The album that Chicago's Lupe Fiasco claims to hate finally drops this week.
Not that the rapper hates the songs on "Lasers," but the rapper has told media outlets like Complex magazine that he hated the process behind making it.
Battles between record companies and artists are as old as rock & roll itself, but even judging by that history, Fiasco's fights for creative control with Atlantic Records were legendary.
Two previous projects that Fiasco announced and started to work on were halted by the record company, leading to protests by the artist and his fans.
Fiasco told the Chicago Sun-Times that he had to create "commercial art that appeases the corporate side," and "acquiesce to certain forces." He also said the process made him "super-depressed, lightly suicidal."
The album itself features production work from the likes of the Neptunes and guest vocals from Trey Songz, John Legend and Skylar Grey, among others.
The first single, "The Show Goes On," has already reached gold status.
Lasers will be Fiasco's third album since the debut of "Food & Liquor" in 2006.
Fiasco will be in Chicago Thursday to promote the album. He'll be at the FYE store (26 E Randolph) at 7 p.m. igning copies of the city. You must buy a CD to get it signed at the first come first served event.
Later that night he'll be at the House of Blues Foundation Room from 9 p.m.-midnight for a party benefiting his charity organization. Tickets are $40 and available at HOB Will Call at (312) 923-2000.
