I’ll just come out and say it. I’m in love with this album.
Lupe Fiasco’s Tetsuo & Youth has been a long time coming, and despite the controversies and delays—it was first announced way back in 2013—it has certainly lived up to the hype. Glancing through my notes on each song, it was hard to miss that I had written, “obsessed with this” next to nearly every song title—and deservedly so.
Lupe Fiasco has long been a socially conscious rapper whose interests run the gamut, meaning there’s a lot to offer on this album—from lyrics, to musical genre, to collaborators—and thus, something for everyone.
There’s an R&B feel to the song “Deliver,” church music and religious references in “Madonna,” a jazzy intro to “Fall,” and country music underscoring in “Dots & Lines.”
Having first gotten into the rap world by rapping poetry he had written, it is no wonder that his music, in particular the track “Adoration of the Magi,” often sounds more like poetry being recited to music than traditional rap—and it’s awesome. It’swhat sets Lupe apart from the rest of the rap pack.
And while Lupe is a skilled lyricist and great on his own, he has also done some of his best and most memorable work with collaborators. Guy Sebastian, who Lupe has worked with in the past (check out their incredible song “Battle Scars”), is featured on “Blur My Hands” with its easy, laid back beat. Long-time collaborator Nikki Jean is also featured on several tracks in this album, most notably on the aforementioned “Madonna.”
It’s not often that I like, let alone accept, even a quarter of an artist’s album into my sacred iTunes library.
And yet, I’ve currently got the entire Tetsuo & Youth album sitting in my Recently Added playlist, and I strongly encourage everyone else to follow suit.
This album simply represents Lupe Fiasco at his very best. Tetsuo & Youth is a true success.
Voice’s Choices: “Prisoners 1&2,” “Adoration of the Magi”
