It's been something special these last eight years watching over Lupe
Fiasco's career. He went from that unknown MC featured on Kanye's "Touch
The Sky", to that hip skateboarder with that cool "Kick, Push"
song, to what he is today. One of the most intelligent, lyrically complex,
and very over-opinionated MC's in the game. He an artist that has certainly be
way ahead of his time since day one. Today though, Lupe seems to be surrounded
by controversy. Beef with his label Atlantic Records, his well documented
political debates on CNN and other news networks, and most notably his dislike
for President Obama. Despite it, Lupe still manages to put out quality lyrical
hip hop without dumbing any of it down. He hasn't changed anything. His
impressive catalog is what leads to the anticipation of this. His fifth album
Tetsuo & Youth. Personally I believe his first two albums are classics. His
2006 debut Food & Liquor and his 2007 sophomore album The Cool (which most
fans like the best). But many felt let down a bit by his last two project.
2011's Lasers and 2012's Food & Liquor II. Both albums, while still having
dope lyrical content, saw Lupe venturing off into a more mainstream sound. That
didn't sit well with fans. Whether it's because of his feud with the label or
not, it's had me just a tad bit worried about this project. Just a tad. Well
I'm happy to say I can breathe a sigh of relief. This album was way better than
I could have ever imagined. Everything from his concepts, his stories, the
outstanding production and of course his word bending, mind boggling lyrics. I
haven't heard all of those components come together this perfectly since The
Cool. One big thing I noticed here in comparison to his last two albums, Lupe
sounds much more relaxed and focused. The reason may be because this is his
last album on Atlantic and he sounds happy to be leaving. Also happy because
Atlantic finally let him do what he wanted with this album since they would be
parting ways after this. Whatever the case, this is the Lupe Fiasco we have
been wanting for quite a while now. Now, let's being the breakdown:
1. Summer (interlude)
This begins with the first of four cool interludes on this album. Each
representing a different season of the year. On here you just hear the kids
("youth") enjoying the summer. The sounds of swimming pools and
everything else associated with summer. That's pretty much it.
2. Mural
Man oh man....I'm still trying to get my brain together after hearing this
eight minute long lyrical slaying. I kid you not, this could lyrically be the
best song Lupe Fiasco has ever done. Literally every single line was an over-your-head,
thought provoking, word playing bar. It's been a while since I actually had to
keep hitting the rewind button after every line to catch what a rapper is
saying. I would quote some stuff but I don't want this to be super long. This
song is perfectly tiled. A mural is a large painting on a wall and these words
certainly paints large visuals in your head. I mean...I'm just at a complete
lost for words here. You just gotta listen to it.
3. Blur My Hands (featuring Guy Sebastian)
Now of course, when you dealing with Lupe and his words, it's really hard
to break down what he could possibly be talking about. So I'm going off
assumption on all of these tracks. Starting here. Based on some of his words,
specifically the ones at the end of the first verse, sounds like he's rebelling
towards certain groups of people and being an asshole. When I think of
"blurred hands" I think of obscene gestures. Middle fingers. Which
could be what he's saying to said people. Anyway, the beat is well done. Loved
the background organs. Props to S1 and VohnBeats. Dope song overall.
4. Dots & Lines
...and here is the song that explains what I was describing in the
intrograph. It about Lupe showing his happiness and joy for finally leaving
Atlantic Records. After years of constant disagreement with them. The answer is
right in the title. The "dotted line" is what you sign on the
contract to join on leave labels. I like the catchiness of not only the hook
but the beat as well. It had some good instrumentation especially with the
guitars in the beginning. Nice song.
5. Fall (interlude)
The second seasonal interlude. You hear the sounds of the youth playing
around in leaves ans well as other sounds associated with the fall.
6. Prisoner 1 & 2 (featuring Ayesha Jaco)
Here we get a two for one deal. Two songs in one. The first part has a very
cool beat filled with violins and pianos. The second part has a more faster,
energetic beat with a..."electric" sound sort of speak. While both
parts are totally different in sound, they both speak on the same thing. He
speaks about the high population of blacks in prison today, racial profiling
and police brutality which is a huge issue right now. Also, seeing himself as a
prisoner in the music industry (specifically within his label). I feel like
there's more to it than that but that's really all I got from these songs. Both
were awesome.
7. Body Of Work (featuring Troi and Terrace Martin)
Here's another song that went over my head in concept. The title doesn't
mean what you think it might mean. He talking about the drug game, specifically
drug trafficking. How some drug lords (especially the foreign ones) often use a
woman and her body to transport drugs in and out of the country. The woman has
a "body of work" as in body full of work. Work being drugs. It's just
another brilliant play on words by Lupe. The production, while it wasn't bad,
kinda feels flat in comparison to the rest. But still this song concept wise is
brilliant.
8. Little Death (featuring Nikki Jean)
I listened to this song specifically countless times and it seems like
there's a lot going on here. It seems like each verse is talking about
something different. I can't quite make out what the second verse is talking
about but I can sure tell the first one revolves around sex while the third
verse revolves around the corrupt justice system. But it's Nikki Jean's hook
that makes this song connect more. All three hooks are different in words.
Corresponding to the verse it follows. Based on what she's saying, she seems to
be playing the role of some evil entity or dark angel. The devil perhaps? I'm
not sure. Also, she mentions the words "la petite mort" which after
looking it up is actually french for...little death. So this just Lupe once
again playing with the listeners mind with such intricate concepts brilliant
word play. Another awesome concept.
9. No Scratches (featuring Nikki Jean)
Even on a love song Lupe is still bending words and concepts. He's talking
about getting out of a relationship before things get too crazy or before you
get too attached. One of the two. He's uses the metaphor of a car crash to
represent it. Getting out of the car (relationship) with "no
scratches" before it hits a wall and permanently does damage to both of
them. I like how he and Nikki Jean sings this song duet style on the hook. So
it sounds like both the male and female are agreeing to separate before things
get messy. Dope.
10. Winter (interlude)
The third of the seasonal interludes. You hear the youth enjoying the
winter. You can hear wind, the sound of snow shoveling and well as everything
else that goes with winter.
11. Chopper (featuring Billy Blue, Buk, Trouble, Trae The Truth, Fam-Lay and Glasses Malone)
Now I love posse cuts like this just as much as the next person, but man
this was incredibly long. First off this is an interesting selection of rappers
to feature on here. A lot of them we haven't heard from in a long time. But
apart of me feels like Lupe chose rappers who really do carry these choppers
and who actually live that life. I mean let's face it, he could have put a
large number of other rappers on here that talk about the same stuff but he
chose ones that he believes really live that life. I must say they all were
dope on here. Hard to choose a favorite verse. The production is definitely one
of my favorites on the album. Big props to DJ Dahi for that. Dope song and a
definite trunk banger.
12. Deliver (featuring Ty Dolla $ign)
This is the official first single and again, is more brain testing word
play. The hook really tells the story of the whole song. It has two meanings.
He's stating how most pizza delivery drivers won't deliver to certain
neighborhoods due to the high risk of crime. The other meaning is that
"pizza man" is a play on words that also says "peace of
man". Lupe is saying that because of all the violence and crime in that
neighborhood, there is no more peace around here and it doesn't come here no
more. It all depends on how you listen to it what you interpret from it.
MoeZart does a okay job here with the production. Filled with plenty of keys
and bells. Thought Ty Dolla $ign is credited, you only hear him doing
background vocals on the hook. Another great concept.
13. Madonna (And The Other Mothers In The Hood) (featuring Nikki Jean)
No. This song has nothing to do with THAT Madonna. The Madonna Lupe is
talking about "Ma Donna" which is Italian for "my lady".
There's been plenty of religion talk on this album up to this point and it's
more on this song. It sounds as if he's comparing black mothers in the ghettos
to the Virgin Mary. They fear that their child will fall victim to gang violence
and/or police brutality. Just as Mary feared for Jesus's crucifixion. While
great in concept, the song itself is probably the weakest on the album for me.
It could be the production which I was feeling as much as the others. But I
gotta say, Nikki Jean has been killing it on this whole album. Great concept,
okay song.
14. Adoration Of The Magi (featuring Crystal Torres)
Here some more religious talk. Now I'm sure you all are familiar with the
story of Mary and Joseph and the three wise men and all of that. Well that's
kinda what this is. If my memory is correct, the title represents the religious
art work of Christ. The "Magi" are who you know as the three wise
men. The song just revolves completely around the birth of Christ and the art
work inspired from it (art seems to be the biggest theme of this album. Even
when you look at the cover). I also found out that he released this song in
Austrailia on January 6th which there, is a christian holiday that celebrates
Jesus appearing to the wise men. Just a fun fact. Another cool concept and song
as well.
15. They.Resurrect.Over.New. (featuring Ab-Soul and Troi)
This one I had a hard time figuring out it's concept. What I can see is that
the title is an acronym for TRON. Which was a popular video game that released
in 1982 (Lupe's birth year). Now I wanna think this is video game and/or
futuristic themed (especially when the hook says "proceed to the next
level"), but I'm not entirely sure. Nonetheless, this song is still dope.
Ab-Soul had the best guest verse of any on this album. I love when those two
collaborate. I'm definitely gonna have
to do some more research to find the meaning behind this song.
16. Spring (interlude)
We end it with the final seasonal interlude. The youth are enjoying the
spring. You hear birds chirping as well as other people out enjoying the
weather. All things relating to spring.
Overall, this album was just simply amazing. I would still have to put The
Cool number one, but this is close second. Every concept, every thought
provoking line, Lupe Fiasco shows why he is one of hip hop's most wise and
intelligent lyricists. I give this a final grade of an A. At this rate, Lupe
Fiasco is seriously approaching legend status. There's not many other MC's at
this age with quite the discography he has. They say for some rappers, you need
a certain level of intellect to understand their words and their music. I
sometimes hate hearing that because not everybody listens to music for that
reason. But for someone like Lupe, you can help but to try and understand it
because of how he delivers. Regardless if it gives you a massive headache. I'm
glad the drama with his label is now over and he can move on and keep giving us
product like this. Hip hop needs it. End.
Lyrics: A+
Production: B+
Collaboration: B
Originality: A
Concept(s): A+
Final Grade: A
CREDITS
Executive Producer
Wasalu Jaco
Lead Artist
Wasalu Jaco
Production
Kyle Davidson
Chris Paultre
Larry Griffin Jr.
Mark London
Simon Morel
Maurice Thomas
Dacoury Natche
Marcus Stephens
Collaboration
Guy Sebastian
Ayesha Jaco
Terrace Martin
Nicholle Leary
Pedritho Dorsonne
Jeffrey Robinson
Mariel Orr
Frazier Thompson
Nathaniel Johnson
Charles Penniman
Tyrone Griffin
Crystal Torres
Herbert Stevens
Label
1st & 15th/Atlantic Records
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Lil Wayne
Sorry 4 The Wait 2
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Atlanta, GA
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