Lupe Fiasco has pulled a rabbit out of the hat by announcing he’s reviving his supergroup, Child Rebel Soldier (CRS). But this time, there’s a unique twist that no one saw coming. Instead of collaborating with Kanye West and Pharrell, Lupe plans to take on this venture solo, rapping primarily over Radiohead beats.
In a candid chat with Stereogum, the Chicago rap sensation shared his vision to reboot CRS in the next six months to a year. However, it won’t be the trio fans remember. “I’m gonna reboot CRS in the next six months, maybe next year,” he said. “Tyler, [The Creator] has one of the CRS records. But it’s gonna go back to the original energy, which was me rapping over Radiohead beats.”
Lupe elaborated on how he plans to breathe new life into this project. “It’s this weird relationship, because it’s kind of like, do I put it out as freestyles because I’ll never be able to clear those records? I’ve always wanted to do an album with [Radiohead’s] producer, Nigel Godrich, [so] do I go work with Nigel?” he mused.
He continued, “I know I’m not gonna be able to work with Radiohead and do an album with them; that shit’s pie in the sky. I’ll just go back to that original [vibe], just go back and find those dope loops and samples from Radiohead or their solo records, loop the shit up, and make little beats out of it, and crush with some dope ass lyrics.” Lupe joked about possibly getting sued for using the samples but hinted he’ll press on anyway.
CRS initially wowed fans in 2007 with their hit single “Us Placers,” which heavily sampled Radiohead’s Thom Yorke. Despite the buzz, they only released two more tracks as an official group. Lupe took fans down memory lane as he reflected on the group’s inception and challenges. The idea was a great mix of talent with each member bringing beats to the table. “It became this group — Pharrell has beats, Ye got beats, I got beats. But then it was like, ‘Well, what are you gonna rap about?’”
Lupe decided to rap about the pitfalls of fame and luxury, a theme apparent in “Us Placers.” He pitched the concept to his group mates. However, aligning the busy schedules of three iconic artists proved difficult. “It kept getting lost in the sauce and there was a realization that this was not gonna happen,” Lupe admitted. The dream of CRS slowly waned as Pharrell and Kanye dived into other ventures.
Last year, Lupe dropped a bombshell by revealing that there are unreleased CRS tracks. When a fan mentioned the possibility of these hidden gems existing, Lupe confirmed their existence. He even sent Tyler, The Creator, two unheard tracks called “Engine Light” and “Shrink,” which left Tyler stunned. “BRO[.] WHAT THE FUCK[.] these r crazy” was Tyler’s reaction, complete with a face-holding-back-tears emoji.
Though it seems unlikely we’ll see the original CRS back together, Lupe’s passion and determination promise something extraordinary. So, while fans might miss the trio, Lupe Fiasco’s plans for a solo CRS offer a fresh, intriguing take on a beloved project.
Child Rebel Soldier may not be what it once was, but with Lupe Fiasco steering the ship solo, it’s bound to be an exciting journey. Prepare for something special as Lupe dives into Radiohead beats and delivers the unique flavor fans crave.
