Lupe Fiasco's The Cool

Released: December 18, 2007

Notice that this month, I am pretty much reviewing 2 people from Chicago. While that wasn't an intentional situation to do on this blog, it kinda feels good to do this. This time, I'm kinda rewinding it back instead of reviewing a newer artist like Vic Mensa or Chance the Rapper, and here, I continue the saga of Wasalu Jaco aka Lupe Fiasco.
Previously, on this blog: in November, I reviewed Lupe's debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor, which I gave a decent opinion on, saying that the Advance version was a little better than this, although the finalized album was good. Now, fast forward to after the album was released, and we see Lupe gaining praise and popularity as he headlines shows and concerts. Lupe had already announced his next album on the 12 minute outro of F&L. (yes, ladies & gentlemen, I actually took the time not to skip it), and on the track, "The Cool" off Food & Liquor, we saw Lupe tell the story of Michael Young History, the fictional character created by Lu himself. And later on, as everything has gone by, he started recording, although some of the album has already been in work even before F&L happened.

Lupe Fiasco's The Cool (released nearly before the end of the year) was a concept album, which focused on the concept of The Cool aka Michael Young History. Lupe had already introduced him on F&L, and had other characters called The Streets and The Game. Unlike before, Lupe had gone through hard times, with his father passing away and his business partner/mentor (Charles "Chilly" Patton) being sentenced to 44 years in jail, hence having a really dark side. On the album, he still has his squad like he did with F&L, with Gemini, Matthew Santos and Sarah Green being there (with the only new features being Snoop Dogg & Jason Boyd aka Pooh Bear/MDMA). The Cool sees Lupe expand on the character's story, with a few tracks focusing on the character a lot more, hence why Lu has said it's not a "full concept album".

The album managed to debut at #15 on the Billboard 200, selling over 143k in its first week, rising up to #14 the following week. However, due to the success of what could be Lupe's most popular song (other than Kick, Push), "Superstar", it managed to rise to #7 in its first week. But, is the album better than F&L? Did Lupe actually improve? Was the concept on point? Was it even any good at all? All these questions are about to be answered in the new review on Lupe Fiasco's The Cool!

1. Baba Says Cool For Thought
They thought it was cool to skip this intro, and just carry on with the rest of it, instead of listen to a decent spoken word introduction from Lupe's sister. They thought it was cool to review this intro and give it a "meh" or a "NEXT!". They thought it was cool to... Ok, I'm trying too hard here. This was an interesting intro to be honest. Anyway...

2. Free Chilly (Feat. Gemini & Sarah Green)
Ooh, an interlude dedicated to Chilly, while he's in jail. Now if only there was a verse or anything from at least Gemini or Lupe. But Lupe wasn't present unfortunately.

3. Go Go Gadget Flow
Heard this a lot of times, but it isn't anything rewarding or standing out to me. Fast twisting rhymes doesn't always cut it, you know!

4. The Coolest
I always liked this song. The content on this was really sick and was interesting for me. I remember listening to this all the time when I was younger, just getting into Lupe a lot. Although I didn't listen to the whole album, My thoughts have changed a little, it's not really all that like I thought it was back then. But, I still really liked this song with its chill vibe and settings of the song. This was very decent.

5. Superstar (Feat. Matthew Santos)
The first single off the album is here. I remember the first time listening to this, and I used to really like it... well, not like I did with the others. Over 7 years later, this remains one of the best songs Lupe has ever done, and it doesn't disappoint at all! This was a really great and awesome song and I understood why it was so popular on the charts. Lupe's rhymes were great and Matthew's contributions actually ended up feeling better on this, unlike before on "American Terrorist", where it just sounded like his voice was just taken from a random song. A certified standout on the album!

6. Paris, Tokyo
This has always been my favourite song from Lupe. It had that A Tribe Called Quest feel from it, which was weird thinking about it back then when Lupe messed up a cover of "Electric Relaxation" and said he didn't listen to ATCQ. Anyway, the content of being with his girl and going around the world was interesting. The sampled beat was chill as heck, and Lord Finesse & J Dilla had already used the sample in 1996, but managed it in a darker and raw vibe. Forget about Mural (spitting for 8 minutes has been done many times, y'know!) and all that, this always did it for me. Lu never failed to impress me and every time I listen to this, I get the chills, especially knowing it off by heart. My favourite off the album!

7. Hi-Definition (Feat. Pooh Bear & Snoop Dogg)
Lupe gets Snoop Dogg and the guy with one of the funniest stage names, Poo[h] Bear (yeah, he took of the "h" recently)This wasn't my favourite, but I did like it. It was funky, and something I could vibe to. Heck, even when I used to go to theatre school (yes, I did, when I was younger), I suggested this song for my dance class to dance to. It did have a promising opening, and did end up unexpected when I first heard it, that's all I can s... oh yeah, Snoop did good on this song.

8. Gold Watch
Now this was actually a good song. It has been criticized by reviewers and critics for its beat that they think it's "bland" and "meh", but it's not that bad as people think it is. The rest of the song is great, with the introduction and Lupe's content. I did used to like it for the way it was like back then, and it did really give me chills listening to it. As of now, I still like it, but as I said for "The Coolest", not like I used to. It's still something to put on my recommended track list though!

9. Hip-Hop Saved My Life (Feat. Nikki Jean)
On a very interesting track on the album, Lupe tells a story of an underground rapper trying to make it while he's struggling with his life (personal issues).  Nikki Jean's contributions are nice (to be honest, I didn't really find it that good before) with her soft and smooth voice, while Lupe's story content is very interesting and was more relatable back then, instead of right now, when people are doing the most to support their "mixtape". This song still succeeds to impress me and it does stand out today.

10. Intruder Alert (Feat. Sarah Green)
With a sombre and slow piano-moving pace, this ain't really anything much for me, and isn't that impressive. This is alright, I did like Sarah's singing. but everything else... meh.

11. Streets on Fire
On my first listen, this was alright, but I never really cared for the track, although the content was good. My thoughts right now has changed a little, because it's actually a decent effort on the album. Not my favourite, but is very good, and the "Amen, Brother" drums on here are actually nice on this track!

12. Little Weapon (Feat. Nikki Jean & Bishop G)
Now this song is very great. It's a little surprising that Patrick Stump produced this, especially how he is in rock band Fall Out Boy. Then again, he is very diverse (he did make a solo album revolving around R&B and funk). Anyway, as I am to say, this song is awesome. The screwed sample of Lupe's "Heat Under the Babyseat" was suiting in the intro, and the drumroll which was a nice way to lead the song in. Nikki Jean and a (still-)unknown rapper called Bishop G comes in, and they do good. Nikki's hook sounded alright... nothing that surprising, and I did manage to enjoy Bishop's verse a little more than Lupe's verses. But overall, this song is awesome and I really liked how it really banged out.

13. Gotta Eat
I did like how Lupe did an extended metaphor, flowing on the decent beat provided here... other than that... well, yeah!

14. Dumb It Down (Feat. Gemini & Graham Burris)
Here, Lupe touches on how people would want him to "dumb it down" and make his lyrics generic for the mainstream, and he shows examples on this track. Gemini makes a better contribution by doing 2 different hooks (with some guy called Graham Burris doing a second hook in the middle) about how he wants Lupe to have a dumbed down lyrical approach. Now, I really liked this song. The video managed to flow well with the song, with Gemini showing funny examples of how he wants Lupe to degrade his lyrics. The concept really went good on this and it's probably my favourite song on the album (damn, I have so many favourites on this album).

15. Hello/Goodbye (Uncool) [Feat. Unkle]
Meh...

16. The Die (Feat. Gemini)
Never really liked this song, to be honest. He could've got someone like Twista to make the concept of the song feel better. Seriously, this song sounded like he was supposed to be on it, but due to busy schedules, Lu had to get his weed-carrier, who tries so hard to get in like Twista. It's that bad!

17. Put You On Game
And once again, meh! Well, not really, I did like how Lupe spoke from the perspective of the character The Game. But other than that, this wasn't really anything for me.

18. Fighters (Feat. Matthew Santos)
This is a good pre-outro and I liked it a little. Too bad it didn't really have any drums though...

19. Go Baby (Feat. Gemini)
The album could've done without this song.

OK, what do I have to say about this? Ummm... Lupe Fiasco's The Cool is a very decent follow up to what was a decent-but-average Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor. From start to finish, the album feels a lot more improved instead of trying too hard to come out good. As a full album, a few tracks managed to be very good, but if I take them out and listen to them separately, some of them can be mediocre or just... meh! Lupe doesn't really focus on The Cool's concept much like other concept albums, and some just digress to Lupe's own mind (being a superstar, spending time with his girl, and dumbing his raps down), but that doesn't stop it from making this a good album because they actually flow well with the other tracks, including the concept tracks that revolves around the characters (The Streets, The Game etc). The production on here overall feels better than F&L, mainly cos of its dark vibes & content, and it's not so flashy/showing off like it was with F&L. Lu had managed to master the art of extended metaphors here, and was clever to show it off as he tells a story. He once again gets help from his FNF Crew, instead of having big guest appearances like many would do with their debuts/sophomores (the only big guest being Snoop), which was good and made the overall product of songs complete and fine (especially when doing hooks). My favourite guest on the album had to be either Matthew Santos or Nikki Jean. Both had done their thing and added a sweet touch to the album. Matthew with "Superstar", "Streets on Fire" and "Fighters" adding a rocky feel, which Nikki added a soft and sweet vibe with "Hip-Hop Saved My Life" & "Little Weapon". I did kinda think that the second half of the album, however, was lacking, mainly cos of its separate production feeling boring or that Lupe's flow was (in my opinion) missing that "touch". But yeah, anyway, as an album, if you could forget the concept for some time, Lupe Fiasco's The Cool is an refreshed and improved album. So yeah, I think it is "cool" to buy this album! This had great input from Lu and so many of his songs on this album have proven to be classics. Possibly his best work yet (I'd say behind Tetsuo & Youth)

The Furious 5ive
Paris, Tokyo
Superstar
Hip-Hop Saved My Life
Dumb It Down
Little Weapon

Honourable Mentions
The Coolest
Gold Watch
Gotta Eat

Mick Jenkins - The Water[s]

Released: August 12, 2014

Chicago has been going to a downfall, especially in hip-hop and general life. While it remains the home of legends like Lupe Fiasco, Common and Kanye West, it has already created a stereotype with a large number of people being murdered a lot there and drill music has increased that a lot with artists like Chief Keef, Lil Durk and Fredo Santana. But over the years & months that have gone by, people have stopped a little about how hip-hop is "dying" cos of drill artists like those, and have appreciated them a little, along with newer and upcoming artists, especially Chance The Rapper, Vic Mensa and today's subject: Mick Jenkins.

Mick actually was born in "Sweet Home" Alabama, but grew up in Chicago. Previously, Mick had release mixtapes from 2012, including 2 released in the same year called The Mickstape and The Pursuit of HappyNess: The Story of Mickalascage. But on April 25, 2013 (which was my 12th birthday), he released the mixtape, Trees & Truths, which was a minor breakout for Mick and became a local favourite by many people, with jazz-influenced production. It was also seen as his "most lyrical body of work". Mick already managed to work with Vic Mensa & Chance The Rapper on a song called "Crossroads", and get much more attention and praise from the song. But later on, the next year, he would be signed to Cinematic Music Group (the same label that had signed Joey Bada$$ and Big KRIT previously), and would release the song/visual, "Martyrs" in July, which got a lot of praise and major attention from people like Timbaland. The next month, on August 12, he would release the mixtape, The Water[s], which had a major breakthrough, especially a lot more than Trees & Truths.

The Water[s] was released freely on August 12 by Cinematic, and was premiered by website HotNewHipHop. It was his fourth and was the follow-up to Trees & Truths. Here, a little bit unlike the previous tape, the production was improved and had a few features (whereas T&T only had 1 and Mick lead the tape on his own) including Noname Gypsy and Joey Bada$$. Downloaded nearly 80k times on both HotNewHipHop and DatPiff, it is a concept mixtape. Here, his raps are immersed and involved in the symbolic meanings of water, which can mean to hear what Mick has to say (especially saying the phrase, "drink more water") and has compared water to life. Unlike T&T where Mick just worked with underground and unknown producers, The Water[s] still has a few no-names, but includes recognized production from people including DJ Dahi, Statik Selektah and Kirk Knight.

The Water[s] was praised heavily by so much people, and can be seen as one of the best mixtapes of 2014 (which really says a lot, especially where us hip-hop heads have seen 2014 as a bad year). Hip-Hop websites like HipHopDX and XXL have given positive reviews and ratings on the mixtape and have praised his lyricism. Mick has been said to be working on an EP called Wave[s] to be possibly a warm-up/prequel to his debut album. He has also been touring on The Smoker's Club and a different tour with Kirk Knight, recently releasing the first single off the EP, "Alchemy".

So... on to The Water[s]!

1. Shipwrecked (Feat. TheMIND)
The tape starts off really deep, with Mick talking about how the world has been corrupted, seeing it as a young age, while producer TheMIND sings the hook. I like how this started off, especially getting an aqua feel from the song. The beat switches up to a trappy like beat, whereas previously it sounded a little like a beat from 40. I really liked the switch-up. I mean, you didn't see it coming and it kinda hit you a lot. Mick goes in on his lyricism and his meaning of water to "take a sip from it". With a deep atmosphere and very interesting content, this was a really good introduction.

2. THC
This is the shortest on the tape, and just feels like an interlude to get you warmed up for the rest of the tape. This got a wavey vibe though!

3. The Waters
Not a bad song especially for a title track, this is very good and impressive. I liked it a lot. The beat banged out and I'm getting into the content and concept a lot more than before. Mick's bars are on point and it was interesting how he was bringing up the truth of life, and how it has turned out to be. It's a really good song to sit and listen to, and although it got a banging beat, it's one of those songs you can vibe to without actually turning up in public while everyone looks at you.

4. Healer (Feat. Jean Deaux)
Mick gets Jean Deaux on the next track to do a decent hook. Here, I like the chill feel on it and Mick flows really well on this song. Jean's contributions weren't bad, they were decent, they sound like ad-libs for other songs (maybe from a smooth Trey Songz song, I'm just saying). As for the beat, it was nice to listen to. Although Mick wasn't bad on this, I didn't like it much and it wasn't that impressive.

5. Comfortable (Feat. Noname Gypsy)
I always liked this song. The beat was better than what was on the previous, and Mick sounded better on this. The hook was really great, and I liked it, especially being something I can sing along to. Speaking of that, although Mick is a rapper, his singing on this especially the harmony as he repeats the hook was really decent to hear, and it can give me chills sometimes. Anyway, yes, Mick did well on the song and his first verse was something really great. Noname's verse was boring. She sounded high and laidback (which ain't much of a problem normally, but it is here), and her voice sounded annoying for me, with her flow being really bad. Overall, it's still a really great song and is a standout in terms of vibing and rocking to the song. Speaking of vibes...

6. Vibe
STANDOUT ALERT! Whenever a song hits me hard the first time hearing it, I always start my song review in Caps. If you've listened to this song before, now you know why. This song is just awesome. It has a great feel, with one of the chillest vibes ever on the tape. Mick's flow is on some cool, and isn't as ruff like the others. I remember hearing this for the first time after school, I repeated this so many times from school to home, even when some banter happened at the back of the bus where I was sitting. Heck, I really loved this song. All things aside, it's an awesome and chill song to hear, with Mick doing really well and is probably my personal favourite.

7. Jazz
Using a sample from a cover of a Britney Spears song (which that cover sample sounds like a nursery rhyme or a lullaby), Mick once again touches on "the truth" and the lies that are part of lives, represented through jazz and smooth flows. Here, this was a good song to hear, and I liked what he touched on. In the outro, he brings up jazz musicians from Sinatra to Coltrane, and it suited the concept of the song. It was good and goes on a really nice lyrical journey where Mick searches for something in life. Not a standout, but really good.

8. Black Sheep
Statik Selektah had yet to really impress me. My only favourite beat from him is "Carry On" which has Joey Bada$$ and Freddie Gibbs. Most of his stuff were boring and lackluster. Don't forget, when I review B4.DA.$$, Most of Statik's beats were probably the weakest point of the album. But here, his beat is really good, not better than "Carry On", but was good compared to his beats on Joey's album. Other than that, this song wasn't bad. Mick did very well on this and he still touches on the concept of water. To me, it isn't that special, although the content was alright and the beat was great, especially being from Statik.

9. Drink More Water (Feat. Ebony)
Hearing this for the first time, I always thought this sounded like a Timbaland beat, especially how slow and laidback it was, along with how the drums were like, and how Missy and Aaliyah could've been on a song like this. But yes, I digress. This song is really decent and I really liked it. I do not know who Ebony is, but all I can say is that her smooth contributions were alright. Not a big standout or anything, but maybe a favourite from me.

10. Canada Dry
This is really on some chill, but dark vibes. I liked this song a lot more than the previous two songs. Here, this is where I'm enjoying the mixtape a lot more. It does feel a lot short and he repeats the hook a lot. Still like it though!

11. Who Else
The beat BANGS! Yeah, that's kinda all I can say about it. Mick does his thing though!

12. Dehydration (Feat. TheMIND)
When I say *insert a great producer* doesn't disappoint, mostly you have to believe me. Here, it's DJ Dahi, who turned me on to him when he produced "Money Trees" on good kid, m.A.A.d city, making me see him produce for others as life went on. This song shows the reason why I musically love both Dahi & Mick, who is possibly at his finest on this song. Probably my favourite song on the album. Period!

13. 514
WOOOO!!! I always have that "cold squint" face when I hear this song. This was a really good song. The beat bangs and Mick's lyrical content was great on there. Will it fit onto a long list of recommended tracks/Honourable mentions? Only God knows...

14. Martyrs
Do you see why I think 514 may not fit into my recommended list?

15. Jerome (Feat. Joey Bada$$)
The mixtape comes to an end, and has the best feature on the album. As a recap of the features, Ebony was alright, TheMIND had a decent contribution, Noname Gypsy was kinda boring and Jean Deaux sounded like she was mistakenly put there, to be honest. But this just blows all those to the sky. Joey comes on, and Kirk Knight adds a raw Brooklyn beat. Mick did well, but people underrate his presence on this mainly for the reason of him stealing Joey's ruff flow. Speaking of him, yeah, Joey comes at the end, stealing the shine from and renegading Mick, with his ruff Brooklyn style coming around the place, making this feel more like Joey's song. I always found this like the modern Renegade, and we know how that Jay-Z/Eminem collab went down. Anyway, it's over!

The Water[s] actually proves to be what other people said it was: just brilliant. Mick goes around the symbolic concept of water, and spreading the truth of life. It is really interesting, and isn't going around some repetitive stuff or songs just stamped around on a tape. The tape is put in a nice order, and had shown the talent that Mick had, especially coming out in a year that can be considered one of the worst years in hip-hop. The Water[s] feels like an album, more than an actual mixtape. I mean, there's 15 tracks and they all flow together in a way that it doesn't mix together or have songs just put together for the hell or it. Mick's style is really ruff, deep (like water, hehe) and very appealing to the listener. Now, for the features, they were good, but they felt bland as hell, making me not feel the songs much. However, Joey Bada$$ managed to save the feature list and did a great job, namely on "Jerome", which was really memorable on the tape. Some of the tape, although interesting, however feel like filler to me. Yes, the beats on the song banged out really great, but was that just it? I mean, some of Mick's content was just... meh, and I didn't feel it as much. But yeah, it does come out good especially where Mick is doing something original and not too much into everybody in the rap game. I really liked the mixtape. It was a refreshing listen and as a mixtape released in what can be considered one of the worst years in hip-hop. Mick did something really great to make us remember 2014 a little greatly than it actually is supposed to be. I recommend a download. This was really overwhelming and great, and as much as I'm trying to describe how nice this was, it's just so good. This year, though, has already gave us droughts of good music, and we're already getting something from Nas, Jay-Z & Beyonce, Meek Mill and maybe Lloyd Banks next (he's releasing a mixtape though). So let's hope Mick doesn't fail with Wave[s] this year.

The Furious 5ive
Dehydration
Vibe
Martyrs
Jerome
514 [woo, this finally managed to fit in]

Honourable Mentions
Jazz
Canada Dry
Comfortable