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Lupe Fiasco doesn't present tracks that are just a hot beat and some memorable bars--he's aiming for cinematic moments and drawing you into the atmosphere he seeks to create.
Outside of the disappointing “They.Resurrect.Over.New” (featuring Ab-Soul)--which connects conceptually, but sounds less dope doing so--Tetsuo & Youth glistens with maturity and imagination.
The Chicago rapper is at his very best when he avoids spoon-feeding all-knowing insights on the human condition. He rediscovers his own voice when he stops trying to be the forced voice of a movement.
It's a tricky muse, but every Lupe project has found a way to harness at least 15 or 20 minutes of his fluid, fleeting mind. Tetsuo & Youth is the most generous gulp he's managed in years.
The density of Tetsuo & Youth just could have benefitted from even the slightest dose of levity to throw its rhetoric and messages into sharper relief.
A Musical movie, that almost never misses a beat. An intellectually, and emotionally engaging album for all hour and half it goes through.A Musical movie, that almost never misses a beat. An intellectually, and emotionally engaging album for all hour and half it goes through. Lupe Fiasco doesn't hold back - this almost crosses over from Hip Hop to verbal art at certain moments.…Expand
Tetsuo & Youth is not just a hip-hop album. Its a Masterpiece, a classic, that proves the amazing skill of Lupe Fiasco. One of the bestTetsuo & Youth is not just a hip-hop album. Its a Masterpiece, a classic, that proves the amazing skill of Lupe Fiasco. One of the best project in the history of hip-hop.…Expand
Quite possibly the best rap album of the year. Although some of the hooks aren't top notch, everything else is ten out of ten. I'm veryQuite possibly the best rap album of the year. Although some of the hooks aren't top notch, everything else is ten out of ten. I'm very excited his future albums, "The Cool 2" and "Skulls".…Expand
As far as Lupe albums go this may be his all around best work , he has disregarded the desires of his major label and pressed on to releaseAs far as Lupe albums go this may be his all around best work , he has disregarded the desires of his major label and pressed on to release what is potentially his best album yet. The concept of this album reassures listeners that he has never lost his way and also reinforces the concepts of doing more than being a typical artist. Some of the best tracks are "Mural" a 9 minute track of straight lyricism and in depth wordplay, "Blur My Hands" which describes placing a positive turn on flipping the bird and hating others, "Adoration of Magi" a song about materialism and living the fast life, and also the lead single "Deliver". This album is DEEP and my take a few listens to understand all the concepts but nevertheless is close to a classic like Food and Liquor and also The Cool...this actually may even be better.…Expand
Almost a year after this album dropped and I still feel the same way about it.
Let us be short, Tetsuo & Youth is not only a fantasticAlmost a year after this album dropped and I still feel the same way about it.
Let us be short, Tetsuo & Youth is not only a fantastic comeback album, it's a freaking behemoth.
Lupe is on his lyrical best since The Cool, heck he might be at lyrical and creative peak on here. The production doesn't fail to impress either. Lush, varied and dynamic thanks to the season concept.
The album begins with a short instrumental "Spring" Following up is the eight minute long hot fire spittery that is "Mural" and the playful "Blur My Hands" ft. Guy Sebastian that emits great vibes.
The album gets progressively darker and harder the further it progresses. Topics get more serious in "Prisoner 1 & 2" and "Body of Work" and Lupe's rapping gets more intenser and engaging.
"Winter" is when the album removes all the breaks. With "Chopper" you get an almost ten minute long, 32 bars, 7 savage rappers spit fest. "Madonna" is the album's emotional peak and "T.R.O.N." closes the album off with splendour.
Tetsuo & Youth is a behemoth.
Period.
Fav Tracks: Mural, Blur My Hands, Chopper, T.R.O.N., Deliver, Madonna
Least Fav Tracks: None…Expand
This album is fantastic. Everything about it is great, Lupe Fiasco is a great rapper. If you haven't listened to it yet, you should. There isThis album is fantastic. Everything about it is great, Lupe Fiasco is a great rapper. If you haven't listened to it yet, you should. There is really no reason not to.…Expand
It had great raps. It had many boring songs. The flow from track to track was awful. I was disappointed overall. His best ablums were theIt had great raps. It had many boring songs. The flow from track to track was awful. I was disappointed overall. His best ablums were the first two and nothing since has compared.…Expand