Spring Break
The Playlist: 'The Cool' Is Coming
Stephen Ortiz
Issue date: 9/25/08 Section: Focus
Now here's something to get excited for. Lupe Fiasco, one of the many talented rappers out of Chicago is coming to Storrs this November. If you're not familiar with Fiasco, these songs are the best of his arsenal.
"Hello/Goodbye"
A dark, paranoid trip into the mind of a soldier back from "fighting another man's war" who feels as if he gets no appreciation for what he's done. It's not normal for Fiasco to delve into such dark melodies, but it works.
Key Lyric: "He just sits and waits for them to kick in the door / He once was a hero they don't love him no more."
"Superstar"
A ride through the glitzy life of a superstar, complete with cheering and the sounds of light bulbs flashing in the background.
Key Lyric: "Everybody gets a nice autograph picture / One for you and one for your sister."
"Dumb It Down"
Fiasco, who is considered to be an intelligent artist, gets angry at the state of hip-hop on the second single from "The Cool." As the rest of the industry asks him to "dumb it down," he tells them all to piss off.
Key Lyric: "We ain't graduate from school, n---- / Those big words ain't cool, n----."
"Kick, Push"
and "Kick, Push II"
The first is a tale of young romance found between skateboard rebels "looking for a place to be," the latter paints the same image of the two skaters, but in a darker world. The lovers face problems at home ("Mom was a crackhead and father couldn't be contacted."). Fiasco's story telling abilities are phenomenal and the beats are amongst the two best on his two albums.
Key Lyric: "He said I would marry you but I'm engaged to these aerials and varials."
"Daydreamin'"
Sampling I Monster's "Daydream in Blue," "Daydreamin'" introduced Fiasco's backpack rapper style, a brand of hip-hop made popular by artists like Talib Kweli and Kanye West. Fiasco paints images through his rhymes, mocking the typical rap lifestyle, namely when he says, "Now look as hard as you can with this blunt in your hand."
Key Lyric: "As I spy from behind my giant robot's eyes / I keep him happy 'cause I might fall out if he cries."
"Hello/Goodbye"
A dark, paranoid trip into the mind of a soldier back from "fighting another man's war" who feels as if he gets no appreciation for what he's done. It's not normal for Fiasco to delve into such dark melodies, but it works.
Key Lyric: "He just sits and waits for them to kick in the door / He once was a hero they don't love him no more."
"Superstar"
A ride through the glitzy life of a superstar, complete with cheering and the sounds of light bulbs flashing in the background.
Key Lyric: "Everybody gets a nice autograph picture / One for you and one for your sister."
"Dumb It Down"
Fiasco, who is considered to be an intelligent artist, gets angry at the state of hip-hop on the second single from "The Cool." As the rest of the industry asks him to "dumb it down," he tells them all to piss off.
Key Lyric: "We ain't graduate from school, n---- / Those big words ain't cool, n----."
"Kick, Push"
and "Kick, Push II"
The first is a tale of young romance found between skateboard rebels "looking for a place to be," the latter paints the same image of the two skaters, but in a darker world. The lovers face problems at home ("Mom was a crackhead and father couldn't be contacted."). Fiasco's story telling abilities are phenomenal and the beats are amongst the two best on his two albums.
Key Lyric: "He said I would marry you but I'm engaged to these aerials and varials."
"Daydreamin'"
Sampling I Monster's "Daydream in Blue," "Daydreamin'" introduced Fiasco's backpack rapper style, a brand of hip-hop made popular by artists like Talib Kweli and Kanye West. Fiasco paints images through his rhymes, mocking the typical rap lifestyle, namely when he says, "Now look as hard as you can with this blunt in your hand."
Key Lyric: "As I spy from behind my giant robot's eyes / I keep him happy 'cause I might fall out if he cries."
Be the first to comment on this story