Lupe Fiasco - Food and Liquor: Album Review

London Bureau Chief Akuma writes:

Lupe Fiasco, Food and Liquor (Atlantic/ Wea, 2006)
I have to say my expectations were low by the time this leaked (dribbled?) for the second time. I found Kick, Push relatively entertaining when I first heard it about a year ago, but the momentum on Mr. Fiasco has slowed down. I personally would suggest that having his album leaked has actually demonstratably made his music worse, thereby justifying his claims that he was once an average rapper and is now a poor one. So, with all new under-whelming guest spots Mr. Fiasco returns to show Rhymefest how it’s done when it comes to Kanye-weed-carrier album flops.

INTRO

Lupe’s just not a personable enough rapper to pull off a big Jay-Z style intro. Plus this runs to four minutes, which to me is a legitimate track as opposed to a mere ‘intro’. God knows what the lady at the start is babbling on out about. I guess Ursula Rucker wasn’t available (no Okayplayer).

REAL ft. Sarah Green

A complete mess. Is this what skateboarders listen to now?

JUST MIGHT BE OK ft. Gemini

Did you know that men with one or more elder male siblings like, say, Lupe Fiasco, have a higher chance of playing for the other team? Neither did I until I read this. I wouldn’t go as far as to say Lupe likes men, but it would make sense.

KICK, PUSH

Lupe likes to skateboard. Isn’t that nice? I used to skateboard. When I was 12.

I GOTCHA

A lot of people on the internets suggested this was some sort of second coming for the Native Tongues’ style. I can’t see it myself, but it’s ok. 

THE INSTRUMENTAL ft. Jonah Matranga

Call me old fashioned, but I remember a time when an instrumental was, as the name suggests, instrumental. This is unlikely to cause a fight at a dinner party.

HE SAY SHE SAY ft. Gemini & Sarah Green

You know that feeling back in class where there was about five minutes to go to the end of the lesson, but you’d want nothing more than to get out of there right at that moment? And that last five minutes would feel like the longest five minutes in your life? Lupe makes me feel like I’m back in that room, wishing I was doing something, anything, else. Can I go now please Mr. Fiasco?

SUNSHINE 

Dire. Like all the worst Common records distilled into one big fucking sludge.

DAYDREAMING ft. Jill Scott

As sampled by a number of people before, more effectively.

Exhibit A:

http://www.nme.com/reviews/beta-band/6008

Exhibit B:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daydream_(song)

COOL

No you’re not. But your producer is aight.

HURT ME SOUL

Lupe’s quite insightful in that he sees that gold chains and cocaine aren’t the way to spiritual fulfilment. And there I was thinking otherwise! Mercy.

PRESSURE ft. Jay-Z

Jigga drops another duff verse. The Pharrell type dude shows up again.

AMERICAN TERRORIST ft. Matthew Santos

I really liked this track until Mr Santos (anyone?) came in with a chorus lamer than Stephen Hawkins on tranquillisers. 

THE EMPEROR’S SOUNDTRACK

Presumably Lupe is the emperor? No, me neither.

KICK PUSH II

Not a track that necessarily suggested sequel status, but this isn’t too painful - mainly due to a reasonably decent beat. Lupe raps like a small child. Do grown men actually  say tummy? (No older brother)

OUTRO

About 12 fucking minutes long. Lupe shouts out everyone he’s ever met. Wow.

CONCLUSION: Fiasco by name, fiasco by nature. If there is one defence to this album, it’s that the beats aren’t too bad. If Atlantic release an instrumental album I would certainly advocate downloading it illegally.