“Ayesha Says” (Intro) – Lupe Fiasco goes back to spoken word as an introduction. On food and liquor, The Cool and now FNL2 Fiasco uses his sister Ayesha Jaco to kick off his album in a powerful way.
“Strange Fruition” – taking shape by the name of Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit” Fiasco touches on the African-American culture. “Cause I can’t find no reconciliation
with your past. When there was nothing equal for my people in your math” references how poorly African-American were treated and how that the situation is more forgiven,
yet not forgotten in a way. The flow in this rack is super smooth and “super Lupe lyrical” in other words, lyrically astounding.
“Audubon Ballroom” – Fiasco titles the song as the scene where Malcolm X was assassinated and he also bring up the Motel Lorraine, where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, in the end of the first verse right before the chorus where he begin to talk about the greater issue, the N-word. It’s like bringing up Malcolm X and Dr. King who are referencing the past and how we need to move forward from old ways and to stop using the word because it only brings the past back up to haunt us.
“Bitch Bad” – was one of the songs Fiasco released before the album came out. This is his ode to respecting
women. How women go around calling themselves “bad b****es” and how it can be misinterpreted by different people. Fiasco says it’s a double entendre and the fact that when someone else calls her that it’s disrespectful, but when she says it, it is the highest form of compliment.
“Lamborghini Angels” – This is probably the most provocative track on the album. Honestly, any time you try and take on the Catholic Church, be ready for war. He calls out so many issues that people are not ready to face. Fiasco was blunt about it and his no remorse attitude makes me appreciate this track completely. It’s respectable; he took on what he didn’t believe in and what he says is wrong and spoke about it—preaching
to the preachers.
“Heart Donor” – This is my favorite
track on the album by far. It wraps up what Fiasco’s intentions are with his music. “Keep your sons out the slums and your daughters out of orgies, look in the mirror, see yourself and adore thee.” It truly is a beautiful message and its message is about positive self-esteem and self empowerment.
“How Dare You” – The inevitable love track. Enough said.
“Battle Scars” – The inescapable heartbreak song. Guy Sebastian makes this track amazing. “Arrow holes that never close from cupid on a shooting spree” everything about that line is poetically astonishing to me. It flows, has heart and is relevant to everyone.
“Cold War” – By far has the most emotion on the entire album. When Lupe raps about close personal experiences is when I feel like he excels. He describes a death and the relevance toward his all black album cover. You feel his pain that’s what this song is about, pain, moving forward
and accepting life’s struggles.
It took me a few tries, and initially I was way fonder of the second half of the album. But, after analyzing and reading more in-depth into the album the first half is by far more meaningful.
In comparison to Fiasco’s first album, Food and Liquor was about good and evil. Fiasco being Muslim, food was the good and liquor to be considered bad. He portrayed the good and bad wisely, which made this album another good one.
The Cool still is hands down perfect, while the original Food and Liquor comes in second place album wise.
The Cool was put together as a giant metaphor of the street life and each song was powerful, had heart, and passion to it because of life struggles fiasco went through during the process of creating this master piece.
Don’t get me wrong, Food and Liquor II was good, but not as good as he hyped it to be.
I think Lupe had a lot to say in Food and Liquor II and he said it all. I’m not saying what he preached wasn’t heart felt, but he was lacking true passion. Almost as if he needed to say all of this, and he knew why, but it was more of preaching than teaching.
I promise you it’s far better than L.A.S.E.R.S. There is no doubt about that. Food and Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album is lyrically astounding, and the majority of his messages are empowering.
