So it's been long since I've been through Lupe Fiasco's music on this blog. Obviously because of exams, but the review schedule of going through different artists. One of my first reviews on this site was Lu's debut album Food & Liquor, and I also gave my opinion on the four 5th anniversary bonus tracks. Little did I know that two of those tracks were part of a leaked/Advance version of the album in April 2006. So I previously talked about the Advance version on that review, and compared it to the retail version I was reviewing. However, I never got to give my actual track-by-track thoughts on the leak, so here we are. I could've gone through Lasers and Food & Liquor II today, but this is what happens when you go on a nostalgia trip through leaks and mixtape tracks that you used to bang out when you were 8.
Anyway, let me run it back before we start. If you guys don't know, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor was supposed to be released around the Summer period of 2006, around June. The album was named after what Lupe believed to be a philosophy of human nature, and also was meant to heavily reflect the album's thought-provoking content. Lupe was making a name for himself, working with big names such as Kanye West, Ghostface Killah and Joe Budden; and putting out the Fahrenheit 1/15 mixtapes from 2005-06. His debut single "Kick, Push" dropped in April, and everything was going well. But, just after a few days, or probably a week (was I even that interested in his music when he first came out?), the album leaked in its entirety. 15 tracks, and singing features from Gemini & Matthew Santos. Lupe was furious, and because of this, the album was supposed to be shelved. Instead, he decided to create a second version to put out, cos what was the point of releasing the project when everybody already has it at this point? Song titles were changed, new verses were written, entirely new songs were made, almost half of the original songs were omitted. And it wasn't until September that the album officially dropped.
But we're not talking about the retail, it's the Advance version. The original bootlegged version with 15 tracks. Enough talking, let's go!
1. Intro/Theme Music to a Drive-By
Lupe opens up this version of the album displaying his trademarks and style over a Prolyfic beat, as he raps about a range of subjects including drugs, temptations/sinning, slavery, and religion. His verses are fire on here, with impressive wordplay and lines such as "Evil minded like Crane they became/They deranged like the rover that I rode/That was the Range that I drove when I was a little bit older mayne". Plus, his flow was on point, I freakin' loved it. Prolyfic flipped the Spinners sample like a boss, probably the best sample flip of the song. Bryson Tiller & Wale have songs with the same title, but they don't compare to this at all! This just too smooth. Now, I would've rather had this as an opening than the retail intro, which was boring as hell, in my opinion. I said this before, but you know an album is fire when the intro is one of the best songs on there.
2. You My
Known as "Sunshine" on the retail version. This was one of my favourite songs on the album, a more lighthearted cut, and I loved it ever since I was like 8. Even to this day, it's still a jam.
3. Ghetto Story (Steady Mobbin')
Funny how one of Lupe's best songs ended up being omitted from the album after the leak. I was hooked onto this first listen, and it's probably the best song on the album. Here, Lupe talks about the ghetto, reminiscing about the disparity in his upbringing. His 3 verses sees him detail the terrible things he's seen, getting listeners to walk with him through the hood. The beat is just soulful and sombre, and it helps create the emotional mood of the song. And the hook is amazing, props to whoever provided them vocals. Classic Lupe at his finest!
4. Spaze Out
Lupe brings out his politically aggressive side with this hardcore song, which, for somewhat reason, reminds me of an early Lecrae track. Here, he declares the start of a new revolution, rapping about propaganda and how the people are overlooked by the government and media. It's my least favourite song on the album, which says a lot because this is actually fire, and the content is amazing. But it doesn't compare to what's to come later on the album.
5. Just Might Be OK (feat. Gemini)
Same as the retail version, and it's still a great song to me, giving an epic vibe with the instrumentation. Gemini's hook is dope, and I love to sing along to it still. But I hardly play it these days tho, got too much jams on my phone. Oh, how life was sweet with 5-16GB storage (not really, ha!).
6. Trials and Tribulations
The original version of "Pressure" with completely different verses, no Gemini hook or a Jay Z verse. "Pressure" was a hard one, but this one washes that away, as Lupe uses wordplay to rap about the struggles in the city, what he had to do to get to where he is now, and also boasts about his skills ("It started won't stop, who don't want us to blow like bomb squad, well fire on guard/It's Lupe touche/Coup de Grâce, now put them in the trunk like the roofs are our cars"). And he snaps like a boss on the track. If there's any other reason to love Lu, this is one!
7. Make Sure
A more funkier and upbeat cut from this version, which is about the pimp game. Lupe tells a story about a boy named Lu (probably himself in 3rd person) and a girl named Chenelle, both from the ghetto. Chenelle came from a broken home, and was a grounded person learning sex from a porno. Lu, on the other hand, is a playa/mack that preys on the weak and takes advantage of them. The third verse suggests that everyone is part of the pimp culture, and school develops people into making their own decisions. It's a solid track on the album, a lot more upbeat than the rest of the song. And with every listen, it gets better.
8. Real Recognize Real
I don't know who flipped the Willie Hutch sample better: Prolyfic on this one or The Klasix on Joe Budden's "Get No Younger"? But this is my favourite song from the album, which was supposed to help set up the Michael Young History saga (The Cool). The first verse is about drug dealers and the life they live as police hunt for them. The second verse is about The Streets, personified as a woman who is seen as a demon/prostitute. Everyone that is lured to her meets their death and their name is tatted on her. She would later get Michael Young History killed in the saga. The Game (not the rapper) is a representation of the evils of the drug game, the life and struggles of a hustler, deals gone sour, and quite possibly the devil. But righteousness comes along and Lupe says that it is when somebody stops the drug dealers or when a teacher teaches the right thing to students. It's a very deep track, with interesting personification to paint a picture of the things that go on in Chicago. A song that represents the Food & Liquor theme very well on this album. Such a shame that this song remains underrated.
9. Hustlaz Song
A sombre and heartfelt song, where Lupe's narrative puts you in the mind of a hustler, speaking on the pains and problems he has encountered because of the lifestyle. I hardly play this song for somewhat reason, yet I still appreciate and dig this song for its emotional and deep content.
10. Never Lies (feat. Jonah Matranga)
Known as "The Instrumental" on the retail version, this is still a decent song. I actually got used to Jonah's contribution to the tracks, adds to the alternative vibe Mike Shinoda made with the beat. And Lupe's content about electronic media and addiction is still impressive.
11. No Place to Go
On the retail version, known as "Hurt Me Soul" aka my favourite Lupe song ever.
12. Game Time
OH YEAH! 4 minutes of wordplay, punchlines and impressive bars. I can just leave you with this:
"I'm just trying to do the opposite of left
As long as there is the opposite of death
You test, and I might just bring the opposite of life
Till there's no one the opposite of right"
13. Kick, Push
And coassssttt... and away he rolled, just... oh yeah, this song a classic still. What else is there to say, ha?!
14. Slow Down
Also known as "Carrera Lu" on the 5th anniversary edition of the album, This is one of those upbeat and groovy songs from Lupe, as he brings out a braggadocio and rapid persona over a Prolyfic beat that reminds me a 70s movie chase scene. Pro also is on the hook, giving a catchy vibe as Lupe flows over the beat smoothly. This song never gets old!
15. Close Your Mind (feat. Matthew Santos)
Known as "American Terrorist" on the retail version, and my thoughts keep changing. One minute I loved it, the next I thought it was average. Now, I think this is probably one of my favourite songs from Lupe, top 10 on the list, along with gems like "I'm Beamin'", "Little Death" and "Gold Watch". Another political song that ended this version well, with thought-provoking content about how corrupt America is. Matthew's contribution was actually not bad, I used to not enjoy it, but his hook and even his singing at the end adds onto the politically aggressive content very effectively. Lupe's third verse goes through some American history, as he manages to touch on how America screwed a lot of people up, particularly of colour. It's a very interesting track, and one that still gets plays every now and then.
Final Thoughts
This is an album that should've never been leaked at all. The Advance version of Food & Liquor really washes the retail away. Don't get me wrong, I love the retail. Some of the songs on there remain some of his best work such as "He Say, She Say", "I Gotcha", "The Cool" and "Daydreamin'". But compare that version to this: it's nothing AT ALL.
I feel this version of the album is a better representation of the concept that Lupe was going with: the good and the bad, the food and the liquor, duality and all that. And he maintained his lyrical ferocity from his Fahrenheit 1/15 mixtapes. "Theme Music to a Drive-By" is way better as an intro than a poem from Lupe's sister and shit, as he touches on religion, drug addiction, slavery and more. He even adds a couple Ninja Turtles references. "Ghetto Story" is an emotional cut on the album, as Lupe take the listener through his hood and all the things he has seen. "Hustlaz Song" goes through the mind of a hustler and what he has to go through because of his lifestyle. "Real Recognize Real" is a soulful song, where Lupe sets up the saga of Michael Young History, personifying the streets as a woman and the drug game & hustling lifestyle as a devil.
There are a few socially and politically aggressive songs on the album as Lupe continues going through the good/bad concept. "Spaze Out" is my least favourite song on the album, but isn't that bad on its own as Lupe declares the start of a new revolution, rapping about propaganda and media. "Never Lies" or "The Instrumental" touches on electronic media and how effective it is on viewers. "Make Sure" is about the pimp culture, as Lupe tells a story about a boy who's a playa and a grounded girl that came from a broken home. "Hurt Me Soul" sees Lu express his problems he had with rap and misogyny, along with the 24 evils terrorising the world. The album ends with "American Terrorist", a song about America being corrupt and screwing people of colour over; which is a better ending than freakin' 12 minutes of shoutouts!
Some of the songs revolve around the lyrics and wordplay rather than the concept itself, and we get a couple upbeat and lighthearted tracks. "Slow Down" isn't necessarily about anything, as Lupe comes with a rapid flow over a groovy 70s-like beat from Prolyfic. "Sunshine" is a light song that screams SUMMER! It's one of my favourite songs from Lu, with extended metaphors and tricky lyrics. "Game Time" is like a lyrical exercise, with double entendres and impressive wordplay such as "Even if it takes a grand to get it I ride/Just to see that my Sedan has been vandalized" and "Shift me to that graveyard and knock my hustle/They hope I Domino and free up my delivery". And even with the content of pimping in "Make Sure", it still remains a great song to vibe to, especially with the funky instrumental from Pro. "Trials and Tribulations" shits all over "Pressure", and it's hard AF! Lupe kills it with his wordplay and punchlines, as he boasts about his skills and the fact that he's blowing up.
Overall, the Advance is superior than the retail, giving a better representation of the album's main concept. It's more cohesive, and flows a lot better compared to what we ended up getting. Not that the retail wasn't good, but some of the songs can't compare to the original leak. Lupe managed to come with impressive wordplay, entendres and witty punchlines, while giving us a lot of deep and thought-provoking content, and even upbeat, lighthearted cuts. Give this one a listen, you won't regret it. The retail is a classic, but this is on another level, and imagine how we would've looked at Lu today if the Advance ended up being the retail version. A great portrayal of Lupe's experiences, perspective, creativity, and environment in such a cohesive package.
Best Songs on Advance: "Real Recognize Real", "Ghetto Story", "Game Time", "Slow Down", "Trials and Tribulations", "Theme Music to a Drive-By"
Best Songs on Retail: "He Say, She Say", "I Gotcha", "Daydreamin'", "The Cool", "The Emperor's Soundtrack"
Best Songs both on Advance & Retail: "Hurt Me Soul", "Sunshine", "American Terrorist", "Kick, Push"
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