Lupe Fiasco cuts a fascinating hip hop figure. Avoiding the genre’s fondness for self congratulatory gangsta speak and bling toting, the Chicago native makes music that is intellectually stimulating, socially aware and highly innovative.
His 2006 debut album Food and Liquor was an absolute revelation, possessing the aforementioned qualities and going on to win the hearts and minds of critics and music lovers alike.
His sophomore long player The Cool has been referred to as “a loose concept album”, based on the song and character of the same name featured on his acclaimed debut.
It boasts production credits by Soundtrakk, Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump and Brit team Unkle, as well as guest appearances from GemStones, Josh Homme and Snoop Dogg, amongst others.
They say:
AV Club: “The Cool oozes geek chic with terrific songs, smart, dense lyrics, and nimble, eclectic production.”
Pitchfork: “He’s good enough that even when he comes up short, he’s still better than most.”
The Village Voice: “Lupe proves rap is still creative enough to indulge bugged out ambitions, and he doesn’t just brag about what a smart ass he is.”
We say:
Despite his commercial success and critical acclaim, Lupe has had a rough 12 months. His father passed away, his buddy Stack Bundles passed away, and his business partner Charles “Chilly” Patton was sentenced to 44 years in prison on drug charges relating to possession of 6 kilos of heroin.
But like all great artists, Lupe is able to channel his pain and darkness into something positive and universal, as he takes a moral stand against such things as apathy, materialism, and the dark side of corporate America.
His lyrics are as ghetto smart as ever, but they are often at odds with the music, with Lupe, always willing to tear up the rule book, expanding his hip hop beatscape with elements of prog rock, chamber pop and U2 widescreen melodramatics – ‘The Coolest’, for example, sees the young MC wrapping his rapid rhymes around fame and temptation, backed by tolling, John Cage esque piano chords and ethereal gospel vocals.
‘Little Weapon’ offers a disturbing juxtaposition of images of brainwashed Third World child soldiers and video gamers amid candy coated synth and ‘Little Drummer Boy’ beat.
‘Hello/Goodbye (Uncool)’ addresses the rap world’s fickleness and his own emotional turmoil following the death of those close to him and is set against Unkle’s signature trip hop atmospherics and Josh Homme’s nifty guitar work.
It’s certainly an interesting juxtaposition, with Lupe serving up his own slice of heaven and hell, if you will, and one that will only endear him to a larger audience.
And when the result is as profound and refreshing as The Cool, this can’t be a bad thing.
Like this? Try these:
Nas – It Was Written
Kayne West – The College Dropout
U2 – Pop
RELEASED
21st Jan
LABEL
Atlantic
POSTED...
Sun 20 Jan at 6:40pm
