After being conceptualized and self-recorded on GarageBand with an $100 USB microphone in his living room within 72 hours, Lupe Fiasco releases a concise yet incredibly intricate project we are still unraveling weeks after its release.
Chicago’s own Lupe Fiasco on his eighth project continues to push out his best work nearly sixteen years after the release of his debut studio album. The production done entirely by Soundtrakk includes instrumentals laced with sultry jazz passages alongside more straightforward trap bangers. The album is very appealing sonically even when not paying attention to the messages regarding Chicago drill music and its implications on the culture at large.
While finding Lupe’s overarching message is relatively undemanding, the topics Lupe tackles can be the product of several dissertations. It is overall understood that what Lupe is discussing has no finite answer, yet he so effortlessly has created a piece of work that has so many amazing points. These points are displayed from countless different angles whether it be through how drill cultures influence violence or the exploitative nature of those cashing in on the artist’s success.
The people over here at Pursuit of Dopeness have nothing but love for this record and will definitely be on all of our year end lists. Without further ado here are our top five tracks!
“AUTOBOTO” feat. Nayirah
This track is certainly the closest thing to a trap banger in the entire track list. While being an incredibly hype track it also has some powerful lyrical content regarding how street culture can wrap you into the legal system. He raps, “What’s a infrared dot to a whole dot gov” likening how street dominance can never top the legal system…crazy bar.
“KIOSK”
On “KIOSK” Lupe displays his incredible skill of metaphor. He likens a mall kiosk to the evils of the lavish lifestyle that is pushed upon those involved in hip-hop. Mall kiosks are known for selling extravagant jewelry a lot of rappers indulge in, which serves as a great innuendo.
“MS MURAL”
After tweeting back in August of last year that the “Mural” trilogy was complete we are finally met with the final track. On this track Lupe likens his experiences with his record labels to a conversation between a painter and an observer. This can also be taken literally seeing as Lupe is a painter himself as he painted the cover of this album. This is an incredibly heavy hitting and emotional track with some of his best “writing” yet.
“DRILL MUSIC IN ZION”
This song thematically really dives deep into the overarching message this project has to offer. Instrumentally the track is super jazzy and laid back while simultaneously meditating on some super deep themes such as, “Can you make a hole for all the drill music in Zion?” Reflecting on if drill music can be redeemed to a higher power.
“ON FAUX NEM”
“Rappers die too much…That’s it, that’s the verse” is such a powerful way to start a track. While diving deeper into this on a later verse he admits his own guilt stating, “If I say I didn’t indulge, my pants would be on goddamn fire.” I also liked how while lots of those in the hip-hop community are strung up on practicing what you preach, Lupe says he WISHES they were lying.
Listen to ‘DRILL MUSIC IN ZION’ below!
