User Score
Universal acclaim- based on 270 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 247 out of 270
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Mixed: 3 out of 270
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Negative: 20 out of 270
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Oct 17, 2010Love Lupe. Gotta start with that it's a shame that Lasers is still not out, and it won't be out for like 5 more months. This album has great hip hop and rap on it. Lupe is a great lyricist, and hopefully he doesn't leave that mentality.
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MiguelJ.Feb 10, 2008This is dog crap.
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JBADec 24, 2007
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GuyIDec 31, 2007Lupe might be a decent rapper, but just like "Food & Liquor", this album doesn't live up to expactations at all. Flawed by lackluster, at times even cheesy production, it never really kicks off and quickly starts to bore the listener.
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TravisBJan 15, 2008A fantastic record....full of pleasant surprises. It even makes a verse from Snoop sound fresh. "Dumb It Down" manages to sum up a lot of Talib Kweli's tracks in one fell swoop, which is no small feat.
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BrandonB.Jan 24, 2008The hottest and most complete album out!
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Jasonk.Feb 10, 2008Perhaps my favorite album of all time. This is hip hop at its best! Thank you lupe!
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JasonRDec 18, 2007The only thing that stops it from being a 10 is the quick advertisement he adds on the end of Track 18...That kills the entire act and illusion of the album...And is rather unprofessional. Otherwise, it's creative, lyrically superior to others, and gets better with each listen.
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rileyjDec 19, 2007ordered my copy yesterday, this is an amazin album...one of the top 3 of '07 for sure
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DanADec 20, 2007Amazing, takes hip hop away from the beat-centered rut it has found itself in, focusing on the lyrics and the winding, graphi novel-quality storyline that Lupe has managed to fit into 2 hour-long albums. Really gritty, Ghostface Killah-esque story, that only benefits from Lupe's chill, calm delivery and tracks.
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denemyDec 24, 2007How this album gets less than 10 is astounding. Hip-hop should follow in Fiasco's footsteps, and step outside the norm.
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ChuckBoyDec 25, 2007Brilliant observation, Demitri. Unfortunately, you're an idiot.
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mattaDec 26, 2007Better than Kanye or Common's album from this year, and almost as good as Jay-z's. Second best hip-hop album of the year though an a marked improvement over Food & Liquor.
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JoahSJan 10, 2008Probably one or two tracks too many, but stuffed with powerful lyrics and moving musical composition. Soundtrakk is a genius! Lupe continues to prove himself one of the top young acts in hip-hop, let's hope he sticks around to sit atop the throne with his Chicago friend.
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CaitlinDJan 11, 2008I Love Him! SOOO Good! ?
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jackWJan 20, 2008This album is simply incredible... Easily the best hip hop album this year. I know all of lupe's stuff will become classic someday!
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ChrisHJan 29, 2008His flow is as great as ever, and there are many superb tracks here. It's just that, taken as a whole, the "concept" comes out half-baked and cloudy and the sum of the parts do not add up. Whereas Food & Liquor left me ready for more, here I just feel exhausted and somehow let down. Still, Lupe earns a seven for unparalleled skills, bucking of hip-hop trends, and some newfound versatility.
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JoshJan 4, 2008Excellent album, not a single track that had Jaco on it that I do not enjoy. One of the best I've ever heard, a classic. When will the "respected critics" list of reviews be updated...? This album deserves higher than an 80. the rolling stone gave it a 4/5 and some reputable rap website you cited on a jay-z album gave it a 5/5... give the cool its due!
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MusicLJan 5, 2008An amazing album! No doubt this will be a classic in a few years. It's just one of those albums that can stand the test of time.
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AndrewHJan 8, 2008This is the best hip-hop album of the year, Lupe Fiasco is miles ahead of the game and way ahead of his time
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christianpJan 8, 2008i love this guy. i feel like you could break down his lyrics in a college-level literature class. there is more an more to discover with every listen...his double-time rapping on a couple songs doesn't quite work for me, but it was a gamble for him to try a new delivery. go lupe!
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LiveLearnJan 8, 2008
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ConnorS.Jan 8, 2008Best album of the year, hands down!
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ryanwJan 9, 2008this is a great album... with deep lyrics tackling many of our world's current problems, incredible production and catchy beats, and Lupe's flow is incredible.
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IsaacL.Feb 19, 2008A great album, although Superstar is the clear stand-out track. Lyrically he is out of Kanye's league, and I particularly admire his morals in Little Weapon and Gold Watch. However I feel it tails off disappointingly towards the end.
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TomK.Feb 20, 2008An absolute masterpiece.
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RashadS.Feb 25, 2008Let me start off by giving you my taste in music. I loved jay-z's "American Gangsta" and Scarface's "Made" and this by far blows both away!
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MitchelllFeb 6, 2008This album is simply incredible, just listen to it and you'll agree with me!
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ConnorS.Feb 7, 2008Best album of the year, hands down!
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Black1Feb 9, 2008The album is very good. When I first listened to it (through samples), I thought it was weak. Then my brother bought the album, and it's an instant classic. Tracks like "Streets on Fire", "Little Weapon" & "Gotta Eat" (all in order) really make it an exciting CD to listen to. Perfect.
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CodruS.May 5, 2008
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ACFeb 8, 2009A great 2nd album by the best rapper on the planet. "The Cool" is every bit as good as his first album "Food & Liquor". This is truly a must buy for any true music fan.
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ShamS.Dec 18, 2007one of the year's best hip-hop album...Lupe Roooles.
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DK4LDec 19, 2007Its so nasty. i believe best album this year. The cool equals our modern day illmatic and other classics
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D.A.HDec 19, 2007Hands down one of the best albums of the year."The Cool" is a good look for Hip-Hop. Listening to it right now. Can't get enough of it. Real Hip-Hop. Can't wait for 'L-U-P-END' to drop
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brettmDec 19, 2007best hip hop cd of the year, the best lyricist to come in the game since nas!
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AmirEDec 19, 2007Compared to everything else comming out it's 15 stars damn it....c'mon too magazine reviews claiming that it's too complex maybe you've just been listening to too much mediocre rap..aka all the Dj Khaled features...
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TonyJDec 19, 2007Best album i've heard all year... Lupe is a frickin genuis
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GHudsonDec 20, 2007Album of the year hands down. instant classic. very complex lyrics that with fly over a vast majority of listeners. Lupe is a genious. mos def better than food and liquor but they go hand and hand with each other because you really can't grasp the cool without truly listening to food and liquor first
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MycroftWoosterDec 21, 2007This has made one aging rap listener keep the faith.
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HannahDec 20, 2007This album is incredible. There's pretty much no track I'm not into. The lyrics are smarter than anything I've heard this year.
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DaveDec 21, 2007THIS IS A REALLY GOOD ALBUM, THIS DESERVES TO BE IN THE 90s, SORT IT OUT REVIEWERS.
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PACMusicDec 24, 2007In a world full of bad things
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EddCostaDec 27, 2007The best Hip-Hop album of the year, Lupe brings the Chicago flow with amazing beats and lyrics.
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TORYMDec 20, 2007No sophmore slump. Fantastic. From lyrics to beats.
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PolytechGDec 30, 2007Not as good as Food&Liquor, but still better than 99% of the rest out there.
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KyleDJan 1, 2008
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[Anonymous]Jan 29, 2008This is the sickest album out right now. Its crazy and its a classic. With exception with like one or two tracks. its the "coolest" ish out
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TinP.Jan 29, 2008Easily the best album of 07. Every track is a new experience to behold.
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JasonMJan 3, 2008
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RaymondJan 5, 2008A true antidote to the overriding hip hop themes of being a gangster with lots of dirty money and women and cars and bling and etc. etc. I'm sure Lupe Fiasco will go on to be a seminal artist in the history of hip hop.
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JamesoJan 8, 2008Great album that completes the 2007 year. Luved it from the start.
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J.JCFeb 13, 2008This is no soldja-boy.
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KevinJ.Feb 15, 2008I love every part of this album.
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w00tFeb 21, 2008I'm a a rocker and I don't listen to a lot of rap but I thought this album was really good.
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ChrisT.Feb 21, 2008I'm not a big fan of rap or hip hop but this is one of the best albums i have ever heard
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ProRicerFeb 4, 2008This album is not for Soulja Boy fans! If you like good music that has a message behind it then this album is for you.
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VicT.Apr 6, 2008Man this is amazing.
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GeneralDMay 3, 2008Lupe is just spitting the truth. I can't see how some critics gave it under a 9.
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UrbanoS.Jun 25, 2008The album is truly spectacular and full of originality. Would've been perfect if not for the negativity caused by a tragedy in the artist's life.
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TonyBDec 18, 2007Heat. Easily one of the best of the year.
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NajehD.Dec 18, 2007Lupe is a GREAT rapper. If the beats and guest spots sounded like hip hop instead of alternative rock this album would be a classic. Unfortunately instead of the Kanyes and Ne-Yos of the world he gets... Matthew Santos? Sarah Green? Who the F are these people.
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JabroniKDec 18, 2007I hate rap. period. But Lupe is my favorite artist....by far. I love his good messages, and sweet flow and ryhmes. He is truly the savior of hip-hop, and this is one hell of an album
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JeovanyCDec 18, 2007What real hip-jop/rap should be
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SomeoneDec 19, 2007Who cares what Blender thinks, they made Fergie the Woman of the fucking Year!
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MikeVDec 19, 2007Awesome record, that you can listen to again and again. Lots of great songs like Go Go Gadget Flow, Superstar, Streets of Fire and Little Weapon. An album that's not only for Hip Hop fans.
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A-RocDec 21, 2007Dopeness @ its purest...Lupe delivers a classic again. the wordplay and lyrics are crazy...keep doin ya thang
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mikeaDec 21, 2007lupe is a genius. going against the grain and speaking the truth. What hip hop should be about. Thiniking, motivation, and head spinning word play. FIRE
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TimothyCDec 22, 2007Best Hip hop Album of the year. I don't know about the concept but the songs all this album are great.
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TDec 25, 2007Metacritic, please find more reviews. This deserves more than an 80. Yes, I know an 80's good, but it deserves even better. This is my fifth time listening to the album, and I'm becoming more emotionally attached with every listen. The depth in the lyrics and the lush soundscapes are seriously hypnotizing. The best hip-hop album of '07, and one of the best of the decade.
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ManvirDDec 27, 2007Brilliant album, intelligent lyrics, someones finally telling a story worth listening too!
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LuisSDec 27, 2007Upon first listening I thought it was okay, then I listened to it again and found myself listening to it over and over again. Personal Favs: Superstar, Hi-Def., Hip Hop Saved My life, Intruder Alert, Streets on Fire, Little Weapon, Gotta Eat, Dumb it down, hello/goodbye, The Die. I wish Free Chilly was a full song :( Great album!!!
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RandyB.Dec 28, 2007Good to see Lupe building off his mix-tape material to give the fans what they wanted; cool lyrics over fly beats. In short, another hip hop must have.
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KeithMDec 29, 2007
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JamesJan 11, 2008Lupe is a meaningful lyricist and hopefully he can disprove all hip hop-haters about negative stereotypes.
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GregHJan 14, 2008Great songs, Great lyrics. Superstar is a hit! Unfortunetly too smart for the radio listeners but a smash for true hip hop fans.
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CodyD.Dec 3, 2008This is the best hip hop cd ever. Im surprised by this only 77 out of 100. We clearly more intelligent people reviewing hip hop music.
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AshleySJan 28, 2008Lupe is a very complex rapper. His songs show how smooth he is. There is no mumbling or jibberish and his lyrics state a lot of world events. People are sleeping on his talent, but this is a hip-hop classic.
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MilanD.Feb 24, 2008Finally!!! Someone not just talking about diamonds, girls and rims.
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ZachT.Mar 21, 2008Lupe Fiasco is a lyrical madman. This album is amazing.
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JohnnyV.Mar 22, 2008This album is hands down the best of 07 and probaly 08, i mean shit he has more lyrical talent then al these fake ass rappers tryin to make up dances no one can even hold a light to him, lupe brings back what real hip hop is and what it was meant to be about.
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DemitriK.Dec 18, 2007Instant Classic. The only reason those 60s look bad is because they are 3/5 which doesn't sound as bad as 60/100. and the 75 is a 3/4 which is great.
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JJE.Dec 18, 2007Original, positive and refreshing music. Loved it.
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AkerssDec 18, 2007I don't quite know if it's better than Food & Liquor, but it's still great. Favorites include Superstar, Go Go Gadget Flow, and Dumb It Down. Intelligent lyrics, great production, and the best flow around currently.
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ErikSDec 18, 2007Absolutely amazing. From Go Go to Go Baby...this album does just that, goes. Highlights in my opinion are "Little Weapon" and "Superstar"
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johnsDec 18, 2007
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NelsonPDec 18, 2007Went through a lot of music in '07, and Lupe has def. one of the year's best Hip Hop albums. One of the most satisfying and refreshing albums to come out in a while. Favs are Go Go Gadget, Superstar, and Street Fire. But there are alot others... Dumb It Down is lyrically good too.
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SeanSDec 19, 2007Album of the year... other rappers should go in the studio and try to top that.
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phillipDec 19, 2007nah the only reason the 60s look bad is cuz they're yellow
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MichaelKDec 19, 2007This is one of the most best anticipated albums ever.
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JiggaDec 19, 2007In the top 3 albums of 2007. Real hip-hop in a time of candy pop hip-hop. Refreshing to say the least.
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PeterHDec 21, 2007One of the best rap albums I have heard all year. May have even topped Kanye West's "Graduation" in terms of cleverness. The whole "The Game" & "The Streets" thing is kind of confusing, but the lyrics are top notch and his style is impeccable.
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DavidIDec 24, 2007I just finished listening to the album; I gave an 8 for a couple reasons. One, the album has become exceedingly
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MichaelW.Dec 27, 2007I absolutely love this album... Lupe's flow is incredible, the lyrics are outstanding and Lupe uses picture perfect imagery and characters (The Cool, The Game, & The streets) to divulge the problems facing current rap, the streets, and the world in general. I honestly do not understand how anyone could give this album a bad review. It is just way too good!
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DWDec 25, 2008Perfect followup to an almost-perfect food&liquor.
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Aug 20, 2010
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Mar 31, 2013this album is lupe at his best. the beats are from many producers and each one delivers. lupes flow is also incredible. he can rap very fast and still sound out every syllable perfectly. this album is outstanding, get it
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Jun 8, 2013The Cool was truly the highlight of Lupe's career. It's amazing how this album was followed by an awful Lasers. Even with radio hits like "Superstar." There was still meaning behind his songs. Not to mention "Dumb it Down," which is considered one of the most lyrically deep Rap songs of all time.
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Jun 14, 2013So great. This album's got a lot of depth and is surprisingly entertaining throughout its fairly long tracklist. Pretty much every track is memorable and intelligent
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Aug 12, 2014One of the most underrated hip hop albums of our time. This album is incredibly introspective and deserves WAY better reviews from critics...When this album first came out me and my brother listened to it for MONTHS...I recommend this album to anyone who wants an incredible concept album
Awards & Rankings
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Even considering the over-abundance of elaboration on all fronts, it's a credit to Lupe that he has made an album that cannot be processed after one or two listens, and if you have the time, its inscrutability turns into mere complexity.
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It turns out randomness makes for a surprisingly unifying concept.
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Lupe Fiasco and his producers--mostly Soundtrakk--have clarified the lyrics and brought out the hooks. The result is a three-act allegory that’s also one of the year’s best hip-hop albums.