Lupe Fiasco - Drill Music in Zion Album Review

[@LouieV6]

Lupe’s run since Tetsuo and Youth has been nothing short of incredible!! The fact that he did this album in 3 days and pulled it off exceptionally speaks to his genius.

[@topbackpodcast2615]

Drogas Light was a misstep, but yes. I like to think of Tetsuo, Drogas Wave and Drill Music as some type of quasi trilogy. Since all three albums had Lupe painted the artwork and they have the Mural trilogy.

[@snowhawk04]

More people should check his youtube. Pharaoh Heights 2/30, Tape Tape, Lost in the Atlantic, House. Also has the loosies (Repo Pe/SBA Lu). SLR 3.5.

[@kooleyBear]

@@topbackpodcast2615 I wouldn't call is a misstep especially if you have been to any concerts post Drogas Light's release. The songs get the crowds pumped and more energetic so while it's a means to prevent Atlantic from making any more money off his genuine hard work it still is able to serve a positive purpose.

[@Gintoki_Madao]

@@snowhawk04 Lupe was on beast mode the past 2 years Especially after the Royce thing, his minute freestyles 😭😭

[@topbackpodcast2615]

@@kooleyBear don’t get me wrong there are at least a solid 5 songs on there that are dope. Dopamine Lit, JUMP, Tranquilo, etc. But even Lupe said himself that those songs on that album were Atlantic records he had to release due his contract obligation with Atlantic. But you can tell Drogas WAVE onward is all him.

[@nyrisj]

The Ghoti/Fish thing is a linguistic trick in how English words can be pronounced. Gh makes the F sound like in lauGH. O sounds like lowercase I in the word women, ti is pronounced as SH like in the word ignition. Fish

[@joeybilliams]

😲Oh I get it ,saved me a google search, preciate ya 🙏🏾

[@DoctahhOfficial]

Speculation Alert: With the title Ghoti, I think that Lupe is making a subliminal comment on the meaning of words depending on their context. It’s likely that Lupe is addressing how people might take the album’s concept more seriously because it’s brainy-ass Lupe as opposed to when the dangerous, materialistic, fast-life side of rap culture is addressed more plainly on plenty of other rap records.

[@mrjames851]

This kind of shit is why I don't generally rock with Lupe. That's being real extra lol ... but I guess that's cool for people that want to sit down for hours and study the music like there's a test.

[@alphakid9000]

@@mrjames851 see why I like lupe is the music still sounds good even if u don't engage with that part of it. He's got great flows anyway so I could just rock to it, or treat it like poetry and go into the nerdy shit if I want

[@nejcujcic3592]

@@mrjames851 is this really being that extra? it's a pretty well known concept, even outside of linguistics. it's basically a party trick, lmfao.

[@BATANful]

EDIT: We just learned that the guy who created Drill Music was called Pac Man wtf bro... Fun Easter Eggs for the album that people caught: Ayesha says "Left,Left,Right Left". This is a command drill sergeants make to a group of soliders when marching. This is called "DRILL and Ceremony". KIOSK is in the middle of the mall / them all, middle of the album, transition starts in the middle too. MS.MURAL, the painting he talks about on the track is the album cover, when you look at it sideways you can see Pac Man, the Mural triology is named based on Pac Man naming conventions. NAOMI, the song is called like that because Lupe wanted to send some positive vibes to Naomi Osaka hence the "SO SWING"(Tennis Racket, also Jazz dance). Malcom X Scheme he mentions words with a X 10 times, X Roman Numeral = 10. There are certain verses with robotics/technology themes (ties to transformers AUTOBOTO), refrences to the third Matrix movie when they Drill into Zion. There is a whole deep dive about Pac Man on the album cover and the layers from it, Lupe was born in the same month as Pac Man released Feb 1982, a lot more on the subreddit if you interested. Lupe most accessible album (post T&Y) in terms of sound and lyrics but like always he manages to pack so much stuff into 10 songs, written(spoken) in 3 days...

[@FranciscoC626]

I thought Lupe said the pac man theory isn’t true in an interview

[@justdewitt2140]

@@FranciscoC626... What do mean about the PAC Man theory... Lupe stated the Cover is PAC Man... And the Naming speaks for it self... Mural, Mural Jr., MS Mural.

[@nyrisj]

Each verse in Drill Music in Zion gets dramatically shorter than the one before until the last verse when you get to the "point" of the song. Drills gets more narrow as you approach the tip.

[@FranciscoC626]

@@justdewitt2140 i see where i was mistaken. When he is asked what the cover is he says pac man with no follow up so i thought he was joking. And when he describes the subreddit posts as “narratives” my brain went to false narratives

[@justdewitt2140]

@@FranciscoC626 ... I kind of wonder if he is going to use his remaining Art work for any upcoming albums

[@umang6771]

He called it Ms. Mural because the whole Mural trilogy is a play off the Pac-Man trilogy. Pac-Man Pac-Man Jr. Ms. Pac-Man Also Pac-Man is on the cover as well as one of the interpretations.

[@muleyamwiinga3988]

They drill Zion in the third Matrix album

[@KLegyyn]

Muraland and Super Mural, naw naw I think we’re good. . .

[@emiljayatileke416]

The Drill (matrix reference) is also on the cover .

[@drehardin]

WTF 😳

[@Giggsboson]

Quite simply the greatest lyricist the game has ever seen. Others may be better in other areas, but no other rapper has these many bars, in such depth and across a the spectrum of subjects lupe does.

[@MaximusTheChosenOne]

Easily

[@drehardin]

FACTS

[@jamaaldavis7907]

Black thought #1 lyrically

[@topbackpodcast2615]

This album is a subtle masterpiece. I remember when Lupe said that this album is “his” Illmatic. And honestly I feel like it is. It gets better with each listen

[@jathanthmith1519]

Where are you getting this information?

[@topbackpodcast2615]

@@jathanthmith1519 he tweeted in August of last year

[@M2DreDaniel]

To me this album was flawless not a single skip I've had it on repeat since day one and it's been just amazing.

[@joe0667]

I think the song title "Seattle" is a reference to the old NBA team Seattle SuperSonics. In the hook Nayirah sings about going supersonic.

[@plafayette]

Yeah that SuperSonics reference was clear.

[@AsterisqBeats]

Something I just realized is she says "hope that we go supersonic when we leave". The Seattle Sonics team left the city they have no more team.

[@smoothsavage2870]

@19:55 There are 2 major gang alliances in Chicago: Folks and People. People are under the 5 point star, Folks are under the 6 point star. "On Foe nem" relates to 4 Corner Hustlers slang and is used the same way people would put something on god or their dead grandparents. These days you'll hear a lot of Folks affiliated gangs say this saying too (i never understood why though).

[@TeeJayYuki]

On foe nem means “on the dead homies” it’s used as a way to swear their actions to a certain thing . “On foe nem ima slap yo ass”

[@smoothsavage2870]

@@TeeJayYuki 💯

[@WAVMASTA]

Been waiting for this, he actually didn’t write anything down it was all off top and he even went on insta to record part of Seattle, he’s an alien fr

[@Hobbitfeetpics]

Not doubting his immense talent, but I have a hard time believing this was 100% off top

[@thesaucegod4836]

Cap sorry but that’s a lie

[@nyrisj]

@@thesaucegod4836 Lupe does not write anymore. But he does not off the top spontaneous freestyle either. He thinks about what he wants to say and refines it as he records.

[@nyrisj]

@@thesaucegod4836 Lupe responded to Royce Da 59's diss in 3 hours.

[@Osei_Bean_8ryant]

You can tell by how it's delivered

[@giovannizerbini3119]

"What's the difference between a posthumous album and a life insurance policy? Spotify."

[@SolidSnake240]

I love this album man. Lupe threw in so many deep cut references for the nerds. I smiled like a geek when I heard a JoJo's Bizarre Adventure bar 🤣

[@KLegyyn]

Same with that Golgo 13 and Sonic bars. . .

[@muleyamwiinga3988]

DB, Star wars, Assassin's Creed, Street Fighter, etc

[@Damonfree_]

What jojo bar?

[@snowhawk04]

@@Damonfree_ Not a full bar, but "Stand behind me like Jojo" on Seattle

[@sanield2782]

Dude he had a freaking Raisan Bran bar on one of those songs and it was actually completely slick.

[@mohauntaopane4264]

The fact that Feefo keeps doing these reviews despite the borderline hostile environment he goes into every time he does is what makes him special to me. His first view on the album everyone is on him like the album didn't need a couple of listens to absorb what Lupe was doing. Only for everyone to say exactly the same thing, with half baked theories of what they thought what this line meant or admitting how they didn't even get the concepts of some songs as fully as they initially led on.

[@lastdonuts]

You right, you definitely right

[@dellayassine]

MASTERPIECE. ALBUM OF THE YEAR. PERIOD.

[@JustDraysonTV]

I have been looking forward to hearing you guys’ opinion on what may be the album of the year.

[@TheSvmurai]

Lupe is one of the best to do it, but still wildly under appreciated

[@jamaaldavis7907]

💯💯💯🔥

[@niek8877]

Listened to this twice for the first time yesterday. Man this is great. Definitely on par with Drogas Wave & T&Y plus the shorter length adds to the replay value for me

[@SolidSnake240]

Facts this album is such a smooth listen and the way he presented the concept are top tier. This album proves why I love Lupe so much

[@LouieV6]

He just gets better and better both as a writer and artist. Him going the indie route has done a lot of wonders because we’re literally getting him at god mode.

[@brobinson3614]

Disagree T &Y is miles better milessssss better

[@Gintoki_Madao]

@@brobinson3614 disagree, it isn't

[@snowhawk04]

@@brobinson3614 It's all subjective. We can all agree that Lupe has 5 amazing albums, right?

[@RighteousGemz]

Lupe maybe my favorite rapper of all time.. I don’t think I‘ve hated a single album even “LASERS”…his mainstream Atlantic experiment.

[@ejecto_seato]

Nahh Lupe had 24 hours to find beats and write/record/make hooks. He live streamed making the first part of the Seattle, took about 90 minutes to write/record the first verse and then he closed off the stream. Obvs missed the 24 hour window and it went to 72 hours

[@CELLYgg]

I got Lupe as my best lyricist but I think that is too subjective.. I think hands down he is the best hip hop ARTIST with the concepts and angles and knowledge he puts in every single piece of work. DMIZ is simple but deep at the same time and I think many people are starting to see the greatness finally

[@Tostorito]

I think that's hyperbole, but he's definitely been my favorite to listen to in the past few years.

[@CELLYgg]

@@Tostorito Kendrick the only one I’m even considering artistically in the convo. Lupe got triple entendre album art bruh his concepts and execution is insane

[@Tostorito]

@@CELLYgg that is true, but I wouldn't say he's the best. Art is so subjective, and Lupe is a master wordsmith. But I think that cohesiveness and palatability suffers for it. He's definitely an acquired taste, and that's why he hasn't garnered consistent mainstream success. This is fine, as Tetsuo and Youth is my favorite project of his. Mural, arguably his greatest track, is not for everyone. But it's a classic.

[@Tostorito]

@@YungPhilosopher what about em?

[@jakiee]

@@Tostorito Tbh, we can’t use how accessible his music is to the mainstream as a measurement of his ability. If anything, his music being an “acquired taste” is bc of the intricacies in his lyrics. The mainstream masses want to IG caption rap. So it’s obvious that Lupe wouldn’t hit with them.

[@9GAIAGodsRising9]

He said on twitter that he wrote it from scratch and recorded it himself within the span of 72hrs

[@WolfgangEsq]

Mans called tagged Myke specifically just to let niggas know. Lupe is built different

[@choptopshusband]

In my opinion this is easily one of lupe’s best albums, amazing album

[@connorharlan1187]

Feefo said “It feels like Lupe rapping over some beats” and I feel that so hard. Obviously there’s something at work here conceptually, but it’s also just somehow more... digestible? Idk, I’m real cool with this record. Lupe been on a tear here recently

[@rufinlooks6956]

Absolutely amazing album and a great review to match. I'm always astonished that DEHH is still only at 250k subs despite impacting the hip hop game so heavy over the past decade.

[@leodaslowlymovin7610]

Question: is Zion in the title, a potential reference for the matrix? Only pulled that reference out because of the idea of drilling down, mentioned in the first song, and the idea of pill music mentioned in the first song? Thought I would throw that out there. Overall, this is an awesome album listen to. 😊

[@rainman415]

I've been waiting on this review Guys! Lupe actually talks about how he started painting and who inspired him to make his own album covers in the hot 97 interview. Lu also mentions the album name and concept were inspired by the Matrix. Lupe Fiasco is so talented, the fact he made this stellar album in three days shows how prolific he is. Yeah, it might not be as dense as his other releases but still esoteric compared to recent releases this year. Love the jazzy production by Soundtrakk.

[@CCullen95]

The Matrix concept ties in with the drill and Zion, as in the third movie the machines use a giant drill to invade Zion, a safe haven for the remaining humans

[@rainman415]

@@CCullen95 Yeah I know, that's a dope concept. Love how he comes up with crazy ideas, pure genius.

[@snowhawk04]

@@CCullen95 Also ties into Lupe working opposites. The good vs the bad. Food & Liquor. Medicine & Killing. Zion and Drill Music.

[@gruntilda2]

I love that he is actively running from the creative box rn 😂. Like he’s still lupe and has the ability and skill, but hearing him in a “Kanye-esque” approach for an album is really interesting. More stream of thought feeling I guess.

[@rainman415]

@@gruntilda2 I haven't listened to Kanye since he went bat sh$t crazy. Is that how he approaches his new stuff? If so he might need to go back lol. It was nice experience hearing Lupe more streamlined, I like his esoteric work the best though.

[@M2DreDaniel]

I never hit the notification so fast I've been waiting for this one. Hopeful the squad liked it cause I think this album was flawless

[@evg0708]

Also Adam and Eve Applebees and the snake verse on Ghoti. If you think about it the salesman in Kiosk could also be looked at as the snake for the garden of Eden trying to deceive. It had that manipulative, deceptive feel, sort of eerie.

[@markbrunache648]

Good point. Didn’t think of that

[@emiljayatileke416]

I got the same slimy/fake feeling from the 'patron' in Ms. Mural

[@LilKray4556]

It’s amazing to see that after a decade, I started watching you all after the viral video of the Lasers review. And now I’m watching the Drill Music in Zion review. I put you guys in the same conversation as Rap Genius because I always get something different in terms of music perspective which is dope. Even I don’t agree ,I appreciate the views so salute to you guys for being consistent and Hip Hop front runners. A long time supporter!

[@kerryn4173]

I love the review. This album didn't feel heavy at all and multilayered but there so many gems. It is still entertaining from intro to the end

[@WatershipAlan]

9/10, Lupe is one of the greatest to ever do it imo. The only album I have above this in 2022 is Sadistik x Kno - Bring Me Back When The World is Cured (and Alexisonfire - Otherness if I'm going all genres).

[@moneymon4778]

Did y’all notice on Precious things that the entire song was about hand gestures and movements

[@sydberetta4649]

Thank you, for reminding me this dropped 🙏

[@afrikankodo]

don't think i've ever anticipated a dehh review like this one. lupe is a brilliant mind, an imaginative writer, and a beautiful artist. can't express how much i've been playing this album and constantly looking forward to hearing it each time. dmiz is such a beautiful and layered work of art! and i'm sure i still have a lot to unpack. undoubtedly one of the greats. just a slight issue with the fascinating "on faux nem." i really feel he should've omitted "that's it, that's the verse," on verse one. saying "rappers die too much," and leaving it there... letting the beat ride (as the listener wonders what's happening), until the chorus, and the following verses, could have been more jarring and potent. but that's just it. what a masterpiece!

[@keithharrell2796]

I also loved the Castlevania reference as well. “You was Vampire Hunter D, Now you Alucard”

[@amosuawoyemi9959]

Alucard is also Dracula backwards. Very interesting how he did that!

[@justdewitt2140]

Yeah I felt that

[@nyrisj]

@@amosuawoyemi9959 Lupe didn't do that. Alucard is a Castlevania character and the son of Dracula.

[@snowhawk04]

@@nyrisj He also doesn't emphasize a hard D when rapping it, which also references into Alukah (vampire/demon/leech in a biblical sense).

[@UmbraNupe]

He’s talking about his hands. Alucard doesn’t use his hands to sword fight. Vampire Hunter D used his hand to Sword Fight. Precious Things is about how he doesn’t use his hands, and is from the pov of his hands. That bar was crazy lol.

[@MartyMcFly__25]

Classic review in coming 🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@221blu7]

I was waiting on this review. I dropped an album this year, and DMIZ is my favorite album of the year so far. Chicago is providing a lot of quality content just in case people weren't aware. I appreciate the deep dive and diverse musical tastes of this group. I been watching for several years.

[@signifiKint]

I think the concept of this album is if Zion was our place/space where we as a ppl were more conscious (for lack of a better word), this album would be the version of drill music of that environment.

[@emiljayatileke416]

Lupe's always been about contrasting ideas in one space (ie Food & Liquor). Drill music is high energy violence-related elements in the peaceful sanctuary of Zion.

[@tyronjasonhuff]

🙏🏾🤜🏾🤝

[@Josh-ed9ci]

I'm with Feefo for sure, probably overthinking this album, partially because it's such an easy smooth listen I haven't felt like diving into as hard as his other projects yet, but I will

[@shlidgn90]

I was bumping this during my workout. I love this project. My goodness!

[@2Thessalonians1_7]

Like Common said “On the streets with the Foes and the Moes”. Foes or Folks is Gangster Disciples (I think), and the Moes would be the Blackstone Rangers (or Stones). Those are the 2 major rival Black gangs in Chicago, along with Vice Lords, 4 Corner Hustlers, etc. I moved from Chicago to LA 9 years ago, but this is what I remember, having being born, raised, and lived there my whole life.

[@spiritinabody6141]

On the corners with the 4s and the moes i learned either focus or fold.

[@dachucktaylor1]

Common is a four corner hustler aka foes. Folks are different from foes. Foes are the under the 5, folks are under the 6. People nation(stones, vice lords, four corner hustlers and folk nation(gds, bds).

[@spiritinabody6141]

Is common really a 4? I know his block was 4s and moes and I've heard him refer to both often.

[@dachucktaylor1]

@@spiritinabody6141 Sure is, he never was banging on wax though. But he reference his affiliation with them a lot on his earlier albums.

[@spiritinabody6141]

Yea I know refers to himself as a 4ch in that ice cube diss but he also refers to him self as a M.an O.f E.xpaning in i used to love her and wasnt sure he was an official stone or 4 but definitely Finball affiliation sprinkled throughout his lyrics even to this day

[@Nerdz2]

“ON FAUX NEM” is a double entendre. The first meaning is “on foe nem” (=on fo’ nem = on folks and them). The second meaning is hes calling these people fake or saying the concept of folks and them is fake since faux means fake in French. Otherwise theres no reason he’d spell foe like that

[@spiritinabody6141]

Drill music in Zion also refers to the machines drilling down into Zion the last human city in the Matrix franchise...you know Lupe and his double triple quadruple entendres

[@drehardin]

With the albums, he's giving you a musical painting and an oil painting. He drew/painted the cover for Testuo & Youth, the cover for Drogas Wave, and Zion. So we have Mr Mural (first painting. Mural Jr (second painting), and Ms Mural (3rd painting). Man woman child, A family. He's released a family of related albums and paintings. This dude is Nuts ! ! !

[@RS-qz6by]

LOL no. He didn't have anything prewritten. That's what makes it even more impressive. He wrote everything (in his head) during the 72 hours.

[@tevin2175]

impossible bro

[@RS-qz6by]

@@tevin2175 that's why he's an alien lol. The man wrote SLR 2 in 2 hours... He's just different.

[@snowhawk04]

He said he took notes to help him track his thoughts. Obviously makes sense as he was working on a full album. But yea, he was definitely freestyling and punching in. DMIZ is like an exhibition into the maturity of his craft. He's come far since the Conflict Diamonds days. There are a number of rappers known to just enter the booth and stream their consciousness. Jay is famous for it. Not every rapper is like Royce where they need a week, a thesaurus, Entertainment Tonight, and some friends to run shit by for a track.

[@montoyastevenjsm31]

Been patiently waiting for this review. So glad it is here.

[@gayfrickinfrog7168]

I'm happy for you

[@riverhale6469]

He told you he was an observer on the first mural when he said he sits back and watches the world through eye holes in his oil paintings Also that Malcolm X verse is crazy! He started the verse by saying he wanted to pick up where Malcolm X left off and then he ends the verse by asking the listener to think about what Malcolm x stood for. He then answers with the stat wars reference with the x wing which was what the rebels used against the empire. The empire is likely a reference to the US, who Malcolm was outspokenly against. He brought it full circle!

[@flyking6622]

Mural, Mural Jr, Ms Mural = The Family ( Father, Son and Mother)

[@MartyMcFly__25]

Was looking for this lol

[@joe0667]

He Say, She Say

[@snowhawk04]

The art, the legacy, the artist.

[@defro125]

Ms. Mural can also represent the mother, who as the artist gives life to the Mural.

[@abzeromusic]

Kiosk is interesting because it could be about jewelery or it could be about buying a gun. Lupe is crazy with the extended metaphor tracks. Reminds me of Kick Push.

[@kashstory]

A standout on the album.

[@veksone77]

It's about buying fake jewelry

[@lsamekaab4066]

Hey Myke. I think the song is called Ms. Mural because it's a little easter egg for us Lupe nerds. Mural (on Tetsuo & Youth), Mural Jr (Drogas), and Ms. Mural (DMIZ) follow the naming of the Pac-Man games. I think that is also why the album cover looks like Pac-Man, and why Lupe makes the Pac-Man sound on the hook of AUTOBOTO. Could be crazy, but that's what it seems to me.

[@405tygadacat]

peep the cover and you'll see a close up on pac-man's mouth

[@Osei_Bean_8ryant]

When you tell people to go back and look at an artists old reviews you should put the old reviews in the description

[@seerenita]

I like this seating arrangement! Great review. Album is 🔥

[@Nicolasmondragon707]

Myke the Kid C Town back again!

[@redgenerall28]

Probably my favorite album of his. As much as I enjoy Drogas Wave' concept and execution but this one been on repeat all day every day.

[@creativebobbie]

This album is incredible!

[@blackflame4506]

For Lupe finish the album in 3 days while using a $100 microphone and the verses was mostly spoken shows to tell you Lupe is up there with the best of the best in terms of lyricism, versatility, and penmanship. This album is a notch in his discography.

[@venconmige]

While the concepts are easy , Feefo is right, there is always way more to each song and lyric that requires extra attention. It's easy to get into his music , but there is always more that meets than eye

[@snowhawk04]

Who don't deserve the whole truth and only half your time // Fit the life of a whole booth in only half a line // In the future life, I don't even have to rhyme // We'll get the entire Armageddon with only half the signs

[@TreysWave]

I love when my favorite KZbin Channel reviews my favorite rapper, Lupe is INSANE. Myke talking about Stonecrest Mall definitely took me back to living in Stone Mountain a few years back 😂. Also, I definitely agree that the title itself "Drill Music in Zion" has multiple meanings, I took it as Lupe making a reference to dead drill rappers still making music in Heaven(Zion), which kind of plays into the "life after death" themes in DROGAS Wave

[@jamiljoyner7785]

It’s On “4NEM” like Chief Keef’s lastest album. Lupe changed it to “ON FAUX NEM” because he is saying he wants his friends to be goddamn liers e.g Faux stories.

[@markbrunache648]

Furthermore of your explanation. 4nem basically means I’m telling the truth. Or like saying “that’s on my momma.” Meaning I’m not lying. Were Faux means it’s a lie or it’s fake.

[@snowhawk04]

@@markbrunache648 Reflects the wanting to be lying and being a hypocrit concept outlined in the track.

[@DDTJOESTAR]

I think in one of his Latest interviews, as far as the album title goes I think he's more literally describing the process of drilling music (rapidly producing) in Zion (which we know as a Matrix reference to the barren land the human survivors stayed in/fought for)

[@LordLucario99]

its still obviously a double entendre for the genre

[@DDTJOESTAR]

@@LordLucario99 I dont disagree either, I just think the speedy production process is another layer

[@SotoStuff]

Mural = Pac-Man Mural Jr = Pac-Man Jr Ms. Mural = Ms. Pac-Man

[@JustChillinOnThe5thFloor]

Two of my top 5 current/all times Lupe Fiasco and Kendrick dropped their albums so I'm happy for this year. All I need is for Oddisee to drop a album this year

[@jamaaldavis7907]

Kendrick overrated

[@Che1seabluesdrogba11]

Man that ending track just gets to me. "Rappers die too much. That's it- that's the verse."

[@niek8877]

Another videogame centered line that was dope was the Vampire Hunter D now you Alucard bit. God I love Castlevania

[@muleyamwiinga3988]

Molotov cocktail Goku

[@snowhawk04]

Bunch of Assassin Creed bars related to renovation, dart ropes, neurolink, pirates

[@orengondal1034]

Been waiting for this! love y’all, y’all are killin it with the content!

[@linearOffBurleigh]

"...Yall killin each other over this stuff, you know blood diamonds are real right..." -- Kiosk, Terry M.

[@traplover6357]

Ms. Mural is a great song. The comparison of the power dynamic between an artist and today's record label/fans to a painter and a patron in some Medieval or Reniassance era was excellent. I still need to understand the 2nd verse and if Lupe prefers the Catholic Church in the painter/patron analogy or today's capitalism for artists/record labels or thinks they're both bad.

[@luopingnan15]

23:22 he nailed it. That's gotta be the core of the album. That helped me understand so much

[@gemsound]

This album is up there as one of Lupe’s best…I haven’t stopped playing it since it dropped…inspired to me do the same thing as an artist, but within a week. Lol.

[@kiddvandal91]

Been waiting for this one

[@hirograveyard8236]

The tying a man to a cape and to an ape is a reference to Friedrich Nietzsche concept of the “overman”. Lupe studies Nietzsche. I do too. That’s why I recognize it.

[@mdrglr]

Wow. This is great. I hope this brings some light to mobile music making. It really is so easy to make a record these days in your own bedroom. Love y’all dehh

[@NJkidGamingRoom]

The album definitely bumps in the whip

[@kennethphillips6684]

Just was wondering but did anyone think that the line he kicked at the end of the kiosk track where he says I’m Cool man , I got me a watch already is an Easter egg to The Cool album and track Gold Watch? That popped into my head when I first heard it.

[@leonelmacuacua5608]

This is really great Thank you guys and big s/o to Lupe Fiasco what a artist, what a album ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@rakanr5776]

"Pinky speaker thumb receiver how we used to call make" ended me

[@flyking6622]

🤙🏽📲

[@tyronjasonhuff]

Thank you for the introspection gentlemen 🙏🏾🤜🏾🤝

[@XLgameBRO]

Lupe is the goat of lyricists.

[@jamaaldavis7907]

I got kool g rap ...black thought n nas ahead of him

[@TheBarackAttack]

In line with the KIOSK theory about record executives trying to lure in rappers could the diamonds not also represent the fronting and gang violence referenced in so many rap songs, like even if it’s not real they’re saying most people can’t tell and obviously ultimately it helps them sell the culture. A possible point being that all of that stuff has value (by selling records and a lifestyle) only because rappers continue to push it and buy into it encouraged because it ultimately helps the industry executives making money off of it. I’m not versed in Lupe but this discussion of that song made me look at it like that as a potential meaning that related to the albums theme.

[@kashstory]

I don't know what's Feefo is talking about, Lupe has quite a few songs that are more high energy on Drogas Wave. Kingdom is one example, listen to the whole thing from top to bottom.

[@Since75]

I’m not from Chicago but I’ve heard Common, Kanye and Lupe refer to the Moes and the Faux. Also, the song is called Seattle because of the reference to supersonic in the beautifully sung hook. Great episode. This album will likely be on my top list at the end of the year.

[@seanjjpaul]

Album of the year easily!!

[@BaseckJ]

In Philly we had The Gallery Mall, and there was a time where one of the individual kiosk that sold martial arts and anime movies/memorabilia, I 'm wondering if any other major cities had these as well, and if it was additional layer to the song because it really lines up as well.

[@tommymdladlana8255]

"Rappers die too much that's it, that's the verse" Genius

[@Martin_salcedo]

This album is so good

[@bjenksful]

Like some of yall, I think initially I was overthinking it, because the general concept is easy to catch on this project. However, as folks in the comments show, Lupe still drills in a whole lot deeper into his theme.

[@praisethesun3089]

Been waitin on this!!!

[@mafiosotruely]

The term "On Fo Nem" is referencing the gang Four corner hustlers from Chicago. Some confuse it with "folks" who are GDs

[@bbbildhuu]

It’s Lupe got to love it

[@heturnal]

Incredible album ... seriously, take the time to analyse this masterpiece of an album...to me this is his best album , which makes it a instant hip hop classic...

[@divinedemon86]

Been waiting for this one. The album's 🔥🔥🔥 and now I await the next album. Dope that yall brothas universally liked it as well.

[@jamaaldavis7907]

June 28th...nxt album

[@drehardin]

@23:00 Yes. Zion is a biblical reference to the meet up place for God's children. That's what Chicago was for a moment around the 50's / 60's. He's saying that the music is causing mayhem in our meeting place. Lupe is crazy his thinking.

[@stereobub]

one thing of note is how the covers of tetsuo & youth and this one connect - t&y features a skull on the red sheet on the left, on the cover here the same skull is split in half by the big spike in the middle, sort of looks like a big drill

[@Independent365]

"During an interview with Hot 97, Lupe confirmed that the title of the album and the imagery of the album cover were inspired by the film series The Matrix. In fact, in two of the saga’s chapter (Reloaded and Revolutions), the Sentinel army literally drill their way into Zion, the last human refuge available, which is placed deeply in the Earth’s underground."

[@seeryeven]

Love seeing Beezy in that enthusiastic mood, adds so much more to the video

[@2Thessalonians1_7]

Lupe should’ve put that recent single “100 Chicagos” on this album. That’s a banger, but I guess it didn’t fit his “Garage Band” stipulation. Otherwise, this LP is cool, but could’ve been better. I’m now reminded of Common’s former attempt at making a Chicago-themed album called “Nobody’s Smiling”...

[@snowhawk04]

100 chicagos was written months after the album was done. There is a deluxe physical version of the album that will have 3 more tracks. Out in August.

[@405tygadacat]

The abbreviation DMIZ could be read as demise. Just today, after countless plays I put together the 'get all of the shoes (shoos) like a bot does' line on Drill Music In Zion and how it's about him making enough noise his neighbor wants him to go away before they end up calling the cops. brilliant how he tied the first half of the verse together right there after you start wondering why he's in a hot tub playing with boats lol

[@MACKDaboss]

I listened to a bit of lupe but never really dug deep. Saw him live the other day blew me away then I listened to this new album absolutely fantastic!! And he did this shit in GarageBand 🤯🤯🤯

[@gxqx797]

Listen to good & iquor and The cool best lupe albums bro

[@gudielsandoval8259]

I think Ken was spot on. Chicago is Zion in the album

[@gudielsandoval8259]

Also in Ms. Mural, the audience is the patron in the song and Lupe is the Painter. He kills us all at the end lol

[@snowhawk04]

Zion can be whatever you want. It can be you. Ms Mural can also be interpreted as an interview with God. Lupe did say God was on album.

[@drehardin]

@@snowhawk04 🤔...Explain

[@snowhawk04]

@@drehardin "It can be you" The cover is knowledge being drilled into the head of pacman. Throughout the album, Lu talks about technology and its effect on people. We're becoming lazier and dumber. "Interview with God" seems pretty straight forward. God is the Artist. The patron is a woman, who will eventually become Eve. We've long had Adam and Eve wordplay in Lupe's rhymes (The Streets, the Game). There is even a theory that the Streets and the Game are essentially the Adam/Eve of the Longchains from Wave. Plays into the religion corrupts themes. Also, obviously the Lupe vs the audience, Lupe vs his label, and Lupe vs the critics.

[@RahmenNoodles]

The album was written and recorded with punch ins within the 72 hrs. Not pre written at all. Just to clear that up