Lupe Fiasco LASERS Review

Lupe Fiasco has been one of the few socially conscious rappers that have made an impact on the rap community. Since bursting on the scene with Kanye West’s “Touch the Sky” he has made 2 albums (Food & Liquor & The Cool.) Both albums were special in their own sense with hits such as “Kick, Push”, “I Gotcha”, “Superstar”, & “Dumb It Down.” LASERS is Lupe’s next endeavor. This album almost did not come out, but through fan protests the album was reworked and has a release date of March 8^th, 2011. With that being said let’s get to the review.

Track 1. Letting Go feat. Sarah Green

This starts off as a serious sounding song. Good production by whoever produced it (There’s been different producers rumored to have produced on this particular track.) Lupe talks about how the music business is tiring him and how he’s losing his motivation. I think its Lupe singing the chorus with some lines by Sarah Green. I personally think it’s a great song and a good way to start the album off.

7/10

Track 2. Words I Never Said feat. Skylar Grey

If you’re a Lupe fan then I’m sure you’ve heard this before. Alex Da Kid’s trademark production and Skylar Grey’s chorus really makes this track have some mass appeal. Lupe gets very political on this track. It’s a typical rebellious type track. This song has been out for a while and I’m surprised it hasn’t been as controversial as it should be. Definitely one of the best tracks on the album. I love the Limbaugh and Glenn Beck are racist lines, it shows that he’s not afraid to say what’s on his mind.

9/10

Track 3. Till I Get There

This is a different sounding Needlz production but it’s good in its own way. Lupe talks about how the album was put on hold and how he’s not famous enough yet. Chorus tells you exactly how he feels with lines like “I’m a keep it cool and I’m a do me, it is what it is and that’s how its gunna be.” This is definitely another good track. Lupe is starting this album off pretty well.

9/10

Track 4. I Don’t Wanna Care Right Now feat. MDMA

This track starts off sounding like a quick paced clubby kinda track produced by The Audibles. It works for Lupe as he raps with a faster flow. Lupe is very lyrical on this and it’s complete with an MDMA autotuned poppy hook. It seems like Lupe is trying to capture the essence of a mainstream poppy, dance type track but the lyrics may be a little too lyrical for the masses to absorb. I personally like this track from a lyrical stand point but I’m not sure if I like the song as a whole. I’m giving it a 6 for the lyricism alone

6/10

Track 5. Out Of My Head feat. Trey Songz

Ok, Trey Songz is on this track so this is definitely Lupe’s/Atlantic’s version of a “hit” song. The track is produced by relatively unknown Miykal Snoddy and it’s not a bad production but it’s definitely mainstream sounding. Song comes complete with a Trey Songz bridge and is about how he can’t get this girl out of his head. Kind of exactly what kind of song you’d expect from Trey but not Lupe. This is an OK track. If I’m listening to the album I’ll listen to this track but I’ll probably skip it any other time.

5/10

Track 6. The Show Goes On

Now we’ve all heard this song. Kane Beatz on the production and this is one of the tracks Atlantic records forced Lupe to do. He definitely makes the most of this track. The hook is definitely forced and probably was already on the track when Lupe received it. Nonetheless I love Lupe’s lyrics on this song and it definitely has some mass appeal. It’s done well on the charts and I can see why.

7/10

Track 7. Beautiful Lasers (2 Ways) feat. MDMA

This one sounds like your typical Lupe track. MDMA is on the chorus again with an autotuned hook. This hook sounds better and the track kind of reminds me of Lupe’s “Shining Down.” To me this is one of the better tracks on the album. A dramatic beat gives way to Lupe’s lyricism and this is definitely an introspective track. Another one of my favorite tracks on the album even if the hook is autotuned.

8/10

Track 8. Coming Up feat. MDMA

This sounds like one of those 90’s R&B tracks. Lupe is speaking to a woman and telling her to not worry about anything and “Get her dance on.” MDMA is on the hook again, however this time he does it without any autotune.  I don’t think the track is bad but it’s definitely a track made specifically for the mainstream.

5/10

Track 9. State Run Radio feat. Matt Mahaffey

This is another trademark Lupe Fiasco, “I’m more political than you” track. Lupe talks about how the radio plays the same songs over and over. He also talks about how musicians dumb down music for the masses and how those tracks are the tracks are getting constant airplay rather than the thought provoking music that Lupe and some other conscious musicians make. One of the best tracks on the album but not one of my absolute personal favorites.

7/10

Track 10. Break The Chain feat. Eric Turner & Sway

This track sounds serious! Amazing beat by British producer (?) iSHi. This is definitely some heat. I’ve heard this song countless times on ESPN and it made me really want to listen to this one. British rapper Sway provides a short but sweet verse to this. Eric Turner provides a great sung hook to this track and Lupe absolutely kills it with the flow. This track kind of reminds me of Lupe’s “Blackout” which is one of my favorite Lupe tracks. This is by far my favorite track on the album and I’ve countlessly played it over and over since I downloaded the album. Did I mention that the beat is crazy?

10/10

Track 11. All Black Everything

This song is produced by the Buchannans who brought you “What More Can I Say” by Jay-z. Looking at the title of this track you would automatically think this is the type of track where you brag about how your car is all black. This is far from that and this is actually one of the most political tracks. Lupe is talking about slavery and projects here. This track is a fantasy of his and how everything was black racially. A great concept for a track and this is definitely one of Lupe’s better visualization tracks as you can almost see exactly what he’s rapping about.

8/10

Track 12. Never Forget You feat. John Legend

This is another track that Atlantic made Lupe rap over and once again he makes it work. John Legend sings the hook on this but John doesn’t sound as passionate as he does on Kanye West’s “Blame Game” This would be a great chorus for anyone else but this is just good for John Legend because he sets the bar so high when he sings. Lupe talks about moving forward but to never forget what you have done and where you came from. This is a reminiscing type song but “not relive them, just to remind you.” Overall this is a good track and a nice peaceful way to close the album.

6/10

Overall LASERS is a solid album. Personally I’m just happy this actually came out. With this being my first album review I may have been a little lenient on the track ratings but whatever, like I said it’s my review. You can tell that Atlantic records had an influence on this album and you can feel the tracks where Lupe is out of his comfort zone a little. To me this is not his best album but that’s because Lupe set the bar so high with his first 2 albums. However this is a good album and I recommend that you listen to the whole album before you purchase it. You wouldn’t want to be disappointed now. I’m giving it a 7 out of 10 because the highs on the album outweigh the lows just enough to make this album worthy of multiple plays.

LASERS 7/10