Rapper and producer Lupe Fiasco has spoken about the Child Rebel Soldiers (CRS) supergroup, formed in 2007, featuring Pharrell Williams and Kanye West. On October 5, 2024, during an interview with Sway’s Universe, he said he was on good terms with the two band members but the fans felt betrayed as the project never happened.
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The group was disbanded in 2013 owing to issues related to schedules. Lupe Fiasco also said he was blamed for the outcome though it wasn’t his fault. He continued:
“It’s the two richest n*ggas in the group. Ya’ll putting it on the poorest n*gga in the group to bring this across the finish line. P eating caviar golden sandwiches, Ye is stitching up two different Rick Owens coats to wear in the shower. I’m trying to corral these two.”
Fiasco reflected on the strong fan support for CRS after the release of Us Placers in 2007 and how the group had always been a topic of discussion. However, the project eventually lost momentum as their lives changed, with wealth and other distractions taking priority.
He mentioned that one of the ideas discussed was to pass the CRS concept to a new generation of artists, suggesting that younger talent could take up the mantle and make CRS their own, like a hip-hop exile.
The idea never gained traction, prompting Lupe Fiasco to revisit the original concept of Child Rebel Soldier, where he rapped solo over Radiohead samples. However, when he released music in that style, Radiohead issued a major cease-and-desist order.
Reportedly, Lupe Fiasco planned to work on a full-length album
Pharrell Williams came up with the group's name, and although Us Placers didn't chart highly, it made Rolling Stone's list of the best songs of 2007. Afterward, Fiasco intended to record a full-length album with the group, but progress was slow due to the artists' various label commitments.
There were rumors that the group would debut live on Kanye West's Glow in The Dark Tour alongside Lady Gaga. However, these plans were scrapped after the tour was canceled following Kanye West's VMA incident with Taylor Swift.
Between 2007 and 2009, CRS completed four tracks for their planned album, God Unwilling. The album's progress was slow, as West was focused on creating his masterpiece My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, while Pharrell was occupied with his production work through The Neptunes and his commitments to his funk rock band, N*E*R*D.
In 2010, West launched his GOOD Friday series, offering fans free track downloads to build excitement for his upcoming album. Among these releases was Don’t Stop, under the CRS name, marking the group's first track in two years.
Lupe Fiasco reportedly shared that Don’t Stop had been recorded back in 2008, during a time when a CRS album was still a possibility.
Eventually, the CRS project was pushed aside when West opted to collaborate with Jay-Z on Watch the Throne instead of pursuing the CRS album.
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