Looking Back on Lupe Fiasco

It’s the end of an era, as Lupe Fiasco has apparently fulfilled his contract with Atlantic Records and is able to move on from their shaky relationship. Lupe Fiasco started off strongly with the record label, but over the years Atlantic has had to deal with protests and threats from hackers by refusing to release some of Lupe’s albums, and Lupe’s had to battle for creative control over his music. It’s all over now though, as the new album Tetsuo & Youth marks the final album of Lupe’s contract. As we take in the new album, let’s reflect on Lupe Fiasco’s career to date.

 

2005-2006: Food & Liquor

9/10

For a lot of us, the first time we heard Lupe Fiasco was on Kanye West’s Late Registration single “Touch The Sky”.  Less than a year later, we had Lupe’s debut album, Food & Liquor.  Lupe Fiasco was one of the most unique MCs out at the time, as his lead single “Kick, Push” was focused on skateboarding, something that not many hip-hop artists touched on back then.  He also showed a high propensity for wordplay and poetic lyricism, leaving many songs up to the listener’s interpretation rather than being direct.  This album had high profile guest appearances from Jay-Z, a huge co-sign for Lupe, and Jill Scott, who helped Lupe win a Grammy award for “Daydreamin’”.

 

2007: The Cool

9/10

Lupe Fiasco followed up strongly by releasing The Cool by the end of 2007.  This album had some pop hits like “Superstar” but also had Lupe flexing his lyrical muscles, really making you think when you listen to these songs.  You’d think he’s rapping about one thing, but then get that plot twist later in the song and find out he’s rapping about something completely different (like going from a “gangsta” to a third-world child soldier, to a first-world video game lover). While Lupe integrated somewhat of a pop sound on this album, he did so in a tasteful way without taking away from the lyricism, and without blatantly reaching for radio play.  For many, this would be Lupe Fiasco’s masterpiece (if not Food & Liquor) and the height of his career.  He was at his Coolest.

 

2008-2011: Enemy of the State, Lasers, Friend of the People

 7/10

These were the rocky years for Lupe Fiasco’s relationship with Atlantic Records.  Lupe had apparently completed his third album in 2009, but the label refused to release it due to a lack of commercial radio singles.  Lupe opted to release a short mixtape in 2009 called Enemy of the State, spitting killer rap verses over some of the biggest rap beats from the past year, as well as some throwbacks.  A year later, after still not getting the new album, fans held protests outside of Atlantic Records’ offices, signed petitions and wrote complaints in order to secure a release date for Lasers.

Lasers was finally released in 2011, after Lupe recorded some pop songs the label forced on him.  While the lyricism wasn’t as poetic as the first two albums, Lupe still delivered thought-provoking and introspective songs.  He had a more blunt, in-your-face approach rather than leaving the listener guessing what his metaphors could mean.  Previous albums saw Lupe incorporate pop flavour in an organic, tasteful way, but Lasers saw a blatant reach for radio fads which tarnished the sound of this album.  EDM beats and autotuned singing made fans hate this album, but Lupe’s performance was still strong, even with the change in style.

After the disappointing Lasers, Lupe followed this up with another mixtape later that same year called Friend of the People.  This one was well-received, as it was Lupe rapping over beats that were more in his comfort zone.  There was still some electronic influence on the mixtape, but it felt more organic than some of the tracks from Lasers.  Lupe got back into his wordplay-filled lyricism a bit more on this mixtape, and between the two releases, 2011 didn’t seem so bad for him.