On his follow-up to the much slept on gem, Food & Liquor, Lupe Fiasco shows why he is a breath of fresh air for every avid hip-hop fan feeling suffocated by the ring tone, gun and drug-happy content that has dominated the airwaves. On The Cool, Lupe paints vivid pictures of the real world, switching his dexterous flow almost effortlessly as he reminds listeners why so many industry heads say he’s the future. Whether he’s writing postcards to a distant lover on “Paris, Tokyo” or discussing our youth’s obsession with gun culture on “Little Weapon,” the “cool nerd” scores a 19-track classic, filled with food for the soul. – gavin philip godfrey



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