It almost brought a tear to my eye, because when Tip hit back, the only thing he could say was that he was sorry that he's not out to help promote [the album] and push it and [that] he loves the fact that I'm finally gettin' the look I deserve and how's [Grand Hustle artist Young] Dro," Mike shared. "It's just like, you're in prison and you care more about how our tour is doin' and our songs than us feeling bad about you being in prison."

Killer went on to defend the Grand Hustle CEO, despite all his legal drama. "I know the public perceives him one way, but you just don't meet human beings who are able to surpass where they are physically in their space and care more about the happenings of other people," Mike said. "And him feeling bad that his incarceration is adversely affecting us, he's an amazing man for that."

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Snoop Dogg 'Loves' 'True Blood,' Wants To Be A Vampire

21 Oct 2009 06:52:00 EDT

Plus: Killer Mike talks collabo with Gucci Mane and Drake, in Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid

Celebrity Favorites

"Everyday is the same thang, I creep in/ It's like 'True Blood,' I sink my teeth in/ I gotta have it."

Vampire Bill, look out — fellow bloodsucker Eric Northman may not be the only fanged man in Bon Temps, Louisiana, that has his eyes on your beloved Sookie Stackhouse. Snoop Dogg says he wants to swoop into town and cause some havoc.

"You know I'm down with it," Snoop said of name-checking the popular HBO series on his new single, "Gangsta Luv." "I love that show. I wish I could be on it. I'd be a hell of a vampire, don't you think? So what's happenin'? 'True Blood,' get at me — Snoop Dogg wants to be a vampire."

We can see it now: The Dogg facing off in a fight to the death with Lafayette in a season finale.

The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From the Underground

We still call him Killer Kill when we see him! Mike Bigga (a.k.a. Killer Mike) told us recently he definitely jumped at the chance to get on the record "Street Cred" with Gucci Mane and Drake. But don't think he got sheepish for one second rapping alongside two of the guys that made this year's Hottest MCs in the Game list. Mike has got down with the elite from the beginning of his career, from Outkast to T.I. (Mike is signed to Grand Hustle) and now with Gucc and Drizzy.

"Gucci called me. He said, 'I wanna get you on a song.' It's me, him and Drake — go figure. I love it.

"Everybody is different on 'Swagger Like Us,' everybody is different on 'Forever,' " he added about the variety of styles you get on "Street Cred." "I'm murderville a track. I'm going spazzmatic. You know what I'm doing. I'm rapping like my jugular is popping out my throat. That's what I do. I'm like, [look out for] that and a song with me and Tip that No I.D. produced."

Mike, who released the Underground Atlanta compilation in late August, says 2010 is going to be his year, especially with a solo album coming out on Grand Hustle.

"I think next year I'mma make sure the sleepers ain't sleeping," he added. "I'm here. I appreciate the artists who have recognized it — from Gucci to Tip, to Dro to Kuntry — that have helped me put the mashed down and just let them know I'm finnin' to have my hand pressed firmly against the game's neck next year."

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

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Game On 50 Cent Beef: 'I Did A Lot Of Dumb Things'

02 Jul 2009 06:51:00 EDT

Plus: Killer Mike says nobody's bringing hardcore back because he's been keeping it street all along, in Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Jayson Rodriguez

The Overdose: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive

Your boys are back at it. Hiatus is done. Today we had to put Firestarter on the back burner to bring you this testimonial from none other than the Game. Big Hurricane sat down with us in the lab where he's recording his R.E.D. Album. And, in addition to speaking about the project, he wanted to tell us and the entire world that there's no more 50 Cent beef. He's said it before, no doubt, but this time the Compton rhyme beast says he's dead serious — unless he changes his mind. Game compared his beef with Fif and the G-Unit to an airplane. (Is that private or commercial? Just kidding.)

"I just got off that plane," Game said of the well-documented rift. "I didn't even get my baggage out the baggage claim."

The MC says he wants to "apologize to 50 as a man." He also wants to apologize to the fans, Dr. Dre, Eminem and the head of Interscope, Jimmy Iovine.

"Jimmy always says, 'Man, I told you guys not to break up the Beatles,' " Game said. "He says he told John Lennon the same thing a long time ago. But I was young, man. I was dumb. I did a lot of dumb things. I felt me and 50 clashed. I'm not gonna dis 50. I'm not gonna go back on the plane. He had his side, I had my side. I did what I felt was necessary for me and my career to have longevity and survive in hip-hop and music to be around when I'm Quincy Jones' age — not just be Quincy Jones' age, but be a Quincy Jones. Now, four albums in, I can honestly say from Banks to Buck to Dre to Yayo to whoever, if it would have kept going, endless paper. Millions of albums sold — because we were great together. Me and 50's chemistry was like how Method Man was to Redman when they get in. You know when Method Man gets with Redman, it's going down."

True, the Unit, when they were a five-man squad (that's with Game and Buck), were absolutely unstoppable. We're still rocking that All Eyez on Us G-Unit Radio Part 5 mixtape.

"It is what KRS-One was with Scott La Rock," Game added, describing his time with 50. "When you take Ralph Tresvant from New Edition and Bobby Brown goes this way, you might get a Bell Biv DeVoe, but you won't get no 'Candy Girl.' You won't get no 'Mr. Telephone Man.' You ain't gonna get no 'Hate It or Love It,' you won't get 'How We Do.' As a family, we had it. If we never [broke] up, I think Detox would have been out and we all would have been selling millions from Banks to Buck, Tony Yayo. I'm gonna apologize for my role."

Just a few weeks ago, 50 told us he has no desire to entertain the Game. Maybe Dre or Iovine can get these guys together again?

The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From The Underground

50 Cent says he wants to bring hardcore rap back to the forefront, and we know the sentiments Jay-Z expressed in "D.O.A." Killer Mike says he's not impressed. He's been keeping it street.

"I don't wanna hear none of that bullsh-- from none of the n---as," Mike said. "I dropped I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II last year. If you wanna hear hardcore hip-hop, go to the store, go get I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II. You can listen from the first Biggie sample to the last song on the album, 'Good-Bye,' it's hardcore hip-hop. I don't wanna hear that bullsh--, these n---as who got millions of dollars talking about bringing sh-- back. They ain't bringing sh-- back. It's here — you looking at it.

"Buy me," he continued. "When that Killer Mike drops, hardcore hip-hop will be back for the second, third time. You know, the same guy that said 'rap is dead' three years before Nas said it. I'm here. F--- with me. Jay dropped 'D.O.A.' and everybody went crazy. And I love Jay. A week before that, I dropped 'Man Up.' Go listen to that song and go listen to 'D.O.A.' "

Killer Kill, who recently struck a partnership with T.I. and Grand Hustle Entertainment, is dropping a compilation of all the ATL underground MCs this summer.

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

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14 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EDT

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Lupe Fiasco Wants To Quit Music Biz, But Promises More Collabos With Kanye, Pharrell; Fabolous Makes The Band: Mixtape Monday

14 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EDT

Killer Mike gets out from Outkast's shadow; Slim Thug splits from Interscope for solo album.
By Shaheem Reid with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes and Jasmine Dotiwala

Artist: Killer Mike

Representing: Atlanta

Mixtape: I Pledge Allegiance To The Grind II 411: Ladies and ghetto-men, Killack Obama. "If you have a boss, and you don't like your boss," Killer Mike began, "fire your boss, and be a boss! If you don't have an idea, lay down, develop a dream, wake up, have a vision, get to the money. Feed your immediate family; provide jobs in your community. Do something instead of doing nothing. I do not pledge my allegiance to dope. I do not pledge my allegiance to some funky job. I do not pledge my allegiance to waiting on the government to feed me. I pledge my allegiance to getting rich independently.

"You have people out there who work all their life and people who hustle all their life," he continued. "If you take 50 percent of work and 50 percent of hustle and marry those things, you got something unstoppable. You got a hustler's spirit, but you have the skill and determination to work a 9-to-5 every day. Or if you treat your hustle like a 9-to-5, you will never fall. 'Grind' means to get rich independently."

Killer Mike is on his own now. Clearly, his days as Outkast's protégé are long gone. All it took was one shelved album (Ghetto Extraordinary) and a physical altercation (in 2006).

"I don't know why the album never came out," he said of his would-be sophomore LP for Big Boi's Purple Ribbon label. "I don't know what happened between Purple Ribbon and Sony. I just know around that time, I got tired of sitting on the shelf. I got up, dusted myself off and got right back in action. I think it's tough for a lot of artists not to be complacent. It's easy to be complacent when you're eating, but when you're starving, it's not hard to get motivated. I got to the point where nobody around there was eating. I had to go somewhere and eat."

Mike is not only cooking his own meals now, but he's taking the orders and serving up the plates with his Grind Time Official records, an independent label with distribution through SMC/Fontana.

"Doing this has made me a lot more sympathetic to what Big Boi was going through," he said of running the show as a CEO and artist. "It can be suffocating, overwhelming. You have to find a certain peace within yourself and dedicate a part of yourself to the music and the business. My goal is not to run my company. My goal is to be an artist that does great things [with] my company and set a certain vision for my company. But I want somebody that's qualified to run my company to run my company. That's just a wise move."

After this LP, Mike said to expect the third in his Pledge series soon, followed by an album he has been working on under the tutelage of No I.D., DJ Toomp, L-Rock and record executive Kyambo "Hip-Hop" Joshua.

Joints To Check For:

» "God in the Building." "I feel the people on the bottom are closer to God," Mike sermonizes. "When I say the people on the bottom, I mean the people who are working every day, standing on the corner, people who are grinding. It's a famous story in the Bible where priests send Jesus his disciples. In your case, it would be like the police sending your homeboys over to you, and they saying 'Why is he over there with the hustlers and thieves and lowlifes?' To me, rappers, athletes, D-Boys with some consciousness, we are Jesuses of our day. It's our job to bring some light in the midst of the dark. ... When I walk in the building, when I walk in the club, when I walk in my kids nursery, the doctors' office ... everybody better wake up like God is in the building."

» "Two Sides." "If you're watching Atlanta on TV, you might think it's all about swagger. I'm from that real Atlanta, fresh off MLK [Boulevard]. If you don't know what it is, after you listen to this, you will know what it is. One time for all the A-town cats putting it down for real. Everybody who's lying, I know you lying. They know you lying. One time for [Shawty Lo], one time for Tip, one time for Jeezy, one time for Luda and everybody who's been holding Atlanta down the right way. Lot of love for [Gorilla] Zo, Boyz in the Hood. Must be two sides, 'cause either you on the right side or the wrong side. Are you from Atlanta or black Hollywood? I'm from Atlanta."

» "Alphabet Boys." "A lot of times, when you hear records about 'I was hustling' or doing this and that, you hear exciting stories, but they really don't make sense after you finish listening to them. I tell you stories with a moral to them. In 'Alphabet Boys,' I tell you how not to go to jail. In the first verse, I'm talking about what to do when them old heads get out of jail, and they want to get up under you and talk about what the price is. In the third verse, I'm talking about them girls that's dancing and working for the feds. I'm just saying, when you listen to my music, please believe it's a real message in there. And the message, it might just keep your black ass out of jail."

Don't Sleep: Other Notable Selections This Week

» DJ L-Gee and Notorious B.I.G. - Americas Favorite Rapper (Dead or Alive)
» September 7th and Crooked I - Hip Hop Weekly Mixtape 3
» K.A.R. and Suge White (Hosted by Fat Joe) - Gay Unit
» DJ Warrior and DJ Envy - Cali Untouchable Radio 17 (Strong Arm Ready, Klak Klak Edition)
» DJ Dolla Sign - Terminator - The Curtis Jackson Chronicles

'Hood's Heavy Rotation: Bubbling Below The Radar

» The Game - "N---a With a Attitude"
» Jim Jones (featuring Juelz Santana) - "Splash"
» Keith Murray - "Don't Hate Me Because I'm Beautiful"
» Young Buck - "It's Not OK"
» Usher (featuring T.I. and Young Jeezy) - "Love in This Club"

Fire Starter: Soul Diggaz

K-Mack, Bless and Corte Ellis of the Soul Diggaz have been around for a minute, earning their stripes under the wing of Missy Elliott while producing hits such as Keyshia Cole's "Let It Go" and the music for the Gap commercial with Ms. Misdemeanor and Madonna. Now, their name is in request mode across the industry, especially when it comes to the Atlantic Records roster — they're producing for Plies and worked with Donnie Klang and Diddy on "Take You There." They are in the midst of getting a deal to release their own album featuring artists under their umbrella. Also, the team has recently finalized a joint venture with Timbaland to put out newcomer Izza Kizza.

Celebrity Faves

Ashanti definitely has a hot joint — all the ladies are singing "The Way I Love You." And just like many others, the Long Island native loved "Yo! MTV Raps," even though she was just 7 years old when it debuted 20 years ago. (Go to Yo.MTV.com to check out highlights from the best episodes of the groundbreaking show.)

"Some of my favorite memories from 'Yo! MTV Raps' would have to be Fab 5 Freddy with his hat and his glasses," she recalled. "He always kept it very classy and sassy and 'hood, all at the same time. Some of my favorite female rappers from the 'Yo!' era ... YoYo, definitely. Salt-N-Pepa. I think Salt-N-Pepa, definitely are always gonna be relevant, 'cause they were the first ...They were sexy and still kinda approachable. Not raunchy, and they just kept it real from the early stages. Everyone had the Salt-N-Pepa haircut. I was too young for it, but a lot of my cousins were rockin' it. 'Push It' was phenomenal. Still is. Still rocks in the club!"

The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From The Underground

'Nuff respect to Lupe Fiasco. Usually, we take his word as bond, but when he starts talking about his next album being his career finale, that's something we refuse to believe. Maybe it's just denial that one of the most promising young superstars (pun intended) would retire before he even reached his prime. Recently he told MTV Base that he was 85 percent sure his next LP would be his last full-length solo set.

"I don't want to say I'm 100 percent sure, like, 'Yeah, this is it.' But 85 percent," he revealed. "That 15 percent is the X factor. That could be bills. Like, 'Lupe, you got to pa

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