Lupe Fiasco - Dumb it Down
Published by Haseeb December 8th, 2007 in Lupe Fiasco, Music, Videos
“You know how they ask people what they want to be remembered for?”…“I always want to be remembered as the person that didn’t lead you astray. You might have thought my music was whack as hell but as long as I didn’t lead you astray that’s enough for me. Because that speaks volumes in the next world as opposed to this world.”
- Lupe Fiasco
Dumb it Down is the second single of Lupe Fiasco’s yet to be released, “The Cool”.
Pre order Lupe’s New Album HERE: (Amazon.com)
Keep reading for complete lyrics of Dumb it Down (and it will take a while to get some of it, lol)
[Verse 1:]
I’m fearless
Now hear this
I’m earless
And I’m peerless
That means I’m eyeless
Which means I’m tearless
Which means my iris resides where my ears is
Which means I’m blinded
But I’mma find it I can feel it’s nearness
But I’mma veer so I don’t come near
Like a chicken or a deer
But I remember I’m not a listener or a seer so my windshield smear
Here, you steer, I really shouldn’t be behind this, clearly cause my blindness
The windshield is minstrel, the whole grill is roadkill, so trill and so sincere. Yeah, I’m both them there
Took both pills, when a bloke in a trench coat and the locs in the chair had approached him here
And he clear as a ghost, so a biter of the throats in the mirror
The writer of the quotes for the ghosts who supplier of the notes to the living
Riveting is rosy, pockets full of posies, given to the mother of the deceased. Awaken at war, ’til I’m restin’ in peace
[Chorus 1:]
You goin’ over niggas’ heads Lu (Dumb it down)
They tellin’ me that they don’t feel you (Dumb it down)
Dumb It Down Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com
We ain’t graduate from school nigga (Dumb it down)
Them big words ain’t cool nigga (Dumb it down)
Yeah I heard Mean And Vicious nigga (Dumb it down)
Make a song for the bitches nigga (Dumb it down)
We don’t care about the weather nigga (Dumb it down)
You’ll sell more records if you (Dumb it down)
[Verse 2:]
And I’m mouthless
Which means I’m soundless
Now as far as the hearing, I’ve found it
It was as far as the distance from the earring to the ground is
But the doorknockers on the ear of a stewardess in a Lear
She fine and she flyin, I feel I’m flying by’em ’cause my mind’s on cloud nine and I’m a mime at the same time
Pimps see the wings on the underground king
Who’s also Klingon
To infinity and beyond
Something really stinks, but I Sphinx like Leon
Or lying in the desert
I’m flying on pegasus you’re flying on the pheasant
Rider of the white powder, picker of the fire flowers, spit hot fire like Dylon on Chappelle’s skit
Yeah, smell it on my unicorn, snort the white horse, but toot my own horn (sleep)
[Chorus 2:]
You’ve been shedding too much light Lu (Dumb it down)
You make’em wanna do right Lu (Dumb it down)
They’re getting self-esteem Lu (Dumb it down)
These girls are trying to be queens Lu (Dumb it down)
They’re trying to graduate from school Lu (Dumb it down)
They’re starting to think that smart is cool Lu (Dumb it down)
They’re trying to get up out the hood Lu (Dumb it down)
I’ll tell you what you should do (Dumb it down)
[Verse 3:]
And I’m brainless
Which means I’m headless
Like Ichabod Crane is
Or foreplay-less sex is
Which makes me stainless
With no neck left to hang the chain with
Which makes me necklace-less
Like a necklace theft
And I ain’t used my headrest yet
They said they need proof like a vestless chest ’bout the best, fair F-F-jet in the nest
Who exudes confidence and excess depth
Even Scuba Steve would find it hard to breathe
Around these leagues
My snorkle is a tuba, Lu the ruler around these seas
Westside Poseidon, Westside beside’em, chest high and rising
Almost touching the knees of stewardess and the pilot
Lucky they make it flowered
Personal floating devices, tricks falling out of my sleeves
David Blaine
Make it rain
Make a boat
I make a plane
Then, I pull the plug and I make it drain
Until I feel like flowing and filling it up again..(Westside)
[Chorus 3:]
You putting me to sleep nigga (Dumb it down)
That’s why you ain’t popping in the streets nigga (Dumb it down)
You ain’t winning no awards nigga (Dumb it down)
Robots and skateboards nigga? (Dumb it down)
GQ Man Of The Year G? (Dumb it down)
Shit ain’t rocking over here B (Dumb it down)
Won’t you talk about your cars nigga? (Dumb it down)
What the f*** is goyard nigga (Dumb it down)
Make it rain for the chicks (Dumb it down)
Pour champagne on a bitch (Dumb it down)
What the f*** is wrong with you? (Dumb it down)
How can I get on a song with you? (Dumb it down)
[Gemini: talking]
Look B, here’s my man, my two way, (hey) uh, what should I - ah here take this (hey) that right there, f*****my voice all the time nigga, (hey) nigga you hot to me, I like you (Dumb it down)
[Lupe:]
Bishop G, they told me I should come down cousin, but I flatly refuse I ain’t dumb down nothing
19 Responses to “Lupe Fiasco - Dumb it Down”
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Ummm….
Besides all the profanity and absolute vulgar language, what else is there for you to promote about these lyrics?
This brother has lyrically gone downhill since “Muhammad Walks”…. what a shame, so much potential [sigh].
Just goes to show that whatever “celebrity muslims” do, it doesn’t in some way make it halal.
Aman Ali… man…i have to completely disagree with you here… are u kidding me? you can’t even compare these lyrics to “muhammad walks..” these are ten times better… such potential? dude.. this song finds lupe on a peak… make it halal? bro.. as a friend of ten years.. take my advice, u gotta listen to this song again, u missed the whole message
Clearly Saad’s and my lyric tastes are different. The fact that i’m being encouraged to listen again to distasteful words is beyond belief… perhaps listening to profanity is a cultural norm for us.
The message this song is trying to promote (presumably encouraging African Americans not to fall victim to the negative stereo-types often portrayed in the media) didn’t need to drop to lower depths of using foul language sharing much in common with what it is actually trying criticise.
Even without listening to the song and just by looking at the posted the lyrics, the use of swearing is obvious. The ends do not justify the means in this context. We as muslims should try to guard our ears from delibrate exposure to profanity, Allah
knows best.
for the record - i dont condone vulgar language. If they post an edited version of the video please let me know and i will replace the link. Personally, i have pre-ordered the edited (curse-free) version of “The cool” and will encourage others to do the same.
If all you got out of the song was a few bad words then u missed the whole point of the song - its much more than that. Its not just falling victim to the sterotypes - its about a culture which deliberately intends to hold back people - keep people dumbed down and distracted by a world of luxuries and commodities, essentially distracting and entertaining ourselves to death. In other words, a world of feeding our nafs’ desires and not much else. This song is about rising above the what is so deplorable of todays pop culture, and Lupe’s refusal to be labeled as just another rapper of that culture.
“… a few bad words”….!!!? It seems that we have been in the lizards lair for sometime and quite oblivious to it.
The song uses, at least partly, deplorable language. The fact that one can buy “curse-full” and “curse-free” versions is very much part of the rap culture which tries to milk it both ways rather hypocritically. The refusal to be stero-typed in this label is half-hearted judging by the lyrics. Lyrical genious let down by the some of the same trappings rife in the industry.
Hope the benefit of becoming less “dumbed down” out-weighs the harm of listening to haram for those who expose themselves to such material as per their nafs’ desire.
umm do u get lupe’s lines, cuz i dont
Superstar was better than this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty0u1PzXfTo
Akhan: I get some of his lines, but a lot of his lines are way over my head.
Assalamualaikum my dear brothers,
I get Br Lupes message. It is aimed at hip-hop-heads, we non-hip-hop-heads get our info and education from an entirely different breed of people, the Ulema.
Alas my bros when asked on the day when we will all be Standing, do we want to have to answer for putting this bakwasi filth up? How are we gonna answer? “…yeah but it was the message behind the profanity…”
What would any of the Sahaba (RA) say to hear such unmitigated nonesense? Bro Heseeb, you’re encouraging us to order “The Cool”? What’s that a music album? Has it been approved halaal by any single scholar? Sadly we live in a time when my brothers take it upon themselves to become Mujtahid with barely a shadow of ‘Ilm and declare the Haraam Halaal.
One would advise that we follow the example of Rasulullah Muhammad (say it with me now) Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam), but to know this perfect example we must study and learn the Hadit and mubarak Sunnah. This cannot be done via filthy language, mad beats, dirty videos, and do-it-yourself muftis.
Walaikumasalaam Imran,
I am not claiming to be a mujtahid - and for u to make that claim is quite erroneous.
Personally, I am not a hip hop head. But being a young man raised in New York city, and educated in Queens, The Bronx, Long Island, and presently, in Brooklyn - I know many who are. I know the impact music plays on the lives of so many - and I am of the opinion that it has the ability to provide some benefit - and Lupe’s message in particular can positively impact many people. If that includes some of my readers - then I do encourage they listen to his music.
Obviously, if you think music is haraam, then obviously dont order it. Im not forcing u to buy the album, listen to the music, or even visit my website. If you dont like the messages I am promoting on my site, then by all means please do refrain from visiting my site.
It seems like you have some issue towards me. I apologize for any mistakes I may have made and ask for your forgiveness. Please contact me if there is anything you would like to discuss. The last thing i want is for any Muslim brother or sister to have any ill feelings in their heart against me.
Please make dua for me,
Take care,
your brother,
h. ahmed
From what I’m hearing with these comments is that there are mixed attitudes towards Music (Haram v. Halal). Nevertheless, another thing I’m hearing is that Music is another medium of communication (and dawah maybe…)
Perhaps Muslims are just are products of their environments just like everyone else, and are going to be listening to music anyways (maybe)
I guess we all need to ask ourselves- where is our balance?
Bro Haseeb,
Jazakallahu-khairan for your considered response.
I take issue with making errenous assumptions. One should never fill in half of someone elses arguments for them.
I did not say that you are trying to be a mujtahid. My meaning is that we should take from those who are, rather than those who are not.
I agree that music has the ability to provide some benefit but still be unacceptable, simularly one cannot drink wine with the intention of taking only the benefit and controling yourself against the bad. What is Haram is based on Qur’aan and Sunnah, not on our percieved benefit or dis-benefit.
It is fair to suggest avoiding certain websites with objectionable content is advisable, I might suggest this to avoid fitnah, but I woudn’t like to suggest this when the intention is to advise to what is good and discourage what is bad. Inshaallah we will keep this on a level and act with good adab.
Bro, there’s no reason for me to have a personal “issue” with anyone, I understand that Islamically correct information should be forwarded on a forum where the information may be incorrect.
As for attitudes, opinions, mediums, environment and Dawah, we are not in a position to strip it down and take a view on what is good for us. The Message has reched us, the people of knowledge have spoken. Are we to disregard their word for our own unqualified interjections? Let us be clear that there are no mixed attitudes or differences of opinion that would permit this hip-hoppery amongst the people we take our deen from.
Assalamualaikum
Imran Nawaz
anyways aman… if u don’t want to listen to it, thats fine, the fact of the matter is, the “distasteful” lyrics are being used to critique the criticism that artists like lupe receieve, maybe its a culture that you don’t connect with… my point was, before judging his music, u have to understand it and where he is coming from… but to each is their own man
Walaikum Asalaam
You cannot compare music with alcohol. Ive had this discussion in the past many times on my site. Just search music and islam and ull see discussions ive had in the past, also read my FAQ section.
Its a difference of opinion. Imam Siraj Wahhaj is featured on Native Deen’s latest album. Shaykh Abdullah Adhami was featured on Outlandish’s last CD (which had complete music). Sami Yusuf has cited many scholars who support the permissibility of music on several occasions. Even Imam Suhaib Webb has recently said:
You have your opinion, I respect it. Thank you for your nasiha. But music isnt a black and white issue, contrary to what you and many other Muslims would like to believe.
But in the end - its one issue - i dont want it to be a source of disunity or contemptment in our hearts. Please do keep me in ur duas.
As my posts above bear witness, I have not tried to dispute the issue of music permissibilty in Islam per se, the scholars giving the fatwas and the people following them will bear their own responsibilties like I will mine.
How can anyone justify listening to profanity (regardless of context) was beyond belief to me? Which scholarly opinion will one bring forth now to support listening to profanity if the overall intention and message is positive albeit with deliberate profanity? The same blogs that promote Islamic events etc also promote such despicable words (caution: with well to do intentions?!?)… how can one explain that? My fault for I have exposed myself to I guess… woe unto me that I shall visit such places online and then complain.
Pehaps we are already on the slippery slope which will take us to halal-disguised versions of things prohibited as prophecised, Allah
knows best.
Aman Ali,
Shut the hell up. Its curses who cares. If you don’t like the words don’t listen to rap, but don’t listen and then whine about it. These lyrics are smarter and have more of an impact on the world then you ever will. You are a perfect example of the title of this song. All you got out of this song was curse words, so he really does need to dumb it down for people like you.
well said lol
i wont say i understand your religion as im woefully ignorant of both it, and your customs. with this said id just like to say that the cursing was actually part of the point of the song to show the flaws of current music, and show the current stereotype that this song is trying to help us avoid. like i said i dont understand your culture, but i think as the cursing was actually very powerful in portraying what the music industry has become it should be to a point overlooked in the analasyis of this song.
respect to your opinions, and culture even though i disagree.