[MUSIC REVIEW] Lasers by Lupe Fiasco

TITLE: Lasers
ARTIST: Lupe Fiasco
ARTIST'S HOMETOWN: Chicago, Illinois
RELEASED: March 7, 2011
GENRE: HipHop/Rap
LENGTH: 57 Minutes 3 Seconds
LABEL: 1st & 15th and Atlantic Records

Lasers is Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco's third studio album, released by Atlantic Records. I remember the album gaining some attention after the release of the song and music video for the single "Words I Never Said" featuring Skylar Grey as well as "The Show Goes On". Apparently when the album was ready, Lupe tweeted to his fans that it was good and ready to go. A fan waiting for the release decided to create a petition for Atlantic Records to release the album already. The petition caught the eye of many and even got as many as 5,000 signatures on it's very first day. I don't really remember buying this album, but I did, and it's been on my iPod since the year it came out. Overall I think it's a great album, It's not very often that I actually like an album, I'm a very picky listener. A lot of the times I end up liking 1 or 2 songs here and there. But there's always one of those albums where I like half the album, and very rarely the whole entire thing. But, when I do my rating process for an album, that doesn't matter. I try my best to rate each song as it should be rated. 1 by 1. Just to give it a fair rating. If you're a fan of Lupe, you'll love this album. If you're looking for a specific sound, then this may not be the album for you. It seems a lot different, you can hear the progression.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Letting Go (ft. Sarah Green)
2. Words I Never Said (ft. Skylar Grey)
3. Till I Get There
4. I Don't Wanna Care Right Now (ft. MDMA)
5. Out Of My Head (ft. Trey Songz)
6. The Show Goes On
7. Beautiful Lasers (2 Ways)(ft. MDMA)
8. Coming Up (ft. MDMA)
9. State Run Radio (ft. Matt Mahaffey)
10. Break The Chain (ft. Eric Turner & Sway)
11. All Black Everything
12. Never Forget You (ft. John Legend)

FAVORITE SONGS [w/ Links]:

#3 Till I Get There
Produced By Needlz

#6 The Show Goes On
Produced By Kane Beatz

#7 Beautiful Lasers (2 Ways)
Featuring MDMA
Produced By King David

#8 Coming Up
Featuring MDMA
Produced By King David

#12 Never Forget You
Featuring John Legend
Produced By Jerry Duplessis, Syience & Arden Altino

Personal Ratings & Why:

LYRICS:
4 out of 5
When I examine lyrics, I look at 2 things. What they're saying and if it makes any sense at all and the flow, the way they rap it to the beat. I don't just give them a rating based on one particular reason. Most know Lupe for saying something with some meaning. This album is no different. I gave it a high rating due the structure and subject matter. From politics in Words I Never Said, to reminiscing over a lost loved one in Never Forget You. The lyrics get the highest rating because they are undoubtedly the best part of this album.

BEATS:
3 out of 5
I see Lupe Fiasco as being one of those artists who have no problem being unique and different than what you would hear in traditional Hip Hop. Mostly by his choice of beats. Some of them even seemed to hold elements of what sounded like a little bit of EDM. Which at times, I'm not too fond of but when it's done right, it's amazing to listen to. And this album is one of those instances, without question. My favorite beat from this whole album would probably have to be the song Beautiful Lasers (2 Ways), it's fantastic.

TOTAL SONGS LIKED:
7 out of 12

OVERALL RATING:
3 out of 5
Overall this album gets a 3 out of 5, why? It mostly has to do with the beats. The lyrics kept are what kept the rating high and the beats brought that rating down a little bit with it. I wasn't much of a fan of the beats, while they weren't bad, I just didn't feel like most of them deserved a higher rating than they got, but, I am a very picky person, especially when it comes to the beats. So, I saw it coming before I even rated the album. But the lyrics brought the rating a little more and saved it from being a 2 overall. I believe it's worth a buy, if you still buy CDs like me. If not, definitely stream it and add some songs to the playlist.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

"Ain't Nobody Leaving Nobody Going Home
Even If They Shut The Lights Out The Show Is Goin' On!"

The Show Goes On
Produced by Kane Beatz