Album Review: Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool
Lupe Fiasco
Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool
1st & 15th/Atlantic Records
4.5/5
Written By Samir Siddiqui
In the midst of a strong music year in 2007 for hip-hop, influential figures in the game had a difficult time detracting the critics of the genre, but there seemed to be one prevailing response to the increasing scrutiny of rap music. Hip-hop took the stand that it’s artists are merely modern-day poets, relaying the harsh realities of their surroundings in whatever matter they see fit. But the fact of the matter is that many of the artists giving hip-hop a bad name are simply not “poets”- what they represent is the over-commercialization of hip-hop that breeds artists who are looking for a quick buck, paying no mind to the possibly large consequences. But there are artists who fit the bill of a “poet,” and Lupe Fiasco is definitely one of them. Not so much for the “positive” content he delivers in his raps, but ultimately for the creativity displayed in his work, most significantly his uncanny ability to pen vivid, in-depth stories that tackle a plethora of concepts and themes.
The dramatic element of Lupe Fiasco’s career fuels the “poet” comparisons, as the untimely leak and low sales of his debut album, Food & Liquor, along with his recent “Fiasco-gate” troubles seem to only fuel his passion on his sophomore set, The Cool. Much has been made of the “over-exaggeration” of Fiasco’s uniqueness (he samples Inspector Gadget on the first full song…), but The Cool merely re-enforces the idea that Lupe has absolutely no intention of conforming his music to mainstream standards. Continuing the story of “The Cool” from his last LP, “The Coolest” is another eerie narrative, with Lupe detailing the infatuation of The Cool’s character with the temptress “The Streets.” But this isn’t a concept album, and Lupe ventures into the not so glamorous life of stardom on “Superstar,” before drifting to the light sounds of “Paris Tokyo.” However, the first stretch of the album is disrupted by the excruciatingly annoying sample which is looped throughout “Gold Watch,” and Lupe’s wandering rhymes don’t do much to help.
However, the next four songs included in the middle of the lengthy album make up one of the best stretches on a hip-hop album this year. First, the piano-drenched “Hip-Hop Saved My Life” presents the story of an aspiring southern artist who attempts to leave behind the perils of the streets for a more secure, prosperous future as a rapper. Next, Lupe breaks down the lives of three distinct characters on the ingenious “Intruder Alert,” as the accounts of a rape-victim, a drug user, and a poverty-stricken parent are strung together over dramatic violin strings and a light piano-based beat. Lupe creates an incurable virus that threatens humanity on “Streets On Fire” before writing from the perspective of a child soldier on the thought-provoking “Little Weapon” with chilling lines like, “This candy gave me courage not to fear no one, to feel no pain, and hear no tongue, so I hear no screams, and I shed no tear, if I’m in your dreams, then your end is near.”
While the album runs a bit long, the album’s end stretch is not without its moments. “Dumb It Down” may come-off as somewhat over-ambitious, but the rock-driven sounds of “The Die” and “Fighters” are more than worthwhile. Also, the slowed down “Put You On Game” is yet another imaginative cut, as Lupe raps from the point of view of the “Game,” a character representative of all the world’s vices, and Lupe makes sure to drop some clever allusions to The Godfather and Scarface along the way. “Fighters” seems like an obvious closer, but Lupe decides to drop a fluffy pop cut “Go Baby” to end the album, a forgivable slip-up, and the only song here that is truly weak in both lyrics and production.
Musically, The Cool picks up from where Food & Liquor left off, as in-house producer Soundtrakk, who provides the bulk of the production with an indie-rock-hip-hop feel, continues to deliver score-like soundscapes for Lupe to craft his stories over. Lupe’s rhymes are more adventurous than ever, and although he may drift off a little too far left at times, he’s at his best when he’s creating visuals with his intricate story-telling, a true sign of a hip-hop poet. Lupe Fiasco, hip-hop’s savior, is far-fetched, but The Cool is another very strong showing from one of hip-hop’s most relevant young emcees, and another reason for fans to hope his next opus, L-U-P-END, is not just that.
Suggestion Box
![[image]](http://cdn.rtny.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/90/90/2010/02/Zoe-150x150.jpg "Gorilla Zoe Will Drop 28 Mixtapes In 28 Days This Month")
![[image]](http://cdn.rtny.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/category_images/default.jpg "Wale - My Sweetie")
![[image]](http://cdn.rtny.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/category_images/lil-wayne.jpg "A Look at Lil Wayne's Upcoming Life In Prison")
![[image]](http://cdn.rtny.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/category_images/nas.jpg "Nas Speaks On The Making Of, \"If I Ruled the World\"")
![[image]](http://cdn.rtny.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/category_images/diddy.jpg "Diddy Performs In Miami Super Bowl Weekend")
December 16th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
1st!
December 16th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
fuck fiasco !! i hate that fag
ninex, fuck you too bitch
December 16th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
get the hate out ya eyes homie. get a bitch
December 16th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
that album is pure fire probly only 1 song that i dont like
December 16th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
Lupe’s new Album is fucking dope! NOBODY is fucking with this man right now! His word play and vernacular is ingenious!!!! Dumb niggas such as “vigorous” don’t understand and will never have a clue!!! Go Go Gadget Flow. Listen to It…. I rest my case. Enough Said.
December 16th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
I see that RTNY is on their BACKPACKING MUSIC shit. SMH
December 16th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
been listenin to it the past 4 days on repeat.
thats all iva got to say.
December 16th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
instant classic indeed…copping it tommmrow !
December 16th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Lupe dropped a heat rock just in time for the winter. I enjoyed this album. Its obvious he put effort, time and dedication into this and I am proud he did it. Anyone who says this album isn’t hot is a blatant hater.
Congrats to Lupe, Now the work begins on creating the one we should all remember him for “L-U-P-End.”
December 16th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Chi City Stand UP! LUPE FIASCO !!! ILL album… will be listening forever!
Look what we did this year chi-town….
Common – Finding Forever
Kanye West – Graduation
Lupe Fiasco The Cool
dont forget: cool kids blew up!
and RHYMEFEST AND KIDZ IN DA HALL ‘08!
December 16th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
don’t download go cop
and if you did download still go out a cop the LP on the 18th
If we don’t support our artists who will?
December 16th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Great Review
Go cop it
December 16th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
hey vigorous – go vigorously fuck yourself homie, no homo
fnf up!
THE COOL >>> any other album this year
amazing album
i am copping fo sho on the 18th
December 16th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
This album is dope but it is gonna flop.
December 16th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
yea lupe album was def a classic better than the last one this one was real cool can’t wait for the next
December 16th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
i listened to it from beginning to end… the song that stands out to me is dumb it down and put u on game,
he coulda made some happy music though, some feel good music but i guess if he did people would say he sounds like skeelo that did the song “i wish i was a little bit taller/ i wish i was a baller”
lupe fiasco style is str8 outa 1993 he aint that dope.
December 16th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
great review, Samir pulled me right in. mkes me go back and listen to it from a different perspective. i loved it already, i just got it today!!!
December 17th, 2007 at 12:13 am
I liked the first album better than this, but this is still the best album of 07… he had the best album of 06. lupe is that dude. just hope this album is a commercial success
December 17th, 2007 at 12:43 am
It’s good that he didn’t fall into the sophomore slump…he still made a good album(according to the review)….I haven’t listened to it yet.
December 17th, 2007 at 12:49 am
dis album is straight fire and will forever cherish it. It’s a classic on some real shit. His imagery is crraazzyy. I’m coppin’ da album, enuff said.
December 17th, 2007 at 1:04 am
no happy feel good hiphop lupe??? whats up??? i guess that rapper hasnt been signed yet, but until that feel good rapper appears lupe will hold it down with his depressing low slow tune stuff. fuck if u like this its kinda boring to me!
December 17th, 2007 at 1:35 am
the coolest nigga what
December 17th, 2007 at 1:36 am
cop that shit…
hottest album out
FNF UP
Fiasco Fam 4 life
December 17th, 2007 at 2:28 am
forget you ATI yeah thats right i know its you
50>Lupe
Curtis>Cool
December 17th, 2007 at 7:34 am
Best song is I gotta eat. Lupe spits from the perspective of a hamburger, but has some incredible lines. The entire song is an extended metaphor with a crazy original theme to it. He has some sick lines like “Even his kids had mills (millions) for real/ Small Fries, (Little people) been wraped up in paper (Bugers are wraped in paper/The kids were rich), since they were lil” Or “He was fishing for chips (money) -or fish and chips” Went to the church and he saw a deep friar (or deep fryer) man the song is ridicolous best song hes put out since failure
December 17th, 2007 at 7:51 am
Buying it , gotta support Lupe !
December 17th, 2007 at 7:56 am
lol 50>Lupe?
December 17th, 2007 at 8:00 am
This album starts getting hot halfway the album just as the reviewer says. But this has nothing on american gangster!! I have to skip at least half of the tracks on this album.. But soms killer songs are here..
December 17th, 2007 at 10:01 am
Realtalk try get an interview with lupe
December 17th, 2007 at 11:23 am
The wordplay is extraordinary
December 17th, 2007 at 11:56 am
Album is cool (no pun intended) but come on 4.5/5? Shit is more like a 3.5/5
December 17th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
the album is good. maybe not a 4.5/5, but still good. not better than his first cd. album seems a bit long and some tracks seem like filler tracks but still a good cd. make sure to pick this up tommorrow.
December 17th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Hands down, best ablum of the year. This album should only be compared to the absolute best albums of all time in HipHop, cause thats what it is.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:42 am
In love with every word. Your too dope.
So much LOVE!
Tee
December 18th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
oh maaaaaan!!!….what an album…this is so damn good i can’t believe…
“dumb it down” is the BOMB…lupe fuckin destroyed the likes of 50cent and co. too bad fifty probably can’t understand what lupe is sayin on that absolutely fantastic beat..
album of the year hands down….sorry jigga
December 18th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
getting this cd for christams but should cop it rite now
December 18th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
mood muzik 3>>>>>>>the cool
December 18th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Son, Lupe is too strong, I think thats the best album of the year. He topped “Food
December 18th, 2007 at 7:34 pm
Son, Lupe is too strong, I think thats the best album of the year. He topped “Food
December 18th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
The Cool seriously is the coolest album I’ve ever heard. It tells such a cinematic story and has honestly some of the deepest lyrics I’ve ever heard.
December 19th, 2007 at 2:32 am
the album is great and it upholds Lupe’s almost “divine” credentials that the fanbase is giving him. obviously alotta backpackers will cop this (incl.me) cuz i don’t think you can bump half of this stuff in your car…it doesn’t beat fnl as an overall album but rite now it sure is more entertaing personally 3.5/5
December 19th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
AMerican gangster???? pun?? wtf r u guys sayin??? first of all….jigga FELL OFF. i had so much hope for american gangsta but he jus wack now…..his flow is ridiculously lame and anyone who’s gonna argue with me please remember that u r on jiggas dick and watever u say will not be explained intelligently. y ya’ll bringin pun into this shit????? pun overrated…lupe came through with this album for real….e has classic tracks on this…sumthin ima show 2 ma kids wen they get older……little weapon, streets on fire, fighters, hip-hop saved my life, gotta eat, intruder alert, the die, the coolest (recommend these songs) and for all u bitch mainstream fags…listen to go go gadget flow, sick as flow with a catchy hook for all u dick sukin south fans
December 19th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
alright haters, lupe is tihgt
December 19th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
album of the YEAR.
This is what hip-hop is about.
December 19th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Love this album.. By far the best album of the year! Can’t wait for the next one. Bought 2 copies- 1 to listen the other for display! This is true hip hop. Every thing else is crap.
December 19th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Its aite not better then the first. Go Go Gadget flow is weak it is some ringtone rapper repetetive shit the album isnt bad tho bt people need to hop off the dick riding hes not overlooked this album was overhyped and didnt live up solid bu not even close to great. its getin a lil better as i listen to it but never gone b a clasic
December 19th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
I downloaded just to make sure it was good… then i had to cop… mos def worth the pick up…
December 21st, 2007 at 7:48 am
I love your description truly this is the best album of the year. Hip hop is a crying baby and lupe just gave it food and told it to cool:) Everything is going to be alright, wait only one more album left damn i guess then it’s back to the same old shit!
Ps: Top 3 Albums of 07
1. The Cool
2. American Gangster
3. Black Star Mos Def
December 21st, 2007 at 10:49 pm
I Heard a few songs and had to cop it for my brother for Christmas much love Lupe!!
December 22nd, 2007 at 11:23 pm
Lupe Fiasco is so ahead of his time its almost a crying shame that a fear that his genius which is truely needed at a time like this, will simply be over looked by many, when a time like this were artist are saling their souls for ringtones, and radio play. Mr. Fiasco is uniquely crafting a new lane for himself while others choose to follow the commercial norm to gain the little records sales that are still exsist, heck 50 Cent can’t even move the same units he once did all because fans now see him for what he truely is a transparent gangsta. And let me not start with the likes of Lil’ Wayne and others shaming the hip hop culture with every record they put out. I’m just happy that Lupe is a pure genius a real artist in every sense of the word a lyricist that can weave should magnificant tales with beautifully elegant word play kind of like a young Slick Rick with the lyrically gymnastics of a Big Daddy Kane and the swagger of a 25 yrs old Jay-Z without the narcissistic overtone and played out sudject matter though.
Lupe is a breath of fresh air at a time where young hip hop kids need someone who they can truely relate to, so cop this album its a gem that’s shines just as bright as its creater.
December 24th, 2007 at 3:41 am
Definately not feelin this album at all. I understand its different and all that but everything different doesn’t mean its hot. I like a few joints off it but over all it was a 2.5 outta 5 to me.
January 2nd, 2008 at 2:12 am
I gotta agree with elvgero1. Too much trash rap getting air play. Big ups to chi-town. Real hip-hop stand up! ” Now we just got one mo to go L-U-P-END!!!”
January 9th, 2008 at 8:09 am
Lupe got album of the year hands down.This is one of the greatest concept albums to come out thiss year and for those who dont know yes it is a concept album.You have to pay attention real close to the lyrics out of twenty songs pretty much all are linked so step ya lyric game up.FNF up Lupe keep doin ya thing we need more then three albums from you keep it goin tell i get signed then decide if you wanna leave.CLassic album.Check me out myspace.com/doublehentertainment and yall keep supportin Lue