Lupe Fiasco - The Cool

8.5 out of 10 StarsThe Good: "Go Go Gadget Flow," "Gotta Eat," and "Little Soldiers" are excellent songs, must-downloads.The Bad: Production is mediocre in some spots.Lupe Fiasco has been pegged as a artist with potential to become the next big thing in hip hop. His debut album, Food & Liquor, was a huge critical success and built a large following of devotees, though sometimes it seems as if those two things can do more harm than good. Despite the huge buzz, critical praise, and shoulder rubbing with Kanye West and Jay-Z, in this case the album sales were hugely disappointing. Between the time Food & Liquor was released and now, Lupe has also had to deal with the "skateboard poser" allegations, and the whole "A Tribe Called Quest" thing. The pressures of the industry eventually caused Lupe to announce his retirement before his sophomore album was even completed. However, if you want to find a silver lining in all of this chaos, Lupe has plenty of inspiration and material to deliver a great album with The Cool.One of The Cool's best attributes is that while each song stands alone, the album follows a linear concept, so the songs also tie into each other. There are a lot of us fans who have grown accustomed to hearing single albums written by multiple people, on a different coasts, with different intentions in mind, so for a hip hop album to be constructed like this is a real treat. Check out this short video of Lupe Fiasco explaining the concept behind The Cool. He breaks it down better than anyone else could.

Lyrically, Lupe Fiasco is a MONSTER. Songs like "Go Go Gadget Flow" really showcase his ability to stand apart from most mainstream rappers in terms of ripping a mic. In some cases, it's difficult to fully digest everything Lupe is saying because of the speed and/or complexity of the rhyme. I had to rewind several parts in "Go Go Gadget Flow" a few times to catch up with what he was saying. I was originally expecting an album with happy, lighthearted themes (before viewing the video above, mind you) but quickly found the material to be a little more mature. The first half of the album is good, but nothing to sound the alarm for. Things really kick into high gear around the middle of the disc, where I found the true gems to lie. "Intruder Alert" is a standout track on the album; the actual lyrics to the song are a dark and touchy subject, but the overall sound of the song is very non-threatening. The delivery of his flow along with the light and airy instrumental act like pretty wrapping on a harmful topic. "Hip Hop Saved My Life" is a tale of an aspiring rapper and the everyday struggles it takes to make a name for yourself in music.

"Little Children" comes next, and covers the subject of child rebel soldiers in Africa who are controlled with fear and drugs.I killed another man today,Shot him in his back as he ran away,Then I blew up his hut with a hand grenade,Cut his wife's throat as she put her hands to prayJust five more dogs then we can get a soccer ballThat's heavy stuff, and just to throw in a curveball, guest Bishop G draws a parallel between child rebel soldiers and American kids who sit like drones in front of their TV all day killing imaginary people in video games."Gotta Eat" is a BRILLIANT track. At first glance it sounds like a run of the mill hip hop come-up story, but under the surface lies much more. What sounds like a gangsta fairytale is actually a song about how fast food is killing people just like guns or drugs. How many rappers out there are crafting creative PSAs on the dangers of eating cheeseburgers and actually having it be entertaining and engaging?! I can't get enough of this song.One of the curious things about The Cool is that Lupe strayed from "traditional" hip hop beats, and gave everything a pop/alternative-ish feel. It would have been nice just for ONE track to take it to the gutter and spit 48 bars over something raw, but I won't be too picky.All in all, The Cool is a must-listen for hip hop fans. It's extremely refreshing to see someone putting in so much effort into creating diverse, introspective, and passionate music without being overly preachy. The album covers everything from AIDS, the Devil, child soldiers, touring, flossing, health, and a full-fledged shout-out song to Chicago. One of the major knocks on Lupe and The Cool in general would have to be a matter of presentation. At first glance the music can be really forgettable, and if you're the type of listener who waits for something to GRAB your attention, Lupe Fiasco could possibly blow right past you. He doesn't have a big flashy personality or overly catchy melodies that hook you into what he's saying, so in order to enjoy what The Cool offers you have to intentionally seek out the goods. There are artists who lean on beats, choruses, guest producers or unique voices to gain attention, and Lupe Fiasco's music doesn't necessarily excel in any of those categories. The Cool is a great album without the "bells and whistles", but those extras could have taken this from a great album to classic status.