Third Times A Harm

Lupe Fiasco just had one of the best sales weeks of his career. Yet, fans and critics are still upset with the Chicagoan rapper. To those that are disappointed with the new album, Lasers, I urge you to aim your complaints at Atlantic Records, not Mr. Fiasco.

Young folks rally to demand a Lupe album

Yes, it was Atlantic Records that repeatedly pushed back the release of this album and wouldn't allow the public to hear it until it met their vision. What respectable label would allow Lupe to go a full three years without an album release? It's not as if the buzz hasn't been there. Upon the Cool's arrival on shelves, it was the feature story on MTV.com, he boasted a charting single (Superstar), and he bridged that gap between skateboarders and hip-hop culture.

Fans clamored at his mixtapes and staged a very effective protest once it became clear that his album was not Atlantic's priority. The label gave in, but not without satisfying themselves first.

Many hip-hop heads listen to Lasers and claim that it sounds too pop, commercial, and mainstream. I can't debate that, but upon listening to his past work he's always featured tracks that pushed the boundaries of Rap. Take "The Instrumental" from Food & Liquor or "Fighters" from The Cool. Lupe is just an extremely unique Rap artist. If you truly listen to Lasers, the sharp lyrics and profound messages are still there. The biggest knock should be that he still lacks enough of the traditional east coast beats that would seem to suit him best (See: Kick Push).

Let's keep in mind, it is the music BUSINESS. Executives are looking to make a profit, so as long as Lupe is under contract, he must give them what they ask. It is the same reason Nas left Atlantic and is now battling with Def Jam.



The album has brought out surprising reactions



This idea that Lupe sold out must go. Nobody batted a lash when Usher, Flo-Rida, Drake, Kanye, or Pitbull broke from their hip-hop roots to create a pop-based sound. Ironically, they've all enjoyed great success since the change and Lupe is no different.

Even Jay-Z admitted he needed to simplify his lyrics to be successful from a commercial standpoint. What we are seeing with Lupe now is a transitional period. He must find a balance between the synthy beats and the heavy messages that litter all of his work. If he can't meet this challenge, then the criticism would be justified. As of now, the blame lies with the record company.