Exclusive Video: Lupe Fiasco Fans Protest Outside Label Office

Approximately 200 die-hard Lupe Fiasco fans assembled outside of Atlantic Records" Midtown Manhattan offices today to protest the long-delayed release of the Chicago rapper"s album Lasers. (This despite the fact that the label announced earlier this month that the album will be coming out on March 8, 2011.) In response, Warner Music Group CEO Lyor Cohen came out with Lupe, carrying a boombox blasting music from the planned disc. Rolling Stone spoke to Cohen afterward. "It was a great group of passionate fans taking to the streets to celebrate Lupe and the new album," he said. "No surprise — they totally reflected his kind of constructive thoughtfulness. When we saw the fans and heard them clamoring for the music, I just had to grab a boom box and go out to the streets to give them a taste." Watch above as Lupe discusses the disc, and Cohen engages with fans.

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Song Stories

“Time to Pretend”

MGMT | 2008

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”

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