It’s easy to spend an hour listening to “Valleys.” The second song on Lupe Fiasco’s surprise release, Pharaoh Height 2/30 finds the Chicago legend dancing over Robert Glasper’s “Dillatude2.”
In the first verse, Lu is on a flight writing an ode hollering at a young lady with a “fine face, also a dime in [her] behind.” The details are lush. He’s sitting on a plane on the way to California, eating a chicken salad, sitting by the galley, kicking extended similes about being a hippie in the ‘70s who’s accustomed to getting head. “But if you’re gay that’s straight, too,” Lu delivers. “Hey, I don’t hate, I got a couple of friends who went bi twice / Did that arrive right? / Do you like whole stories or just the highlights?” It’s subtly hilarious yet ambrosial at the same time, the type of verse that inspires homies to send quote-texts to their shorties.
“Valleys’” second verse finds Lupe waxing free-form on everything from the Charleston shooting to Bernie Sanders’ sardonic need for a Nike deal. “Remembering the movies my duty was killing beats, he bounces, turning inwards. “Social villain unwilling to live in peace / I told you children I’m wielding a living beast.” It’s scattered yet somehow sound simultaneously, the type of train-of-thought rap that forces the cypher’s next emcee to dig deep into the rhyme book.
“Kings” lives in a similar outline only much denser. The Weeknd’s “King Of The Fall” provides the backdrop. Metaphors like “Example: Now I don’t let samples in my lyrics” signal Lupe’s refusal to be ghostwritten. But the following line—“Myth be told 60 souls perished in a parish bill”—is one of a slew littered across this project that only the truest Carrera Lu fans will care to Genius. Pharaoh Height 2/30 lives up to its title. Sky high bars abound, king sized stanzas are everywhere, easily twice as brain-twisting as the mixtape series in which its name is derived (Fahrenheit 1/15). It’s the type of project that feels good even without immediately knowing what Lupe is addressing specifically.
There’s the rub: How important is comprehensibility when delivering a message? Does it matter what the frequent Metal Gear Solid references mean in connection with the release’s broader Egyptian theme, for example? Is “Pyramid” (produced by Flying Lotus) anything more than two minutes and 30 seconds of relevant rambling? Is relevant rambling… relevant? One of the most awesome one liners on “Of” is “This is… the kind of rap that sends jaguars running back into the rainforest” (over J Dilla’s “The Diff’rence”). Does “Of” mean anything more than just an incredible cypher rhyme? “Schemes”—a full-length action thriller involving ninja stars and a dramatic car chase that includes a Mitsubshi crashing through the Louvre—is the only track that includes a hook. Everything else is verses on verses on verses. Is Lupe just talking or challenging shallow, formulaic songwriting? Do answers matter when debating art?
When put in order, the song titles signal to a statement: “In” “Valleys” “Of” Kings” “Pyramid” “Schemes.” Undoubtedly over time the message inside this release will move in-focus. But at this point, following Lost In The Atlantic Ocean and Tetsuo & Youth, clearly Cornell Westside’s patented simple-complexity approach is light years behind him. Now, largely it’s just complex-complexity. And that’s cool. Lupe Fiasco is still crafting fodder for future conversations. On Pharaoh Height 2/30, ideas ring louder than clarity.
Living legend
He’s EPs are better then niggas albums….thank the most high for Lu
Word!
Cosign.
:Lupe is the bawse. Undeniable best MC of his generation.
Valleys is my favourite song ever. By anyone. Ever. I’m that sure, this quickly. BONKERS.
this is classic right hea
this is 5/5.. yall trippin dx again..we all know T&Y deserved 5/5 n still better than TPAB..
5/5 amazing ep. T&Y was incredible as well. lupe back on his A game. Skulls and The Cool 2 are gonna be a problem
best lyricist out
Agreed.
Agree. Didnt like the production too much on this but Lupe brings bars. Who else is rhyming “Fibonacci sequence” and “Liberace’s sequins”?
Wow this is a review worth reading because you HIGHLIGHT the COMPLEXITY of his lyrics.
Very good STYLE of review.
Haven’t listened yet on good quality speakers/headphones but mad anticipated by the response here in the comments, will report back.
Thank you for the comment, G@g.com. And thank you for checking the piece.
Lupe the type of rapper you have to listen to repeatedly to decipher everything he’s saying. T an Y was over my head the first few listens. Its now one of my favorites of the year. looking forward to P.H 2/30. Check his interview with Tavis Smiley a few months ago
As far as I know, “Lost in the Atlantic Ocean” was never released. If any other Lu fan can confirm or deny this, it would be appreciated.
Lost in the Atlantic Ocean was “Lilies,” “Haile Selassie,” “Pu$$y” and “Mazinger.” Here’s a link: http://genius.com/albums/Lupe-fiasco/Lost-in-the-atlantic
He clarified that Lost in the Atlantic was a series of songs to be released up until the announcement of the release date. Technically it couldve been a super long project if it wasn’t for Anonymous.
Problem with the lyrics is that being outside the state makes me google almost all of the songs lyrics (meaning). Its kinda hard being a Lupe Fan is you’re living in Nigeria..
Great EP, it’s cool to see that Lupe got 2 of the best project of 2015
wolfe
who else is bringing lyrical heat like this?
Becoming more and more a fan of Lupe. Is lyricism is getting so advanced along with his production, a great duo
Enjoyed the review,excellent EP. Lupe always makes me want to become smarter when I jam his music
I think I heard 2 Dilla beats so far