Lupe Fiasco - Tetsuo & Youth (Discussion thread)*Stream*

[Versa]

wow good looks. I dunno how you caught that

Can't take credit for that one breh. Saw fools talking about it on Twitter before I even bumped the album so I had the heads up. I'd like to think I at least would've peeped the ready to die joint since that's the most obvious to me.

Crazy how the hooks themselves are deeper than most rappers entire songs

 

[GoldenGlove]

Dots & Lines is hilarious to me

Dude absolutely shytting on the idea of signing a record deal (specifically a 360 deal) in the nicest way possible

 

[Versa]

I kind of envy you breh... youre able to just clearly put Lu the Bar Gawd over the guy who used to be your GOAT, but I gotta sit here and go back and forth with myself... has Lu done enough to pass Pac? I listen to Mural and No Scratches and im like this nikka the GOAT! But then on nights n im drivin and I got some Henny in me and I throw on Makaveli and I remember qhy Pac is the GOAT. So for a while I had a BOAT for purely the skills of rappin... that is clearly Lu, but sometimes I think hes the GOAT. Am I just holdin on?

If you're talking about pure abilities and talent and depth then Lupe is the GOAT and it's not that close IMO. His body of work(no pun intended) when you look at his five albums and 5 mixtapes also adds to my belief that's he's the best. It's not like he's just a supreme talent who puts out mostly underwhelming material like an Eminem.

Dude's discography is great. Lasers was extremely disappointing, but let's not act like other greats haven't slipped from time to time with whack albums. Food & Liquor 2 is a good album that just suffers from not being the first one, The Cool, or Tetsuo & Youth. It was also extremely pro black which rubbed CAC critics and non-black fans the wrong way cuz he was keeping it 100. So that's three great albums, one good one, and mediocre one combined with 5 superb mixtape. His talent AND music are both certified.

If you're not only including those things done in the booth and on albums but also longevity, popularity, cultural impact, transcending the genre, etc then IMO the GOAT is Jay, Nas, or Pac. Those 3 are bigger than hip hop without needing the white privilege assist of an Eminem. They're also really great rappers in their own right so it's not like just their popularity is speaking for their greatness like a Kanye West (great artist, mediocre rapper) or a Lil Wayne(good rapper in his prime, never great, and fell off something serious).

 

[The Ruler 09]

Was having a look at some random people's reviews of the album, some were interesting....

SolidRaiden22 Jan 18 2015

Vote downBookmarkVote up
A depressingly mediocre album from a rapper who used to be considered one of the best in the game. Even disregarding the quality of his earlier work, this is still a disappointment. Most songs drag on for far too long, the lyrics reek of pretentiousness, and Lupe's flow is both obnoxious and meandering. All of this combined with the bloated length makes the album a chore to listen to. You're much better off listening to The Cool again and pretending this doesn't exist.

 

[Microfracture]

It's honestly a cheap way out IMO. Instead of enhancing a song by getting a real vocalist, you go on there and sing just cause you don't want to go into your own pockets.

He was going to do the same thing with that Nobody's Perfect song that's ft Missy... thank god that wasn't the case, he would of ruined another track with that shyt.

He was gonna do it with Power Trip too. Can't even imagine that shyt without Miguel

 

[nairdas]

I think my favorite song is Body of Work. That beat is fukking crazy and Lupe was just spitting them bars. The last verse is My least favorite track is Little Death. I don't know, it a little too slow and laid back for me and kind of bores me, but it's still kind of decent.

When Madonna was first leaked I thought that song was weak, but now I love that shyt. I played it like 5 times in a row the other day. That winter section is just overall tough as hell.

 

[No1]

@Khalil_4real , what's your interpretation, then

...anyway, I run the Gambit like I'm throwing cards

That line does not make sense. I didn't want to say anything, but one does that run the "gambit." You run the "gamut." No says it runs the gambit. That was a reach.

 

[Khalil's_Black_Excellence]

That line does not make sense. I didn't want to say anything, but one does that run the "gambit." You run the "gamut." No says it runs the gambit. That was a reach.

It makes sense, he wasn't using some age old adage, he was saying he was seeking an advangtage.

 

[No1]

It makes sense, he wasn't using some age old adage, he was saying he was seeking an advangtage.

Elaborate.

 

[Billy Ocean]

Was having a look at some random people's reviews of the album, some were interesting....

SolidRaiden22 Jan 18 2015

Vote downBookmarkVote up
A depressingly mediocre album from a rapper who used to be considered one of the best in the game. Even disregarding the quality of his earlier work, this is still a disappointment. Most songs drag on for far too long, the lyrics reek of pretentiousness, and Lupe's flow is both obnoxious and meandering. All of this combined with the bloated length makes the album a chore to listen to. You're much better off listening to The Cool again and pretending this doesn't exist.

A bit harsh, but not too far off from how I look at the album. "Pretentiousness" is the most apropos word anyone can use to describe Lupe and his music now. This dude literally makes music that almost patronizes listeners and it's not sonically good enough for him to get away with it. Sometimes I listen to his sh!t and I'm saying to myself "why doesn't this weirdo just fvcking spit"? I sincerely don't see how anyone can listen to his music nowadays and like it to the point where you would even entertain the thought of calling it "genius" or "classic" and some of the other words used by his stans in this thread. Like I said, it's his best effort in a looong time, but nothing special. Cole and Kendrick is showing this generation how to make intelligent, entertaining rap music that's not condescending to it's audience. That's why he can't be a Nas. As highbrow as the GOAT can sometimes get in his music you never felt that he believed he had to show that he's the smartest man in the room or like he thought he was above you. Same with Cole and Kendrick. You don't have to be esoteric and obscure to be supreme lyricists and I feel that is what holds Lupe back from truly being one of the best. All the greats made music that, whether you're a fan of them or not, the general hip hop fans can relate to in some way or another. Lupe fails to do that. At least this new variation of him.

 

[The God Poster]

Murals
Prisoners
Dots/Lines
Chopper

Lupe just may be the God MC
Its amazing what going away from that weak ass techno sound will do. Lupe over actual hip hop sounding production

@Loose @Versa @intilectual recipricol yall years of stanning den paid off

 

[Versa]

I think my favorite song is Body of Work. That beat is fukking crazy and Lupe was just spitting them bars. The last verse is

The back and forth between Troi and Lupe on the verses where she says something or asks a question in between his bars in combination with the amazing saxophone and violin part at the end makes that record an all time great of his. I don't know how my top 5 songs will look over time but I'm confident Body of Work will always be there. Ridiculousness.

Also random, but i just read about a fan that got his albums signed and met Lupe. Dude was so happy that later that night in the concert he blew Lu a kiss

Y'all think I'm bad but there's always someone more hardcore than you. My man def proceeded to the next level with that shyt

When he met Lu tho he said he seems really happy to be free from Atlantic. You could tell by recent interviews and performances dude is on cloud 9. Not only did he release his best work, but it also signifies the end of an era.

Black Vietnam and Skulls are next....Gonna need a lot more time with this one.

 

[Illmagic]

I think my favorite song is Body of Work. That beat is fukking crazy and Lupe was just spitting them bars. The last verse is My least favorite track is Little Death. I don't know, it a little too slow and laid back for me and kind of bores me, but it's still kind of decent.

When Madonna was first leaked I thought that song was weak, but now I love that shyt. I played it like 5 times in a row the other day. That winter section is just overall tough as hell.

Little Death is crazy breh. It's crazy smooth. He is spitting some straight fire on there on the low. the 2nd verse, that Jazzy feel. that joint is like NaS's Chery wine on steroids

Im the same on Madonna. I thought it was ok the first time I heard it but now it's one of my fav songs.

 

[Microfracture]

The back and forth between Troi and Lupe on the verses where she says something or asks a question in between his bars in combination with the amazing saxophone and violin part at the end makes that record an all time great of his. I don't know how my top 5 songs will look over time but I'm confident Body of Work will always be there. Ridiculousness.

Also random, but i just read about a fan that got his albums signed and met Lupe. Dude was so happy that later that night in the concert he blew Lu a kiss

Y'all think I'm bad but there's always someone more hardcore than you. My man def proceeded to the next level with that shyt

When he met Lu tho he said he seems really happy to be free from Atlantic. You could tell by recent interviews and performances dude is on cloud 9. Not only did he release his best work, but it also signifies the end of an era.

Black Vietnam and Skulls are next....Gonna need a lot more time with this one.

Body of Work is amazing to me. Is that really a woman on the hook? If so the vocal effects are crazy.

 

[Khalil's_Black_Excellence]

Elaborate.

I just did fool.