Pitchfork

So Lupe Fiasco's sophomore album, The Cool, is going to be some kind of nebulous concept album involving three characters he calls the Cool, the Game, and the Streets. If you've listened to the first couple of singles, "Dumb It Down" and "Superstar", then you probably haven't gotten any of that. The whole thing is still more than a little bit fuzzy on the next track to trickle out, never mind that the title is "The Coolest", but this one immediately sounds like the standout of The Cool cuts so far. It also sounds like maybe Lupe has been listening to the same rapper as every other rap dork these days, a certain Lil Wayne.

Wayne's there in the Food & Liquor provider's raspy, deliberate flow and even more than usually intricate rhymes. Lupe tries out a Caribbean accent when he's telling us "everyt'ing's irie", and seemingly drops the name "Unger/ Felix" as an enjambment between two lines (Wikipedia that guy up, he's from The Odd Couple). Producers Chris and Drop give Fiasco a dark musical backdrop ready for the next Batman soundtrack, all ominous piano notes, gothic strings, and oohing female backing vocalists. "The coolest nigga, what?" the Chicago MC repeats, even as he's telling us all about stupid things he's done to be cool, and asking forgiveness. "Streets got my heart, Game got my soul"... so, yeah, I guess this character is the Cool. Stuff like "She would be my queen/ I could be her king" isn't very, but that's an exception on a track that keeps us looking forward to the rest of the LP.

Stream:> Lupe Fiasco: "The Coolest" (Real) (Windows Media)
[from The Cool; due 12/18/07 on 1st & 15th/Atlantic]