Young nikka preach
I had all but written off Lupe as washed up nerd rap. Corny shyt that made me cringe through entire tracks, until I actually sat with this album, listened, researched Genius for insight into some of the tracks/overall album theme (very helpful and worth it, also makes the album like an Easter Egg hunt)...And now I'm a believer. Album is dope and has good replay value. Finally got some consistently good production throughout, and the album won't sound dated 5, maybe 10 years from now because the production is so diverse.
The live instrumentation on "Body of Work", the infectious hook & message on "Madonna", the WOW factor of "Adoration of the Magi" & "T.R.O.N.", the grown & sexy vibe of "Little Death", "Chopper"s production, grittiness and cohesion, (minus that wack ass "now life sweeter than a pudding pop" ass nikka, might be the wackest rap verse of all time) and all of the other tracks "Prisoner 1 & 2" being not only dope conceptually, but something that speaks to me, from experience...Nikki Jean LACING the hooks she's on...I just wasn't expecting all of this from a Lupe album. Got me getting ready to revisit it right now.
EDIT: Being an objective fan of both Kendrick & Lupe, I can say 100% that Kendrick can't hold water on his best day. He's lyrical, but I feel like his production, machine push & double time "more trendy/current" flows have fans overrating his technical ability. On his best day, I don't think he could see Lupe bar for bar, song for song, IN TERMS OF TECHNICAL ABILITY / SKILL. Not even close. Lupe is the equivalent to Hakeem Olajuwan of the rap game. Young spitters should be paying him during the offseason to study his game, practice and tighten up their craft.
