The Cool

Although I heard Lupe Fiasco on Kanye West's track "Touch The Sky", it wasn't until I heard his track "Kick, Push" that I actually started paying attention to Lupe. The track wasn't groundbreaking but it was nice to hear a refreshing sound from an up and coming artist that put you back to the days of real hip hop music. Other than Little Brother, there hasn't been too many acts in these days and times to make you feel inspired about real hip hop music. Most of the time you just see yourself going back to your favorite rap CDs of the 80s and 90s to get that feeling.

When I purchased Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor, I was impressed the by overall feel of the CD. The production wasn't complex and Lupe wasn't scared to dare to be different on certain tracks on his debut CD. For instance, on tracks like "The Instrumental" and "American Terrorist", you wouldn't have got a feeling after hearing "Kick Push" and "I Gotcha" that you would come across tracks that may not have been authentic hip hop. However, you stil enjoyed songs like these, as well as, traditional hip hop tracks such as "Hurt Me Soul", "Just Might Be Ok", "He Say, She Say" and the original introduction of Michael Young History on "The Cool", which was Kanye West's only production contribution to Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor.

When I heard "Dumb It Down" on Lupe's myspace page, I knew that his sophomore CD was going to be just as nice as "Food & Liquor". Lupe talked about the theme of what most major labels want you to do nowadays. Instead of making tracks with substance, labels want you to talk about white tees, hustlin', 2 steps, silly dances, and party tracks. The 2nd single, "Superstar" features Matthew Santos, who was also featured on "American Terrorist" from "Food & Liquor". Behind this catchy track is a message to all of the up and coming and current rappers who claim that they are prepared for all of the pitfalls that come with being a rapper in the year 2008. I definitely wasn't prepared for "Go Go Gadget Flow". First of all, with the beat and the flow, I hear too much Marshall "Eminem" Mathers on the track. The more that I listened to the track, the more I liked it. It's a nice track, personally I just feel that it won't be in too many people's Top 5 tracks once they give "The Cool" a good 3 or 4 listens. "The Coolest" picks up from where the track "The Cool" left off. Lupe does a nice job of explaining things from Mike's point of view and it's a nice sequel to my favorite track from "Food & Liquor". I understand why some people would be turned off by this track because of Lupe's use of the "N" word, as reviewer "Shamontiel L. Vaughn" pointed out, but it doesn't take anything from the quality of the track, in my opinion. "Paris, Tokyo" will remind you of a track that the Native Tongues may have done back in the day. Everytime I hear this track I think of my favorite A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul and Jungle Brothers tracks from back in the day. That's funny considering how Lupe claims to have never paid too much attention to "Midnight Marauders", one of Tribe's best CDs, when he was growing up. "Paris, Tokyo" talks about the good times of touring and all the nice experiences that come with it. "Gold Watch" just might be my favorite track on this CD as Lupe just uses this track to get his flow on. You'll be bobbing your head back and forth everytime this track comes on. "Hip Hop Saved My Life" is another nice track from Lupe. Basically, in my opinion, Lupe gives you his definition of what hip hop means to him. At the same time, it also seems that he is also talking about the tireless themes that some of the rappers use today, instead of just using real skills to make it. Nikki Jean adds a fresh hook to the track and this definitely will be one of your favorites. "Streets On Fire" reminded me of "The Instrumental". You even hear the beginning to beat to "Straight Outta Compton" at the beginning of the track. This track will have you energized out of your mind if you are not careful. Lupe uses this track to explore more into the aspects of The Streets, who is another character that is introduced on this CD. "Little Weapon" picks up from where "Streets On Fire" left off making it a 2 part track in my opinion. Some people may be turned off by the subject matter, but since I knew a little about Michael Young History, The Streets and The Game before I listened to the CD, I get a better understanding of the tracks' subjects while I am listening to everything.

The problem with "The Cool", in my opinion, are 1) Hi-Definition w/Snoop and Pooh Bear and "Go Baby" are tracks that should have been left off the CD. It seems that the parties involved were trying too hard to make a commercial track and 2) that the tracks towards the end of the CD don't measure up to the best tracks on the CD. Don't get me wrong, "The Die" w/Lupe and Gemstones, where they talk about the death of "The Cool" is nice and "Fighters" which also features Matthew Santos is a nice track as well, but when you compare the 1st half of the CD to the 2nd half of the CD, the 1st half wins easily. This is the reason why "The Cool" isn't a 5 star CD.

Overall, I feel that Lupe Fiasco released a nice sophomore CD. There is clearly no sophomore jinx going on here. The lyrics from "Food & Liquor" are still there and while the production style is slightly different in some cases, the music doesn't take too much away from the overall quality of "The Cool", in my opinion. While Lupe continues to say that his career is "over" after 2008's "LupEnd", hopefully he will change his mind and continue to provide us with the flavor that he has brought us on his 1st 2 discs. If you enjoyed "Food & Liquor", I feel that you will also enjoy "The Cool", you will just be "fighting" with yourself trying to figure out which CD is better.

James' Top 5

1) Dumb It Down
2) Gold Watch
3) Hip Hop Saved My Life w/Nikki Jean
4) Superstar w/Matthew Santos
5) The Coolest

Honorable Mention:

Streets On Fire
The Die w/Gemstones
Fighters w/Matthew Santos
Go Go Gadget Flow
Intruder Alert (Don't be turned off by the serious nature of the track)

Lupe is the man that can claim he has kept Hip Hop alive. There hasnt been as good of a songwriter since Common's early days. There are only a few rappers out right now that i can truly say are good rappers. Lupe, Kanye, Common, 50 Cent(People Hate on him but he changed the game with GRODT) Mos Def, Nas, Lil' Wayne and The Game. Now there are several other rappers that are decent, but those guys that i just listed above are the last standing truly great rappers. Now i am a huge Lupe fan, but this album was a little bit more boring than his first. His first was a classic. But i didnt get the same feeling with this album. Lupe is easily the most intellegent rapper alive right now. EASILY. He actually thinks about the music he is writing and it really benefits him. And Sountrak is a great producer. But for some reason this album didn't appeal to me as much as Food & Liquor did. It's still way better than anything else that is on the radio right now, but I know Lupe can do alot better. There are several standout tracks on this album though. One being the soft spoken "Intruder Alert" where Lupe spits over a real dreamy beat where he tells the story of woman who was attacked by a rapist. Another great track is "Go Go Gadget Flow" where Lupe spits similar to Bone Thugs with the light but fast paced style. Then there is the hit single "Superstar" which is another classic. Overall this album is not on the same level as Food & Liquour, but its still worthy of buying.


Grade:
B-

I heard "Superstar" and thought the sound was hot and the hook was crazy. I am overseas and can you believe people in Dubai, London and even Afghanistan are rocking your music Lupe? This is what it's all about, different people of various ages can find at least one song (if not more) they can rock on repeat.

I had this CD for about 3 weeks and just played it 2 days ago. I can listen to it from start to finish and while a few tracks are skipped I have more than 4 favorites to include the following (in random order):

Track 10 - Intruder Alert - Soft melodic voices over a mastered beat. Content: New story in each line - "I'm so full of pride, I built my walls so high" - "...every level of hell he's been in and the one that he's stuck in" --- serious verses

Track 2 - Free Chilly - Short secondary intro but sounds good. Content: "If we could break down those walls to set you free we would, cause we out here and we miss you"

Track 4 - The Coolest - This had to grow on me. Content: "I love her with all my heart, every vain, every vessle, every bullet lodged.." "A match made in heaven set the fires in hell".

Track 8 - Gold Watch - I thought my CD was messed up when the song started. I can dance around while getting ready to go to work. Content: "Not to be rude, I'm just hating all your rules".

Track 9 - Hip Hop Saved My Life - Enough said.

Track 11 - Streets on Fire - If you liked Superstar you will LOVE this! Content: "Death is on the tip of her tounge and death is on the tip of her fingers" This gets 5 stars from me !!! "No pill can heal the ill of this" WHOA... Listen to the words ;) And the beat fits the song.

Track 14 - Dumb It Down - KILLA !!! Content "the whole grill is roadkill"
"Them big words ain't cool" "Their starting to think smart is cool Lu"

Track 15 - Hello/Goodbye - Rock beat... Growing on me... Reminded me of a beat or something Mos Def would use.

Track 17 - Put You On Game - Great lyrics "Maybe you can grow up to be a stripper" "If you die tell them you played my game".


This CD is not Fluff and if you like Little Brother, Mos Def, Kanye, or need a refreshing change from the usual crap on the radio ... Give this a try. Hope this review has helped. I liked this so much I bought his previous CD (guess I was asleep when it came out in 2006). Looking forward to hearing his earlier work.

Lupe Fiasco is the games next big star! I love is clever rhymes, smooth delivery and catchy beats. The influence of Kanye is present on the album and it is a great sound that Lupe has created on here. Better than his first album, "The Cool" is a great effort.

Lupe Fiasco has had a very interesting career. His first album, Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor, was leaked so far in advance, that by the time it was released, the demand had pretty much died out. It lead to poor album sales and his overall disdain for prepping his second album. Food and Liquor was absolutely amazing, and The Cool is no different. It features a wide variety of vivid imagery, coupled with solid production and minimal guest appearances.

The album starts out with his sister reading street poetry, and quickly moves into another interlude honoring Lupe's incarcerated manager. After those two, the albums first track, "Go Go Gadget Flow" explodes out the gates. It is a great starting point for the album, and shows Lupe's ability to rap fast while still using lyrics that aren't watered down. The album continues with great songs like "The Coolest" and his hit single "Superstar". Although this album has a concept, it isn't really fleshed out like it was in the song "The Cool" off of his last album. Lupe instead weaves shorter storylines throughout the album without a strong cohesive element. Tracks like "Hi-Definition" disappoint, because they seem out of place on this album.

Aside from the mediocre "Hi-Definition" and the predictable and self aware "Dumb it Down", the album is laced with pure fire. Lupe has always been a great lyricist, and his sophomore album paints an amazing picture of life on the streets and the struggle to get by.

I highly recommend this cd for anyone looking for music that not only sounds amazing, but has a message behind it as well. Lupe Fiasco is 2 for 2, and will hopefully continue to make fantastic music in a genre that seems to be getting worse by the minute.

9/10

Best Tracks:

Little Weapon
Go Go Gadget Flow
Gold Watch
The Coolest