Lupe Fiasco unleashes the visuals for “Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free),” the first single off his upcoming album Food & Liquor 2: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1, due September 25. The song ignited controversy over its sample of Pete Rock and CL Smooth’s 1992 classic “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.).,” but the rappers were able to resolve their dispute.

Lupe Fiasco comes with the second single from his upcoming album Food & Liquor 2: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1, due September 25.

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Lupe Fiasco fans will have to wait until the fall to get their hands on Food & Liquor 2: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1. The Chicago rapper has announced a release date for the album.

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Lupe Fiasco ignited a firestorm with the release of his first Food & Liquor 2 single “Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free)” earlier this week. The track didn’t sit well with Pete Rock, who produced the 1992 sample “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.).” But after a public dispute, they have settled their differences.

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Lupe Fiasco digs in the crates and samples Pete Rock and CL Smooth’s 1992 classic “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.).” on “Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free),” the first single off his upcoming album Food & Liquor 2: The Great American Rap Album.

The song has already ignited controversy over its sample. “No disrespect to lupe fiasco and i like him alot but TROY should be left alone,” tweeted Pete Rock. “Feel so violated, the beat is next to my heart and was made outta anguish and pain. When it’s like that it should not be touched by no one! It’s so hard for folks to make original music, I possess that, but these dudes are scared of that and this is supposed to be HIP HOP?”

Do you agree with Pete Rock or is the backlash unwarranted? Sound off below.

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Lupe Fiasco shows his stars and stripes on the black-and-white cover of “Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free),” the first single off his album Food & Liquor 2: The Great American Rap Album. The song drops May 22, while the long-awaited sequel to his 2006 album is due later this year.

“With this record, I just wanted to go back to the essence of what made that record so special,” the Chicago rhymer told Fuse. “The musicality that was on Food & Liquor that the original hardcore Lupe fans appreciated, we put it on this record, but to the tenth power.”

Are you excited to hear Lupe’s new single? Let us know.

Lupe Fiasco is serving up the highly-anticipated sequel to his 2006 album. The Chicago rapper revealed new details about his double CD Food & Liquor 2 during an interview with Fuse at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, Tennessee.

“With this record, I just wanted to go back to the essence of what made that record so special,” said Lupe, who plans to drop the first single on May 22. “The musicality that was on Food & Liquor that the original hardcore Lupe fans appreciated, we put it on this record, but to the tenth power.”

One of his favorite cuts on the album is called “Form Follows Function.” “It’s a monster,” he said. “Rappers ain’t fu**in’ with that. That’s how good it is.”

He made Food & Liquor 2 without pressure from fans or the label. “It’s the Lupe Fiasco that I want to be without the industry constraints, without trying to please the hardcore fans or the new fans,” he explained. “It’s just me, what I would do for myself, if nobody ever heard it. This is the kind of music that I would make. It’s a masterpiece. It’s real good. It’s real fu**ing good.”

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Some of the biggest hip-hop and R&B stars in the U.S. traveled Down Under for Supafest 2012, Australia’s largest urban music festival.

A tatted Chris Brown thrilled with his chart-topping hits, Kelly Rowland added some sizzle to the stage, Lupe Fiasco raged in a Bulls jersey, and Big Sean and Trey Songz catered to the ladies during the second day in Sydney.

Diddy and Rick Ross pulled out at the last minute, citing issues with promoters, but hip-hop vets Ice Cube, Ludacris, and Naughty by Nature filled the void.

The four-date festival will also play Melbourne and Perth, and is expected to draw over 100,000 attendees.

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