F&F

This past week Lupe Fiasco released his second album entitled The Cool. Ryan and I are going to be doing a joint post, both doing a review on the cd, so as Im up first, here goes

To be plainly honest, Im relatively new to the world of hip hop, I havent been listening long, but in the short time that I have been opening my ears, Ive decided on a couple of things:

1. The radio has suffocated rap music
2. Ring tone rap is killing hip hop
3. People judge hip hop and the hip hop culture off of what they hear on MTV etc.

In the past year or two, Ive tried to find the good stuff, the piece of hip hop that is still thriving and living. I feel like Ive found some. Im no personality, no expert, but I feel like Ive gained some knowledge that Ive willingly added to my mental music library. And from this knowledge, Ive made some firm decisions about Lupes album.

At first I was just excited to listen to it, I had heard a couple singles and it sounded like it was going to be a great album. For lack of a better phrase, I wasnt prepared. I was not ready for an album like this. Earlier this year I had been listening to albums from Little Brother, Jay-Z, and Louis Logic, and I was thoroughly impressed. This kinda stuff was what I knew was still alive in rap, I knew it was there- I felt like I had found some chill beats and lyrics that talked about more than sex drugs and cash.
The Cool is different though, while I've listened to tracks from other artists that have a depth I thought unmatched, I've never listened to a hip hop album that places this depth at the center of every song. If I could be bold enough to make the statement, I feel that The Cool transcends the rap game, it has raised the bar to a level previously unreached. I guess to put this as plainly as possible, Lupe killed it.

Ryan will probably go in depth with the story told in Lupe's albums, but Id like to talk about a couple of my favorite tracks. I want to start with Fighters. When I first heard the beat I was really interested, and as my itunes played through the track I was hooked more and more as each second went on. What I like so much about the record is that while Lupe's telling a story, I feel like its almost open for interpretation. At first I thought the chorus was talking to the 50 cents of the world, but after some extra listening I feel like the track is almost challenging Lupe as he says what he has to say, and for anybody who listens to this album all the way through, youll have to agree with me that hes got a mouthful.

Secondly, I really enjoyed Paris, Tokyo. Its just chill. Its just that track you listen to in the car when youre with those people who keep you calm, it sounds like a classic, like something you forgot you knew, youll know what I mean when you hear it. Its the breath of fresh air on the record, most of the other tracks are laying down the law.

And aside from Dumb It Down where Lupe destroys what everyone thinks is rap these days, thats it for me. I loved the album, I hope you do too, look for Ryan to add onto this post soon or just write a new one with his thoughts.
If you wanna sell more records you gotta dumb it down. psyche




-lando


ps; no song of the day this time, just go buy the album right now.