How Hype? Lupe Fiasco - LASERS

Thought I might try out a new segment, How Hype?, that acts a preview for an upcoming album and takes a critical look at all the info available on the release and subsequently, just how hyped I am for it!With my most anticipated release for the year, Lupe Fiasco's LASERS, fast approaching, it seemed like a good point to start it off.

What We Know:
Release Date: March 8th

Tracklist:
01. Letting Go (Feat. Sarah Green)
02. Words I Never Said (Feat. Skylar Grey)
03. Till I Get There
04. I Don’t Wanna Care Right Now (Feat. MDMA)
05. Out Of My Head (Feat. Trey Songz)
06. The Show Goes On
07. Beautiful Lasers (Two Ways) (Feat. MDMA)
08. Coming Up (Feat. MDMA)
09. State Run Radio (Feat. Matt Mahaffey)
10. Break The Chain (Feat. Eric Turner & Sway)
11. All Black Everything
12. Never Forget You (Feat. John Legend)

-Positives: John Legend, MDMA (formerly known as Pooh Bear, i.e the guy that sung the hook to Hi-Definition on The Cool) & Skylar Grey

-Unsure: The Sway feature. Sway has the potential to put out a track stealing verse or a horrid piece of filler.

-Negatives: Trey Songz. He’s not even on one of the two lead singles either which really brings into question why he’s on the album at all.

Tracks Released So Far:

Lyrics 

The first single to be released was The Show Goes On, an uplifiting, Modest Mouse sampled joint with fantastic production, a great chorus, nice message and while the lyrics won’t blow you out the water they’re still well constructed verses and Lupe’s never off-point flow is as on-point as usual.

‘Say hip-hop only destroy
Tell em’ look at me, boy!
I hope your son don’t have a gun and never be a D-boy ’

The second single and only other track to be released so far is the brilliant Words I Never Said. I already reviewed this track here a few days back, but the rating I gave it (10/10) should say it all.

If these two songs are anything to go by, the album might be slightly more ‘Pop’ than The Cool or Food & Liquor and the ‘lyricism’ might be toned down a bit to help emphasise the message Lupe’s going for. I don’t think this need be seen in a negative light though; judging by the quality of the first two singles it’s just Lupe taking a slightly (emphasis on the slightly) different route.

Other Info of Note:
This album was delayed FOREVER by Atlantic, the record label, and after hearing the first two singles it may well be that the content was partly the reason for this. What does that mean? Expect more socially aware, uplifting, political tracks on the album. Sounds like a plus to me!


How Hype?  10/10

After a 3 year long wait and two incredible singles my anticipation is reaching fever pitch. Not long now!

Previously: Lupe Fiasco ft. Skylar Grey - Words I Never Said (prod. Alex Da Kid)