{grate 3}

Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool could alternately be titled Why
Doesn’t Anyone Think Backpack Rappers Like Me Are Cool? Lupe is upset with the
state of hip-hop, it seems. On his first single, “Dumb It Down,” he deals with
imaginary haters begging him to dumb his music down. “You’re shedding too much
light, Lupe,” declares some anonymous white guy on the chorus’ second round.
You might think Lupe’s rhymes can cure A.I.D.S. or end world hunger; instead,
they read more like that one kid from your high school’s poetry slam. What Lupe
forgot is that leaving out any reference to cocaine or bitches doesn’t
necessarily make your rhymes smart. Some really intelligent people like cocaine
and bitches, you know. Ever heard of Sigmund Freud?

Lupe is pretty entertaining when he isn’t preaching or
waxing philosophical, but these moments are few and far between. On “Hip-Hop
Saved My Life” (it’s not just a corny t-shirt anymore) Lupe tells the story of
a well-intentioned young man who ends up making run-of-the-mill rap just so he
can support his family. As with any good storyteller, it’s all in the details:
his first single is called “Stack that Cheese;” his first big break is when the
radio plays his freestyle over crunk hit “Wipe Me Down.” Lupe is capable of
making some great music when he manages to remove the massive chip from his
shoulder, “Paris, Tokyo” being a fine example. Lupe’s reworking of Snoop’s
classic “Ain’t No Fun” rhyme really says it all: “Guess who’s back in the
house/ With a bunch of souvenirs and a smile for your mouth.” These songs aren’t dumbed down; they’re not
self-conscious and preachy, and that’s when Lupe gets it right. What I’m trying
to say is this: shut the fuck up and we’ll listen to you.