Lasers
by Lupe Fiasco
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Mar 8, 2011
Metascore
57

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 27
  3. Negative: 3 out of 27
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  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Mar 4, 2011
    91
    Simply put, Lasers beams.
  2. Consequence
    Mar 9, 2011
    80
    Fiasco's quite skilled at making catchy what is inherently a message many don't want to hear. He's at his most blatant, though, when he mixes his unique voice for the truth with emotional sentiments.
  3. NOW Magazine
    Mar 4, 2011
    80
    Oddly, Lasers is Fiasco's most commercial-sounding album – but think of it as club music with a conscience.
  5. DJ Booth
    Aug 4, 2011
    70
    Lupe seems to have accepted that Lasers is not the masterpiece he originally set out to make and is prepared to move on. Maybe we should follow his lead.
  6. Dot Music
    Mar 15, 2011
    70
    While Lasers isn't the equal of its superb predecessors, there's still much here to admire; even though the fact that there isn't quite as much to love is no real surprise.
  7. Boston Globe
    Mar 8, 2011
    70
    Lasers oscillates between angsty rap-metal crossover tracks laden with political platitudes and blatantly clubby, bass-thumping radio-rap jams.
  8. BBC Music
    Mar 8, 2011
    70
    Lupe remains a singular hip hop voice, and Lasers is still worth a listen.
  9. Rolling Stone
    Mar 8, 2011
    70
    Lupe's beats run from Nineties buoyancy to driving rap rock, but his most exciting tracks are operatic brawlers that give his athletic, whiplash flow and rich imagination room to move.
  10. Absolute Punk (Staff reviews)
    Mar 8, 2011
    69
    Fiasco has since gone on record as saying he both loves and hates this album. After all he went through to get it released, it's hard to blame him. But all the hard work he supposedly put into making sure Lasers remained true to his vision seems all for naught.
  11. The A.V. Club
    Mar 9, 2011
    67
    Here's hoping whatever Fiasco does next, it's more on his terms.
  12. Los Angeles Times
    Mar 10, 2011
    63
    It's a moderate disappointment, then, that Lasers feels more like a compromise than a cohesive album.
  13. Chicago Tribune
    Mar 7, 2011
    63
    Its best music shows what it might have been. The rest feels more like an obligation reluctantly met, a difficult bridge to the next phase of Lupe Fiasco's career.

Awards & Rankings

30
#30 Most Discussed Album of 2011
63
#63 Most Shared Album of 2011

User Reviews

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User Score
6.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 152 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 74 out of 152
  2. Mixed: 43 out of 152
  3. Negative: 35 out of 152
  1. NJR
    Mar 8, 2011
    5
    Anything above 60 is just too high for this awful piece of work. The production sounds like it would be more suited to Kesha or Flo Rida, LupeAnything above 60 is just too high for this awful piece of work. The production sounds like it would be more suited to Kesha or Flo Rida, Lupe is really un focused for the majority of the LP, All Black Everything & Words I Never Said being the only two exeptions and the later was completely destroyed by awful production! Lupe can blame Atlantic all he wants but nobody forced him to release this and it's his name on the cover at the end of the day, this has seriously tarnished his otherwise brilliant career.… Full Review »
  2. okin33
    Mar 8, 2011
    1
    Lupe's latest effort is not even in the same realm as his previous two LPs. The production is pop-y, mainstream, wrought with auto-tune.Lupe's latest effort is not even in the same realm as his previous two LPs. The production is pop-y, mainstream, wrought with auto-tune. Lupe's notable lyrical genius is also lacking on most tracks. Soundtrakk (who produced most of Food and Liqueur, as well as The Cool) is sorely missed. Atlantic and Lupe really screwed this one up with delays and the tracks they picked to be on the record.… Full Review »
  3. Teddy
    Mar 12, 2011
    1
    This album is in no way comparable to his first two albums. As well as his beats sounding like they belong on a Ke$ha album, his once lyricalThis album is in no way comparable to his first two albums. As well as his beats sounding like they belong on a Ke$ha album, his once lyrical genius has been dumbed-down to the same standard as Taio Cruz.
    Perhaps the only chance at redemption is All Black Everything, commanding the same respect as any song off his last two albums, but it is not enough to stop this album and possibly Lupe himself dropping out of the league of hip-hop's greats and into that of any other over produced, under educated rapper.
    At one point in this album Lupe says "Failure's my last name, Never's my first one." We now know that as well as a sell out he is a liar.    … Full Review »
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