Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
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Free Music Notes for The Cool
Free Music Review: Great Album
Hit: 5 Stars
Another great Lupe album. fell in love with Food & Liquor over 2 years ago and this album does not disappoint. Would recommend this album to everyone....actually I DO recommend this to everyone!Free Music Review: Wow What Sophmore Jinx
Hit: 5 Stars
Man In 2006 Nas Said Hip-Hop Was Dead And In That Same Year A Slept On Debut From Chi-Town Native By The Name Of Lupe Fiasco Dropped And Man Was Nas Wrong But In The Year Of 2007 When Soulja Boy Reigned Supreme The Cool Was Bestowed On Us Better Than American Gangster, Better Than Curtis, Better Than Graduation Lupe Delivers With Quick Wit Ans Intellegence "The Coolsest" Serves As A Prequel To A Track Called The Cool From Which The Album Gets Its Title And Ima Say Its The Greatest Hip-Hop Song Since I Used To Love H.E.R If This Album Would Have Dropped In 94 WOW But The Album Is Much Darker In Contrast From Food & Liqour with Tracks Like Put You On Game Which Bears Truth And Reality Too Bad lupEND will be his last album
DAMN THIS KID IS GOOD
Free Music Review: This is for 'The Cool' In You!
Hit: 4 Stars
After the impressive debut album Food & Liquor, Lupe Fiasco returns 15 months later with another album titled The Cool. At first glance, the title suggests that the rapper has turned into some ego-maniac like Kanye West and is stuck on himself or something. But the title appears to be a stab at what exactly is considered cool by different people. Listeners will find a hodgepodge of both conscious rap and regular storytelling on The Cool, a formula that seems to be working for Lupe. "Go Go Gadget Flow" is a rather interesting track with it's rapid-fire lyrics much like his Chicagoan counterparts Twista and Crucial Conflict. "The Coolest" is probably his most metaphoric track with Lupe speaking about things that some people consider to be 'cool.' "Superstar" with Lupe's newly-signed 1st and 15th (FNF) artist Matthew Santos shines the light on what it takes to be the center of attention and the price you pay to have that status. "Paris, Tokyo" is just a fun tale told by Lupe in the same vein as a Pharcyde or A Tribe Called Quest. A surprise appearance by the new school funkster Snoop Dogg on "Hi-Definition" actually sounds convincing on a song that basically tells about Lupe's new found celebrity status and the world paying attention to him because of it. "Gold Watch" is a very abstract yet entertaining tale, while "Hip Hop Saved My Life" featuring Nikki Jean discloses the desire of a rapper wanting to make it big, the reasons behind their aspirations, and the ups and downs of the struggle that it takes to obtain it. "Intruder Alert" featuring Sarah Green and Matthew Santos is a enlightening story about three instances of when someone can be an intruder: A man who claims he can be trusted, the presence of 'demons' even when they have been invited in, and a refugee seeking a better life in the land of the 'free'. Matthew Santos appears for a third time on the "Streets On Fire," another abstract tale where he addresses HIV/AIDS, the perception of the disease's existence, and the destruction it's causing right now that will ultimately affect future generations to come. "Little Weapon" is a good conceptual song that will take you a while to figure out, while "Gotta Eat" is a song where Lupe describes a hamburger of all things. "Dumb It Down" is an album highlight purely for it's stark rebuttal of people who say Lupe's music is too abstract and that his brand of hip-hop is too smart for the average listener of hip-hop music. "Hello/Goodbye" features the electronic ensemble UNKLE, "The Die" features FNF signee Gemstones, and "Put You On Game" is Lupe flying solo for a final abstract offering. He closes with Matthew Santos' fourth feature on "Fighters" and Gemstones returning for the Gnarls Barkley-sounding "Go Baby." Lupe Fiasco might very well lose some listeners with The Cool, but I think that any rapper that elevates his consciousness and creativity to this level is bound to lose a few.Free Music Review: OMG!
Hit: 5 Stars
The cd is so under rated. A friend of mine was like you have to hear this song "Dumb it Down!"I was like "cool."He let me borrow the cd and I loved every song! It was sooooooooooooo worth it! Enjoy!Free Music Review: Tres Cool!
Hit: 5 Stars
Lupe Fiasco's debut "Food and Liquor" was different from most of the hip hop releases in 2006, case in point, the Grammy nominated I robot sampling "Daydreamin'" (with Jill Scott) which is up for best Urban/alternative performance. His sophomore set "The cool" is more of the same; fitting samples, eclectic sounds, and cerebral lyrics far from the bling bling variety. With a general sound that is mid to down tempo, this album requires concentration to appreciate all its intricacies.
Opening is the brief intro "Baba says cool for thought" which checks Katrina Columbine, racism, drug peddling, among other ills. Next up is the synth string filled "Free Chilly" which is so beautiful and all to brief. "The coolest" has a gentle piano intro leading into choir like harmonies and a gentle midtempo beat, and lyrics about inner conflicts.
"Superstar" is a wry take on celebrity, set to the sounds of fans screaming and cameras clicking. Featuring Matthew Santos, it's a brooding, mid-tempo number, already a UK #4 hit (and racing up the Billboard hot 100). Matthew returns with his soulful vocals on the gentle and sparse "Fighters". "Paris, Tokyo" is a chilled jazz inflected number which should make Steve Jobs smile with its iPhone reference. "Hi-definition" features Pooh Bear and Snoop Dogg and is more upbeat.
"Intruder alert" (with Sarah green) is a lovely piano ballad, and while still sounding sombre with epic strings, "Streets on fire" is an upbeat song; a look at life on the streets. With a gentle marching beat, and featuring Bishop G & Nikki Jean is "Little weapon".
Other standouts are "Gotta eat", the sparse pulsing "Dumb it down" (with GemStones & Graham Burris), the experimental "Hello/Goodbye" (with Unkle, and with subtle rock guitars), the electric guitar laced "The die" which features GemStones, as does the bouncy "Go baby" which has a pop feel (Lupe sounds like Kanye on this) and which closes the CD in an upbeat way.
The album made #14 in the US and #7 in the UK. Here's hoping it's the breakthrough Lupe so richly deserves. Much like how Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder were releasing music far ahead of their soul peers in the seventies, Lupe, along with Common and Kanye West is making hip hop music which is far ahead of their peers.