Many MCs get left off best rapper lists, but none more inexplicably than Chicago-native and self-proclaimed “most black-balled rapper ever,” Lupe Fiasco. True, it may lay in his refusal to play the industry game, especially in his late career. While die-hard fans — the same who went to war alongside him to get Lasers released over a decade ago — have continued to hold him in high reverence, he isn’t quite as popular for younger Hip Hop listeners, which is fair.
Despite continued Billboard success, his albums have since strayed as far away from Lasers’ lapses of commercial submission as possible, becoming progressively more experimental, sheltering him from broader mainstream adoption.
Four years removed from his previous release Drogas Wave — aside from some loosies and two EPs — Lupe is back with a project he dubbed his Illmatic. While it remains to be seen whether he can match that classic’s cultural influence and inspire a new generation, DRILL MUSIC IN ZION is arguably his most accessible album in years, with Lupe showing himself to be in impeccable lyrical shape.
Produced entirely by Soundtrakk — the beatmaker behind highly acclaimed singles such as “Kick, Push” and “Superstar” and his recent Tape Tape EP— and recorded in mere days late last summer, the album has an incredibly cohesive and, at times, jazzy feel, with Lupe staying in his pocket throughout.
For longtime fans, there are throwbacks to his early works, such as the resurrection of his Carrera Lu persona, which came from the original leaked version of his 2006 debut, Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor. “Carrera” appears to be the mouthpiece on the track “AUTOBOTO,” even playfully duelling with Lupe, rapping, “I just wanted credit, used to sweat it like show clothes/Now I don’t even know who wrote those.”
There’s also “Naomi,” which sounds like a long-lost deep cut from his come-up, as he cartwheels over the song’s energetic horns that mimic heavy “Kick, Push” energy.
The most prominent theme on the LP is the grim, almost macabre state of Hip Hop; it’s something sprinkled throughout the tracklist, at times leaving Lupe sounding exasperated and tired.
“Rappers die too much … that’s it/That’s the verse,” he raps on the album closer “On Faux Nem,” a track where he longs for the culturally destructive bars he hears on the daily to be lies rather than rooted in real-world beef. Most poignantly, he asks what the difference is between a posthumous album and a life insurance policy.
In recent years, with artists like Pop Smoke, XXXTENTACION, Juice WRLD, King Von, Drakeo the Ruler, Trouble, Moneygang Vontae and many more passing away, Hip Hop has become a culture of death. Upstarts are willing to live what they rap—with the masses catching on after their untimely demises.
“Now there are those that resoluted to wreck, got caught, fought, lost, electrocuted to death/came a little late for the rescue and the flesh,” he raps on the album’s title track. He adds, “DNA exonerates posthumously whatever’s left/No resurrection but reputation’s correct.”
It’s a somber reflection on artists’ brands and personas tragically living on through projects they were likely never a part of, often with their violent ends doubling as macabre marketing.
Possibly the crown jewel of the LP is “Ms. Mural,” a follow-up of sorts to Tetsuo & Youth‘s “Mural” and Drogas Wave’s “Mural Jr.” A slice of lyrically wizardry, the song sees Lupe as a painter conversing with a patron. During their discussion, he describes the current state of “art” and ethical dilemmas he faces being an active part of a system with which he finds himself at moral odds.
“The current art world is just competitively opaque, it never ceases to amaze my mouth is medically agape […] one day, it’s raising the brand, the next, it’s shredding it to flakes, and the velocity of trends is what referees the pace,” he raps. This harkens back to his experience with Lasers (the first time he lost any creative edge). He was forced to push back against the powers that be in order to control his narrative, forever splintering the relationship between his music and those who seek to contort it beyond its intended message.
Despite Lupe’s distaste for the industry’s corporate and in-human mechanisms, he’s quick to point to himself as part of the problem. On “Kiosk,” a song that illustrates the allure of diamonds and the ongoing need to have them — even if they aren’t real. He also says while he feels drained by materialistic fluff in Hip Hop, he has indulged in common rap-isms throughout his career.
Lupe doesn’t offer up answers to the current state of affairs, nor is he expected to. He doesn’t build himself up to be in any position to do anything of the sort. Instead, he sounds like a wise sage, reporting from an elevated vantage point, commentating on the state of the game through his tumultuous experiences. For an MC over two decades in (who’s so dedicated to the art of lyrical complexity), doing so without brooding in old-head energy is a feat worth noting.
The LP doesn’t necessarily feel as daring as some of his past work, though it’s his most straightforward in recent memory. While unabashed in its sometimes subtle, sometimes heavy-handed criticism of the culture, there’s something so alluring and easy-going about DRILL MUSIC IN ZION. With no filler or fluff, this album is bound to satisfy those who like their bars bountiful and Lupe Fiasco in peak form.
greatest MC to ever pick up a mic
Great MC to ever touch a mic
The goat.
Really dope album automatically on my top 3 or four Lupe albums
5/5 rappers die to much
Incredible album from beginning to end!
Incredible album!!! Just what Hip Hop needs at this dire time. Beautiful, cohesive production, laced by possibly one of the best lyricists ever. I understand his abstract style is not for everyone but Lupe fans will love this. Thank you Lupe.???
Everytime Lupe drops an album he takes back his top 5 spot on my list. This is beyond dope. Can’t believe I’ve got 3 AOTY contenders over the past 6-7 weeks. Push, Boogie and now Lupe. Incredible year for hip hop so far.
Aoty
Thank you Lupe. This is real hip hop. Not that Kendrick bullshit with his Gollum voice and acoustic beats.
Best album of 2022! 5 of 5
Thee best
if this is isn’t a 5 than i don’t know what is.
AOTY AOTY AOTY
This album is seriously dope. I’m not sure if I can give it a 5 off of few listens. However I’m sure it can eventually grow to a 5. With that said my rating is 5/5. Lupe dropped a masterpiece of art that not many people were expecting!
Did Lupe quietly sneak in AOTY? And is Lupe the best rapper currently on Earth? We’ve had a lot of distractions (Drake, Kendrick), and Lupe just called everybody back to attention.
Going 5 here.
Hell yeah, I’d say he’s the best rapper alive. I would also say drake hasn’t been a distraction to most of us. I’ll listen to Kendrick’s first four or five albums but not a fan of his last.
Maaaan, is the album hitting as much as y’all say it is?? Aite, lemme cheat work and listen to this shit lol
Album was so good it brought be back to this site for the first time in damn near a decade.
Album was so good it brought me back to this site for the first time in damn near a decade
Hahaha Same man
Fantastic album. I give it a 4/5 only because there was 2 tracks I thought were not on the level of the other 7 but overall a great piece of art and his best work since T&Y
this song is trash lupe career been over after he dissed Quest
STFU dycke ryder your just mad that Kendricks album was a major flop and Lupe’s album is a 5/5
Hip hop needed this Hip hop is not dead
The subliminals on Precious Things alone.. #haha #excellent #hiphop
Fucking incredible album. Lupe really grew into his skin as an independent Artist and really gave us an immaculate and very personal piece.
Fucking incredible. How?
Unrea
Unreal. Lyrically shredded everything I’ve ever heard in rap
5/5
Great record. Actually surpassed the hype.
Album is amazing I am not a fan of newer rap hiphop I am a fan of Lupe. Lupe always drops dope albums that have good replay value this album is a breath of fresh air compared to all the other garbage from the wack azz trap swag artist. Trap Swag artist think their albums are this good but in reality they are not even 1/12 this album. This is the best album of the year and maybe best album of the last 3 or 4 years. Watch this album will not even be in the running for album of the year Kendricks album will be album of the year even though it is a hardcore flop.
One and Only
Lupe did it again.
Safe to say my fav mc ever
One and Only
Lupe did it again.
Safe to say my fav mc ever
5/5 not even debatable
Don’t judge me but before I’ve never really listened to Lupe. Really impressed with the album and I want to check out his stuff. Any tips where to start etc?
Food and Liquor
Start with Food and Liquor. Then the Cool. Then jump to Tetsuo and Youth
“Food and Liquor” , “The Cool”, “drogas WAVE” and “Tetsu and Youth” are my personal favourites along with this newest joint. But you will find a lot of fire on all his project. Just be aware that many of his albums sound completely different from each other. You’re in for a great time!!!
Well said❗ it’s good he took a relaxing approach to this album.
I’m actually starting to warm up to Drogad Wave after 4 long years, can you imagine that?
Sometimes it takes a while to settle with an album.
That’s why I appreciate Drill Music in Zion for it’s ‘accessibility’ while maintaining substance enough to be considered a full album in a sense.
AOTY
Ya’ll LupeeStans really a dillusional bunch. Album is like drake’s CLB and that asshole album from kendrick: BORING AS FUCK!!! You’ll literally fall asleep listening to the sh!t. FOH this trash 0/5 actually
Sorry you don’t have the brain capacity to comprehend what he is rapping about. Go listen to your Lil Boat or Snitch Nine instead.
my boy is back and better then ever
I like the music it’s some of the greatest shit I’ve heard.
Great shit I always love your music.you never to wrong.
Incredible.
Incredibly complex lyrics on the first listen. I love the beats. Will take time to digest everything like usual Lupe records but I’m excited to listen over and over.
Incredibly complex lyrics on the first listen that’ll take quite a few listens to understand ?. Lupe’s flows and rhyming are top tier on this, while being relaxed and not forcing anything. I love the beats by Soundtrakk. First listen quality-wise I’ll say I like it more than Kendrick and Pusha’s albums which are both “frontrunners” for AOTY.
Don’t be a weirdo and be grateful we got all 3 albums from 3 unique and talented artists at the SAME YEAR.
Only weirdos like to downplay other artists to bug up their favourite artists.
Weirdos.
When did he downplay other artists? He just said he liked it more than Push and Kendrick’s album. It doesn’t make somebody a “weirdo” for having a preference, it ain’t that deep.
I think he just wanted to say weirdos a bunch.
Lost Soul. Smh.
I expected much better.
Boring album.
Easily his worst project.
SLOW DOWN. THIS IS BETTER THAN HIS 3 WACK ALBUMS (LASERS, GREAT AMERICAN RAP ALBUM, AND DROGAS LIGHT).
If he woulda held that House EP and made it a single project this would be up there with Drogas Wave and T and Y.
4.5/5 rounded up because its my favorite Hip Hop album that came out this year.
The best lyricist of all time back with another reminder
No, Black Thought’s album isn’t out til August. This was Lupe.
Snooze fest by a lost clown.
Standard generic hipster hip hop. Nothing stands out.
I honestly really liked the album but it had me wanting more from it….
Another classic
Gave the album a 4/5 I felt Drogas wave for what it was and him saying this was is illmatic I felt we would get at least 13-20 tracks but that’s me as a fan being greedy. I can at least appreciate that he’s back to dropping new music.
Illmatic was 10 tracks though
Wack pretentious bullshit for the unenlightened.
Ya mom and your grandmother wack bro. Your hater sitting in a corner looking dumb as hell. And your not from any city of town that matters. Ima give it a 5 on all 5 of my accounts you dick head. State your city and town your were born in. I bet its wack as fuck.
Tell them why you mad son! Lmao!!
Fire ? only disappointment is Ms.Murals which is still fire but compared to Murals and Murals Jr. The whole family of Murals is elite. Ms. Mural is ny least favorite.
Gotta rate it
Best cure for insomnia.
Lupe is top tier.
trash 0/5
Cerebral as always, but not an album of the year contender, nowhere near as good as Tetsuo and Youth, but not as bad as LASERS. With the exception of Autoboto the beats are TrashAF. Mid to Meh overall.
Beats are awesome. Put some respek on Soundtrakk name.
Snooze fest.
I really enjoyed, impecable I’d say.
4.75/5. (Round it off.) Having heard him go through the motions for a bit, we can finally say Lupe Fiasco is back! I’d score it a little lower for its length and how the beats aren’t as versatile as fluid as I once experienced on The Cool, but a solid effort, to be precise. I’ve even got it over Joey’s 2000 right now. My opinion. You can go argue with your ancestors about your own.
Agreed. 10 years ago? This album would be a AOTY contender and should be thought of as a classic. If not in stature, in style at least.
This album slaps