as always, a completely well-thought and executed article. talking about the culture shift from “cool” types to nerds taking over the planet was especially insightful.

the fact that we went from 50 cent taking over the rap game with one hand and the strokes dominating “indie” rock to kanye and lupe being household names in hip-hop and the decemberists playing shows at hollywood bowl is alternately head-scratchingly shocking and utterly inspiring.

i suppose now’s a great time to be a complete geek. this spells good news for yours truly.

That was a great article, man.

I think that one of the things that helps an act like Lupe is the anonymity of the digital music marketplace. While most of the best acts still earn their place by playing show after show, they don’t always have to.

A genre-bending act like Lupe doesn’t have to face an image-oriented hip-hop crowd or be the coolly received rapper opening act in a rock club in order to gain success. (Though he’s done both, I don’t think that is what got him where he is.) Likewise, a nerdy music fan doesn’t have to go to a club with a crowd she’s not comfortable in to find acts she likes, and a prototypical hip-hop fan can dig on an untraditional artist without looking like a buster in front of his friends.

With the virbtubes and friendspaces, music fans can consume and explore different artists BEFORE going to see shows in public, and without peer judgment.

At the end of the day, I think music is still most effectively spread in the meatworld, when that particular fan plays a song in the car for her friend. I think a lot of that went on with Lupe, outside of messageboards and blog posts… but I think the “culture mavens,” the people who spread the word, initially embraced him as a direct result of the current state of music distribution.

Thanks for the love DM and WW. Much appreciated.

Great pts Mouse and ones I hadn’t thought of. Thanks for the insightful comment.

1) How can you say internet buzz never translated into sales when you have a piece on Soulja Boy in the feed next to the article?

2) We all need to stop one meme in it’s tracks; “Paris,Tokyo” does NOT SOUND LIKE TRIBE. It sounds way more like early Tupac (”I Get Around” era) than it does anything from Midnight Marauders, from the flow to the light new jack shuffle.

3) After reviewing a Chris Brown/Bow Wow show I’m thinking I wouldn’t start waving your nerd flags in hopes of being viewed hip/getting a date. Apparently, shirtless girly men who dance well still get the props.

First of all, this review, like all of your pieces before it, is excellent and satisfyingly looks at an artist from a perspective not often represented in the mainstream press. My main reason for this post is the absolute frustration that I experience every time I force myself to play The Cool. I’ve read numerous glowing reviews about this album and I just do not agree with them. Yes, he is extremely talented which is why I am still enamored with Food & Liquor. Sometimes, however, talent does not translate to a great album. I’ve also seen plenty of reviews that take the “At least he’s better than the other garbage out there” approach which realy disturbs me. I know Souljah Boy is atrccious; that is why I purchased Lupe’s album in the first place.

For some reason, I simply cannot find one song on The Cool that I want to listen to again. Whereas Food & Liquor contains several excellent songs, this album seems to be missing something. Because I respect your opinion, I’m playing “Paris, Tokyo” in the background right now and I’ve been constantly fighting off the urge to type, “Who cares, Lupe?” Oh well, it was a good fight while it lasted.

I’ve listened to the beat well enough. It’s a cursory similarity owing to the fact that the song I’m referencing and the Tribe record existed in the same time frame. It’s just that everyone wants to jump off Fiasco’s comments about Tribe in their think piece/review. If we take Fiasco at his word then we’d do better looking at another source for the comparison.

14 or 40, a nerd’s a nerd.

I like Lupe Fiasco’s work — but this song sounds like he’s taking bids at an auction.

The real reasons no one wants to smoke a blunt with Lupe because he would be a buzz kill because he is so boring.

I missed what Phonte said, but heard it was hilarious. Since the OKP forum search function is not up to snuff, could someone link it for me?

LOL @ the comments above. Lupe gets the nerd set’s panties up in a bunch. That Merc review really killed me though, labeling Lu as a “savior of Hip-Hop.” It’s one of those times when I’m ashamed to be a member of the mainstream press.

But back to the comments above … it’s amazing how narrow minded some intellectuals can be. Stop that shit and just listen to the music.

Lupe’s got skills. But he’s but one artist of many. As much as I like some of his songs, I’ll bang Soulja Boy’s “Soulja Girl” ’cause I like that sample, and Sheek Louch and Bad Azz and Young Buck and Ghost ’cause I like how they spit. Good music is good music. Stop the nerdery already. lol

give Buckster a chance. He can get lazy and Jeezified sometimes, but “Slow Ya Roll” off Buck the World (with Chester B from Linkin Park) is one of the favorite joints of 07 … there’s no way it can put the biggest critic to sleep, too powerful of a song.