What happened last night? I'm not referring to the election, but rather the immediate aftermath. The ballots were counted, the numbers were tallied and McCain stood up like a man and accepted his loss. He stood before a sea of supporters and urged all of us, republican and democrat, to not let the results of this debate divide us further and it has. We aren't acting like we are all peas of the same pod anymore. We aren't even acting like we're all peas. We have allowed the results of a monumental and historic election drive us further apart as a nation and a people. Why?
I'm sure answers to this question will vary from person to person, but all will be product of the same perpetual political party polarizing that created this growing division to begin with. Last night, whether you were republican or democrat, was historic. It was the AMERICAN dream personified in a singular moment. No matter where you start out, you can end up anywhere. That's the American Dream isn't it?
People are arguing how race is both an issue and not an issue last night and it was both. Make no mistake about it, Obama won because he was the better politician. He won because he ran on an Idea that people needed right now more so than a set of "solutions" for all of our problems. He did not win because he was black. To imply he won simply because he was black is to imply he won by only the percentage of the black vote. He didn't. He won in such a clear cut way, there is no mistake about it, but race was still important.
I as a white person will never in anyway shape or form know what it means to be black. I will never understand the pride of seeing black man achieve something as monumental as becoming President, but I can understand what it means for this nation to take the step it did last night. Last night we did something that would have been impossible to do 100, 75, 50 years ago. As much as it hurts to admit, we all probably have relatives who will remark something to the effect of,” I never thought I'd see the day..." Last night was a symbolic change, a symbolic maturation for this country and yes, that is because he is black.
Now this brings me to the final point and the overall point I want to make. Patriotism. How many people have already began shunning Obama without him serving a moment in office? How many of those same people stuck by President Bush when he made his mistakes and his approval rating fell because ,"He is the president and you're supposed to stick with your president." If you were an American last week, you are one today. If you are a patriot last week, you are one today. These colors don't run right?
Tonight and for many nights to comeI am not a DemocratI am not a RepublicanI am not WhiteI am not Black
I am an American. We all are and as Americans we are resilient, we are strong and we are at times bull-headed, but we are, more than anything else, strong. We are strong as a people and a nation. Even if all the bad things said about Obama come true, we will survive. I urge everyone to put aside political ideology. I urge everyone for just a moment to suspend your disbelief and give this man a chance. He may not be the best candidate in your eyes, but he is our President. He is your President, he is my President, he is our President because in the end we are all
Americans
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
A New Begining
So here we are, right back in the same place I was 365 days ago. I’m back in my apartment for the first time in months, I’m with my friends getting ready to enjoy a night out and I am about to get back onto my path towards academic excellence. The difference this time is experience. I’m prepared for this now. I have a plan, I have goals, I have a real path to follow now instead of blindly walking in circles.
Even now I can hear my friends in the other room laughing and joking. It is a great feeling. It’s a familiar feeling, but one I haven’t felt in a long time, like a friend you haven’t seen in a while. It’s a happy feeling. For the first time in a long time, I have an overwhelming sense of peace. It’s an inner calmness that is hard to explain. I will keep this brief because I don’t want to be away from them for too long, after all this is a celebratory night. But this is the only thing I have worth saying and I don’t want to miss it.
Don’t wait for happiness to find you. Go after it.
I Love You All
-Tom
Even now I can hear my friends in the other room laughing and joking. It is a great feeling. It’s a familiar feeling, but one I haven’t felt in a long time, like a friend you haven’t seen in a while. It’s a happy feeling. For the first time in a long time, I have an overwhelming sense of peace. It’s an inner calmness that is hard to explain. I will keep this brief because I don’t want to be away from them for too long, after all this is a celebratory night. But this is the only thing I have worth saying and I don’t want to miss it.
Don’t wait for happiness to find you. Go after it.
I Love You All
-Tom
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
The Dark Knight
I have sat and stared at this computer for about ten minutes now, struggling to find the words to put down. Should I begin with a clever quip about my undying geek love for Batman or jump right into, “ This is gonna be the greatest moment of my life”? I could put my excitement down in such elegant prose as to leave love letters written by John Keats to shame.
But
It is much simpler than that. Tomorrow morning I will sit at Opry Mills Mall for far longer than any human being should…ever. I’m going to have a book with me, some head phones and my best friend. I will be sitting in lawn chair partaking in some mundane task to pass the time before what will be the culmination of my summer. I will be sitting in line for The Dark Knight.
There is almost a surreal quality to what I just wrote down. I’ve been itching for this movie ever since the final moments of 2005’s Batman Begins. My excitement for this movie has far surpassed my excitement for anything short of finishing high school and my first day of College. I just likened this movie to two of the biggest events in anyone’s life. This movie has consumed me in everyway. I have literally dreamed about seeing it (even though these dreams often times end in some odd fashion, like me being Batman)( I take that back, me dreaming I’m Batman isn’t odd at all).
It’s ridiculous. I remember to the first viral marketing campaign and seeing the first picture of Heath Ledger as the Joker. That moment was followed up by numerous stills and shorts until finally I got my first glimpse of this movie in action. In true geek fashion, I watched the trailer over and over again, getting to the point where I could quote it verbatim. Looking back on it all now… I am such a massive geek. And God I love it.
Some people look forward to down time over the summer, some look forward to spending time with the family, other’s their friends, their girlfriends.
All Summer I have wanted nothing more than to sit at Opry Mills Mall for far longer than any human being should and see this movie
Good Night
I love you all
-Tom
But
It is much simpler than that. Tomorrow morning I will sit at Opry Mills Mall for far longer than any human being should…ever. I’m going to have a book with me, some head phones and my best friend. I will be sitting in lawn chair partaking in some mundane task to pass the time before what will be the culmination of my summer. I will be sitting in line for The Dark Knight.
There is almost a surreal quality to what I just wrote down. I’ve been itching for this movie ever since the final moments of 2005’s Batman Begins. My excitement for this movie has far surpassed my excitement for anything short of finishing high school and my first day of College. I just likened this movie to two of the biggest events in anyone’s life. This movie has consumed me in everyway. I have literally dreamed about seeing it (even though these dreams often times end in some odd fashion, like me being Batman)( I take that back, me dreaming I’m Batman isn’t odd at all).
It’s ridiculous. I remember to the first viral marketing campaign and seeing the first picture of Heath Ledger as the Joker. That moment was followed up by numerous stills and shorts until finally I got my first glimpse of this movie in action. In true geek fashion, I watched the trailer over and over again, getting to the point where I could quote it verbatim. Looking back on it all now… I am such a massive geek. And God I love it.
Some people look forward to down time over the summer, some look forward to spending time with the family, other’s their friends, their girlfriends.
All Summer I have wanted nothing more than to sit at Opry Mills Mall for far longer than any human being should and see this movie
Good Night
I love you all
-Tom
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
The Comic Guy
With The Dark Knight pandemonium heating up, I find myself becoming more and more restless as the days tick away. When I close my eyes, I actually see a timer counting down the seconds till the release of what is going to be the best movie I see over the next few years. My friends will tell you all about my devotion to the character of Batman. Over the years, I have developed a kind of cult like dedication to the character, but is not only Batman I have grown to follow and idolize. Superman, Green Lantern, Spider-man, Green Arrow, the list goes on and on. It has grown to be such a focal point of who I am, I am pretty much considered “ The Comic Book Guy” amongst my friends. I doubt any of them could tell you of a time when I wasn’t obsessed with these characters, but I can tell you my love wasn’t always as fanatic as it is now.
Back when I was just a wee lad I feel in love with the typical things for children in the nineties. I watched shows such as the likes of Power Rangers, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Doug and many more. I also remember witnessing The animated Batman Series for the first time. The style of the show was unlike that of any other cartoon you might remember as a child. It was dark, serious, and didn’t talk down to children who viewed it. In short, It wasn’t your typical Saturday morning cartoon. This was my introduction to Batman, so I viewed him as a character on TV and not a comic book character. I was then introduced to the Tim Burton films which I quickly fell in love with at an early age. This was the beginning of an obsession.
As a few years passed and I finally reach adolescence, my horizons grew. I was introduced to Spider-man, X-men, Superman, and miscellaneous other characters through various televisions shows. Soon I found comic racks at grocery stores and news stands, drawing me into another medium through which to enjoy these characters. It is here I began to see more of these characters than simply the tights and beating up bad guys. These characters were teaching me lessons without me even knowing it. As lame of a statement it is, I can credit anything I have resembling morals back to these characters. Through Batman I learned the importance of Law and Justice, Through Superman I learned the importance of honesty and integrity, through Spider-man I learned the art of responsibility.
It was safe to say, I was on a course leading in only one direction, working in a comic book store when I’m thirty five, living with my mom, and remaining a virgin till I’m dead. Luckily, I got treated to a modern marvel of film making around the same time I hit puberty. This marvel was known as “Batman and Robin.” This movie is god awful. If you haven’t seen it before, do yourself a favor and punch someone who has. Anyway, That movie, coupled with the growing troubles of the coming years would send me into a sort of comic book twilight. Don’t get me wrong, I still loved the characters, but I loved them like you hear a lot of people say they love characters like Batman and Superman. They love the memory of their childhood those characters bring up.
Luckily, all this would change in July of 2005.
I had remember seeing the commercials for Batman Begins and thinking, “ Oh Yeah, I’m going to see that movie and it is going to rock.” However, I did not count on the effect this movie would have on me. It simply rekindled the nostalgic love I had for the character and before long I started doing something I hadn’t done in a very long time. I began buying collected editions of comic books. You might know them by their other names, Trade paperbacks or Graphic Novels. The first I bought was a story written by Frank Miller titled The Dark Knight Returns. I had heard this was a fantastic interpretation of Batman and is considered one of the definitive Batman stories of all time. I can say with full confidence that this is the beginning of a “downward spiral” that is still continuing today.
My collected proceeded from there. I found The Long Halloween, Watchmen, Origin, Knightfall and so many more. This trend continued onward until I had an unwavering understanding of many, many useless facts regarding these iconic characters. Since then I have transitioned into buying single issues, also called floppies for those of you not in the loop, and buying countless numbers of Movies, Shows, and other random merchandise, and baring another “ Batman and Robin” I don’t see this changing.
I want to tell you this narrative I just wrote is to explain how these characters remind me of a time when I was younger and that is why I love them, but that’s not it. I love these characters for a cornucopia of reasons. I love character driven stories, which is what these are. I love how these characters grow and morph but stay recognizable to me, I love how these characters aren’t the simple minded beat em up stories they are depicted as. I love these characters.
Back when I was just a wee lad I feel in love with the typical things for children in the nineties. I watched shows such as the likes of Power Rangers, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Doug and many more. I also remember witnessing The animated Batman Series for the first time. The style of the show was unlike that of any other cartoon you might remember as a child. It was dark, serious, and didn’t talk down to children who viewed it. In short, It wasn’t your typical Saturday morning cartoon. This was my introduction to Batman, so I viewed him as a character on TV and not a comic book character. I was then introduced to the Tim Burton films which I quickly fell in love with at an early age. This was the beginning of an obsession.
As a few years passed and I finally reach adolescence, my horizons grew. I was introduced to Spider-man, X-men, Superman, and miscellaneous other characters through various televisions shows. Soon I found comic racks at grocery stores and news stands, drawing me into another medium through which to enjoy these characters. It is here I began to see more of these characters than simply the tights and beating up bad guys. These characters were teaching me lessons without me even knowing it. As lame of a statement it is, I can credit anything I have resembling morals back to these characters. Through Batman I learned the importance of Law and Justice, Through Superman I learned the importance of honesty and integrity, through Spider-man I learned the art of responsibility.
It was safe to say, I was on a course leading in only one direction, working in a comic book store when I’m thirty five, living with my mom, and remaining a virgin till I’m dead. Luckily, I got treated to a modern marvel of film making around the same time I hit puberty. This marvel was known as “Batman and Robin.” This movie is god awful. If you haven’t seen it before, do yourself a favor and punch someone who has. Anyway, That movie, coupled with the growing troubles of the coming years would send me into a sort of comic book twilight. Don’t get me wrong, I still loved the characters, but I loved them like you hear a lot of people say they love characters like Batman and Superman. They love the memory of their childhood those characters bring up.
Luckily, all this would change in July of 2005.
I had remember seeing the commercials for Batman Begins and thinking, “ Oh Yeah, I’m going to see that movie and it is going to rock.” However, I did not count on the effect this movie would have on me. It simply rekindled the nostalgic love I had for the character and before long I started doing something I hadn’t done in a very long time. I began buying collected editions of comic books. You might know them by their other names, Trade paperbacks or Graphic Novels. The first I bought was a story written by Frank Miller titled The Dark Knight Returns. I had heard this was a fantastic interpretation of Batman and is considered one of the definitive Batman stories of all time. I can say with full confidence that this is the beginning of a “downward spiral” that is still continuing today.
My collected proceeded from there. I found The Long Halloween, Watchmen, Origin, Knightfall and so many more. This trend continued onward until I had an unwavering understanding of many, many useless facts regarding these iconic characters. Since then I have transitioned into buying single issues, also called floppies for those of you not in the loop, and buying countless numbers of Movies, Shows, and other random merchandise, and baring another “ Batman and Robin” I don’t see this changing.
I want to tell you this narrative I just wrote is to explain how these characters remind me of a time when I was younger and that is why I love them, but that’s not it. I love these characters for a cornucopia of reasons. I love character driven stories, which is what these are. I love how these characters grow and morph but stay recognizable to me, I love how these characters aren’t the simple minded beat em up stories they are depicted as. I love these characters.
Friday, June 27, 2008
A Review of Lupe Fiasco's The Cool
A review of Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool
After his first outing, Lupe Fiasco set the bar rather high for himself. Instantly cementing himself as a top lyricst in the rap game, he had better delivered if he hopes to maintain any form of momentum. Luckily his next album, The Cool, not only reaches the bar he set previously, but soars over it.
1) Baba Says Cool For Thought- This is just a spoken word intro and as such can’t really be rated for musical quality. Honestly, it’s the weakest part of this cd. Lupe, Def Poetry Jam is never cool. N/A
2) Free Chilly- This is a better intro for the cd than The first track, but it would also mess up my scoring system so I won’t give it an actual score since it is essentially another intro. I will say it is very soulful and if you know the meaning behind the song, it is very heartfelt.
3) Go Go Gadget Flow- Lupe runs the hundred meter dash lyrically in record time. His spitfire bouncing vocals and string heavy beat, mesmerize and entertain with a dizzying flurry of verses. 8/10
4)The Coolest- Consider this part one of the conceptualization of The Cool. One of the darker beats on the Cd with choir vocals aiding an air of epic flavor. The shining beacon on this Cd is Lupe beginning the story of Michael Young History. His lyrics go above and beyond giving you a narrative from this characters mouth and is overall, delivers an atmospheric monologue complete with dominating vocals. 9/10
5) Superstar- Another example of Lupe putting everything together, creating phenomenal music. Superstar is in fact a Superstar of tracks. Matt Santos dominates the hook and manages to keep up with Lu on this track, not being out shinned by the lyrical genius that flows from Lupe’s mouth. Easily a perfect choice for a first single. 10/10
6) Paris, Tokyo- Probably the smoothest track on the Cd. The beat is very laid back, almost jazzy. And Lupe provides an even paced, melodic flow depicting his obligation to travel for his music and how it separates him from someone special. Very intelligent, warm song- 9/10
7) Hi Definition- The beat on this track is far from traditional. It has an almost sporadic feel to it that manages to grab you long enough for Lu and Snoop to really give you something to bob your head to. It’s not often I say Lupe is outdone on his own track, but Snoop spit’s a very entertaining flow with his signature Snoop Dogg swagger.- 9/10
8) Gold Watch- This track let’s you know who Lu is and what he’s all about. Lu catalogues his unorthodox style and outlooks on life with a near perfect flow and clever word play. With references to Comic books, Japanese culture, and Go-yard Lu gives you a track that is far from ordinary for any rapper. The beat is near perfect, the only complaint I hear most of the time is the looped vocals in the background can grade on some people’s nerves. Shame too. This was almost a perfect score. 9/10
9) Hip Hop Saved My Life- Lu does what he does on this track. He writes a narrative and draws you into it with a piano and string heavy beat, perfect rhythm thoughtful lyrics and a haunting chorus from Nikki Jean. The song is so positive and inspirational, it is impossible to root against it. 10/10
10) Intruder Alert- This is another very dark track. The song follows three separate stories following a victim of rape, a drug addict, and a father sending his child to America illegally for a better life. The chorus by Sarah Green is so heartfelt and sad, it will actually stir up emotion in the listener. Then Ms. Green goes off at the end of the song almost stealing the show from Lu’s dark and insightful lyrics. Almost. 10/10
11) Streets On Fire- Lu continues his hot streak on this album by delivering a drum heavy beat with speedy vocals, and even more thoughtful Lyrics. Lu creates a situation of an unstoppable disease killing people off on the “streets” and the kind of effects it would have on society. It almost comes off as more of a social commentary than a song at some points, but ultimately entertains in a way only Lu could makes a song like this entertain.-10/10
12)Little Weapon- This is one fantastic showcase of music, not only for Lupe but the entire First and Fifteen label. Taking another serious topic in the form of Child soldiers in Africa ( The Invisible Children) Lu creates a sinister and evil atmosphere almost nonchalantly. Then we are treated to even more vocals from Nikki Jean and a sick verse by Bishop G. The beat is produced by Patrick Stump of Fallout Boy, which should give you some kind of idea how this isn’t a typical rap beat. 10/10
13) Gotta Eat- This song is probably the weakest on the Cd, but it is till one of the most creative tracks in all of rap history. It appears as if Lupe is rapping from the perspective of a Cheese Burger. That wasn’t a typo. The beat is almost completely void of any form of bass, depending on string play and drums. Lu manages to deliver clever word play, and melodic vocals, but the song still manages to miss something, might be the annoying chorus. Either way it is still an entertaining and clever song. 8/10
14)Dumb It Down- Lupe’s word play has never been stronger. I cannot even do justice to how clever Lu’s Lines are on this track, and they aren’t just one-liners. These lyrics are designed specifically to go over people’s head, a contrast to the title of the song. The song is mainly about how Lu refuses to “ Dumb it down” to be more mainstream or sell more records. Funny and entertaining while holding on to a pinch of rebellion and arrogance, Lu basically refuses to change on this track. 10/10
15) Hello/Goodbye (Uncool)- This is the only Lupe Fiasco track I have ever heard where the beat outshines the vocals. The Track is produced by Unkle and is so sporadic, heavy, and creative it really distracts from Lu’s lyrics, which are not throw away lyrics mind you. The only weak point is a chorus that seems to dull against the back drop of this beat and Lu’s verses. 9/10
16)The Die- This track chronicles the last moments leading up the death of Michael Young History. Also known as The Cool. Lupe and Gemstones manages to deliver rapid fire lyrics from both sides of the death. Lu portrays a confidant of The Cool while Gemstones portrays the man responsible for his death. The beat and the hook struggle to keep up with the verbal onslaught by Lu and Gemstones, but manage to not hurt the song in anyway at the same time. Amazing track- 10/10
17) Put You on Game- Easily one of the darkest beats I have ever heard. Steady and slow, almost lumbering in the background away from Lu’s Lyrics which introduce us to a new character, The Game. The game is a manifestation of all the evil of the rap game, the drugs, guns, violence, sex, the death. Lu raps from his characters perspective creating a truly evil, almost satanic, representation of this character. If I could give this song more than ten out of ten I would. 10/10
18)Fighters- Everything about this song is perfect. Lupe and Matt Santos deliver something similar to a swan song, but still leave the door open for Lupe’s next and presumed final album, LUPend. The beat is very soft and melodic, just enough to keep rhythm with Lupe’s rhymes which sound to be the most personal his words have ever been. 10/10
19) Go Baby- This song isn’t the best, but Lu dedicated it to a group of fans of his that ran a web site dedicated to him. He never met the girls, but was so impressed by what they did, he dedicated this song to them. The beat has a nice bounce to it which will have your head bobbin before you realize it. This song is pretty much the antitheses of The die. Lu and Gemstones provide a happier, brighter song dedicated to special ladies in their lives. Not the greatest track to end on, but not a bad track by any means. 8/10
Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool, is a brilliantly put together, loosely conceptualized and one of the best Rap Cd’s released in a very long time. We often hear about the sophomore slump for a majority of music artist. Lupe manages to avoid the slump and actually excels above and beyond his first outing. It is truly a tragedy we can only expect one more album from Lu because if is next one is anything like The Cool, It will leave us wanting more. See you all next time when I review Kanye West’s debut album, The College Dropout.
9.4/10
After his first outing, Lupe Fiasco set the bar rather high for himself. Instantly cementing himself as a top lyricst in the rap game, he had better delivered if he hopes to maintain any form of momentum. Luckily his next album, The Cool, not only reaches the bar he set previously, but soars over it.
1) Baba Says Cool For Thought- This is just a spoken word intro and as such can’t really be rated for musical quality. Honestly, it’s the weakest part of this cd. Lupe, Def Poetry Jam is never cool. N/A
2) Free Chilly- This is a better intro for the cd than The first track, but it would also mess up my scoring system so I won’t give it an actual score since it is essentially another intro. I will say it is very soulful and if you know the meaning behind the song, it is very heartfelt.
3) Go Go Gadget Flow- Lupe runs the hundred meter dash lyrically in record time. His spitfire bouncing vocals and string heavy beat, mesmerize and entertain with a dizzying flurry of verses. 8/10
4)The Coolest- Consider this part one of the conceptualization of The Cool. One of the darker beats on the Cd with choir vocals aiding an air of epic flavor. The shining beacon on this Cd is Lupe beginning the story of Michael Young History. His lyrics go above and beyond giving you a narrative from this characters mouth and is overall, delivers an atmospheric monologue complete with dominating vocals. 9/10
5) Superstar- Another example of Lupe putting everything together, creating phenomenal music. Superstar is in fact a Superstar of tracks. Matt Santos dominates the hook and manages to keep up with Lu on this track, not being out shinned by the lyrical genius that flows from Lupe’s mouth. Easily a perfect choice for a first single. 10/10
6) Paris, Tokyo- Probably the smoothest track on the Cd. The beat is very laid back, almost jazzy. And Lupe provides an even paced, melodic flow depicting his obligation to travel for his music and how it separates him from someone special. Very intelligent, warm song- 9/10
7) Hi Definition- The beat on this track is far from traditional. It has an almost sporadic feel to it that manages to grab you long enough for Lu and Snoop to really give you something to bob your head to. It’s not often I say Lupe is outdone on his own track, but Snoop spit’s a very entertaining flow with his signature Snoop Dogg swagger.- 9/10
8) Gold Watch- This track let’s you know who Lu is and what he’s all about. Lu catalogues his unorthodox style and outlooks on life with a near perfect flow and clever word play. With references to Comic books, Japanese culture, and Go-yard Lu gives you a track that is far from ordinary for any rapper. The beat is near perfect, the only complaint I hear most of the time is the looped vocals in the background can grade on some people’s nerves. Shame too. This was almost a perfect score. 9/10
9) Hip Hop Saved My Life- Lu does what he does on this track. He writes a narrative and draws you into it with a piano and string heavy beat, perfect rhythm thoughtful lyrics and a haunting chorus from Nikki Jean. The song is so positive and inspirational, it is impossible to root against it. 10/10
10) Intruder Alert- This is another very dark track. The song follows three separate stories following a victim of rape, a drug addict, and a father sending his child to America illegally for a better life. The chorus by Sarah Green is so heartfelt and sad, it will actually stir up emotion in the listener. Then Ms. Green goes off at the end of the song almost stealing the show from Lu’s dark and insightful lyrics. Almost. 10/10
11) Streets On Fire- Lu continues his hot streak on this album by delivering a drum heavy beat with speedy vocals, and even more thoughtful Lyrics. Lu creates a situation of an unstoppable disease killing people off on the “streets” and the kind of effects it would have on society. It almost comes off as more of a social commentary than a song at some points, but ultimately entertains in a way only Lu could makes a song like this entertain.-10/10
12)Little Weapon- This is one fantastic showcase of music, not only for Lupe but the entire First and Fifteen label. Taking another serious topic in the form of Child soldiers in Africa ( The Invisible Children) Lu creates a sinister and evil atmosphere almost nonchalantly. Then we are treated to even more vocals from Nikki Jean and a sick verse by Bishop G. The beat is produced by Patrick Stump of Fallout Boy, which should give you some kind of idea how this isn’t a typical rap beat. 10/10
13) Gotta Eat- This song is probably the weakest on the Cd, but it is till one of the most creative tracks in all of rap history. It appears as if Lupe is rapping from the perspective of a Cheese Burger. That wasn’t a typo. The beat is almost completely void of any form of bass, depending on string play and drums. Lu manages to deliver clever word play, and melodic vocals, but the song still manages to miss something, might be the annoying chorus. Either way it is still an entertaining and clever song. 8/10
14)Dumb It Down- Lupe’s word play has never been stronger. I cannot even do justice to how clever Lu’s Lines are on this track, and they aren’t just one-liners. These lyrics are designed specifically to go over people’s head, a contrast to the title of the song. The song is mainly about how Lu refuses to “ Dumb it down” to be more mainstream or sell more records. Funny and entertaining while holding on to a pinch of rebellion and arrogance, Lu basically refuses to change on this track. 10/10
15) Hello/Goodbye (Uncool)- This is the only Lupe Fiasco track I have ever heard where the beat outshines the vocals. The Track is produced by Unkle and is so sporadic, heavy, and creative it really distracts from Lu’s lyrics, which are not throw away lyrics mind you. The only weak point is a chorus that seems to dull against the back drop of this beat and Lu’s verses. 9/10
16)The Die- This track chronicles the last moments leading up the death of Michael Young History. Also known as The Cool. Lupe and Gemstones manages to deliver rapid fire lyrics from both sides of the death. Lu portrays a confidant of The Cool while Gemstones portrays the man responsible for his death. The beat and the hook struggle to keep up with the verbal onslaught by Lu and Gemstones, but manage to not hurt the song in anyway at the same time. Amazing track- 10/10
17) Put You on Game- Easily one of the darkest beats I have ever heard. Steady and slow, almost lumbering in the background away from Lu’s Lyrics which introduce us to a new character, The Game. The game is a manifestation of all the evil of the rap game, the drugs, guns, violence, sex, the death. Lu raps from his characters perspective creating a truly evil, almost satanic, representation of this character. If I could give this song more than ten out of ten I would. 10/10
18)Fighters- Everything about this song is perfect. Lupe and Matt Santos deliver something similar to a swan song, but still leave the door open for Lupe’s next and presumed final album, LUPend. The beat is very soft and melodic, just enough to keep rhythm with Lupe’s rhymes which sound to be the most personal his words have ever been. 10/10
19) Go Baby- This song isn’t the best, but Lu dedicated it to a group of fans of his that ran a web site dedicated to him. He never met the girls, but was so impressed by what they did, he dedicated this song to them. The beat has a nice bounce to it which will have your head bobbin before you realize it. This song is pretty much the antitheses of The die. Lu and Gemstones provide a happier, brighter song dedicated to special ladies in their lives. Not the greatest track to end on, but not a bad track by any means. 8/10
Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool, is a brilliantly put together, loosely conceptualized and one of the best Rap Cd’s released in a very long time. We often hear about the sophomore slump for a majority of music artist. Lupe manages to avoid the slump and actually excels above and beyond his first outing. It is truly a tragedy we can only expect one more album from Lu because if is next one is anything like The Cool, It will leave us wanting more. See you all next time when I review Kanye West’s debut album, The College Dropout.
9.4/10
Sunday, June 15, 2008
A Review of Lupe Fiasco's "Food and Liquor"
Review of Lupe Fiasco’s Food And Liquor
Let me begin by saying I am an adamant Lupe Fiasco Fan. He is easily My favorite rapper and while I and many of my friends often claim he is the greatest, I wanted to review each individual track and ultimately the entire Cd. I am gonna try to stay as biased as I can and follow the same method I used on Lil Wayne’s “ Tha Carter III”
1) Intro-well this is exactly what it says it is, an Intro. I do not believe I can adequately rate this as a song because it is closer to a skit than it is anything else. This gets a solid N/A
2)Real-Solid beat, not a typical bass, drums, bass, incoherent chatter pattern. The song’s major draw back is that it starts out a little slow. While the beat explodes in your head phones from second one, the opening verse and chorus are average for Lupe. Good thing average for Lupe is still better than most. 7/10
3) Just Might Be Ok- Fantastic track to pick the action up. Lupe does a masterful job of jumping through lyrical hoops on his verses. He also keeps a rather solid beat behind him. After this track I think you starts to get an pretty good idea on what kind of music you can be expecting from the rest of the CD. 8/10
4)Kick, Push- I call this a tricky track. It’s tricky because the first time you hear it, you don’t really listen to it. I think it’s the concept that distracts you, but before long you find yourself bobbin your head to the beat almost completely void of bass and relying more on drums and horns. Lupe’s lyrics aren’t his greatest but they are still thoughtful and intelligent. He actually tells a story as opposed to just talking about a subject. Bonus points for creativity. 8/10
5) I Gothca-This is one of the best beats on the CD. This could the, “ My name is Lupe and this is why I’m better than you” track. His word play is in top form and his flow is executed perfectly along with the very noticeable beat. The only let down with the track is it’s lack of a great hook. But hey get three perfect scores out of five is still pretty amazing. 9/10
6) The Instrumental- Lupe speeds up a little on this track, but his lyrics don’t falter for it. Doing his verbal back flips at a faster pace only makes him sound more complex. The hook on this track is a pretty big let down. Lupe does his thing to perfection on this track but he missed another opportunity for perfection with a sub par chorus. The beat is again something different. Not bad, but not great either. 7/10
7)He Say She Say- Lupe does another great job of telling a story with this track. New listeners would notice this song more than other’s about Lupe’s lyrical talent. The verses are slowed down with a beat that doesn’t try to stand out too badly. The hook is good, if the singers don’t eventually start to grade on your nerves a bit. Not the greatest track but still a great track. 8/10
8) Sunshine- Lupe’s got a little bit of game on this track. Lupe does a great job on this track, as he does with many others, not just describing something but telling you a story about it. This song has been done thousands of times before. It is simply about picking up a girl, how ever Lupe manages to avoid the norm by not focusing on her or on how easy it is to get her, but rather on the meeting and flirtations eventually venturing off into a dream narrative. Good flow too, again the song is held back by the hook. 8/10
9)Day Dreamin’- This track shows you what he is capable of when he puts all the parts together correctly. Two amazing verses, coupled with a great beat, melodic flow, and Jill Scott keeping it soulful . This track deserves more than the one Grammy it earned. 10/10
10)The Cool- This is one of the most creative tracks for a rap song ever. Lupe takes the concept of a gangster who is killed and comes back to life and tell his story of walking the earth again. I cannot praise Lupe’s Lyricism and creativity enough on this track. The track was co-produced by Kanye and it’s not a typical outing by Mr. West. Fantastic all the way around… except for the hook. While this is slightly better than the rest, it is still enough to hold the song back a bit. 8/10
11) Hurt Me Soul- This should be Lupe’s anthem. He does some pretty amazing things on this track, most notably is the word play. Lupe is in top form in his lyrics and is the only vocalist the entire track. His flow is perfect, almost impossible to not nod your head to this track. Lupe delivers what might be the best four and a half minutes of rapping in a long, long time. 10/10
12) Pressure- This song get the obligatory plus one to it’s score from having Jay-Z featured on it. Lupe does a less complicated, but still clever lyrical exercise. The singer on the hook does a nice job of linking the verses, but the hook sounds like such a transformation from the verses it kind of causes a lack of cohesion in the song. But jay does his thing on the track showcasing why many still say he’s the best. 9/10
13)American Terrorist- Next time someone tells you all rap music is uneducated, make them listen to this song. Very intelligent and creative raps by Lu and a good chorus by his fellow FNF artist, Matt Santos, make this one of the best song from the album. Lupe does his word play tricks and his changes his flow up to match the unorthodox beat. 10/10
14)Emperor’s Soundtrack- Bow before King Lu the First (and Fifteen). Three minutes of Lupe doing nothing but rapping over the best beat on the CD. Lupe is in top form on his verses and manages to make the verses and flow as dramatic as the orchestral beat. 10/10
15) Kick Push II- Second best beat on the Cd. This song is a complete turn around from the last track. It’s darker, more serious, and another story. Lupe takes the concept of Kick, Push and create a very immersive atmosphere and mood. Another top notch song by Lu. 10/10
16) Outro- You don’t get many of these on Cd’s. There’s a reason for this. There is this little collection of pages you get in the CD that serves the same purpose as this song does. It’s not a song. Sorry. It’s just Lu thanking people. N/A
What is Food and Liquor? Is it the best rap CD of all time? Not quite. What it is, is an amazing first outing by a very skilled and talented MC who will retire early because the industry has no desire for someone taking Hip Hop in the positive direction he has taken this CD. It’ll get air time, it’ll get some hits, some awards, and frequent play in a lot of CD players, and that’s it. Is that bad? No, not at all. Food and Liquor is just part one of Lupe Fiasco’s epic Hip Hip trilogy. See you all in part two: the Cool
8.7/10
Let me begin by saying I am an adamant Lupe Fiasco Fan. He is easily My favorite rapper and while I and many of my friends often claim he is the greatest, I wanted to review each individual track and ultimately the entire Cd. I am gonna try to stay as biased as I can and follow the same method I used on Lil Wayne’s “ Tha Carter III”
1) Intro-well this is exactly what it says it is, an Intro. I do not believe I can adequately rate this as a song because it is closer to a skit than it is anything else. This gets a solid N/A
2)Real-Solid beat, not a typical bass, drums, bass, incoherent chatter pattern. The song’s major draw back is that it starts out a little slow. While the beat explodes in your head phones from second one, the opening verse and chorus are average for Lupe. Good thing average for Lupe is still better than most. 7/10
3) Just Might Be Ok- Fantastic track to pick the action up. Lupe does a masterful job of jumping through lyrical hoops on his verses. He also keeps a rather solid beat behind him. After this track I think you starts to get an pretty good idea on what kind of music you can be expecting from the rest of the CD. 8/10
4)Kick, Push- I call this a tricky track. It’s tricky because the first time you hear it, you don’t really listen to it. I think it’s the concept that distracts you, but before long you find yourself bobbin your head to the beat almost completely void of bass and relying more on drums and horns. Lupe’s lyrics aren’t his greatest but they are still thoughtful and intelligent. He actually tells a story as opposed to just talking about a subject. Bonus points for creativity. 8/10
5) I Gothca-This is one of the best beats on the CD. This could the, “ My name is Lupe and this is why I’m better than you” track. His word play is in top form and his flow is executed perfectly along with the very noticeable beat. The only let down with the track is it’s lack of a great hook. But hey get three perfect scores out of five is still pretty amazing. 9/10
6) The Instrumental- Lupe speeds up a little on this track, but his lyrics don’t falter for it. Doing his verbal back flips at a faster pace only makes him sound more complex. The hook on this track is a pretty big let down. Lupe does his thing to perfection on this track but he missed another opportunity for perfection with a sub par chorus. The beat is again something different. Not bad, but not great either. 7/10
7)He Say She Say- Lupe does another great job of telling a story with this track. New listeners would notice this song more than other’s about Lupe’s lyrical talent. The verses are slowed down with a beat that doesn’t try to stand out too badly. The hook is good, if the singers don’t eventually start to grade on your nerves a bit. Not the greatest track but still a great track. 8/10
8) Sunshine- Lupe’s got a little bit of game on this track. Lupe does a great job on this track, as he does with many others, not just describing something but telling you a story about it. This song has been done thousands of times before. It is simply about picking up a girl, how ever Lupe manages to avoid the norm by not focusing on her or on how easy it is to get her, but rather on the meeting and flirtations eventually venturing off into a dream narrative. Good flow too, again the song is held back by the hook. 8/10
9)Day Dreamin’- This track shows you what he is capable of when he puts all the parts together correctly. Two amazing verses, coupled with a great beat, melodic flow, and Jill Scott keeping it soulful . This track deserves more than the one Grammy it earned. 10/10
10)The Cool- This is one of the most creative tracks for a rap song ever. Lupe takes the concept of a gangster who is killed and comes back to life and tell his story of walking the earth again. I cannot praise Lupe’s Lyricism and creativity enough on this track. The track was co-produced by Kanye and it’s not a typical outing by Mr. West. Fantastic all the way around… except for the hook. While this is slightly better than the rest, it is still enough to hold the song back a bit. 8/10
11) Hurt Me Soul- This should be Lupe’s anthem. He does some pretty amazing things on this track, most notably is the word play. Lupe is in top form in his lyrics and is the only vocalist the entire track. His flow is perfect, almost impossible to not nod your head to this track. Lupe delivers what might be the best four and a half minutes of rapping in a long, long time. 10/10
12) Pressure- This song get the obligatory plus one to it’s score from having Jay-Z featured on it. Lupe does a less complicated, but still clever lyrical exercise. The singer on the hook does a nice job of linking the verses, but the hook sounds like such a transformation from the verses it kind of causes a lack of cohesion in the song. But jay does his thing on the track showcasing why many still say he’s the best. 9/10
13)American Terrorist- Next time someone tells you all rap music is uneducated, make them listen to this song. Very intelligent and creative raps by Lu and a good chorus by his fellow FNF artist, Matt Santos, make this one of the best song from the album. Lupe does his word play tricks and his changes his flow up to match the unorthodox beat. 10/10
14)Emperor’s Soundtrack- Bow before King Lu the First (and Fifteen). Three minutes of Lupe doing nothing but rapping over the best beat on the CD. Lupe is in top form on his verses and manages to make the verses and flow as dramatic as the orchestral beat. 10/10
15) Kick Push II- Second best beat on the Cd. This song is a complete turn around from the last track. It’s darker, more serious, and another story. Lupe takes the concept of Kick, Push and create a very immersive atmosphere and mood. Another top notch song by Lu. 10/10
16) Outro- You don’t get many of these on Cd’s. There’s a reason for this. There is this little collection of pages you get in the CD that serves the same purpose as this song does. It’s not a song. Sorry. It’s just Lu thanking people. N/A
What is Food and Liquor? Is it the best rap CD of all time? Not quite. What it is, is an amazing first outing by a very skilled and talented MC who will retire early because the industry has no desire for someone taking Hip Hop in the positive direction he has taken this CD. It’ll get air time, it’ll get some hits, some awards, and frequent play in a lot of CD players, and that’s it. Is that bad? No, not at all. Food and Liquor is just part one of Lupe Fiasco’s epic Hip Hip trilogy. See you all in part two: the Cool
8.7/10
Thursday, June 12, 2008
A Review of Lil Wayne's " Tha Carter III"
I have never been a huge Lil Wayne fan, truth be told I haven’t heard much of what he has to offer outside of his guest spots on other Rappers’ tracks. However, I have sworn myself to a vow of objectivity. I am not going to hold any previous judgments of Wayne and will review him completely fairly.
Each track will be given a rating and I will average those ratings to get the Cd’s overall score.
I now present
Tha Carter III Review.
1) 3 Peat- A simple, entertaining beat with a well executed flow, but the lyrics tend to jump from being surprisingly thoughtful, to rehashed “ I’m so great. Bitches. Fuck fuck fuck.” 6/10
2)Mr. Carter- The first verse by Wayne on “ Mr. Carter might be on of the best verses I Have heard from Him. His second starts out strongly but sputters off near the end as he falls into his typical pattern of sexual dominance. However in all of this, Jay Z kills him on this track. He raps, essentially about the same thing as Wayne but does it with so much more creativity that he leaves Wayne behind. The songs wraps up nicely with a fading beat and a rather creative few bars by Wayne. Great Beat. 8/10
3)A Milli- Quite Possibly the one of the worst 10 beats I have ever heard. Trying desperately to cash in off the success of the “ Still Tippin’” This one just manages to be nothing more than an annoyance and distracts from Wayne Flow and Lyrics. Luckily You don’t miss much. This is one of the weaker flows I have Heard From Wayne coupled with sub par lyrics for any professional rapper. How ever he does save it with a few clever one liners. 3/10
4)Got Money This is definitely single material. Even though it is the fourth straight song following the who ,” I’m so great because of how much money I have and how many women I sleep with,” he manages to do a little something extra with this. The beat changes periodically taking out and adding strings as well as adding in a temp hand clap. Why it still does not show much versatility in his lyric writing ability, he does manage to add a tad bit more creativity to the “ I’m so great” spin. 7/10
5) Comfortable- Finally Lil Wayne shows more creativity in every facet of this song. First off, baby face delivers a catchy, smooth hook you’ll be humming well after the song ends. The basic concept about the song manages to combine Wayne’s “ I’m so great theme” But make it charming and appealing. It is, in essence, a love song with a Wayne twist. While this doesn’t sound like a winning combo it is and I would not doubt it if was the one of the singles off the album. 9/10
6)Dr. Carter- A short one minute verse by Wayne. The beat catches you off guard at first, sounding like a live, smooth, jazz band more so than a studio beat. And the verse isn’t too bad. Creative and funny if not predictable. 7/10
7)Phone Home- Well I was complaining about a lack of creativity and Wayne delivered with this peculiar track. Wayne takes an interesting concept, ( Lil Wayne is an Alien) and manages to stick to it, mostly. Probably three of his strongest verses in the cd thus far. He falters and stumbles in this track a few times, using his “ I said on word, oops I meant to say this one but it doesn’t rhyme so Ill use the other one first” trick. Only other issue is the sub par chorus. 7/10
8)Tie My hands- Wow. Wayne manages to take this over the top ego and turn it into confidence and then uses that confidence to create one fantastic song. While it feels out of place with the album thus far, it still showcases a different side of Wayne with Lyrics he clearly put more effort in and Robin Thick backing him up some soulful vocals. This will probably be the sleeper track off the album, never reaching hit single status but still being a great song. 9/10
9)Mrs. Officer- A better name for this song would have been, “ Wee Oh h Wee Ohh Wee,” or,” When I get all up in ya.” This is a song about having sex with a female cop. All save for one one-liner, Wayne’s lyrics take a regression taking a concept with few options and, coupled with Bobby Valentino’s repetitive and annoying hook, make it the trashiest, laziest, song on the album. 3/10
10)Let the Beat Build-This was dangerous. This track could have very easily have ended up in the same realm as “ A Milli” But manages to narrowly avoid it. The track does as its name implies and allows for a sort of rising action with the beat by Kanye. Wayne delivers a mixed bag of lyrical selection. While the first two verse work very well with the beat and for the most part are solid, the final verse sees Wayne simply trying to hard. He went an entire 9 tracks with out the phrase “ I’m the Best rapper Alive.” That streak dies with this song. 6/10
11) Shoot me down-Put it bluntly, this is my favorite beat on the Cd. Very dark, very sinister, haunting vocals by D. Smith and decent ones from Wayne. The entire song is well submersed in this dark, heavy mood. Lyrics do the typical rise from the ashes and fall to the ground style of quality other tracks suffer from, but this is a better outing by Wayne. 8/10
12) Lollipop- Fear the synthesizer. It seems as if both Wayne and static major are speaking through ha voice synthesizer. This is not a compliment. My issue with this song is not the song itself but rather we have already been subjected to at least eight songs that mention or are focused on Wayne Sexual prowess and exploits. Why do we have to sit through another song of equal or lesser quality to hear him brag about it some more. I mean congrats, we get it, you get it a lot. But around the sixth track on this cd with lyrics talking about it, it just becomes gratuitous. How ever the song itself has its strong points, primarily a catchy beat, hook and s very well executed flow. Shame this song suffers from Wayne’s one dimensional Lyrics. 5/10
13) La La- When I saw Busta on this track I got excited. I had hoped Busta would offer some diversity to the song, but sadly this is not the case. Both guests ( Brisco and Busta) simply follow Wayne’s flow nearly exactly. While the lyrics aren’t terrible, all three rappers are capable of much better things. The beat is intriguing at first but shortly there after becomes grading on your ears 4/10
14)Playing With fire- This is the biggest missed opportunity for the album. And again what hold it back isn’t the beat, but Lil Wayne’s lyrics. This time though he simply throws all sense of flow out the window and can be best described as rambling. Betty Wright performs masterfully on the hook and intro, but even her and a last minute lyrical surge by Wayne isn’t enough to save this song 4/10
15)You Ain’t Got Nothin- There is no reason I should hear Fabolous’ verse from the beginning and think to myself, “ Thank god for a breath of fresh air.” Fabolous manages to perform a very decent verse over the impressive and immersive beat, but Juelz Santanna doesn’t keep the momentum running. It might have been because Lil Wayne on the chorus is just your Typical Wayne outing. Luckily his verse is much better than his chorus, but this brings me to a bigger problem. This being one of the most anticipated Rap Releases in years, you would think Wayne would be featured more prominently on The Final track of HIS Cd. The final track, like much of the album, leaves much to be desired. 5/10
All in all “ Tha Carter III” was simply not worth the wait and not up to par with the hype. After three years of waiting, I would think he would put out something more solid, more blow your mind, not more of the same. And make no mistake, this is Cd is more of the same. Listening to almost any song on the album will tell you what the album is all about. Sometimes very high and sometimes very low quality of Lyrics, big name guests, and a mediocre flow. To put it simply, Lil Wayne Can do better, the rap Industry deserves better, and the fans deserve better. Tha Carter III has moments of brilliance and flashes of hope for a great Cd but ultimately settles for a cozy resting place in the realm of mediocrity.
6.0/10.0
Each track will be given a rating and I will average those ratings to get the Cd’s overall score.
I now present
Tha Carter III Review.
1) 3 Peat- A simple, entertaining beat with a well executed flow, but the lyrics tend to jump from being surprisingly thoughtful, to rehashed “ I’m so great. Bitches. Fuck fuck fuck.” 6/10
2)Mr. Carter- The first verse by Wayne on “ Mr. Carter might be on of the best verses I Have heard from Him. His second starts out strongly but sputters off near the end as he falls into his typical pattern of sexual dominance. However in all of this, Jay Z kills him on this track. He raps, essentially about the same thing as Wayne but does it with so much more creativity that he leaves Wayne behind. The songs wraps up nicely with a fading beat and a rather creative few bars by Wayne. Great Beat. 8/10
3)A Milli- Quite Possibly the one of the worst 10 beats I have ever heard. Trying desperately to cash in off the success of the “ Still Tippin’” This one just manages to be nothing more than an annoyance and distracts from Wayne Flow and Lyrics. Luckily You don’t miss much. This is one of the weaker flows I have Heard From Wayne coupled with sub par lyrics for any professional rapper. How ever he does save it with a few clever one liners. 3/10
4)Got Money This is definitely single material. Even though it is the fourth straight song following the who ,” I’m so great because of how much money I have and how many women I sleep with,” he manages to do a little something extra with this. The beat changes periodically taking out and adding strings as well as adding in a temp hand clap. Why it still does not show much versatility in his lyric writing ability, he does manage to add a tad bit more creativity to the “ I’m so great” spin. 7/10
5) Comfortable- Finally Lil Wayne shows more creativity in every facet of this song. First off, baby face delivers a catchy, smooth hook you’ll be humming well after the song ends. The basic concept about the song manages to combine Wayne’s “ I’m so great theme” But make it charming and appealing. It is, in essence, a love song with a Wayne twist. While this doesn’t sound like a winning combo it is and I would not doubt it if was the one of the singles off the album. 9/10
6)Dr. Carter- A short one minute verse by Wayne. The beat catches you off guard at first, sounding like a live, smooth, jazz band more so than a studio beat. And the verse isn’t too bad. Creative and funny if not predictable. 7/10
7)Phone Home- Well I was complaining about a lack of creativity and Wayne delivered with this peculiar track. Wayne takes an interesting concept, ( Lil Wayne is an Alien) and manages to stick to it, mostly. Probably three of his strongest verses in the cd thus far. He falters and stumbles in this track a few times, using his “ I said on word, oops I meant to say this one but it doesn’t rhyme so Ill use the other one first” trick. Only other issue is the sub par chorus. 7/10
8)Tie My hands- Wow. Wayne manages to take this over the top ego and turn it into confidence and then uses that confidence to create one fantastic song. While it feels out of place with the album thus far, it still showcases a different side of Wayne with Lyrics he clearly put more effort in and Robin Thick backing him up some soulful vocals. This will probably be the sleeper track off the album, never reaching hit single status but still being a great song. 9/10
9)Mrs. Officer- A better name for this song would have been, “ Wee Oh h Wee Ohh Wee,” or,” When I get all up in ya.” This is a song about having sex with a female cop. All save for one one-liner, Wayne’s lyrics take a regression taking a concept with few options and, coupled with Bobby Valentino’s repetitive and annoying hook, make it the trashiest, laziest, song on the album. 3/10
10)Let the Beat Build-This was dangerous. This track could have very easily have ended up in the same realm as “ A Milli” But manages to narrowly avoid it. The track does as its name implies and allows for a sort of rising action with the beat by Kanye. Wayne delivers a mixed bag of lyrical selection. While the first two verse work very well with the beat and for the most part are solid, the final verse sees Wayne simply trying to hard. He went an entire 9 tracks with out the phrase “ I’m the Best rapper Alive.” That streak dies with this song. 6/10
11) Shoot me down-Put it bluntly, this is my favorite beat on the Cd. Very dark, very sinister, haunting vocals by D. Smith and decent ones from Wayne. The entire song is well submersed in this dark, heavy mood. Lyrics do the typical rise from the ashes and fall to the ground style of quality other tracks suffer from, but this is a better outing by Wayne. 8/10
12) Lollipop- Fear the synthesizer. It seems as if both Wayne and static major are speaking through ha voice synthesizer. This is not a compliment. My issue with this song is not the song itself but rather we have already been subjected to at least eight songs that mention or are focused on Wayne Sexual prowess and exploits. Why do we have to sit through another song of equal or lesser quality to hear him brag about it some more. I mean congrats, we get it, you get it a lot. But around the sixth track on this cd with lyrics talking about it, it just becomes gratuitous. How ever the song itself has its strong points, primarily a catchy beat, hook and s very well executed flow. Shame this song suffers from Wayne’s one dimensional Lyrics. 5/10
13) La La- When I saw Busta on this track I got excited. I had hoped Busta would offer some diversity to the song, but sadly this is not the case. Both guests ( Brisco and Busta) simply follow Wayne’s flow nearly exactly. While the lyrics aren’t terrible, all three rappers are capable of much better things. The beat is intriguing at first but shortly there after becomes grading on your ears 4/10
14)Playing With fire- This is the biggest missed opportunity for the album. And again what hold it back isn’t the beat, but Lil Wayne’s lyrics. This time though he simply throws all sense of flow out the window and can be best described as rambling. Betty Wright performs masterfully on the hook and intro, but even her and a last minute lyrical surge by Wayne isn’t enough to save this song 4/10
15)You Ain’t Got Nothin- There is no reason I should hear Fabolous’ verse from the beginning and think to myself, “ Thank god for a breath of fresh air.” Fabolous manages to perform a very decent verse over the impressive and immersive beat, but Juelz Santanna doesn’t keep the momentum running. It might have been because Lil Wayne on the chorus is just your Typical Wayne outing. Luckily his verse is much better than his chorus, but this brings me to a bigger problem. This being one of the most anticipated Rap Releases in years, you would think Wayne would be featured more prominently on The Final track of HIS Cd. The final track, like much of the album, leaves much to be desired. 5/10
All in all “ Tha Carter III” was simply not worth the wait and not up to par with the hype. After three years of waiting, I would think he would put out something more solid, more blow your mind, not more of the same. And make no mistake, this is Cd is more of the same. Listening to almost any song on the album will tell you what the album is all about. Sometimes very high and sometimes very low quality of Lyrics, big name guests, and a mediocre flow. To put it simply, Lil Wayne Can do better, the rap Industry deserves better, and the fans deserve better. Tha Carter III has moments of brilliance and flashes of hope for a great Cd but ultimately settles for a cozy resting place in the realm of mediocrity.
6.0/10.0
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