LUPE!!!

Last night I went to one of the shortest… and best concerts I’ve ever witnessed.
Lupe Fiasco – one of the most talented lyricists in the hip hop game today – came to
Thorne Hall in a 4 song exhibition of both his old and new hits. I realize this is not quite
African music, but I thought it was close enough all things considered because he
frequently mentions Africa in his songs, such as the West African griots, or the fact that
part of his inspiration as an African American artist stems from the music
in Africa. Sitting in the back right hand corner of Thorne, I was amazed at Lupe’s ability
to control and feed off of the crowd. You see I have been a fan of “Chicago’s finest”
since he first started making mix tapes eight years ago. But I had never before had the
opportunity to see him perform live. I’ve never really seen the appeal of spending extra
money just to see someone in concert.
Lupe’s performance last night changed everything. His constant references to his record label “First and Fifteenth” or “F&F” coupled with the unparalleled fluidity of his rhymes make Lupe the greatest out there today. While on stage, Lupe maintains a wondrous swagger that even the most casual fan can appreciate and respect. Fiasco hardly ever swears, instead choosing to let the brilliance of his words do the Talking. His newest hit single, “Superstar,” exemplifies why Lupe is so special. Whilehe continues to rap his sick lyrics, he also shows that he too has a very impressive singing voice, while he sings, “If you are what you say you are, a superstar, then have no fear, the crowd is here...” as he motions toward the audience with a sudden appreciation for us as his fans.
Lupe embodies everything that is right with hip hop today. He is a young and
handsome black man who bodes both charisma and intelligence. He allows his dialect
and talent to market his success, rather than rap about how he survived 7 gunshot wounds.
I must admit I was astounded that everyone in the audience remained standing with their
arms bumping back and forth during his four songs. Lupe’s ability to hold a crowd is
attributed to not only his words and lyrics but also his talent to work all angles of the
stage and flow with his crowd. I really enjoyed the event and learned a great deal about
what hip hop is meant to be like. I have a new found respect for Lupe Fiasco even more
than before, and hope to see him live once again. After all, his new album is entitled, “the cool.”