Lupe Fiasco's Familiar, but Distinct, Voice

The young Lupe Fiasco has been rapping for years, peddling his rap wares to anyone who would listen. He has a dedication to hip-hop. His underground roots are firm. But when MySpace boomed, he used the ubiquitous web site to showcares his music. And, with a little luck and a lot of skill, he was found, initially, by rap mogul Jay-Z. Jay loved Lupe's music so much, he tried to sign him to his Island Def Jam label. Lupe was signed elsewhere, so he couldn't join Jay-Z's stable of stars. But Jay-Z's interest in Lupe's career helped him skyrocket to superstardom, and it's all come so quickly. His smash hit Daydreamin' has become omnipresent on radio stations and music television networks.

Lupe's successful effort, Food & Liquor, presents listeners with a rapper whose feet are firmly planted in the glory days of hip-hop, when rapping meant taking on a social cause, when making rhymes meant having a deft tongue, when beats, while still sampled, weren't made to get the youth hot and sweaty in a club setting. Lupe's mellow beats, combined with his smooth flow and attention to political and social issues, make Food & Liquor an album worth everyone's time and money.

Download (legally) these tracks: Real, Kick Push, The Instrumental, He Say She Say, Daydreamin', Hurt Me Soul, American Terrorist