By Aaron Williams
Back in 2007, Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, also known as Lupe Fiasco, released his concept album “Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool” to critical and public acclaim. The album debuted at No. 1 among rap records at the time.
Fast forward four years and Fiasco is poised to release his newest album on March 8, after a long delay from his record label, Atlantic Records. The album is entitled “Lasers” – which is an acronym for “Love Always Shines Everytime Remember 2 Smile.”
Several tracks from “Lasers” are already available online for fans to download. This includes the album’s first official single, “The Show Goes On,” which was produced by Kane Beatz and samples Modest Mouse’s 2004 single, “Float On.” Fiasco has also released the second single from the album, “Words I Never Said,” which was produced by Alex da Kid, the same producer behind summer smash hits such as Eminem and Rihanna’s “Love the Way You Lie.”
The two singles – “The Show Goes On” and “Words I Never Said” – are both very mainstream for Fiasco, whose previous radio hit singles include “Superstar.” “The Show Goes On” is very up tempo and has an overall positive message, with Fiasco swearing his loyalty to underprivileged children across the globe, dropping lines like, “I will give up everything, even start a world war, for these ghetto girls and boys I’m rappin’ ‘round the world for.”
In comparison, “Words I Never Said” is a song of protest that deals once again with serious subject matter. Fiasco takes shots across the aisle at radio personalities Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh, calling them racist, and even puts President Barack Obama on blast for not condemning the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip. The Muslim rapper also calls out Islamic extremists: “Jihad is not holy war, where’s that in worship? Murdering is not Islam, and you are not observant.”
Fiasco warned that “Lasers” will be a controversial album. The official track list of “Lasers” has already confirmed collaborations with British hip-hop sensation Sway on “Break the Chain,” Trey Songz on “Out of My Head,” and GOOD Music artist John Legend on “Never Forget You.” Fiasco has also confirmed that “Lasers” will feature production from the likes of The Neptunes and Soundtrakk, in addition to Alex da Kid and Kane Beatz.
“Lasers” will be Fiasco’s third studio album to date. Early glimpses show that Fiasco is still on top of the game when it comes to conscious rap. The pre-order of the album is already sitting as the No. 1 hip-hip/rap album on iTunes. “Lasers” is certainly an album any hip-hop head should at least give a listen to.
