Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor Review
Chi-Town Newcomer Lupe Fiasco Debuts with an Astonishing Album
Amateur or not, Lupe Fiasco joins the ranks of fellow Chicago emcees like Kanye West, Twista, and Common with his first studio effort.
Concise in length yet seemingly infinite in scope, simply put, Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor is perhaps hip-hop’s greatest debut since fellow Chicagoan Kanye West’s first studio effort. Acutely encompassing all qualities of a true emcee (without the cliché “glitter and gold” rhymes), Fiasco’s first endeavor in the rap game is an experience that very rarely misses, leaving true fans of the genre in desperate need of more.
Neophyte or not, by the end of Liquor’s first track, “Real,” it is obvious that Fiasco has been rapping for quite some time. “Struggle, another sign that God loves you/’Cause on the low, being poor makes you humble,” Fiasco raps over in-house producer Soundtrakk’s flip of a Harvey Mason sample.
The Beats
Soundtrakk manages to produce many classic backdrops for Fiasco (“Sunshine” and “The Emperors Soundtrack” especially). On the album’s first mainstream single, “Kick, Push,” Fiasco narrates the tale of a young, rebellious skateboarder over elegant but tough horn loops. “And the escape route they used to escape out/When things got crazy, they needed to break out/They’d head to any place with stairs/Any good grinds/The world was theirs,” spits Fiasco, giving merit to one of his personal interests.
Soundtrack aside, Fiasco does reach out to other producers, most notably The Neptunes and Kanye West, the latter of which contributes the album’s optimum track, “The Cool.” Luxuriously abundant in spaced-out sounds, hard-hitting drums, and weary piano chords, Fiasco reigns in lyrical pyrotechnics over West’s concoction with the story of a murdered hustler’s resurrection and self-realization thereafter. “He saw that the latch was broken/He kicked his casket open,” Fiasco gracefully articulates.
Hip-Hop's Newest Lyricist
When it comes to pure lyricism, there has not been an emcee this potent for quite some time. Though the wordplay seems nitwitted sometimes (“And you don’t even bother like brother without the R”), Fiasco somehow makes it all work. At his most lyrical (“American Terrorist”) Fiasco raps, “We came through the storm/Nooses on our necks/And a small pox blanket to keep us warm.” Matched with Matthew Santos’ singing, the track is a masterpiece.
Food & Liquor's Mistakes
Fiasco lapses once in judgment on “The Instrumental.” Produced by Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, the track completely stands out like a sore thumb. Besides the mediocre beat, Fiasco’s repetition of the same verse twice (a task which proves effective on “He Say, She Say”) finishes a bit too lack-luster to grasp attention. Other than this minor slip-up though, the album still shines on with an insightful luminescence.
Final Verdict
Featuring topics ranging from love to Fiasco’s problems with hip-hop’s shortcomings, the emcee mesmerizes in an industry full of ring-tone rappers and wannabe veterans (speaking of which, Jay-Z co-executive produced and is featured on “Pressure”). Liquor is an album for the masses and should be required listening for anyone desiring a rap effort worthy of deeming classic. As stated on the spoken-word intro, hip-hop has been blessed with one “who turns the Fiasco to good.”
Rating: A-
Best Tracks: "The Cool," "Kick, Push"
