Album Review: Lupe Fiasco - Food And Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Part 1

When Lupe first burst onto the scene with his Touch The Sky feature, and subsequent debut Food And Liquor, he looked to be a hip hop legend in the making. His planned pre-emptive retirement at the completion of proposed third album, LupE.N.D., seemed like an injustice to the art form, and then the greater moments of his sophomore effort, The Cool, made the idea seem downright criminal. With the eventual release of his near-abysmal third album, Lasers, it seemed that Lupe had all but lost his way. The retirement plans had been revealed as hyperbole, yet the idea was suddenly lacking its aura of devastation.

Production controversy aside, lead single Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free) is a return to form, and the first half of the album follows suit. The songs mightn't be as memorable, but Lupe's flow is really on point, and his ever-deepening lyrical introspection cements him as one of the finest conscientious rappers of his generation. While his academic approach on Bitch Bad is honourable, the chorus quickly becomes irritating, and unfortunately this becomes commonplace across the record.  Luckily Cold War (feat. Jane), a slow mover that is among his most mature and impressive artistic statements to date, comes in right near the end and somewhat overshadows the past regrets.

Though F&L2 has its setbacks, thankfully Lupe didn't get stuck in the rut of Lasers. It's lacking the consistency of F&L and there is still nothing that compares to The Cool's Streets On Fire and Little Weapon. So it's a minor redemption at best, but a redemption all the same.