I currently have F&L2 as my album of the year, slightly edging out LIG, but I said this in the official album thread:
Lupe mentioned FNL2 would have little relation to the original, it was just named as so for "marketing purposes"
Yes, I do feel like Lupe goes beyond lengths to sound complex and metaphorical these days, but I've never got the vibe that he was trying too hard to the point his music isn't enjoyable. The Cool was storytelling, while this album was just more conscious and political. He still has plenty of that "simple but genius" on this album, you just gotta fan through it. And as far as him being excited, there were a bunch of songs on fnl2 that sounded like he was proud of rapping, like Audubon Ballroom, Unforgivable Youth, Hood Now, Ital, etc.