Lupe Fiasco’s subliminals on “N.E.R.D.” are no longer subliminals. After bumping heads with the Anti-Defamation League over lyrics considered anti-Semitic (“dirty Jew execs”), Fiasco has taken to Twitter again to name the music executives who he feels wronged him, and who that line is apparently directed at. Today, the newly retired artist called out 300 Entertainment founder Lyor Cohen and Atlantic Records CEO Craig Kallman. Cohen was the chairman and chief executive officer of the Warner Music Group, which has Atlantic Records (Fiasco’s record label) as a subsidiary.
Fiasco tweeted that Cohen once said he “may not honor the terms of an existing contract unless i signed a contract which changed the terms of the existing one” and that he “smirked” when Fiasco asked for his masters. The Chicago rapper also claimed that Kallman offered him the infamously vulturous 360 deal while he was “half naked recovering from Pneumonia.” Read Fiasco’s retelling of his label drama below.
I’ve been labeled, stamped, called and accused of being everything under the sun…
But never a liar.
— peace (@LupeFiasco) December 14, 2016
Lyon Cohen told me he may not honor the terms of an existing contract unless i signed a contract which changed the terms of the existing one
— peace (@LupeFiasco) December 14, 2016
Craig Kallman once negotiated a deal in secret which said I agreed to give away 85% of my pub rights to the song Airplanes to his producers
— peace (@LupeFiasco) December 14, 2016
Because the Jewish lawyer I hired to get me off Atlantic, was more interested in taking 5% of everything I did. He sent a bill for 100k https://t.co/BYYHrVZxZk
— peace (@LupeFiasco) December 14, 2016
Which represented 5% of the concerts I did while I had him on retainer. CONCERTS WHICH HE NEVER HANDLE CONTRACTS FOR @EverSoGabe
— peace (@LupeFiasco) December 14, 2016
He said “what are you gonna do sue me? I’m a lawyer I’ll win” he then felt so guilty he offered me 10% of my own money back @EverSoGabe
— peace (@LupeFiasco) December 14, 2016
They speak out 2 me all the time. I’ve had 1 producer admit to me that he knows that it’s wrong but they let him “win” so he just accepts it https://t.co/c6lYNxDCl4
— peace (@LupeFiasco) December 14, 2016
Not all of it. It’s some good guys which I’ve had the pleasure to work with but I’ve never experienced what I’ve have at Atlantic anywhere https://t.co/OvCrH6TruH
— peace (@LupeFiasco) December 14, 2016
When The Cool went gold. We hit a contract term/sales point that said they had to renegotiate for a larger budget for LASERS. So 2008ish https://t.co/o1RgNcctYQ
— peace (@LupeFiasco) December 14, 2016
Oh thats doesnt matter when they don’t stick to the contracts And when u get gangsta with them they call security & lock you out the office https://t.co/OqOTybnkOX
— peace (@LupeFiasco) December 14, 2016
I’ll make sure you get all your teeth back… https://t.co/j25zQHIxiz
— peace (@LupeFiasco) December 14, 2016
Food & Liquor. I asked Lyor for my masters as real equity in their nutty 360 deal experiment. He smirked & said “what? Like in a suitcase?” https://t.co/5dFXCKSXcT
— peace (@LupeFiasco) December 14, 2016
It’s deal where an artist gives up 25% & up of EVERYTHING they do (touring, merch, pub) for large but FULLY RECOUPABLE check from the label https://t.co/g3Ln6I2BCG
— peace (@LupeFiasco) December 14, 2016
Nope. Craig Kallman brought me my 360 deal while I was half naked recovering from Pneumonia in a hotel room in LA. It was surreal. https://t.co/elEZuAtJan
— peace (@LupeFiasco) December 14, 2016
Not if you sign a 360 deal. If you got a sneaker sponsorship or a role on a tv show they have rights to a percentage of that money. https://t.co/ryefaRv7Yw
— peace (@LupeFiasco) December 14, 2016
Because some poor ass singer who was just sleeping on a studio floor eating ramen gets offered a million dollar check with 135% interest https://t.co/SqQvEdXSkI
— peace (@LupeFiasco) December 14, 2016
Lyor’s exact words 2 me in regards 2 my 360 deal were “if you grow cotton, why would you want to grow grapes?” @yoItsScotticus @WardDeandra
— peace (@LupeFiasco) December 14, 2016
