Lupe Fiasco announced his new album, Samurai, on Friday (May 17) and shared the upcoming project’s first single of the same title.
The Chicago rapper revealed that his ninth studio album, Samurai, will be released on June 28. It will feature eight tracks, all produced by his longtime collaborator Soundtrakk.
Soundtrakk is known for producing some of Lupe’s biggest hits, including “Kick, Push,” “Superstar,” and “Hip Hop Saved My Life.”
Along with the announcement, Lupe released the title track, “Samurai,” with a music video that shows him rapping around his hometown. Lupe described Samurai as one of his most personal albums yet.
News of the album release came with the tracklist, shown below.
1. Samurai
2. Mumble Rap
3. Cake
4. Palaces
5. Headbanger
6. Big Foot
7. Outside
8. Til Eternity
“Fans often say I don’t do personal records,” Lupe said, according to Season of Mist. “But if you listen closely, you’ll find pieces of me in there. This album is one of my more personal records. It’s not a full biography, but my personal experiences are woven into all my music. Some tracks are from a character’s point of view, but many are me. The album touches on my life as an artist and the struggles other artists face.”
Lupe also shared his inspiration for making Samurai with Soundtrakk and his manager Charles “Chilly” Patton, who was released from prison last year after serving 16 years. He explained the profound meaning behind the album title. “It felt great to be back in the studio as a family,” he said. “‘Samurai’ means to serve. To me, it means serving the community or, in this case, the rap community that I’ve been part of for years. We have a duty and purpose to serve. The title is important to me. Even before rap, martial arts was my whole life and still is. This album reflects that, inspired by a quote from one of my favorite artists.”
He added, “The themes of the album speak to the constant fight and battles in the entertainment industry. It’s about what we need to defend.”Samurai follows his 2022 album Drill Music in Zion, also produced by Soundtrakk and Lupe.