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Review Summary: Fiasco's impressive offering stands as a strong contendor for 2006's best debut album. There's a lot of big names on here - The Neptunes, Kanye West, Jill Scott, Jay-Z, even Mike Shinoda (you know, the one from Linkin Park who holds the somewhat backhanded distinction of being the best rapper in a nu-metal band today). It's tempting to think that they're all involved because a lot of money's been thrown at them. Yet, after even a cursory listen to Food & Liquor, only the most cynical of minds could fail to believe that some, if not all, of these names are here because they wanted to be working with one of the most talented newcomers in the game.
Lupe can rap. No doubt about it. He's got what the mainstream wants - a smooth flow, funny punchlines, good hooks - and he's got what the critics are always saying hip-hop lacks these days - a message, and a refreshing lack of pretentious posturing. With any luck, this one will crossover to as wide a range of people as The College Dropout did.
True, the album takes a little while to get off the ground - the beat on "Intro" is absolutely first class, but the first 2 or 3 tracks suggest the album are going to be underwhelming. Maybe we're just conditioned to expect rappers to put their strongest material up front so the filler gets ignored? In any case, "Kick, Push" starts to move things in the right direction, before it really takes flight on "I Gotcha". Pharrell's cute, bouncy piano lick works perfectly here - it's so out of step with what we're used to from hip-hop in '06, you can't help but listen. The following four tracks - "The Instrumental", "He Say She Say", "Sunshine", and "Daydreamin'" - are all superb. The first of those is a Mike Shinoda production, and needless to say it's the best hip-hop track he's ever come up with. The latter is as ear-catching as "I Gotcha", this time by virtue of the sample taken from I Monster's fantastic "Daydream In Blue". To be honest, that sample is so good that anyone could have rapped over it and it would have still been a hit, but Lupe doesn't slack here in the slighest. Nor does he anywhere else. Throughout, his rhymes are inventive, playful, thoughful, and idiosyncractic. Sadly, those aren't all words you can associate with too many major label rappers.
Food & Liquor certainly stands as a contender for best rap record of 2006, though that's not saying all that much in what has been a slightly disappointing year. What makes this so exciting, though, is the feeling that he's just going to get better.
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Album Rating: 3.5
I've heard the single and I quite like it. He's down under here for the Big Day Out but I won't be seeing him =/ Ill get round to checking this out.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
Yeah, this album is good, I think we agree for the most part. I'm really glad he chose Daydreamin' as the third single. That track is awesome.
Good review.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
It's awesome because of Jill Scott, because Jill Scott is awesome.
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nice review. This is the same review as you put on your other acount right?
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
I listened to a song off this called "The Instrumental", and liked it a lot. is the rest good. i am not huge on rap and hip hop or anything like that, so i would want to know
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
i might pick this up
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
i just did, and i rather like it, and usually dont listen to rap
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I don't like hip-hop too much, at least the new stuff, but I was pleasantly surprised with this album. Its very good.
Nice review as well.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Not a bad album, maybe to much similarity to Kanye though.
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Its not that similar to Kanye at all.
Lupe very much has his own style. You can see hints of Kanye's production style, but then you might as well say the same of someone like Common.
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For a black guy who likes to skate, this album is good. I'm talking about Lupe by the way when i say "for a black guy who likes to skate".
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please change your username, because it's kind of....fill in the blank.
I've heard good things about this album, good review. I may pick it up.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
This album is amazing I'd have to say its the second best hip hop album to comeout in 2006. Second to Zion I & The Grouch "Hero's in the City of Dope". I can only hope that in 2007 there will be more of the good meaningful hip hop, such as this one, on the mainstream instead of the selfish, meterialistic "rap crap" that's on the radio right now.
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i actually really like this.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
The first few tracks (minus the intro) kinda let the team down, but the rest is insane. He Say, She Say is sweet.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
really an amazing album... every track has something new and standouts such as daydreamin', the instrumental and pressure really bring the cd to a higher level than most other rap albums being released lately.
to me, this is the ultimate rainy day music, just chill out on the couch and throw this album on.This Message Edited On 04.15.07
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tilted is where its at.
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Out of curiousity, could the title be an educated ploy on Ludacris' Chicken and Beer?
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
never thought of it that way ^
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
When I first heard "Touch the Sky" I was pretty damn excited to hear what this guy had to offer, then after "Kick, Push" and especially after "I Gotcha" I was ecstatic. Lupe is definetly a breath of fresh air into an otherwise monotonous mainstream hip hop game. He was not only just rapping, you can tell he was having fun with his songs, it's apparent in his lyrics.
As an avid hip hop head and fan of virtually all genre's of music, I appreciated this album and every aspect of it. He brought more than just straight rap to the album and you can tell that this guy is definetly an eclectic dude we're dealing with. I hope to hear more releases like this from him in the future.
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