2008 Woodie Awards
Return to the old-school with Lupe Fiasco
Chris Nguyen
Issue date: 9/28/06 Section: The Scene
- Page 1 of 1
Rap music has been quite dull for a while now.
Other than a few noteworthy hits, most rap songs all sound about the same.
Windy-City rap artists such as Kanye West and Common are among the few rappers out there doing something other than talk about sex with women or chromed out 24 inch rim with spinners.
Another rapper has joined West and Common in the effort of changing rap music back to what it should be and that rapper is Lupe Fiasco with his debut album, Food and Liquor.
It is truly refreshing to hear an album like Food and Liquor.
Similar to Kanye West's sophomore album Late Registration, Lupe Fiasco flexes his lyrical muscles with smart lyrics and isn't shy to do so.
Fiasco doesn't need sex, drugs or violence to sell his songs; his songs are above all that and take true rap fans on a quest back to simpler times, with great lyrics and good beats.
Fiasco opens up the album with "Intro," a song about the bitter rivalry between good and evil and eventually transitioning to a message in which he says he will deliver music that comes from his heart, mind and soul, nothing more and nothing less.
You can really hear Fiasco's passion throughout the album.
The album's single, "Kick, Push," is a great combination of jazz and beats, both nicely laid out throughout the song.
Artists such as Jay-Z and Mike Shinoda from Linkin Park lend production help; so don't be surprised if you hear songs that sound like they were meant for Linkin Park.
Overall, this is a great debut for Lupe Fiasco. His work is like a breath of fresh air in the rap world.
There is no question that he is indeed special.
One minor issue is that at some points in the album I felt like I was listening to Kanye West's songs.
Despite that, Lupe Fiasco shows off his lyrical identity and without a doubt, has a very bright future in the world of rap music.
Lupe Fiasco
Album: Food and
Liquor
Record Label: Atlantic
Producer: Kayne West
The Scene rating: 3 of 4 stars
Other than a few noteworthy hits, most rap songs all sound about the same.
Windy-City rap artists such as Kanye West and Common are among the few rappers out there doing something other than talk about sex with women or chromed out 24 inch rim with spinners.
Another rapper has joined West and Common in the effort of changing rap music back to what it should be and that rapper is Lupe Fiasco with his debut album, Food and Liquor.
It is truly refreshing to hear an album like Food and Liquor.
Similar to Kanye West's sophomore album Late Registration, Lupe Fiasco flexes his lyrical muscles with smart lyrics and isn't shy to do so.
Fiasco doesn't need sex, drugs or violence to sell his songs; his songs are above all that and take true rap fans on a quest back to simpler times, with great lyrics and good beats.
Fiasco opens up the album with "Intro," a song about the bitter rivalry between good and evil and eventually transitioning to a message in which he says he will deliver music that comes from his heart, mind and soul, nothing more and nothing less.
You can really hear Fiasco's passion throughout the album.
The album's single, "Kick, Push," is a great combination of jazz and beats, both nicely laid out throughout the song.
Artists such as Jay-Z and Mike Shinoda from Linkin Park lend production help; so don't be surprised if you hear songs that sound like they were meant for Linkin Park.
Overall, this is a great debut for Lupe Fiasco. His work is like a breath of fresh air in the rap world.
There is no question that he is indeed special.
One minor issue is that at some points in the album I felt like I was listening to Kanye West's songs.
Despite that, Lupe Fiasco shows off his lyrical identity and without a doubt, has a very bright future in the world of rap music.
Lupe Fiasco
Album: Food and
Liquor
Record Label: Atlantic
Producer: Kayne West
The Scene rating: 3 of 4 stars
