LUPE FIASCO

The new Lupe Fiasco album not only shows up recent releases from Jay-Z and Kanye West as the overrated and under-exciting pieces of work that they are, 'Cool' also evades the common statistic of modern hip-hop being a bit shit.

You've probably heard the single by now. 'Superstar' ticks all the rap boxes required for daytime radio. Inspiring lyrics, nothing about gunning down old ladies and a big chorus sung by someone other than the Lupe himself in order to water down the actual hip-hop for the rabid digestion of the average Scott Mills listener.

Already giving cock waving Number One star Basshunter a run for his money in the midweek charts, 'Superstar' features vocalist Matthew Santos - an American singer with a mostly unremarkable history until catching the ear of Lupe and hauled in to ensure there was at least one hit single on the album. But, in fact, there are several.

Well equipped for hits with the brilliantly stupid 'Go-Go Gadget Flow', the dark, rocky 'Hello Goodbye' and lyrical showcase 'Streets On Fire', the ever reliable Snoop Dogg pops in for a hip-hop hello on 'Hi Definition'. Other album guests include Unkle and Sarah Greene - although surely not the same Saturday morning TV helmer we all remember fondly...

However, it is another Matthew Santos track that sets the album as something special. Potentially the quietest hip-hop track in the history of modern music, 'Fighters' is the album's standout, a delicate duet between singer and rapper which, alongside recent Timbaland releases such as 'Apologize', proves that by looking outside of their own comfort zones, genres and back yards, rappers can find life in the old hip-hop dog yet.

Listen to 'Fighters' here.



If you grab his facebook app they give you a track for free...