"Why You Ready to Die? You Just a Baby"

It may have seemingly taken months and years for Lupe to release a new album to drop on January 20th, but the wait may actually turn out to be worth it. Every new song Lupe has released has been just as good as the last, proving that he hasn't lost a step over the years. Unlike most Hip Hop artists there is always an underlying message that makes listening to his lyrics worth it. I wish that wasn't the case, but having a purpose worth listening to in Hip Hop has become rare.

It's icing on the cake that he's been working closely with DJ Dahi on Tetsuo & Youth, which has made the instrumentation on his latest releases spot on. Take for example his newest release Adoration of the Magi, which goes back and forth between jazz sax and lullaby twinkles. Add in a snap beat and you've got an easy listening canvas for Lupe to share his favorite track on the album with us...#AdorationOfTheMagi

Lupe Fiasco feat Crystal Torres - Adoration Of The Magi (prod by DJ Dahi)

"Madonna, Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna"

Love him or hate him, Lupe Fiasco is one of the most intelligent and creative Hip Hop artists in history. There aren't too many artists in the music industry that require you to listen to their songs a few times before being able to fully understand the message they're trying to push across. Madonna is a great example of that as it pays homage to the mothers of the world who fight tooth and nail for us to succeed as we progress through life. Yet, many times we let them down because of how we act or behave. The core of the song invites us all to question why we allow that let down to happen.

The track is a tasteful critique and succeeds in large part because of the soulful humming on the beat concocted by DJ Dahi. For those of you keeping score, that's two notable beats I've posted by Dahi in the past week, so he is fully on my radar. If you're digging this track as much as I am, you can cop it for free via iTunes as a gift for purchasing the pre-sale of Lupe's upcoming album Tetsuo & Youth. It may have taken months and years for a new album to finally come to fruition, but the wait has been well worth it because Lupe is delivering some of the best work of his career...#Madonna

Lupe Fiasco feat Nicki Jean - Madonna (And Other Mothers In The Hood) (prod by DJ Dahi)

"Pizzaman Don't Come Here No Mo'"

People may bag on Lupe for his unfiltered style and, at times, overpoliticized verses, but his ceiling as an artist is much higher than most. When his music clicks he has the ability to perfectly match a beat and hook to his style of verses. The latest example is his powerful new single Deliver featuring vocals from Ty Dolla $ign.

If you read between the lines and listen to the lyrics, there's a clear spotlight on inner city violence. It takes a bit of genius to craft a sing-along hook that not-so-subtly points out something that would seem outlandish to 99% of people listening. Violence is so bad in certain places that you can't even get pizza delivered to your house anymore? Sadly, that's probably true and thanks to Lupe, our perspective is forever changed. Tetsuo & Youth is coming soon after the New Year, you now have your permission to get your hopes up about the quality of the album...#LupeFiasco

Lupe Fiasco feat Ty Dolla $ign - Deliver

"I Coulda Died But I Came Out Fighting"

"So many candles on that birthday cake, might set that thang on fiya"

Despite the fact that Lupe Fiasco has ruffled a lot of feathers over the years through his antagonistic and politically motivated rhymes, there's no question that he has the heart of an activist. So many people of influence talk about doing good things and find a way to donate to a list of hand picked charities that eminently afford them nice tax breaks, but Lupe is about action. He's shed a ton of light on the violence in Chicago recently, which has helped evolve the public discussion about the issues surrounding the rampant violence. With a new album on the horizon, he's shifted his focus to a new fight...cancer.

The week he debuted his lead single, Mission, off his upcoming Tetsuo & Youth album. He explained it best by saying...

‘Mission’ is a track to empower those facing cancer, revere cancer survivors and remember those who have passed to due to cancer related illnesses. With an inspiring introduction from various cancer survivors telling their story, anchored by legendary singer/songwriter and cancer survivor Charlie Wilson, ‘Mission’ has Lupe Fiasco expressing stories of the emotional burden of cancer, while also working to uplift those in an effort to help fight the disease. In support of ‘Mission,’ Lupe has joined Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), a grassroots movement to raise funds to accelerate the pace of cancer research, as a celebrity ambassador. Together, Lupe and Stand Up To Cancer are planning various collaborations tied to the track that will be unveiled later this year. http://www.standup2cancer.org'

Below is the track that starts after a 1:30 sec intro...
You'd be hard pressed not to be impressed by Mission. The song has limitless potential to serve as an inspirational anthem for so many people affected by cancer. It's clear that Lupe went out of his way to shout out as many types of cancer in an attempt to give strength to those who truly need it. It's exciting to hear about the Lupe and Stand Up to Cancer collaboration and I really hope it puts a huge dent in this seemingly endless fight. This is what music has the power to do and I hope more artists take note and use their influence for good...#Mission

"Gimme That Old School Love Right Now"

I remember about a decade ago when soulful R&B hooks were used on a weekly basis to compliment meaningful Hip Hop verses. It was a great chapter in music history that really represented Hip Hop's growing influence on pop culture. Stripped down soulful tracks like Lupe Fiasco and Ed Sheeran's Old School Love happen so infrequently now that when they come along they really stand out.

Forget the easy-listening, rolling, piano driven beat and beautiful hook by Ed Sheeran, the verses are what elevate this track to greatness. Whether anyone wants to give him credit, Lupe is one of the best storytellers in the game. If you have any doubt how well he's able to craft a meaningful, thought provoking narrative, give his third verse on the track a listen. It's deep, well-delivered and thought provoking all at once. And is it just me, or does this track sort of support the whole "after this one I'm done" sentiment from Lupe? It has the mood of a nostalgic swan song, which is probably what makes it so alluring, but it makes you wonder if he really might hang up the mic after his upcoming Tetsuo & Youth album. Let's all collectively hope that the album as a whole is as thoughtful and well-written as his first single...#OldSchoolLove

Lupe Fiasco feat Ed Sheeran - Old School Love