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
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