Lupe Fiasco - The Cool

The pursuit of perfection is the only way to describe The Cool, the sophomore album from Kanye's protégé Lupe Fiasco. From the outset Lupe sets the mood with modern day commentary via some spoken word that touches gentrification, hurricane Katrina and the ever elusive drug game. Lupe has found his sound and style on this CD, whilst some might call it conscious rap or back-pack hip-hop, his ability to pick apart everything materialistic in hip-hop, with interjections of social observations speaking on topics without sounding like a preacher for the Republican Party is a sign of his brilliance found on this concept album. Superstar, Gold Watch and Streets on Fire all attempt to look at our society through a microscope and question things some may call credible. Little Weapon's haunting chanting monks and military snares deliver a message that cuts close to the bone as it places a spotlight on the trifling conditions for child soldiers throughout the world. Like the lyrics found on the hook of track 14, Lupe Fiasco will never Dumb it Down. [Omar Jenning]