Lupe Fiasco: The best song of 2007 and Grammy future

An album that isn't appearing on as many year-end lists as it should (including this one) is Lupe Fiasco's "The Cool," a record released Dec. 18 in the U.S. A 71-minute study of what it means to be cool, the album is an entertainingly heady examination of corporate hip-hop, fast food and poverty, the desire for fame and how it all ties into what's happening in forgotten corners of the world.

It also nicely expands Fiasco's sound.

The backdrops are heavier and darker than Fiasco's debut, "Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor," but his style is as breezy as ever. Fiasco also doesn't let the dense subject matter weigh him down. If it doesn't have the bounce of his first album, there's a laid-back, almost jazz-like groove to "The Cool," allowing Fiasco more room for his deft wordplay.

If the album had been released earlier in the year, it almost certainly would be appearing on the majority of year-end critic's lists (it did make that of the New York Times' Jon Pareles), and quite probably would have earned a Grammy nomination for best rap album.

Fiasco's "The Cool" is certainly a stronger effort than Jay-Z's "Kingdom Come" and Nas' "Hip-Hop is Dead," two somewhat disappointing efforts from the respected artists, and it's far more consistent than T.I.'s "T.I. Vs. T.I.P."

In fact, by the time nominations rolled around in December, Jay-Z had already released one of the better albums of 2007 in "American Gangster," but it won't get its nomination until December 2008. With the eligibility period based around a fiscal year rather than a calendar year (Grammy eligibility ends on Sept. 30), it not only makes the Grammys seem outdated, it risks Fiasco's "The Cool" being overshadowed by 2008's hip-hop releases.

Yes, both "Hip-Hop is Dead" and "Kingdom Come" came out at the end of 2006, but let's not forget that Nas and Jay-Z are superstar artists -- and two of the closest things hip-hop has to working, heritage acts. Anything they release will eat up Grammy votes, and one slot in the 2009 Grammys will already be occupied by "American Gangster."

There's a high probability that by missing this year's eligibility period, "The Cool" will go the way of another terrific-but-overlooked hip-hop album, "Hell Hath No Fury" by Clipse, which was released in November of last year. But here's just one reason why "The Cool" shouldn't be forgotten: "Little Weapon."

"Little Weapon" is hands-down the most thrilling song this writer heard in 2007 (stream the track over on Imeem).

The song opens with a solemn, almost hymn-like backdrop before revealing the gripping rhythm, a sharp militaristic beat that sounds as if it's being played by a tiny toy drum. Fiasco then launches into a narrative about boy soldiers, 10-year-old rebel fighters killing for soccer balls and "shooting into heaven like they trying to kill the 'Jetsons.' "

It's in the final verse that the song becomes downright arresting. Fiasco splices in images of violence with modern video games, with slicing synthesizer sounds hammering in every one of Fiasco's verses. "Press pause for your moms," Fiasco raps, "make room silent, she don't approve of violent games." But it's not a commentary on video games, as the game controller is ultimately revealed as a symbol of modern warfare.

And like M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes," it brings a global spin to the American gangsta rap song, complete with an irresistible melody and stunning production.

(Photo courtesy Los Angeles Times)

Comments

[thatguy]

Lupe Fiasco is one of the many great hip-hop artists that are being shunned for recognition in favor of mediocre artists who sell records. This album is even greater than Kanye's. Kudos for highlighting this album. But one thing- the best song of 2007? That honor is indisputably owned by "All My Friends" by LCD Soundsystem.