Food & Liquor
by Lupe Fiasco
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Sep 19, 2006
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 248 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 225 out of 248
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 248
  3. Negative: 18 out of 248

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  1. dijavantewow
    Oct 17, 2010
    10
    Fantastic album. One of the best of the decade for hip hop. I'm not sure Lupe is appreciated enough for what he brings to the table, but this album is great song to song. "Kick Push", "I Gotcha", and especially "Hurt Me Soul" are my favorites, and show is lyrical abilities.
  2. rollingstone82
    Aug 25, 2010
    8
    Don't let his name mislead you.

    Hip Hop was not at a good place in that year (and its status has progressively gotten worse with a few sparks here and there). Nas' Hip Hop Is Dead was an alright effort but ultimately lacking. Jay-Z's so-called comeback didn't make impact. Kanye didn't release a single album that year. Eminem was in relapse. There wasn't anything of interest from the    Don't let his name mislead you.

    Hip Hop was not at a good place in that year (and its status has progressively gotten worse with a few sparks here and there). Nas' Hip Hop Is Dead was an alright effort but ultimately lacking. Jay-Z's so-called comeback didn't make impact. Kanye didn't release a single album that year. Eminem was in relapse. There wasn't anything of interest from the South, the dominant side of hip hop in terms of mainstream. Luda's album was bizarre, T.I.'s was a drag, even OutKast's long-awaited soundtrack was mediocre at best.

    So is there even a "best rap album" of 2006? Thankfully, we have a winner.

    Food and Liquor is one of the most pleasurable listens in a while dominated by one of the most refreshing voices in a VERY long time. No thug talk. No cocaine stories. No half-baked, misogynistic, and clumsy songs about **** and butts. Finally, we have someone who has a clear mind and vision on what he is to accomplish. This album is actually an implied threat to hardcore and gangsta rap. Instead, Lupe is somewhat of a geeky type of rapper. If others talk about coke, Lupe talks about robots. Others ride fancy cars, Lupe talks about skateboards. But yet it is far beyond material possessions.

    Kick, Push is a song about a young skateboarder who "kicks and pushes" on despite rejection. This isn't really a song about boards but rather a song about the lack of acceptance because of one's identity. The message is not struggle or happiness but rather hope in times of hostility.

    Another notable track, Hurt Me Soul, is Lupe's tirade on the sad side of life. Essentially it is a compilation of different views, from a prostitute to a slave. Lupe instead of ranting on the whores like a rapper would usually do, he sympathizes with their position even showing dislike towards hip hop for its degradation of women.

    Other tracks to note are The Cool and The Instrumental, two inventive storytelling raps. The background, though, gets a bit weird and corny. American Terrorist features a strange mix between orchestra and Arabian, which really don't fit for these songs. Pressure is also a pointless track that features a Lay-Z Jay-Z verse.

    Nonetheless, the album is so much better than the albums that did come out. But it isn't the best of the year. That would be Hell Hath No Fury by Clipse.    … Expand
  3. DudeLuv
    Oct 9, 2006
    0
    This combo of food and liquor makes me wanna throw up. No reason for the hype...I guess it just disapoints on a grander scale cause of it. I rather eat some Chicken and Beer...not cheap liquor and stale food. Boooo this album!!!
  4. joes
    Oct 9, 2006
    3
    far too overprocduced, his lyrics are completely uninteresting and he can't keep up with the pacing of the beats. overhyped to the extreme.
  5. j-ol
    Sep 27, 2006
    3
    he's not rapping to his potential, and the beats are styrofoam nu-soul garbage. it could've been a good album, had it been produced by someone with vision. linkin park fans should keep their opinions to themselves.
  6. Connorcox1997
    Mar 19, 2019
    10
    Food & Liquor was a classic debut album from Lupe Fiasco back in 2006. His Bars, Flow, and delivery are dope. And the production on the album is fantastic. Food & Liquor still hold up as a classic album a decade later. I highly recommend it.
  7. TravisH
    Oct 9, 2006
    10
    Basically, beats are great, and his lyrical content rivals his idol, Nas, in every song. He's unreal, the way he plays with words "They accented like the UK" when its also "They Axe-ented like the UK" in I Gotcha. He's from Chi-City, which is where I'm from, but there's no bias here, he's the savior of hip-hop
  8. BlutoB
    Jan 5, 2007
    8
    Great black album
  9. BrannonM
    Apr 2, 2007
    8
    Great debut album, if talent related to album sales he would be doing 50 cent numbers.
  10. DanA
    Jun 24, 2007
    9
    A PHENOMENAL debut album from Lupe Fiasco. Engaging originality in the subject matter of the lyrics and great production. It's a damn shame that people like Shop Boyz will sell while Lupe will have to peddle out amazing albums year after year to try and get recognition.
  11. raymondw
    Apr 2, 2008
    10
    If anybody can see this album as less than a 9 or a 10 then you know nothing about hip hop or music in general because the skills showcased on this album is incredible. The storytelling, the metaphors, beat selection, concepts and lyrics are all original and great. I met Lupe and I asked him to sign this album instead of the Cool because I think this one will be the one we remember in 10 years.
  12. EdgarM
    Mar 30, 2009
    10
    This is without a doubt the best rap album in the last 15 years! Lupe definitely gives Jay-Z, Nas, Eminem, Common, Kanye and all the other rappers in the game a run for there money in terms of being a story-teller and poet. Great, great album.
  13. jordanr
    May 2, 2009
    10
    This is the best hip hop album ever created. Number 1 on my top ten hip hop albums of all time and shortly followed by the cool. It's hard to decide whether the cool or food and liquor is better but I'd have to go with food and liquor only because nobody in the history of the genre has ever put out such an extraordinary piece on a debut album. I still listen to the album the This is the best hip hop album ever created. Number 1 on my top ten hip hop albums of all time and shortly followed by the cool. It's hard to decide whether the cool or food and liquor is better but I'd have to go with food and liquor only because nobody in the history of the genre has ever put out such an extraordinary piece on a debut album. I still listen to the album the entire way through at least once a week and it's been over 2 years.… Expand
  14. MattyW
    Nov 18, 2006
    10
    DUDE LUV how can u say this is a bad album. at the most there is 2 bad weak songs on it. are u tipsy or jus deaf. BEST ALBUM OF 06!!!!
  15. JackJ.
    Oct 24, 2006
    10
    Classic.
  16. g.o.
    Sep 25, 2006
    9
    lyrically and conceptually absolutely amazing. challenges donuts and game theory for best hip hop album this year.
  17. JohnM
    Sep 25, 2006
    10
    Great album. It is easily one of the best albums of the year.
  18. KSpearman
    Sep 28, 2006
    10
    Best debut rap album since Reasonable Doubt
  19. EdwinO
    Sep 28, 2006
    10
    Best album to come out (Until Ye's on December 11th. Im praying for that release date Kan!).
  20. FlossyP
    Sep 28, 2006
    10
    Intellegent lyrics all around. This is what Hip-hop should be. Enjoyable and Amazing Production.
  21. kareemf
    Sep 30, 2006
    10
    quite possibly the best album of the year.. lyrically stimulating verses filled with extended metaphors and vicious wordplay over these infectious beats makes this album a hip-hop classic in my eyes.. it sucks that ignorant people cant apprecate the album because they cant decipher his rhymes but ohh well, he is the truth
  22. SushiK
    Sep 30, 2006
    7
    Honestly, this is kind of overrated and pretentious. The rapping and lyrics are generally great, but the hooks are rather anoying with a couple of exeptions. Should have been delivered more raw with less commercial aspirations, then this could have been a contender for classic status. Lupe has great potential, but needs some songcraft honing and better production.
  23. LukeL.
    Jun 25, 2007
    10
    Definitely the future of hip-hop. Common sense and real thoughts in a sea of 'club tunes'. People don't just have to dance all the time. But if you want to, you still can with this album. Good under any state of mind. Brilliant, even.
  24. DerekS.
    Jul 10, 2007
    10
    The thing that makes Lupe's music so good is that he talks about things that are important in the world not cars, big screen tvs and gettin some. Its shame his album hasnt sold more copies this guys music is pure genious.
  25. Daryl-AnnH.
    Sep 8, 2007
    10
    Love his lyrics.. his beats are fire and he's just great overall.. he's bringing something new to what is now called hip-hop!
  26. Shay
    Jan 29, 2009
    10
    One of the best debuts I've heard by anyone in a long, long time. Full of brilliant songs.
  27. OllieH
    Mar 27, 2009
    7
    Better than most mainstream hip-hop, but it's by no means perfect, and there are much more skillful and innovative artists out there.
  28. mariof
    Nov 1, 2006
    10
    da best album of 06 so far
  29. Kay
    Nov 29, 2006
    10
    Fantastic album, really well built and with great collaborations.
  30. JasonK
    Oct 15, 2006
    9
    Excellent representation of Lupe
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Awards & Rankings

26
#26 Best Album of 2006
29
#29 Most Discussed Album of 2006
26
#26 Most Shared Album of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. AllMusic
    80
    Food & Liquor just might be the steadiest and most compelling rap album of 2006.
    Read full review
  2. cokemachineglow
    84
    There is not a bad verse on it.
    Read full review
  3. Pitchfork
    79
    Where Fiasco misses classic status is his sonic approach.
    Read full review
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