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Old School Love is a song by American hip hop recording artist Lupe Fiasco. The song released on October 14, 2013 as the lead single from his fifth studio album, Tetsuo & Youth and features guest vocals by Ed Sheeran.

Background[]

In February 2013, English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran said that he was working in the studio with Lupe Fiasco. He told pressparty, "We have the same A&R in America and he just gave me about seven beats and said write choruses to all of these beats. Lupe loved one of them and is going to hop on it. I'm a massive Lupe Fiasco fan, so it's cool." On October 9, 2013, Fiasco announced that the first single from his fifth studio album Tetsuo & Youth, would be a song featuring Ed Sheeran titled "Old School Love". Along with releasing the cover artwork for the single, he revealed it would be released to iTunes on October 14, 2013.

Composition[]

In the song, Fiasco professes his love for old-school hip hop through his lyrics, as Ed Sheeran sings the soulful, laid-back hook. Fiasco's lyrics reflect, the changes hip-hop has gone through since the 1980s and 1990s, relating hip hop's loss of innocence to the crime and struggle currently plaguing his hometown Chicago. Also, Fiasco gives reasons for his move from making political music and "runs through hip-hop's roots and gently critiques the present" era of hip hop. Additionally he references The Fat Boys, Melle Mel and pre-Law & Order Ice-T. The DJ Frank E production is backed by a spare R&B-tinged, melodic piano-based instrumental. Multiple publications such as Billboard and the Chicago Tribune compared its production sound to Kanye West's "Family Business" from West's debut album The College Dropout.] XXL referred to the song as a "sticky sweet ballad."

Music Video[]

The music video was filmed with Ed Sheeran in Chicago. It was premiered on December 9, 2013 on MTV.

Template:Infobox Music Video

Critical Reception[]

John Sakamoto of The Toronto Star said, the "song's affection is old-school hip-hop, which means this smooth, frictionless ballad is 4 1/2 minutes of pure nostalgia.

Chart Performance[]

Chart (2013) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) 23
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) 100
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 18
US Billboard Hot 100 95

Lyrics[]

[Intro: Ed Sheeran]
Give me your old school love right now
You know that only you and me alone...

[Hook x2: Ed Sheeran]
As long as I'm here
As long as you love me
Give me that old school love right now

[Verse 1: Lupe Fiasco]
Give me that late 80s early 90s old school
Feeling like my second album, so cool
Chiraq summer looking so cruel
Look shorty in the eye, told me it was no rules
Went to speak but was like never mind
Let my mind just sneak back to a better time
When I was his age and if he's ever mine
Thinking he would only think back to this and never find
Better times to think back to when it comes
And he's older in the presence of somebody young
Telling him the same things that he told me
And he reacts the same way as that OG
But it's old school, it's like '03
And this old man is my old me
Takes a long time to happen so fast
To realize that your future is somebody else's past
Wassup...

[Hook x2]

[Verse 2: Lupe Fiasco]
Analog black vinyl spinning sounding so good
Top down, can't be a classic if it's no wood
If you don't know what, then you new school
Floor model is the foundation for your YouTubes
Model flows off of Fat Boys and Juice Crews
Melli Mel's, Ice-T's, and the 2 Cools
Add a Moe Dee and a Double L
Had to walk cause it's hard to run in those unbuckled shells
One microphone and a couple 12s
Six drum sounds and a couple bells
Is all you had to make a couple rails
And that's a trap, and if you want it (eeeeeeeh)
You have to make it like that
Now what's one turtle to a couple snails?
Takes a long time to happen so fast
And realize your future is somebody else's past
Wassup...

[Hook x2]

[Verse 3: Lupe Fiasco]
Chiraq summer looking so cruel
How can I reel-to-reel when there's Pro Tool?
I can't dig it at all because there's no tube
Fire when you speak but ain't no warmth in your vocals
Might have been a better rhyme then just never mind
If it's better with time then think in line
That you're going to be your nicest 'round your midlife crisis
If you're life like Christ live your midlife like it's... Christ-like
Now I ain't psychic
I know it's all a cycle and everybody bike it
And France is enormous you're Lance with endorsements
But you might need a hand to enhance your performance
Consider this a kilogram of encouragement
Teach you how to sneak it past the enforcement
And when you get it through in a manner so cool
Remember to give a little nod to the old school
Wassup...

[Bridge: Ed Sheeran]
Give me your old school love right now
I'm leaving it all up to you darling, giving you everything you want
And give me that old school love right now
You know that only you and me alone...

[Hook x2]

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