lupe fiasco – The Concordian

Lupe Fiasco – Drogas Light (1st & 15th Entertainment, 2017)

The album’s opening track, “Dopamine,” is ironically missing it. Its monotone bassline and average hook are a disappointing opener for an artist like Lupe Fiasco. This leaves a bad impression on the whole album. Lupe Fiasco used to have his own distinct style and sound in previous tracks, such as “Hip Hop Saved My Life,” “Superstar” and “Shining Down.” However, you won’t hear any of his old-school charm on this album. In Drogas Light, Lupe Fiasco sounds like your generic rapper trying to sound like Drake. The lyrics are shallow and revolve around booze, drugs and honeys. His song “Promise” sounds like a replica of Drake’s “Steeze.” It’s so obvious that it makes you wonder why would someone copy another rapper’s style and call it their own? His track “Made in the USA” is definitely not making America any better with its generic beat and over-repeated chorus. This album fell flat like tap water.

Trial Track: “Promise”

2/10

Lupe Fiasco – Tetsuo & Youth (Atlantic Record; 2015)

Forget the ill-conceived electropop production of Lasers. Forget the laborious politically dense drivel of Food & Liquor 2. Tetsuo & Youth has arrived and with it, the Lupe Fiasco we once loved and cherished has seemingly returned, older, wiser and ruthlessly refuelled. While its sprawling length (a whopping 78 minutes) never quite justifies itself due to a few less than stellar pop-rap tracks that, while never as offensively bland, recall a more confused Lasers-era Fiasco, and its seasonal motif never quite comes to fruition. Lupe nonetheless showcases some of his most focused and ambitious songwriting yet. Take “Mural,” the album’s aptly-titled opener, for example; free of hooks, Lupe paints a vivid, densely packed canvas and effortlessly navigates a lush piano-driven sample from Cortex’ Troupeau Bleu for nearly nine whole minutes, devoid of breaks. It’s a stunning showcase of virtuosic flow and lyrical dexterity and a reminder that, when focused, Lupe Fiasco can rap with the best around today. He’s almost there.

Trial Track: “Mural”

Rating: 7/10

-Samuel Provost-Walker