Lupe Fiasco - Drill Music in Zion INITIAL REACTION

[@mattbogoshian4769]

After Lasers and F&L2, I feel like most people felt that Lupe had lost it. This run of Tetsuo & Youth, Drogas Wave, and now Drill Music in Zion has been incredible

[@BSideRapReviews]

Yeah bro I even thought he fell of but I think Tetsuo & Youth, and Mural specifically, reinvigorated his career completely. I’m his defense though - I think the lackluster albums were completely due to his relationship with his label. He didn’t even want to release Laser he was planning that LupEND triple album. After all the label issues, he was immediately back to form

[@mattbogoshian4769]

@@BSideRapReviews It was definitely the label. Even the lyrics on Lasers are so dumbed down and straight forward. It doesn’t even sound like Lupe

[@AhmedMahmoud-or3zs]

Crazy how lupe made an album from scratch in 3 days that on a level of the best of the year that took months-years to make

[@BSideRapReviews]

Bro I saw that tweet - that’s INSAAAANE…especially with how conceptual and fleshed out each of the songs are!!! He did say he hasn’t done this since stakk was -live which woulda been Farenheight/food and liquor Lupe, and if he channeling that Lupe - he in rare form

[@BATANful]

Great reaction and breakdown, I personally love the production of all songs, a full jazzy production would be dope tho.

[@BSideRapReviews]

Preciate it bro!! Prob a preference thing for me. The bulk of what I listen to embraces either embraces the minimalist East coast sound that’s popular in the underground, the mainstream trap/cloud sound, or the jazz rap or funk/soul influences sound so hearing some of these tracks felt a lil outdated. He def kills it with that jazz sound though. I wouldn’t mind if he did a longer form project with Kaelin Ellis

[@Doctor_Beats]

Man I love the NAOMI track. I think The Cool by Lupe was one of the first times I heard a concept album executed in rap. My pops was a big rock/metal dude so he introduced me to an album called Operation: Mindcrime by Queensryche which is still one of the best concept albums made, regardless of genre. But, I remember digging on the internet trying to deciper all the stuff about Michael Young, The Game, and The Streets, and the story he was telling. Fantastic album, fantastic reaction!

[@BSideRapReviews]

Bro same! I remember there used the be whole websites dedicated to breaking down the narrative. I personally think that’s the best hip hop concept album of all time. I think the fact that the album is a prequel to his own song The Cool off of Food & Liquor is pure genius. I’ve yet to branch out outside of hip hop yet but I might have to try to give that operation mind fine a listen.

[@christophers7160]

The best reviewer in the game! Lupe may be my favorite rapper ever to the point where I don’t rank him as he just hovers above the top ten list, I’ve always given him a pass on production because his lyrics are literally food for the soul. You also mentioned one of my favorite songs of his “Penz & Needles” which is only second to “American Terrorist”. Keep up the great work because I needed your help on this one lol

[@BSideRapReviews]

I really appreciate that bro!! So Lupe is the reason I’m a hip hop head. He was my favorite rapper up until Lasers. Matter fact I went back to listen to Penz and Needles (I haven’t heard it in a while) and I knew every word start to finish outside of a couple words haha! I did a real quick top 50 rankings and I had Lupe at 25 all time - if it was just bad for bar lyricism he’d be harder but I think a lot of rappers got cleaner discographies. Hard for me to pin point my fav Lupe song but off the top of my head I think I gotta go Failure or Lupe the Killer. Preciate the love brodie!!

[@xInsaneJuggernautx]

“Ima call her winter walker” 😂😂 that had me rolling Man I was pleasantly surprised by this project. The title definitely threw me off and I thought we would actually get more of a drill sound in this. But Lupe did what he does best with some complex rapping and concepts that are going to take me multiple listens to really digest. Not to mention Lupe really came and dropped verse of the year with that two line verse in on faux nem 😤

[@BSideRapReviews]

Hahah she sounded great but I immediately thought of summer 😂 I had pretty high hopes for this one after he dropped the title track as a single. I also like his last several projects outside of drogas light. Crazy how quick Lupe got back to being vintage Lupe as soon as he didn’t have a label hamstringing him. Bro that faux nem verse caught me so off guard! That songs been on repeat for me this weekend!

[@thetruest7497]

Love your attention to details on the lyricism. It's hard to verbalize what Lu is doing all the time, but those that hear it know it.

[@BSideRapReviews]

Preciate that! Lupe was my fav rapper for a very long time (I started liking other rappers more after Lasers) but a lot of how I listen to hip hop in general was shaped by Lu. Salute bro ✊🏾

[@thetruest7497]

@@BSideRapReviews Lasers really torpedoed the 🐐.

[@N3XTL3V3LD3ViL]

Lupe the goat

[@BSideRapReviews]

Dude got one of the best pens we've ever seen!

[@N3XTL3V3LD3ViL]

@@BSideRapReviews the best, honestly I haven't seen anyone coming close to him the only one that can be near him may be mf doom, just listen to the mural and hurt me soul, or the Michael young history saga which is six song's, or manilla or or or , the dude is amazing

[@seanjjpaul]

Best album of the year in my opinion

[@BSideRapReviews]

Not mad at that at all! Lyrically, I think it’s either this or Aethiopes by Billy Woods. Overall I got Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers for now - might change as I sit with this more

[@mikeysavage7575]

Lupe and Sound did this in 3 days on GarageBand. Ill take the beats/production . Awesome reaction

[@BSideRapReviews]

I saw that tweet…that’s just INSANE!! This is vintage Lu! And Preciate the love bro ✊🏾

[@pitchking5496]

Excellent analysis and reaction! You got a new Subscriber! 👍🏾

[@BSideRapReviews]

Salute!! I really appreciate that bro!! ✊🏾

[@ahmedabualmoaty5429]

Love ur channel bro, you are the best at catching themes and breaking them down. Keep moving!! Peace and love

[@BSideRapReviews]

Salute man! I appreciate the love and support! ✊🏾

[@chrisoverton2759]

This channel is next up. dope video bro

[@BSideRapReviews]

Salute brodie!! I appreciate the support! Y’all the reason I’m next up ✊🏾

[@alonargus]

Great breakdown as always, got super stoked to see you did a reaction for this one. Well done yet again!

[@BSideRapReviews]

Preciate it brotha!! ✊🏾 I was excited bout this one dropping so had to do a reaction to it

[@edwardkelly3280]

I personally like Few Good Things the most so far but I haven’t finished Lupe Fiasco album yet

[@chaosinorderrr]

Great reaction and breakdown

[@BSideRapReviews]

Salute!! ✊🏾 Preciate that!

[@mrtsagomda]

You Sir deserve a sub! Great inciteful breakdown!

[@BSideRapReviews]

Salute!! I really appreciate that ✊🏾

[@kemojoaquin]

“Imma call her winter walker” cracked me the hell up 😂😂😂

[@BSideRapReviews]

Ayyy the sound similar no cap 😂😂😂

[@mz8061]

Great reaction.

[@BSideRapReviews]

Preciate that brodie!! ✊🏾

[@evg0708]

I actually like the jazzy boom bap production..it’s raw and takes it back to the essence of hip hop before the production got so grand and multi-layered that took anyway from what rappers actually rap about. Too many rappers use the production to mask the fact they ain’t rapping about nothing. Beat fire though. 😂😂. His lyrics actually enhance the jazz and boom bap production on here.

[@BSideRapReviews]

Lmao you ain’t lied once! Yeah he sounded perfect on the jazzy production - he got the perfect style for it. I thought the production on the songs spanning from Kiosk to the title track were jazzier than the rest. I would have loved if the production in the entire album sounded closer to those tracks. HOUSE had really jazzy production too and it was a great EP. I would love if he did full length project over similar production

[@TheaAmbiance]

thoughtful analysis. raw reaction. subscribed. (only wish you would've played through each track in it's entirety. I would've watched a full hour). but great stuff 🙌

[@BSideRapReviews]

Ayyy Preciate the sub and the support!!! 🙏🏾 Ay stay tuned - ima start live-streaming soon hopefully before the end of the year and I’ll have the entire reactions up ✊🏾

[@dadorage1695]

Thoughts on the name of the album ? Drill Music in Zion, DMIZ, Demise... I can't tell if i'm reaching because Lupe would absolutely do that and it fits the theme

[@evg0708]

That’s one meaning. It’s no reach. Zion is also known as heaven. So that’s another layer. Many meanings to this album. Religion, machines/drill, death (drill music is often negative, violent, resulting in death). But the production and what Lupe raps about isn’t negative/drill at all on this album. It’s the opposite of real drill sounding music. Again, many meanings to Drill Music in Zion. The whole title is a play on words from Lupes perspective 🤯

[@BSideRapReviews]

I love the title. I never put the demise/dmiz meaning together. Could be a complete coincidence but it’s def makes a ton of sense, and I don’t remember what songs but I’m like 99% sure he’s used the words demises a few times on this album. Other than the dmiz/demise flip I still think it’s a brilliant title. I absolutely love Eric’s breakdown in the comments - I co-sign that. To add even another layer, drill is a military term and you could take “drill music” to loosely refer to the military marching cadences - so this title could mean “marching to Zion” which is a concept a lot of religions would recognize. To add another layer, a lot of neo-spiritual religious would say that heaven/Zion is reached by being in touch with your inner self. So like the intro poem alluded to, you can reach Zion by digging or “drilling” within. 🤯🤯🤯

[@BSideRapReviews]

I think you’re spot on!! I co-sign this and I added a couple thoughts in my other reply to the original post

[@evg0708]

@@BSideRapReviews Changing from within so we can change the negative we put out in the world.🤯. Drill down, drill within.

[@TheaAmbiance]

@@evg0708 Underrated thread in hip hop album review KZbin 🔥

[@edwardkelly3280]

I honestly like Jazz influences that was Chicago Rap was previously defined before Drill Rap

[@BSideRapReviews]

Same! Well I actually like both but Lu sounds excellent over the jazzy production. I honestly wish he woulda leaned it more - the jazzier beats were the best ones to me

[@jmar5127]

He took Nas I gave u power concept and did it in his own Lupe way. 💯💯

[@BSideRapReviews]

One of the greatest conceptual songs ever imo! You’re specifically referring to on Ms Mural? Slightly off topic, but have you “Snubnose” by Grip? That whole album is based off the I gave you power concept and it’s a fire 🔥

[@EB-du3vh]

Not one mid song on here

[@BSideRapReviews]

Facts! And I’ll go a step farther and say not one mid verse 🔥

[@agfromdai.e3806]

Agreed

[@User_01273]

Fish spelled as ghoti

[@BSideRapReviews]

My guy I have no idea what this means lol

[@chairwood]

Gh-o-ti Pronounce the gh as in "enough" Pronounce the o as in "women" pronounce the to as in "nation" f-i-sh