Lupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor
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Free Music Notes for Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor
Free Music Review: Haven't felt this way in 8 years.
Hit: 5 Stars
Like many, my first exposure to Lupe was through his verse on Kanye West's "Touch the Sky," possibly my favorite track on his second album, "Late Registration." However, what really piqued my interest was when I heard "Kick, Push" the album's first single. I liked the production, his rhymes, and the subject matter was kind of refreshing for me. I've found that most hip-hop has gone downhill and hasn't connected to me like it did in 1998 when I first started following music. There are moments, and to tell you the truth, I wouldn't even call it the most innovative album of the decade. If you want more of that, go and check out Blackalicious' "Blazing Arrow." But it's just rare that I thought I'd ever hear a record like this. For me, a dream come true.
And while some artists have nice lyrics but awful delivery and production, "Food & Liquor" is not victim of such. In fact, I think people who don't even care for hip-hop would enjoy the record. There is a little something on here for everyone. And actually, I don't even know how to view certain tracks as better than others, that's how good this is. And in spite what I said earlier, it is still quite refreshing. And some of the samples I really enjoy, like in "Daydreamin'," which I last heard interpolated in Beta Band's "Squares." Also, if it seems as if too many artists these days are focused on guests and such, this should be a relief as most of the songs have mostly Lupe's flow and while there are some on here, it doesn't distract it from the quality of the album. Sometimes it even actually adds to the songs.
It's not intellegence-insulting, the thing that's really drifted me away from the hip-hop genre to begin with, but it's catchy and playful enough for mainstream kids to enjoy, too. I really wonder what he'll turn out with next; this record really is THAT good. There are artists you can compare him to, but he's also unique enough to be separated from the peers. This is an actual album that belongs in your stereo and to stay there, not to be sold for countless used copies of the albums. I didn't get it when it first came out because it was delayed so much & I put interest in other artists, but I'm glad I came around to this.
Free Music Review: very strong debut
Hit: 5 Stars
Although many of the songs had been leaked, the album is a must buy for any rap fan who's tired of much of what is in the mainstream scene. The production is solid and consistant. Lupe proves to be a witty, introspective, storytelling lyricist. This is one of best rap albums of 2006. Free Music Review: Suprisingly Great Debut (4.5 Stars)
Hit: 4 Stars
I didn't have very high expectations for this album at all going in. I had heard mostly good things about it, which is why I checked it out in the first place, but I really thought this album would be a lot like Game's documentary; heralded as a "great new rapper" with great production, but ended up being a VERY generic, mediocre album (with boring lyricism and production). Well, I have to say 'Food and Liquor' surpassed my expectations, and then some. Not only did Lupe prove to be a great MC that really knows how to write a song, but this album definately has some of the best production of the year.
The production on 'Food and Liquor' is consistantly great, which is something very rare in hip hop these days. Most rap albums today will contain at least some filler, and even if the MC is good, the beats just are too dull, or too wack in general to hold up the songs. Here, EVERY TRACK has above average production, and that already gives Lupe a huge advantage on most MCs. The fact that he can make these beats into great songs (and I mean songs, not just verses and a chorus spit over a beat) is what makes this album so impressive, and what makes Lupe's career so promising as a hip hop artist. The production on the album is handled mostly by Soundtrakk (presumably an in-house producer at Lupe's '1st & 15th'), and he does a great job producing standouts like 'The Real', 'Kick, Push', 'He Say She Say' and 'Sunshine'. Another presumed 1st & 15th in-house producer, Prolyfic, contributes 3 nice tracks including the standout 'American Terrorist'. Other notable producers that contribute beats are Kanye West ('The Cool'), The Neptunes ('I Gotcha'), Mike Shinoda ('The Instrumental') & Needlez ('Hurt Me Soul'), who all do a great job as usual.
As I mentioned before, Lupe has a lot of songwriting talent, something a lot of rappers (even great rappers) often lack. While this trait isn't required to be a great MC, it really helps to make your material interesting. This is something 'Food and Liquor' does very well, as the songs usually have a point, and a point that catches the listeners interest. Lupe also does a great job KEEPING the listeners interest, with some impressive lyrical ability. While he won't blow away any harcore Canibus fans, Lupe is a good, bnot GREAT, lyricist. But, he has a smooth flow and voice that help make up for any lyrical weaknesses.
For an album I wasn't really expecting to like to become one of my favorite albums of the year is really quite impressive, and I give props to Lupe Fiasco and his production team for making some great hip hop music that still has some mainstream appeal. As shown by many artists, that isn't too easy to do these days.
Top 5 Songs (In Order):
1. American Terrorist (Featuring Matthew Santos) - Overall the best song on the album, as well as one of the best songs of the year
2. Daydreamin' (Featuring Jill Scott) - My favorite beat on the CD, and it's by a producer I've never heard of (Craig Kallman). Lupe does a great job here, too, and Jill Scott plays second fiddle to a great sample in the chorus.
3. Real (Featuring Sarah Green) - Just a great track with some more incredible production
4. Kick, Push - Didn't like it that much the first time I heard it, but after listening to it more I realized it's truly a dope song
5. The Instrumental (Featuring Jonah Matranga) - Mike Shinoda contributes one of the best beats on the album, as well as one of the best tracks lyrically
Worst Track:
Outro - Unnecessary. 12 minutes of talking might have worked for Kanye, but it doesn't work here at all.
Lyrics/Substance/Subject Matter - 9/10
Flow/Delivery - 9/10
Production - 9.5/10
Overall Feel - 8.5/10
Guest Apperances - Sarah Green, Gemini, Jonah Matranga, Jill Scott, Jay-Z & Matthew Santos - 7/10 - All very good guest apperances, but they aren't a very important part of the album
Overall Rating - 9/10 - Highly reccomended for any hip hop fans, and if you're thinking the same way I was before I checked out this album, I would definately give it a chance.
Free Music Review: "Food & Liquor" - It's All Good! :D
Hit: 5 Stars
To say that Lupe Fiasco's debut album, "Food & Liquor", is one of the best Hip-Hop albums of 2006 would be a major understatement. Despite his stylistic similarities to other rappers like Nas & Kanye West, his ambitious approach to music is a lot more refreshing when compared to the diluted "Hip-Hop" garbage music industries churn out in millions on a yearly basis. Did I forget to mention that on top of being one of this year's most unique and gifted rappers, he's also befriended some of Hip-Hop's biggest rappers (Jay-Z, Kanye West, etc.) and started up his own label, "1st & 15th"? Speaking of the aforementioned record label, in-house producers Prolyfic and Soundtrakk are the album's most active producers on this album, helping other producers like Mike Shinoda, Kanye West, Needlz, The Neptunes and others lay down smooth old-school grooves and strong beats. Combine such stellar production with Lupe Fiasco's excellent delivery and thought-provoking rhymes & you've got "Food & Liquor".
Surprisingly, one of the album's weaker moments come from a collaboration with Jay-Z on "Pressure", the obligatory hustling song where Jay-Z is outmatched by Lupe Fiasco's more confident delivery and more complex rhymes. Even The Neptunes do a nice job on the production board, providing a bouncy, jazzy, lightly futuristic beat on the braggadocious "I Gotcha". "He Say, She Say", a lushly produced song where Lupe Fiasco puts the pains of a fatherless son and a worried single mother into perspective, is an album favourite of mine, especially the way guest singers/"1st & 15th" signees Sarah Green & Gemeni interact with each other's soulful vocals. Speaking of Sarah Green & Gemeni, they both make solid singular contributions to the aptly titled "Real" & the grimly hopeful, wordplay-heavy "Just Might Be OK", respectively.
However, the best album tracks are not the aforementioned tracks. Such honours go to the following - the rock-inflected "The Instrumental", featuring solid production from Mike Shinoda and Jonah Matranga's hauntingly ethereal croon on the hook, can be interpreted in so many ways it's amazing; lead single Kick Push", which spotlights Lupe Fiasco dropping solid rhymes over Soundtrakk's jazzy production, serves to be a skateboard anthem, a hustling metaphor and a sweet love story all at the same time; "Daydreamin'", another soul-inflected Hip-Hop/Rap gem featuring Jill Scott's soulful vocals, takes stabs at the disrespectful ways of Hip-Hop; on the Needlz-produced "Hurt Me Soul", Lupe Fiasco discusses his love and hate for Hip-Hop with vivid detail and brutal honesty ; and the Kanye West-produced "The Cool" spotlights Lupe Fiasco imaginatively storytelling about an anonymous man revived from the dead. "American Terrorist" is also an unavoidable highlight, where Lupe Fiasco lashes out at American societal decay & guest singer Matthew Santos drops a semi-English chorus over lively production, courtesy of Prolyfic.
I was initially afraid of listening to this album and thinking that it would fail to live up to the hype, but "Food & Liquor" is probably one of the best things to happen to Hip-Hop this year since Ghostface's "Fishscale". Lets hope his, sophomore album, "Lupe Fisaco's Cool", inherits this album's creativity and flawlessness (he said that was the sophomore album on the VERY lengthy "Outro", but I might've misheard). 5 stars!
5 Best Tracks:
"Kick, Push"
"Hurt Me Soul"
"Daydreamin'" (feat. Jill Scott)"
"The Instrumental" (feat. Jonah Matranga)
"American Terrorist" (feat. Matthew Santos)
Album Favourite:
"He Say She Say" (feat. Gemeni & Sarah Green)
Free Music Review: The Real Savior for Rap
Hit: 5 Stars
Jay Z might have come out with Kingdom Come proclaiming to save rap, but sadly he totally missed and just offered the same recycled beats with no real message.
Enter Lupe Fiasco. While Lupe himself may not be the savior to rap his album Food and Liquor is definately the shining star to this year's dismal display of rap albums. Songs like "He Say She Say" which deliver thought provoking messages. Doing more than just recycling the same words, Lupe stands out by rhyming words not typical for Rap artists. All the tracks on the album are good, head bopping tracks, that make you feel good. If you choose to listen to his lyrics you'll appreciate the brilliance even more. While "Kick Push" is a great feel good and catchy song. Sunshine offers an uplifting beat with some great lyrics.
Right up there with Talib Kweli and Mos Def, Lupe delivers a clear message with his first album that blows away other albums such as TI's King, Pharrel's In my Mind, The Game's Devil's Advocate, and Jay Z's Kingdom Come.
If you buy only one rap album this year, make it Food and Liquor you won't regret it.