Stories in Song

Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor was one of the treats of 2006. I bought the album hoping it would be good after only hearing him on Ye's "Touch the Sky" and on his first single, "Kick, Push." It was definitely a new and different sound and voice from mainstream rap music. It was refreshing and honestly took some time to truly appreciate. But beyond Kick, Push I came to fall in love with a string of tracks towards the tail end of the album.

The Cool is a similar experience. After enjoying his first offering so much I definitely brought expectations to the table, expectations that did not exist the first time around. [Perhaps it is there expectations that play a role in the sophomore slump many artists experience, but that's an entirely different topic.] The first listen of The Cool went much like the early listenings of Food & Liquor. I found myself unsure of what exactly I was listening to at times, struggling to determine whether I truly enjoyed the sounds or just really wanted to find pleasure where none was to be had.

But, just as before, I found myself wanting to return to The Cool. Not to give it another chance but because I really wanted to spend more time on it and just hear some of the songs again. Granted, it is not an album that is solid all the way through, track for track. But scarcity and rarity of such albums is in part what makes them so great.

Yet The Cool is a solid album, a continuation of Lupe Fiasco's unique sound and perspective on things. The second from the single, featuring Matthew Santos, "Superstar" is one of the main attractions. Its introspection on superstardom is definitely an interesting perspective, one coming from an individual who has gone from having a smaller yet dedicated fan base to one of a much larger star.

But Lu is at his best as a storyteller, in particular telling stories from the third person perspective. "Hip-Hop Saved My Life" is a truly great tale of how music can change a life. What's truly amazing is how Fiasco is able to fully develop a character, even if the character goes unnamed. The track, in its few minutes, tells the story of one with a dream and it is the great detail of the story that draws you in and allows you to feel a connection to the unidentified character. The ability to develop a storyline and a character and doing so in a way that is inspiring, relevant, and intelligible is a true talent.

"Hip-Hop Saved My Life" is followed by "Intruder Alert," which in many ways is completely different yet all the same. The beat is much slower and more relaxed, yet Lu flows along with his lyrics, continuing with his ability to say much in a short amount of time. "Intruder Alert" tales the tales of 3 separate and showing how different a concept can seem to different individuals or from different perspectives. Yet Lu fully develops each character in just one verse. You gain a sense of understanding of the rape victim, the drug addict, and the father the father hoping for his daughter to reach a better future.

Along with this amazing talent for telling the stories of others [or at the least telling stories from the perspective of another] is Lu's cadence and flow. At his strongest the lyrics sometimes blur the actual "line" and he also possesses an ability to extend syllables in just the right way, a way you might not expect and a way you likely wouldn't if you were the lyricist.

All that said, The Cool will definitely draw you in and it is something that may require and is deserving of multiple listens. Even if it takes a few listens to begin feel all that is there, the album will always be there to give you something even after you've heard it many times.