Lupe Fiasco - The Cool

By Andrew Hendry

Lupe Fiasco’s second album ‘The Cool’ sees the return of one of the most anticipated and exciting artists of today. After his debut album ‘Food and Liquor’ was nominated for three Grammy awards, fans and critics alike were left wondering if he would be able to build upon his success – and with this release, Fiasco does more than deliver.

Fiasco takes a bold step in shying away from the gangster mentality, which is central to much of modern hip-hop. Instead, he chooses to address many social issues, presenting a much more honest and personal representation of the genre. On tracks such as ‘Intruder Alert’, he bravely confronts sensitive matters such as drug abuse, immigration and rape, in an attempt to open the eyes of those who prefer to ignore the troubles of the ‘real’ world.

Fiasco uses the tracks on his new album as a means of exploring himself as a person. In ‘Superstar’, the first single from the new album, he criticises the life of a celebrity, labelling himself as ‘too much of a newcomer and too uncool’. The rapper takes a step further in ‘Hip Hop Saved My Life’, in which he illustrates the hardships of the music industry and the struggle endured by artists trying to live the dream.

Fiasco is clearly not afraid to speak his mind, especially in regards to the direction in which the hip-hop genre is moving. In ‘Put You On Game’, he attacks the violence and misogyny expressed by his peers. ‘Dumb it Down’, also sees Fiasco criticising record labels and their financial motives. In response to many claims that artists are forced to dumb-down their material, Fiasco states, ‘I ain’t dumbing- down nothing!’

Fiasco is quickly emerging as a figurehead for a new form of hip-hop, which is characterised by mainstream pop and culture. In ‘Gold Watch’, he delves deeper into this new world, discussing the many labels and cultures, which make him who he is as an artist as well as an individual.

‘The Cool’ ultimately stands as strong evidence of Fiasco improving as an artist. On tracks such as ‘Hello Goodbye’ and ‘Go Go Gadget Flow’, he is able to rhyme complex lyrics over intricate beats with ease, sending a strong message to those who still regard him as an amateur. The album is also a clear indication of artists becoming more conscious of the industry in which they function and realising their worth as role models. For this reason, ‘The Cool’ marks a pivotal change in the hip-hop genre.