Hip Hop Saved My Life
{{hatnote|not to be confused with a podcast of the same name hosted by comedian Romesh Ranganathan.}}
{{short description|2008 single by Lupe Fiasco}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Hip-Hop Saved My Life
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Lupe Fiasco featuring Nikki Jean
| album = Lupe Fiasco's The Cool
| released = March 18, 2008
| format =
| recorded = 2007
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Alternative hip hop
| length = 4:03
| label = {{hlist|1st & 15th|Atlantic}}
| writer = {{hlist|Wasalu Jaco|Nicholle Leary|Rudolph Lopez}}
| producer = Soundtrakk
| prev_title = Superstar
| prev_year = 2007
| next_title = Paris, Tokyo
| next_year = 2008
}}
"Hip-Hop Saved My Life" is a viral video,{{cite web |last1= Reid | first1= Shaheem |last2=Rodriguez |first2=Jayson| title= Mixtape Monday: Lupe Fiasco Plans His Cool Viral Video; Joe Budden Compares Jay-Z To A 'Bully' | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1580337/20080125/fiasco__lupe.jhtml | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080130171204/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1580337/20080125/fiasco__lupe.jhtml | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 30, 2008 | publisher=MTV.com | date= January 28, 2008|accessdate=June 18, 2011}} and the second single from Lupe Fiasco's second album, Lupe Fiasco's The Cool. The track features vocals from Nikki Jean, the lead singer of Nouveau Riche.
Content
The single is a heartfelt song that tells the story of an underground rap artist, his personal problems, and his struggle and desire to achieve success. The rapper composes a song with a doggerel structure and a hook, "Somethin', somethin', somethin' / Stack that Cheese", street slang for making money. Author Charlotte Pence argues that Fiasco achieves simple complexity in the song, rebelling against simplistic lyrics while simultaneously exploiting them.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UQZggTaFm24C&pg=PT36|pages=14–16|isbn=978-1-61703-156-4|title=The Poetics of American Song Lyrics|author=Pence, Charlotte|year=2011|publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi}}
It was revealed on MTV that the song was partially based on the life and career of Southern rapper Slim Thug and dedicated to Bun B.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1585211/20080410/fiasco__lupe.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414071829/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1585211/20080410/fiasco__lupe.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 14, 2008 |title=Lupe Fiasco's Latest Single, 'Hip-Hop Saved My Life,' Honors Southern Rap Heroes Bun B, Slim Thug |last1=Rodriguez |first1=Jayson |last2=Dotiwala |first2=Jasmine |date=April 11, 2008 |work=MTV.com |accessdate=June 18, 2011}}
Music video
The music video, directed by Houston's own Dr. Teeth, was released on March 18, 2008. The video recounts the story of a young up-and-coming rapper and the obstacles he struggles to overcome. The video includes appearances by Slim Thug, Willie D, Nikki Jean, K-Rino, Paul Wall, and Bun B with Lupe Fiasco. In one scene towards the beginning of the video, a clip from the video for "Superstar" (another one of Fiasco's songs) can briefly be seen playing on a television set.
Chart performance
It has first appeared on Billboard as of May 31, charting at #25 on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, then peaking at #20 a week later.[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=lupe fiasco|chart=Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs}} ]{{dead link|date=February 2012}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Lupe Fiasco|title=Hip Hop Saved My Life (Feat. Nikki Jean)|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2007|certyear=2025|access-date=March 1, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Lupe Fiasco singles}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Lupe Fiasco