Originally posted by hudson: Seriously, anyone who is not listening to this album right now, is truly missing out. Please go buy it. You can thank me later.
It hasn't been released yet.
----- Things could be different but they’re not…
Posts: 5647 | Location: Texas | Registered: 27 December 2005
Yeah you're right. But there's been a leak. Believe me, I am going to purchase this album when it's released, and I encourage others to do the same. I don't think there's anything wrong with downloading a leak if you have every intention of purchasing the album when it becomes available.
Originally posted by hudson: Haha. Yeah! Best hip/hop album this year, hands down. There are so many tight tracks on this album it's just not fair.
Production is top notch. Lupe does it again. Best rapper out there right now, period.
I really really really like the Cool, but I'm not sure that it's going to overtake "I'll Sleep When You're Dead". I thought I'd love "The Cool" for its darker beats, but now that I have it, I really kind of miss tracks like "Sunshine" or 2007's "Can You Let Me Know" on this LP to break up the sound. Furthermore, the storyline isn't really working yet. I'm still listening to it like crazy, because its beats are great (I can't get into the UNKLE collaboration though...), so maybe the characters will reveal more the more lines I pick up, but right now I feel like Lupe is hiding some of his talent that he showed off in Food and Liquor. F&L was so strong because of the emcee, he went from subject to subject and killed it nearly every time. But, where F&L talked about deoderant and televisions, The Cool talks about bling and the AIDS virus. He still is top-notch lyrically, but I feel like The Cool is like one of those movies refit for televisions. You're missing the whole picture, and not seeing some important parts of Lupe's repetoire since he's pigeon-holed into this thematic album. I'm passionate about this album though, and its still easily one of the top albums of the year. This is one of the most consistant albums of the decade as far as beats go, and it's obvious the producers did their best to get rid of the "Kanye-aping" beats from F&L. Lupe has really crafted an album for the music heads here, and it shows. And from Sega Genesis namedrops to a "Go-Go Gadget" sample, he's obviously having fun. I'm picking the CD up tomorrow so I can get a better feel for the underlying story, which is the main thing holding this back from greatness. High hopes for LupEND.
Posts: 294 | Location: AVA | Registered: 24 June 2006
Originally posted by pak: I really really really like the Cool, but I'm not sure that it's going to overtake "I'll Sleep When You're Dead". I thought I'd love "The Cool" for its darker beats, but now that I have it, I really kind of miss tracks like "Sunshine" or 2007's "Can You Let Me Know" on this LP to break up the sound. Furthermore, the storyline isn't really working yet. I'm still listening to it like crazy, because its beats are great (I can't get into the UNKLE collaboration though...), so maybe the characters will reveal more the more lines I pick up, but right now I feel like Lupe is hiding some of his talent that he showed off in Food and Liquor. F&L was so strong because of the emcee, he went from subject to subject and killed it nearly every time. But, where F&L talked about deoderant and televisions, The Cool talks about bling and the AIDS virus. He still is top-notch lyrically, but I feel like The Cool is like one of those movies refit for televisions. You're missing the whole picture, and not seeing some important parts of Lupe's repetoire since he's pigeon-holed into this thematic album. I'm passionate about this album though, and its still easily one of the top albums of the year. This is one of the most consistant albums of the decade as far as beats go, and it's obvious the producers did their best to get rid of the "Kanye-aping" beats from F&L. Lupe has really crafted an album for the music heads here, and it shows. And from Sega Genesis namedrops to a "Go-Go Gadget" sample, he's obviously having fun. I'm picking the CD up tomorrow so I can get a better feel for the underlying story, which is the main thing holding this back from greatness. High hopes for LupEND.
Gonna have to disagree with your simplistic assessment here. This album is not about AIDS and bling. This album picks up right where his debut left off, covering social issues of all shapes and sizes. He focuses mainly on the issues facing African Americans and he aptly and skillfully critisizes the way most hip hop artists dumb themselves and their people down.
He continues with the theme of encouraging his brothers to strive for a higher level and better quality of life, while he shames the whole attitude of glorified hood life.
But he talks about all issues, not just those that affect African Americans. And touches on global issues as well. This kid knows his stuff, and you tell from his lyrics and delivery that he truly cares.
And he lays these these tracks down with more sheer skill and flow than we ever saw on F&L. You are right about the fact that the beats on this album are true.
Gonna have to disagree with your simplistic assessment here.
Sigh.^
I don't recall ever saying that the album was ABOUT AIDS or bling. I'm merely pointing out that the album is has less "fun" tracks, which was a big part of Lupe's other album/mixtapes.
Posts: 294 | Location: AVA | Registered: 24 June 2006
Originally posted by pak: But, where F&L talked about deoderant and televisions, The Cool talks about bling and the AIDS virus.
Here ya go.
Maybe listen to the album a few more times and then tell me what it's about.
Are you always so condescending? As with all rap albums, the overall theme can be very different from single songs. F&L just attacked some more interesting and original subjects, like on "I Gotcha", which is about deoderant, and "The Instrumental", which shows the degenerative effect TV can have on people. The Cool, while more thematically complex, has some less interesting single-song themes, with the exception of Dumb It Down and Little Weapon.
I'm done.
Posts: 294 | Location: AVA | Registered: 24 June 2006
Originally posted by pak: Are you always so condescending? As with all rap albums, the overall theme can be very different from single songs. F&L just attacked some more interesting and original subjects, like on "I Gotcha", which is about deoderant, and "The Instrumental", which shows the degenerative effect TV can have on people. The Cool, while more thematically complex, has some less interesting single-song themes, with the exception of Dumb It Down and Little Weapon.
I'm done.
There ya go. See how much more sense you make once you know what you're talking about?
I’ve only been able to stream this one so far and I have only heard it about ten times. I do think that it is one of the best hip-hop albums of the year and I also feel like the beats and production on are top-notch. It certainly seems like Lupe Fiasco is a highly ambitious person, so lyrically, this one is all over the place. He is channeling a lot on this one while still trying to push the right message.
I do like it quite a bit already but heck, I’ve liked his stuff since before his debut so it’s a given. I’ll give it a few more solid listens before I begin to finalize my list though.
----- Things could be different but they’re not…
Posts: 5647 | Location: Texas | Registered: 27 December 2005
I love the CD, my friend bought it just yesterday and will be meeting Lupe tomorrow. I'm one of the biggest Lupe fans and have been to a couple of his shows, and I have to say The Cool definitely satisfies me. I was NOT expecting another F&L, no one should have. So far I agree with the reviews, it's a solid album about as good as American Gangster. However it is overlong, a couple tracks like "Go Baby" and "Hi Definition" should have definitely been trimmed.
Unfortunately no rap album has beaten Brother Ali for 2007. Ah well, props to him - Brother Ali truly has proven he can hold his own throughout the entire year.
"See I lent my shotgun to Kurt Cobain, and the mutherf*cker never brought it back" - Xzibit
Posts: 117 | Location: Chicago | Registered: 19 May 2004
I really like this album a lot. I wish that it was released earlier though so I could have had more time with it. I think that there are just so many stand-out songs on here (“Streets on Fire,” “Go Go Gadget,” “Superstar,” “Hi-Definition”) and so many more. The beats are clever and catchy and Fiasco’s rapping flows very nicely. I also appreciate the guest choices he made, they work very well.
I think it is one of the best albums of the year and definitely one of the best hip-hop albums of the year.
----- Things could be different but they’re not…
Posts: 5647 | Location: Texas | Registered: 27 December 2005
Would you guys say this album is similar to Food & Liquor?? I'm not a big fan of rap/hip-hop, but I really enjoyed Lupe Fiasco's debut album, so I'm thinking about picking this up.
Posts: 32 | Location: California | Registered: 23 December 2007
Well it’s similar in a few ways but I feel the dissimilarities are easier to notice. It is very long like its predecessor and he has a slew of guest artists. However, it is noticeably darker, the production is better and I feel like he has stepped it up in terms of his MCing. The previous album had Kanye West written all over it but this one sounds like they went away from that while still making sure that all of the beats were top-notch quality.
To be succinct and frank, if you liked his first album then this one is a guarantee. You should just pick it up because odds are that you will love it.
----- Things could be different but they’re not…
Posts: 5647 | Location: Texas | Registered: 27 December 2005
To be succinct and frank, if you liked his first album then this one is a guarantee. You should just pick it up because odds are that you will love it.
But I still HATE that song "Hello/Goodbye" with UNKLE and QoTSA. Lupe's got a great MC voice...but echoey singing? Kate Bush he ain't.
Posts: 294 | Location: AVA | Registered: 24 June 2006
Originally posted by FragileKidA: Well it’s similar in a few ways but I feel the dissimilarities are easier to notice. It is very long like its predecessor and he has a slew of guest artists. However, it is noticeably darker, the production is better and I feel like he has stepped it up in terms of his MCing. The previous album had Kanye West written all over it but this one sounds like they went away from that while still making sure that all of the beats were top-notch quality.
To be succinct and frank, if you liked his first album then this one is a guarantee. You should just pick it up because odds are that you will love it.
Alright, thanks, I think I'll pick it up the next time I'm out.
Posts: 32 | Location: California | Registered: 23 December 2007
