Lupe Fiasco has come a long way since his pop-rap days of “Touch the Sky” and “Superstar.” With a shift in focus towards social consciousness—and a new hairdo making him look like an older Chief Keefe—Mr. Fiasco has become a more aggressive and sophisticated hip-hop artist. This new style and attitude was first displayed in his mix tape Friend of the People, released last Thanksgiving. Friend was heavily criticized in a review on Pitchfork for being “sour, half-assed, and defensive,” and for failing to use “viable rap beats.” With his new album, Food and Liquor 2: The Great American Rap Album, all eyes were on Lupe to see if he addressed these faults.
The answer is an unequivocal “yes,” as Lupe rebounds on this album full of musically innovative and lyrically provocative tracks.
The tone of the album is set as Lupe uses every verse as a powerful political statement, emerging as a well-informed, passionate protestor instead of a rabble-rouser shouting out curses to the “Man” as he did in Friend.
On Food and Liquor 2, Lupe discusses a wide range of social and political issues, and does so with wit and eloquence. For instance, the track “Bitch Bad” talks about the prevalent usage of the word “bitch” in rap and casual conversation, which Lupe hopes to end. In “Lamborghini Angels,” Lupe argues that today’s culture embraces and admires materialism. Lastly, “Ital (Roses)” warns hip-hop fans not to idolize the shallow “nonsense” that most rappers brag about.
The instrumentals behind the tracks are laid-back yet exciting hip-hop beats, which enable Lupe to connect with both himself and his audience. In “Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free),” he uses a sample instrumental produced by Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth called “T.R.O.Y.” It’s a jazzy beat that allows for Lupe’s message to stay energized throughout the track without overwhelming his listeners. This type of production permeates the entire album: a beautiful combination of strings, brass, and bass.
The combined instrumentation and thematics make for a nice break from the entertaining, but shallow tracks by the larger hip hop studios G.O.O.D Music, Maybach Music Group, and Young Money. The up-tempo production and passionate lyricism will leave all those who have expected so much out of Lupe for the last several years finally feeling satisfied.
