Lupe Fiasco Alleges Lyor Cohen Tanked His Career After He Refused To Sign A 360 Deal

Lupe Fiasco alleges that Lyor Cohen, the industry executive who has worked at Warner Music Group and Def Jam in addition to co-founding, 300 Entertainment, threatened to stop promoting his records if he refused to sign a 360 record deal. He recalled the alleged conversation during an appearance on Way Up With Angela Yee, last week. He says it occurred after the release of his second studio album, The Cool.

“I tell artists this because I think it’s important to let the artistic community know, this is what you’re really dealing with," he began, as caught by VIBE. "I’m not making this up. I’m not gassing anything, and I’ll stand on this in the court of law. Lyor was like, ‘Yo if you don’t sign this 360 deal, we’re not promoting your records.'” He further alleged that Cohen told him: “Not only are we not promoting your records, we’re not promoting even the records that we give you.”

Lupe Fiasco Performs During Hip Hop 50 Live Concert In N.Y.C.

US rapper Lupe Fiasco performs during the Hip Hop 50 Live concert, marking the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip hop, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City on August 11, 2023. A genre, a culture and a lifestyle all at once: hip hop has traveled from the block party to the billionaire's club, soundtracked protest and celebration, and asserted seismic influence over the course of pop. The reigning music style evolved in rapid, anarchic ways, rocking the industry establishment that long resisted its power, and fully embodying the culture of youth even as it grew. This year hip hop turns 50, an anniversary that's offered its elders, its fans, and the city that birthed it a milepost to reflect on its cultural weight. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

Despite being willing to negotiate the terms of the 360 deal, it ended up falling through. “I didn’t sign, and my career was like ‘goodbye,’” he said. “My career ended at Lasers.” Fiasco dropped Lasers as his third studio album in 2011. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 after selling 200,000 copies in the first week. He's since released a total of nine studio albums and none have charted as high.

Lupe Fiasco Discusses His Career

Check out Fiasco's full comments on dealing with the business side of the music industry below. He dropped his ninth studio album, Samurai, back in June. Be on the lookout for further updates on Lupe Fiasco on HotNewHipHop.

[Via]