Perhaps the robot represents the machine that is the music industry, particularly the industry as it pertains to hip-hip. For example, take these lines:
"As I spy from behind my giant robot's eyes
I keep 'em happy cause I might fall out if he cries."
Here, Lupe may be addressing the need to keep the industry elite--the record companies, CEOs, anyone one would consider a member of the music industry's bourgeoise--happy by adhering to what they see, what they conceive as "hip-hop," hence his placement behind the robots eyes. If he disappoints, if they cry, he may "fall out." That is, he may be cast out of the sights and interests of the industry. This machine ignores the realities of the crackheads that beg at about the lower legs, the crooked police stationed at the knees, drive-bys at the thighs, car chases on the waist and only employs them as tools with which they craft, build, a false, industrial image of the projects. Lupe writing from inside this machine as it continues to threaten the children of the projects--anyone born, raised, or aware of the "true" projects--demonstrates that he works from inside and manipulates the hodgepodge hip-hop machine that is the music industry.
Perhaps not. This just seemed like a relevant perusal of the lyrics.
Keeper you got it right, imho; but here is mine as well, a little more detailed.
Keeper you got it right, imho; but here is mine as well, a little more detailed.
Lupe is talking about how the record labels want different people to record different songs as they seem fit. Sara Bareilles wrote "Love Song" because she did not want Epic to shape her like molding clay.
Lupe is talking about how the record labels want different people to record different songs as they seem fit. Sara Bareilles wrote "Love Song" because she did not want Epic to shape her like molding clay.
"As I spy from behind my giant robot's eyes
I keep 'em happy cause I might fall out if he cries"
"As I spy from behind my giant robot's eyes
I keep 'em happy cause I might fall out if he cries"
Meaning: Robot being the label, the mundane artist keeps the label "robot" happy because they won't support him anymore if he does not produce what they want. That sometimes gets the artist in trouble because it is not the true artists talent.
The rest of this verse talks about corruption in the music industry.
"Keep 'em on autopilot cause I can't drive" Means: the artist has become such a product of the label that he can no longer produce any real talent and is now producing solely what the label wants. (Think Ke$ha, she was singing country songs in Tennessee and now is a "slutty" pop singer. You think she wanted that, or to get rich? Also think America's Suitehearts from FOB and the movie The Rocker).
The rest of the verse, as I was saying is about how the industry is a circus.
The second verse is criticizing rap in general. It is set on a music video set, he criticizes different rappers and genres for making the items mentioned "cool." Lupe goes on saying he is tip-toeing with his robot, meaning the recording industry backs it because it sells and makes money. The baby could be just a human baby, and how the person in the song,
"I had to turn my back on what got you paid
I couldn�t see half the hood on me like Abu Ghraib"
get so blinded by the industries push to make him what he is not that he quits.
The last line,
"But I like to thank the streets that drove me crazy
And all the televisions out there that raised me,"
refers back to the man in the industry because he finally has something real to write about. He can now give his own voice to the world because some of the TV educated him (literally or metaphorically?)
This song may be about Lupe himself or it may be about other rappers/hip-hop artists in general that he may or may not know.
Edit: "Keep 'em on autopilot cause I can't drive"
Also could mean that the artist is making money so he or she doesn't care what they record, as long as the money keeps coming in.
Edit: "Keep 'em on autopilot cause I can't drive"
Also could mean that the artist is making money so he or she doesn't care what they record, as long as the money keeps coming in.
Perhaps the robot represents the machine that is the music industry, particularly the industry as it pertains to hip-hip. For example, take these lines:
"As I spy from behind my giant robot's eyes I keep 'em happy cause I might fall out if he cries."
Here, Lupe may be addressing the need to keep the industry elite--the record companies, CEOs, anyone one would consider a member of the music industry's bourgeoise--happy by adhering to what they see, what they conceive as "hip-hop," hence his placement behind the robots eyes. If he disappoints, if they cry, he may "fall out." That is, he may be cast out of the sights and interests of the industry. This machine ignores the realities of the crackheads that beg at about the lower legs, the crooked police stationed at the knees, drive-bys at the thighs, car chases on the waist and only employs them as tools with which they craft, build, a false, industrial image of the projects. Lupe writing from inside this machine as it continues to threaten the children of the projects--anyone born, raised, or aware of the "true" projects--demonstrates that he works from inside and manipulates the hodgepodge hip-hop machine that is the music industry.
Perhaps not. This just seemed like a relevant perusal of the lyrics.
Typo: I obviously meant "hip-hop" in the second line. My mistake.
Typo: I obviously meant "hip-hop" in the second line. My mistake.
Keeper you got it right, imho; but here is mine as well, a little more detailed.
Keeper you got it right, imho; but here is mine as well, a little more detailed.
Lupe is talking about how the record labels want different people to record different songs as they seem fit. Sara Bareilles wrote "Love Song" because she did not want Epic to shape her like molding clay.
Lupe is talking about how the record labels want different people to record different songs as they seem fit. Sara Bareilles wrote "Love Song" because she did not want Epic to shape her like molding clay.
"As I spy from behind my giant robot's eyes I keep 'em happy cause I might fall out if he cries"
"As I spy from behind my giant robot's eyes I keep 'em happy cause I might fall out if he cries"
Meaning: Robot being the label, the mundane artist keeps the label "robot" happy because they won't support him anymore if he does not produce what they want. That sometimes gets the artist in trouble because it is not the true artists talent. The rest of this verse talks about corruption in the music industry.
"Keep 'em on autopilot cause I can't drive" Means: the artist has become such a product of the label that he can no longer produce any real talent and is now producing solely what the label wants. (Think Ke$ha, she was singing country songs in Tennessee and now is a "slutty" pop singer. You think she wanted that, or to get rich? Also think America's Suitehearts from FOB and the movie The Rocker). The rest of the verse, as I was saying is about how the industry is a circus.
The second verse is criticizing rap in general. It is set on a music video set, he criticizes different rappers and genres for making the items mentioned "cool." Lupe goes on saying he is tip-toeing with his robot, meaning the recording industry backs it because it sells and makes money. The baby could be just a human baby, and how the person in the song,
"I had to turn my back on what got you paid I couldn�t see half the hood on me like Abu Ghraib"
get so blinded by the industries push to make him what he is not that he quits. The last line,
"But I like to thank the streets that drove me crazy And all the televisions out there that raised me,"
refers back to the man in the industry because he finally has something real to write about. He can now give his own voice to the world because some of the TV educated him (literally or metaphorically?) This song may be about Lupe himself or it may be about other rappers/hip-hop artists in general that he may or may not know.
Edit: "Keep 'em on autopilot cause I can't drive" Also could mean that the artist is making money so he or she doesn't care what they record, as long as the money keeps coming in.
Edit: "Keep 'em on autopilot cause I can't drive" Also could mean that the artist is making money so he or she doesn't care what they record, as long as the money keeps coming in.