He goes by the name of Lupe Fiasco

Last spring when I was studying in Madrid, I missed SU's Block Party. I didn't really miss it, per se, because really, Ciara and Lupe Fiasco? Eh, let's just say that I wasn't exactly drowning my sorrows with chupitos (re: shots) over that one. Lupe was still touring for his "Food & Liquor" album, and though I loved his first single, "Kick Push," I hate to say that I was disappointed by the rest of the album.

So, when I heard the first single, "Superstar"off of his sophomore effort, "The Cool," I was pleasantly surprised. Since the album was released in December, they played his album a lot at my work, and I fell in love with whole album -- and that's a lot of love, considering there are 20(!) songs on the track list.

I'll admit the album is a bit ADD because every track is so distinctive from one another, that you'll find yourself wondering if it's possible that you're listening to a different album with each song. But no, Lupe being the genius that he is, managed to pack this smorgasbord into one album. And that's what I love about it.

Lupe goes from spitting rhymes at rapid fire speed (think Twista; remember him? Me, neither) on his song "Go Go Gadget Flow," proclaiming his resurgence in the hip hop scene, to "Paris, Tokyo" where he raps in a slow, sing-song pace about the guilt he feels for leaving his mom behind while he's touring the world (aw!).

Seriously, though, if you want to take a break from listening to hip hop/rap songs about Applebottom jeans and fur boots, check Lupe out. In fact, I'll do you one better, you can check out my favorite songs here:







Now you have no excuse.