Lupe Fiasco - LASERS

(originally published by The Student)

In the 4 years between Lupe Fiasco's previous album, The Cool and now, he's had a few difficulties. Despite winning armfuls of awards, Atlantic Records refused to let him release another record, and fans had to resort to a public rally and petitions to ensure this third album came into being.

So it's no surprise that LASERS sounds like a protest. Fiasco explained to the Metro last week that the idea was to “get people to activate”, and in songs like State Run Radio it's clear this activation won't hide behind rhetoric. This call-to-arms song is one of the highlights of the album, and a clear backlash at his record company and the ideals of censorship.

The record has taken on various forms since 2007's predecessor, from farewell album to a compilation of great American rap, but what has emerged is an incredibly outspoken, almost riotous 12-track where each song has been touched by a protester's spirit. Words I Never Said speaks with the voice of someone who has finally ripped a silencing hand from their mouth, and now lashes out at everything- introducing them all in the voice of Skylar Grey as “words that I should've said”, Fiasco attacks everything from celebrity culture to Obama's reaction (or lack thereof) to Israel, and all to heavy, echoing drums and not a hint of understatement.

With all this in mind, then, it's almost disappointing that Fiasco's first single from the album was The Show Goes On. This typical I'm Still Here song would sound like JLS if it didn't sample Modest Mouse and feature lyrics like “these ghetto girls and boys I rap around the world for”. With the sound of a stock arrogant, radio-friendly rap, it could be a misleading introduction to an album which has its own 14-point manifesto online.

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