Tetsuo & Youth is a sprawling dialogue of America’s ills - from the plight of the heartbroken mother to inner-city crime so prevalent that you can’t even order pizza, Lupe weaved tales that hit home and allowed him to showcase his renowned wordplay. But in a world dying for social commentary, Lupe got his groove back. Not that he hasn’t given us solid material in the past five years, he’s just been forever haunted by the specter of his Lasers album and many ill-timed social media rants. It’s not an easy listen but it’s necessary.įorgotten favorites: “Cripple,” “Happy Timbuck2 Day,” “WAV Files” 3. Tetsuo & Youth (2015)Įdd said: By 2015 we all thought Lupe Fiasco’s best days had passed him by. When Lupe’s focused, he’s one of the best lyricists on the planet, and he really has his game face on here. Lupe weaves an ambitious tale of slave ships and revolution and people living underwater (it’s a LOT) but the prevailing narrative of bondage and freedom is what really hits home. Maybe it’s because he has so much to say.
And even though Lupe’s seventh LP is yet another massive undertaking, somehow it doesn’t collapse under its own weight. It’s nowhere near the heights of Food & Liquor I, but it’s a step in the right direction after a tough previous year.įorgotten favorites: “Form Follows Function,” “B*tch Bad,” “Lamborghini Angels”Įdd said: I’ve criticized a lot of albums in recent years for needless length – Drake, Meek Mill, Jacquees, and a ton more. The storytelling and concept tracks that built his career shine here in fine form, despite some so-so production and slight preachiness. Reviews were mixed at the time but it’s not a bad outing. 1 (2012)Įdd said: F&L II has become a bit of a forgotten album for Lupe, lost between the drama of Lasers and his Tetsuo & Youth revival. It’s just not the album that fans, nor Lupe, wanted.įorgotten favorites: “All Black Everything,” “Words I Never Said,” “Letting Go”ĥ. Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt.
Look beyond the endless guest stars with grating hooks and you’ll find a few morsels (“All Black Everything” is one of my favorite Lupe tracks ever and incredibly relevant today). Its biggest sin is that it’s just not Lupe. And despite its reputation as the worst album in the history of the cosmos, it’s not THAT bad. Most of you reading this already know the story – Lupe was on a meteoric rise, his label wanted more pop-friendly material, Lupe balked and the slapdash Lasers was born from that chaos. Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5Įdd said: Oh yeah, THIS album. The first half of the album is conceptually ambitious but by the end he comes off as a clone of inferior rappers. Did Lupe really “Dumb It Down?” Nah, but his attempts to please both Day Ones and mainstream audiences go off the rails.įorgotten favorites: “Jump,” “Tranquillo” But on this undercover mission, Lupe went in too deep and fell victim to the same mistakes as underachieving peers. He’s intentionally using contemporary rap styles and production to market his message to new listeners, almost using Drogas Light as a commentary itself on the state of modern hip-hop. I get what Lupe was attempting to do here with the uncharacteristic poppy production and sing-songy hooks. We’ll be excluding his mixtapes this time around.Įdd said: Sigh.
Let’s look at the past 13 years of Lupe’s career, rating his LPs by quality, album consistency, and impact on the genre.
#Lupe fiasco the cool professional#
His victories have often been clouded by both personal and professional drama, but when he’s good, he’s one of the best we’ve ever had. On his best day, Lupe is one of the greatest MCs to lay hands on a microphone – a man that has 5-star albums on his resume and typically outshines his peers with ease. And that’s what makes being a Lupe fan such a frustrating, yet fascinating experience. You never know what you’re gonna get from him. But even the biggest fan can admit that, despite his incredible lyricism and intriguing concepts, his career has had serious peaks and valleys. One of the most frequent criticisms I got was from fans of Lupe Fiasco, who felt I shortchanged him by placing him so far down my list. I couldn’t help but join in. Somebody gotta speak truth around here, might as well be me. Remember a few weeks back when everybody and their great aunt Erma were dropping top 50 lists ranking the best rappers of all time?