“I know you’re sayin’, “Lupe rappin’ ‘bout the same shit”
Well, that’s ‘cause ain’t shit changed, b*tch” – ITAL (Roses) by Lupe Fiasco
Many rappers can be called controversial, just give them a topic relevant enough and they rap about it in a song and just wait for the listeners response. Lupe Fiasco could easily be considered by some as controversial, talking about the topics that no other rapper would even dare to feature in a song, yet while some might do it just to create hype for themselves, Lupe does it so you actually listen to his point of view.
After the release of Lasers last year, some fans were dissapointed, even Lupe said that it wasn’t the record he expected it to be, but it’s all good now that “Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt 1” is released. While most rappers are out there trying to meet the standards of the industry, Food & Liquor II delivers Lupe’s point of view in current issues, from topics such as poverty, sexual abuse from the Church, politics, technology, gun/gang culture, the use of the bitch word in rap and more. While some might say that it’s more like preaching than actual rapping, the message does come across to the listener, Food & Liquor II is a truly thought-provoking album, and we’re lucky enough that we have someone as lyrically sharp as Lupe that delivers his verses with an array of beats that match the theme of his songs. On the other hand, some people might find his perspective to be off-putting, but it needs to be said that at the moment there isn’t a rapper as socially conscious as Lupe Fiasco, why? Because they’re all stuck in the hip-hop mentality of money and women instead of making the listener think about their surroundings, which can be found in “ITAL (Roses)“. However, while the thought-provoking songs are welcomed, there is also space for more radio-friendly songs like “Battle Scars” in which Guy Sebastian’s voice is remarkable.
Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt 1 is the album that Lupe needed to set the record straight and say what he couldn’t say in Lasers.
Must-listen songs: “Bad Bitch“, “Strange Fruition“, “ITAL (Roses)“, “Battle Scars“.
Rating: 8/10
You can purchase Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt 1 at the TYF Store!
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