Album review: Lupe Fiasco's 'Lasers'
When Lupe Fiasco is at the top of his game, it's gripping stuff. His raps on "Words I Never Said" are just that. This is hip-hop activism, but Fiasco is adept at making heady subjects go down easy. While the electronic beats are foreboding, Fiasco is fast and slick, offering jabs at the political left and right with equal conviction. There's plenty of anger on "Lasers," Fiasco's third album, but he is far too nuanced an artist to resort to preaching to the choir.
It's a moderate disappointment, then, that "Lasers" feels more like a compromise than a cohesive album. Even "Words I Never Said" is mismatched with Skylar Gray's rent-a-Rihanna vocals, while "Out of My Head" is loaded with trendy synths and a pin-the-sympathy-on-the-song chorus from Trey Songz. Worse, tracks such as "Break the Chain" and "I Don't Wanna Care Right Now" feel like filler, offering little of the Chicago artist's nerdy humor and topical wit.
Fiasco hasn't been shy about the label drama behind the making of "Lasers," both to the press and on the album. "Have you ever had the feeling that you was being had?" Fiasco asks on "The Show Goes On," one of only a handful of songs not bogged down with guests. Ultimately, it's a celebratory, hook-filled song, with Lupe breaking free of the "chains" placed on his "soul."
Thankfully, the constraint-less Fiasco manages to appear multiple times on "Lasers," be it the rock-infused attack on corporate cool in "State Run Radio," the heartbreak of "Beautiful Lasers" and the alternate-reality vision and twisted operatic orchestrations of "All Black Everything." These are among the moments that illustrate Fiasco has something far more important than a No. 1 hit: an opinion.
-- Todd Martens
Lupe Fiasco
"Lasers"
1st & 15th / Atlantic
Two and a half stars (Out of four)
Photo credit: 1st & 15th / Atlantic
We are LASERS
Posted by: Fiascohead | March 07, 2011 at 10:06 AM
I havnt heard this yet but I know its gonna be awesome jus cause its Lupe!
Posted by: Fiascohead | March 07, 2011 at 10:07 AM
This is a really sloppy review. The album sounds the way it does because of Atlantic's chokehold on Lupe's contract, which isn't carefully looked at here. Also, why would Skylar Gray be a rent-a-Rihanna? Love The Way You Lie was originally Gray's song, which she performed better by the way.
Posted by: Laser | March 07, 2011 at 10:35 AM
this review lacks vision. "lasers" was a slap in the face to the exec's messing with the creative control. Lupe hit every style of beat, dirty south, west coast, club banger...etc. but the verses are all Lu. real spit... Lasers, Ill!!!
Posted by: Bloom | March 07, 2011 at 01:44 PM
Its a valid Review. Lupe showed flashes of greatness but you can tell the label had their hand in the album which ultimately held it back...
Posted by: spiderblack | March 07, 2011 at 06:00 PM
im missing the old lupe, he had more freedom to infuse his creativity as well as politics
Posted by: maz | March 07, 2011 at 07:55 PM
"Rent-a-Rhiana vocals".. classic!! Only a critic could deliver that quotable.. Lupe is Jesus reincarnate.. and the Philistines have manifested themselves as corporate interests. Control your mind. Contol your life. Our power is in how we spend our dollars.
Posted by: IamSuperNovaPlus | March 08, 2011 at 08:31 AM
Todd Martens (the reviewer) seems out of touch with what's going on in the music industry by calling Skylar Gray a "rent-a-Rihanna." Skyler Gray has been featured on several songs including one by Eminem and Dr. Dre. The review of the album was pretty accurate, there were some songs that did not really fit in with the supposed theme of it.
Posted by: Sebastian | March 09, 2011 at 06:57 PM
Although Atlantic had such a big influence on the album. The depth and the substance behind all of Lupe's raps still put him on top in my opinion. He is the poster boy for an endangered species, the conscious rapper. The issues that he addresses are very relevant and he always expresses his opinions in a creative way. Even though his label held him back immensely, I am sure that he pushed his limits as best he could. I just hope that one day he can produce his own album and we can see the true talent, imagination, creativity, and intelligence of this very special rapper.
Posted by: RealLupe | March 10, 2011 at 06:46 AM
I think this album is the best I've heard so far this year. His raps are amazing. I have always been a fan of Lupe and this album doesn't change anything. Not a very good review... Just sayin'
Posted by: Jordan | March 14, 2011 at 03:56 PM
WELL I ENJOYED THIS ALBUM. THOUGHT IT WAS BETTER THAN FOOD AND LIQUOR...
Posted by: PrPrincess | March 19, 2011 at 03:53 PM
Its ok to like the album but better than F&L?? Are you insane???? That was one of the best albums of the decade if not hip hop history.
Posted by: Youre an idiot | March 19, 2011 at 08:12 PM