From a recent interview on Hip Hop Game, “‘Dumb It Down’ was actually one of the first records I wrote for this. I stopped writing for awhile and when I came back, this was one of the first records that I wrote. I was shaking the cobwebs off. At first it was called ‘Space Travelin’’ and I was just zoning out on that. I turned the record in and one of my kind-of A&R dudes was like, ‘Yo, man, why don’t you put another hook on it? I like the record but I don’t like the hook on it.’ So we went back to ‘Dumb It Down.’ The verses are intense. The verses are truly intense. I don’t care if you don’t get it or if they don’t get it. The purpose of the record was just to be that lyrical street record to put out with no real intentions to try and change anybody over. It was really just like, ‘Lupe can rhyme.’” But the blogosphere has taken a aim at the video with various sites criticizing it’s production along with the track.

Idolator went as far as calling it “shitty,” spurring further like-minded feedback in the comments section which ranged from “I think this was edited with Windows Movie Maker” to “pretty much, he’s referencing hip-hop’s faults while enacting hip-hop’s faults.” While I’d like to say that I don’t agree with either of those statements, there is something not merely cheesy, but quasi-racist in terms of the use of a dumbed down white symbol.

But what separates parody from racism though? Take for instance a possible scenario where Vanilla Ice wanted to take a stab at reentering the rap game by issuing a single and video aimed at the often low brow themes of music. If he were to include, for sake of irony, a character similar to one portrayed through the mock-stereotype of Lebron James’ “The Lebrons” commercials I’m fairly certain that there would be significant backlash at him for making such a decision. I’m probably putting too much thought into this though; Rawkus‘ Drew Ricketts probably sums up what I mean without straggling into a lose-lose argument, “Lupe rhyming in a black and white studio sort of understates all the things he is saying. Not to say he should have been flashy but this simplistic scene was too bare for my taste. Irony maybe? I’m not sure. Song is still dope.” Yes, it is. I think the song itself is a stand out and Lupe’s lyrics are actually quite smart, that’s why I’m still indifferent as to the video due to its questionable symbols.

Lupe Fiasco “Dumb It Down” Lyrics:

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

You goin’ over niggas’ heads Lu (Dumb it down)
They tellin’ me that they don’t feel you (Dumb it down)
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)

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)

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)

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)

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 fuck 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 fuck is wrong with you? (Dumb it down)
How can I get on a song with you? (Dumb it down)

Look B, here’s my man, my two way, (hey) uh, what should I – ah here take this (hey) that right there, fucking my voice all the time nigga, (hey) nigga you hot to me, I like you (Dumb it down)

Bishop G, they told me I should come down cousin, but I flatly refuse I ain’t dumb down nothin’

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Also: New Lupe Fiasco: “Dumb It Down”