Lupe Fiasco - Drogas Wave Album Review | DEHH

Feefo Translates the Drogas Track:
/ feefo-translates-21759928
Lupe returns with his seventh studio album Drogas Wave. In 2017, Lupe released a Drogas Light which was a prequel to this new album. Drogas Wave is a double album and features different themes throughout the project. The album has features from Nikki Jean, Crystal Torres, Troi Irons, Damian Marley, and Elena Pinderhughes. Here is our review of Lupe Fiasco’s DROGAS Wave. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comment section.
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About Dead End Hip Hop:
No scripts. It's pure unfiltered hip hop conversations and album reviews. No politics. No BS. We Are The People.

[@fig6459]

Album is about the Atlantic Slave Trade where many slaves jumped ship and became waves. Much like Lupe finally jumping ship from Atlantic Records and thus creating waves in the form of this music.

[@TheTinyTimmyTimTim]

figger son A WAV File is also an audio format, so it connects back to making music that way as well.

[@DLloydisDFG]

It's even deeper then yall think, The Trans Atlantic Slave Trade was prophesied to happen to God's chosen people in the Bible Deuteronomy 28:68 And the LORD shall bring thee into Slavery again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for Slave men and Slave women, and no man shall free you"

[@jwood8769]

He explained what the album was on IG. It’s a double album first half deals with the myth of the “long chains” and it ends with Alan Forever, then the second disc starts with the interlude Helter Skelter. And is about various subjects, drugs, rappity raps and human resilience. It’s meant to be listen as two different albums but can also play out as one.

[@tupacshakur5308]

DLordThaKiiiNG Lupe doesn’t identify as an Israelite unfortunately so nah

[@freddymain6910]

Watch Justin Hunte’s breakdown - the overarching theme is Resurrection

[@dre8463]

This is the kind of 'deep' that J Cole fans think J Cole is. THIS is deep.

[@BergomyLegendre]

Dre your comment needs to be at the top of this video 😂

[@dre8463]

Here's the thing. I like J Cole, very much so. I liked him especially in his mixtape days. But I don't like a lot of his new fans post-FHD who pushed the narrative that he's 'deep' which is lost with me. I always saw him as just a dope ass rapper, who has a lot of relatable topics. Cole is surface level, which is cool, that's why he's so popular because it's easy to digest. Lupe is deep, very dense, which is why he's not so popular.

[@dking986]

I don't think anybody saying J Cole is deep would be incorrect in saying so. I mean J Cole rap name was almost Therapist. His music is therapeutic to the listener and the crux of J Cole's character is to be down to Earth, to be relatable, and to make it clear that hes just a regular guy just like everyone else. To try to go Lupe level deep would be against his character because when you go Lupe level you run the risk of being accused by ignorant people as being pretentious and you alienate the masses resulting in you not being as popular. However, J Cole is deep in that he has a heart to heart with fans maybe the issues may be more mundane and everyday compared to the atlantic slave trade of all things but J Cole is deep just on a more emotional mental health level . However a lot of Lupe depth has to do with him rapping over and about things that are not common knowledge. Talking about history, politics, different religions, and all that is gonna make things a lot more complex but that doesn't necessarily mean your deeper just because your talking about the Gaza Strip, Manillas, and classicism. If such was the case we could just through Immortal Technique up there with him simply based on subject matter. In addition, I would argue Kendrick is as deep as Lupe and he has been more successful at making mainstream songs that disguise a huge amount of depth. DAMN his most commercial album hides alot of depth in that he Kendrick feels as though he is a prophet like Jesus who seeks to save his listeners spirtually through his music before the inevitable apocalypse and God's return a prevalent theme in DAMN is being god fearing this the reason the end of DAMN's tracklist spells FEAR GOD DUCKWORTH i mean I didnt catch that till a year later and Kendrick has yet to release a double disk album so I would not so readily put him in a level 2 year slot.

[@bsmi1361]

J Cole ain't deep lol. Cole my dude but his music isn't deep at all. Lol

[@BlackJesus2047]

Dre hahahahahaha word

[@CELLY96]

Can't wait to see what yall think but its sad that NOBODY is listening to this album he put so much work into this one

[@TheTinyTimmyTimTim]

Celly I mean, kinda Lupe’s fault. It’s my AOTY and I doubt he cares about numbers at this point, but he did no interviews, put out no singles, started in a foreign language, made it about a niche topic, etc...he didn’t make this for mass appeal. This was, by his own admissions, for Lupe fans.

[@chris.hartliss]

Us Lu fans are out here constantly streaming it!

[@chris.hartliss]

@@TheTinyTimmyTimTim Agreed

[@CELLY96]

TheTinyTimmyTimTim yeah I know but even still last I checked it’s reported at selling 5k. I guess he is probably fine money wise but I feel bad that he put sooooo much work and effort into it for basically no one to listen to it.

[@TheTinyTimmyTimTim]

Celly it also leaked as well, and he released it early before physical copies were ready as well. It had everything going against it.

[@eric3483]

This is exactly what Lupe wanted when he created this masterpiece, people sitting around discussing what the hell he's talking about. He made it intentionally complex. The general concept of the album is less about the longchains and more about resurrection and taking the bondage that we have all faced throughout history (slaves in physical bondage, Lupe in bondage with Atlantic records, etc) and still managing to build and expand our lives off of it.

[@bsinita_wokeone]

Beautifully said 😀✌✊👏💙

[@Zimri_]

Beautiful 🙏🏽

[@SageofSorrow]

Yet publications like Hiphopdx and XXL knocked the album for that

[@djntu2964]

Exactly! This is why it's art. It has a deeper message that needs to be understood in order to create change. I figured it out! The whole premise of the album is about him making his first independent album! The Atlantic Ocean = Atlantic Records. The slave ship = the record contract. Being sold by African chiefs for Manilla = being raised improperly by ignorant role models (Don't Ruin Us God Said). Babylon = North America. WAVE = the ups and downs while being signed to Atlantic. Sinking the slave ship = being released from the contract. The voice telling you to just breathe = letting go of the fear you have when you go independent. Africa = freedom. Walking on water like Jesus Christ = being pure. Some went back to Africa = some went independent and gained freedom but didn't stay to help. Some stayed to help sink more ships (longchains) = some are trying to show the other ill-informed about the beauty of being deep (intellectual) and not staying on the surface level and eventually being captive in Babylon (Western Society/Materialism). The stars in the heavens that shine but didn't try to save the slaves from reaching Babylon = the celebrities that know the pitfalls of the industry/society but don't help. It's only the ones who are deep and willing to stay in the depths of it all that can save the unknowing ones from being ruined. Because God said! Lupe's point is to save you.

[@alphabodies925]

This is why I like DEHH. They actually break albums down and then give their opinion on it. Other reviews just try to put shit out first. DEHH is always authentic, thanks fellas

[@jessecruz7902]

True af. Other people just want to be the first to react and then quickly give a review. Like wtf? I need to hear an album like 5 times before I can even give a review

[@klnt10]

If you’re a Lu fan support him by buying the album

[@lilken21]

Clint Smith PLEASE! It deserves to be on the charts!

[@quentinwooten30]

Already did

[@JYShawty]

Album was mind-blowing I swear. Damian Marley and Lupe was something I never knew I needed until I got it.

[@GerrelG92]

If you haven't listened to distant relatives by Damian Marley and Nas.

[@hushcarter5214]

Don't 4get bout stony hill bro

[@AgentKB21]

Damian got busy

[@JustDraysonTV]

Songs like Manilla, Wav Files, Imagine, Happy Timbuck2 Day, Mural Jr., Cripple, Kingdom and Alan Forever made this my Album Of The Year.

[@tpsam]

The other forever was amazing as well Interludes are fantastic

[@JustDraysonTV]

Thanongrit Suriyarungka Agreed. Jonylah Forever is amazing. Oh and the Slave Ship (Interlude) left me speechless.

[@amberbrown164]

Sun God Sam & The California Drug Deals and King Nas

[@vladimirklizschko9337]

Haile Selassie?!?! Anyone

[@JustDraysonTV]

Amber Brown Both of those are extremely dope.

[@richardlonsbury]

Because Kendrick didn’t release it, people aren’t gonna care as much. Which breaks my heart, cause this shit is truly amazing.

[@qthe6thman]

A true magnum opus of rap history 😊

[@jaleelthompson927]

This a masterpiece of the highest order imo. Albums like this rarely comes along. Hip Hip needs to appreciate this level of ART like this. Like this being a MC at peak levels. Like for real idk many other Mc would create this. Lupe needs to be given respect! Album of the year easily. It skyrocketed pass a of very good albums this year.

[@Him_Downstairs36]

Marty Mcfly I wouldn’t say it’s better than Tesuo & Youth but this is miles better than trash ass Drogas Light.

[@hoc1992]

Him but Marty didn’t say it was better than tetsuo and youth. But it’s def more dense than tetsuo and youth. Both albums are true masterpieces

[@reasonablematic]

Rappin about the slaveships was corny?!?!?! That was some of the realest shyt EVER!! To this day in South-America they pay homage to the spirits of the slaves that died in the ocean, he gotta travel and read books

[@DD-zm8fe]

Benjamin Groenewoud ..PREACH!

[@gearhead07872]

Yeahhhh he should be ashamed for that comment

[@omar_b_here]

As Lupe said "you can get out of the hood, but the hood got to get out of you first"... People need to educate themselves, this is his story as well as history ✌️

[@5AR4REAL]

He worded it improperly, I get what he said and I agree with it, nothing wrong with the lyrics it's just that that shit didn't rhyme and sounded absolutely awful, fuckin ruins the track for me completely

[@reasonablematic]

PG 13 JUST STOP, y’all exposing y’all lack of knowledge about emceeing! Lupe rhymed the whole verse, period. Henry-Fanny Butler-Hector The Gree- Brittany-Marie-Elisee Baratoga-Martha-Wanderer I’m not about to lay the whole rhyme pattern out here, this is to keep it simple for y’all. Do more research Lupe used his flow to walk you through where the rhyme was and used slant-rhyming when needed. To say the slaveshipnames didn’t rhyme is just FALSE!!

[@vinbakeshow8709]

It's a shame this won't get nominated for a Grammy (for obvious reasons).

[@MohamedHamzaKhaouti]

Y'all just made my day! This project not getting the recognition it deserves. To all Lupe fans and true hip-hop heads, buy the album if you can and let's support Lupe on his first indie album. This is an album we'll all look back at in a few years and we'll be like WOW!

[@Ainttrippin]

Mohamed Hamza Khaouti Lupe will always be able to make more than 99% of us when he goes on tour. I will download music forever.

[@insaneheat2994]

I'm still saying "Wow. Wow..."

[@Cykelpump33]

Critics hate it. The People love it. Like it should be.

[@ghtraining1]

Pitchfork gave d light a better rating than waves. Absurd!!!! Waves is 9!

[@TuanTran-vp8gf]

WARNING: This is my interpretation. The album is about slavery. At first in a literal sense. I believe the rest of the album is also about slavery. We are all enslaved by something. XO is about enslavement to drugs. Jonylah Forever and Kingdom are about enslavement to gangs. Imagine is about Lupe's enslavement to Atlantic Records (ironic). Just as the slaves freed themselves from entrapment and help others. Lupe freed himself from a record label and aims to help upcoming artist from those pitfalls, ie Stack That Cheese. The album is about SLAVERY and in many forms. It isn't until you free yourself from those chains and care for others will you find peace and achieve nirvana. This album is fine wine. It gets better with time. Complex and intricate. Best Lupe album in my opinion. Album Of The Decade.

[@tpsam]

With your help Save yourself and Live Forever

[@nasirjones9992]

Tuan Tran i agree mind blowing

[@xMiDniTe17]

And I love how this feels like an attack towards Kanye right now too b/c Lupe explains how slavery very well exists in so many different forms, which is a contrast to what Kanye is saying right now. Idk if that was intentional, but it was great timing regardless.

[@xander5993]

How is it complex if everyone is pretty much getting the point?

[@tpsam]

XANDER listen to myke c throughout the entire video He's been saying this shit is complicated it's so frustrating but I love it Lupe gimme two months or drop the breakdown you're torturing me blah blah

[@Ryda124]

DRUGS. Don't Ruin Us God Said. Bruh my whole life just exploded

[@MTWENTY]

Demetri J he said that on Tetsuo & Youth. Last song with Ab-Soul

[@Mmmarky92]

@@MTWENTY and Soulo used it on his last album because he liked it so much

[@fightingdreamer8681]

WTF..... wow

[@krisiscove]

Beauty is the Largest Obstacle to Obsess Diaspora and Sonnets

[@MaximusTheChosenOne]

Don’t ruin us god said... DROGAS

[@Muzzballs]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1520">25:20</a> I mean, if yall wanna comeback and theory craft, re-review, or talk about the album some more, we aint got a problem with that. I'd definitely be down to hear more theories and general talk about this one.

[@redpillproductions7187]

FACTS

[@matthewmickel694]

Agree must need a Re-review. Cuz there's just so many levels of depth in this whole album!!

[@TheTinyTimmyTimTim]

It starts in Spanish because he’s addressing the roots of the west African slave trade which has Hispanic origin.

[@superdupeninja8149]

TheTinyTimmyTimTim That's what I was thinking...I think Portugal would have have been more accurate tho but that's me

[@theloniouskungfu]

Idk about that, Lupe always has had a bit of Hispanic culture in his style, even his name he got from a Hispanic friend

[@Andrea-dm4gd]

Actually the West African slave trade is Portuguese, there is a reason why Brazil the only country in latinamerica colonized by the Portuguese is also the non African country with the biggest amount of black people, literally 50% of Brazilians are black. Hispanic refers to anyone who speaks Spanish, the Portuguese don't speak Spanish therefore they aren't Hispanics, the only Spanish speaking country ( Hispanic country) and also the only country the Spaniards controlled in Africa is Equatorial Guinea, (a tiny ass country) so if that's the reason he spoke in Spanish he fucked up tremendously, the Spaniards never controlled the west Africa.

[@Isaiah_McIntosh]

@@Andrea-dm4gd Spaniards never controlled west Africa. Portuguese were definitely first. Turn to the caribbean to see significant Spanish-west African slave trade.

[@lupefiasco653]

Dominican Republic...the people are labeled as Hispanics when they are Negros which debunks that garbage from Brazil.

[@mujaddidi8]

I was laying in bed listening to this album and when Lupe started rhyming the names of the slave ships and it just kept going and going, idk what happened to me but i just started crying. There was so much anguish i feel like was related to me in that moment that i was completely overwhelmed. Then songs like alan forever, j forever, and kingdom hit me just as hard. Then he ended it on mural jr and it was probably the best final song to an album i can imagine. It's for reasons like these that i think this is the aoty and why i think Lupe is the goat. No other artist transports you into another world the way Lupe does.. You leave his albums educated, stimulated, and spiritually enlightened.. 10/10

[@luvuyomazibuko2430]

I feel you.

[@joetwinz]

The crazy thing is Lupe just broke down yesterday how this is a double disc album. Made more sense to me now. Also this may be a reach but I think one main theme 'resurrection' links with the main character from The Cool.

[@TheTinyTimmyTimTim]

joetwinz not a reach, he said this explicitly. Michael young history from the cool was resurrected the same way as the long chains, through the henny his friends poured into his casket.

[@crowing3886]

It's also a double meaning to lupe being resurrected as a longchains aswell.

[@boomidctv6017]

Michael young is apparently a descendant of the long chains

[@MyNameIsLegato]

Glad y'all took y'all time on this one. Like Myke said, alot of reviewers came out with a review not even a week after it dropped. Obviously they didn't give it enough time to understand the themes and stories in each song and the entire album. Great review. I'm just glad my favorite rapper delivered another fantastic album.

[@melvinslaughter7685]

Some reviewers are lazy as hell

[@klnt10]

Facts bro then those so called reviewers got their feelings hurt when called them out on it... like come on fam it’s not even a week and y’all out here making weak ass reviews

[@ilovecody7514]

This review is one of the reasons why I choose to continue following Deadendhiphop after all these years. Lupe really made a feature film...

[@intelligencecycle3523]

Agreed man

[@Augors]

The Spanish track makes sense since Cuba was the first slave port in the slave trade. 🤔

[@jadariusmcnally4842]

Wow..I didn't know that

[@gearhead07872]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. Thank you for the light you've shined

[@LouieV6]

And the island of Hispaniola (Haiti and DR)

[@locl3492]

Damn

[@vibrationtherapy7296]

The most under appreciated line in hip hop history is on Mural Jr. “That’s three words at the same time, Killed three birds with the same ___ And one in each every hand with the same bluffing” By saying ____ or “nothing” you can fill in 3 different words at the same time NINE LINE RHYME But if you say literally NOTHING, it also rhymes with bluffing in the next line. So Lupe literally killed three words/birds by saying nothing… Who the fuck does that and doesn’t get the rightful credit it deserves?? Only Lupe can think of shit like that man!

[@BLewTheKake]

Im with Mike. This album is SO DOPE! A masterpiece

[@sam8307]

Where do I find this album?

[@Kiyan3100]

youtube

[@ragingalchemist5323]

@@sam8307 In stores now. If you like/love it, buy it! Support Lupe since he's officially Indie

[@jajassa1]

I gotta say its been a long time since Ive had this much fun listening to an album, just trying to figure shit out, this is probably my album of the year congrats Lupe this shits amazing

[@ShizAudi]

Wave is the first half of the album and drogas is the second half. Both are 2 independent albums but also work together as one.

[@Punjabispitta]

that is a really good theory!!

[@alejandroloyer2246]

Harnoor Singh lupe tweeted this haha but yeah, cool concept

[@ShizAudi]

Harnoor Singh yup this from Lu....I take no credit haha

[@RoddyRodbb]

Perfect thing for me! I'm in the middle of the 9 hr. Road trip lol

[@WiggityWackWes]

Roddy Rod safe travels brother

[@ericjohnsen8960]

actually the nicest thing ive seen in any comment section ever

[@Undecided0]

You can listen to this at least 3 times & have 20 minutes left of the album on the 4th listen.

[@treyspiller6177]

Roddy Rod u up next will be waiting for your review patiently

[@OscinoFilms]

The power of Lupe them figuring out things as the review is going this is why he's the GOAT

[@TheTinyTimmyTimTim]

Also, the theme of the album is resurrection. The longchains resurrected their own freedom and lives, Alan was resurrected, Jonylah was resurrected, Lupe resurrected his own career on imagine getting off Atlantic (Atlantic records, Atlantic slave trade), happy timbuck2 day was about a DJ in Chicago who died in 2015, etc... the theme was consistent, it was just hard to pick up. It’s also a double album, 2 discs, so both halves were about different things. It’s called DROGAS wave. First half is about the WAVE aspect, second half is the DROGAS portion.

[@Flash-pp3cr]

Exactamente :)

[@Flow349]

This is my Album of the year

[@blackequitynetwork1669]

F.L.O.W. Me too!

[@Flow349]

D. J. I haven’t turned it off yet

[@danielstill5625]

Same for me, and it's been a great year for albums!

[@MyNameIsLegato]

Same. Daytona gotta slide into that #2 spot now lol

[@chris.hartliss]

Great concepts, great flows, great wordplay, great production, great everything

[@wherevinoat]

The moment when yall discover meanings of the album together and get hype is such a special one. I could not stop cheesing at the end!

[@reasonablematic]

The *Wave* theme was connected throughout the album. *Slave-trade* (Wave Files), modern day drowning ( *Alan* Forever), his *slave-contract* w/ *Atlantic* (Imagine)

[@theromakepe4318]

Lupe also began the intro of Food & Liquor by rapping in Arabic. Lupe is a very versatile artist and person, great to hear him express him to this high level once again.

[@lordjugga168]

He was praying, but I get what you mean.

[@theromakepe4318]

Lord Jugga Yeah I realized that lol after I post the commented and went to see it on Genius.

[@PeterLeNigerian]

SUPPORT LUPE. HE'S FULLY INDEPENDENT NOW. BUY THE ALBUM. PEACE AND MUCH LOVE TO YA 💓

[@atlik]

Oh this a review review

[@spacedaeprobably9922]

ATLIK ALLAH W

[@itachiovermadara]

Lol

[@sonojah]

This is beyond me Finna be a breeze!!!!!

[@khalidalamin8069]

Understanding this album from only listenin once... This Finna be a BREEZE

[@MTWENTY]

Myke got me rolling at the end lol. He’s at least 10x more intelligent than I am and even I got the parallel between the release from Atlantic records to the waves concept lol

[@MrAde-jy3uu]

Yo this is the first Lupe album I listened to front to back. I feel like I can never go back to listening to J. Cole after this. This album is just so fucking intriguing

[@amberbrown164]

Prince Ade lol you can listen to multiple artists...

[@rexquadry3197]

It makes other feel like crap

[@TheTinyTimmyTimTim]

@@amberbrown164 You definitely can listen to multiple artists, by lupe is such a unique voice in the game, that once you REALLY connect with his music, it's hard to listen to anything else for a while. I love King los, but when i'm listening to Lupe rap about these things ive never heard of, using pristine production and pulling sounds from the weirdest places and making them work, it's hard to go back and listen to King los rap about how good he is at rapping over a boom bap beat. Its like...what are we doing here bruh? its 2018, and your still telling me gun bars? Got nothing new to say? No interesting perspective?

[@yhhkj529]

3 years later and I’m still wondering how that Soap&Skin sample made it on to Jonylah Forever. It’s perfect, I just didn’t expect an obscure Austrian singer songwriter to pop up on that album.

[@emmanuele1143]

This is a double album. Lupe said that himself. After the 9th track is the 2nd part of the album. 1st part is “Wave” and 2nd part is “Drogas” two different albums within the same theme. Overall theme is death and revival

[@CaptainVenusaur]

Emmanuel Manasse I left my own comment saying this, I wish there was a way for him to be more explicit about it being split in two Obviously you can piece that together when you compare the songs, but the line in the sand wouldn’t be solid until he said otherwise

[@CaptainVenusaur]

TruMusic89 the album is coming with a booklet that divides the album in 2 acts

[@emmanuele1143]

bob Maybe you’re right

[@Flash-pp3cr]

He did say it. It's on Instagram and Twitter. If you buy the originals, you'l receive two discs. Just like Emmanuel described it. On Spotify, he'd have to find a way. In the meantime I made two playlists Drogas Wave Part 1......

[@heirplanez8620]

Album of the Year point blank

[@jonathansessoms3507]

Heirplanez we’ll see

[@SupremeGon]

POINT BLANK!

[@jonathansessoms3507]

Like I said we will see not gonna argue you have your opinion which I respect so there you go

[@gearhead07872]

I second this👍🏾

[@SupremeGon]

Jonathan Sessoms You will see I already know!

[@gokul_nath_g]

I think Book Of Ryan and Drogas Wave are the best albums of the year. 👍👍👍

[@james2155]

Gokul Nath book of Ryan beats this purely on the aspect that it sounds better. It’s more diverse in terms of beats and flows and tempos. Drogas is kinda monotonous for me but I’ve only listened to it all the way through once with a couple songs I’ve repeated

[@dadorage1695]

Check out Care for me, it's up there too

[@jeremydiesel7805]

Care For Me and TA1300 too

[@masterofthecraft1990]

Put Carter V and Kamikaze in there

[@redpillproductions7187]

Totally agree. Thats actually my Top 2...but WAVES takes the cake. (Fyi I heard alot of music this year)

[@youngrootv]

Lupe has always been my favorite rapper. Top 5 dead or alive and this album solidified that....AOTY

[@blackequitynetwork1669]

Thank you for the review. Everyone else in hip hop has ignored this project!

[@spacedaeprobably9922]

Salute to dead end for this y’all some real ones

[@farahabdulahi474]

this is a dope ass review. My fav. Half way through and they really digging in to the actual music and Lupe just didn't give them a choice. Sometimes I find they talk too much about context around the album but they really went in on this one. Was like a panel rather than the usual Feefo-Ken-Beezy-Myke rotation

[@jaymillz7680]

The fact people are talking about the album the way they are and actually having deep discussion on it is what the intention was on lupe's part imo. and a win i might add on his behalf. job well done, lupe is an artist's artist.

[@mrmrsplummer3526]

Album is a cut above the rest.. 9/10 First part of the album was about the pilgrimage, then it switched to our challenges once we got here and then solution.

[@donsneak73]

that ending was amazing lol .....LUPE WITH ANOTHER MASTERPIECE

[@CodysFavorites]

I was forreal about to goto bed

[@lorenzomorelos4973]

Same

[@MrPranker247]

Me tooooooo

[@paulm394]

Same I took nyquil too this bouta be a strugggle

[@MILKandTWOSUGAR1]

MyNamesCody - I woke up 30 mins before my morning alarm. No offence Cody... I’m just built for this life!

[@602castncrew]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYKlgZx-jNGHr7c

[@Mmmarky92]

Overall theme of this album is rebirth/resurrection. Slaves go overboard but live forever and becoming Longchains . Alan and Jonylah essentially getting a 2nd chance at life. The ton of influence of the dead for example, Haile Selassi, MLK, Timbuck2, Chairman Fred etc. All living via their words. Lupe's rebirth after Atlantic Lupe also said this was also the prequel to The Cool. The same way The Cool came back to life after being soaked in liquor, relates back to the water that gave the slaves life

[@TheFallen4212]

Damn. Might be in the minority but I would like if you guys gave them some slack and let them take their time with the reviews. So they can sit with certain albums longer. Still, love watching/listening

[@myparentsnamedmemartin7220]

On some real shit you right, this isn't an album that's easy to comprehend, it takes quite a few listens for any1 to get it.

[@Afro_Sensei]

This album is a masterpiece for me 100%

[@labdiel59]

ALBUM OF THE YEAR ! the more you listen the more you understand , It takes you on a emotional and thought provoking Rollercoaster!

[@hebrew26commandmentspower55]

This album was a masterpiece like Tetsuo and Youth.... :) The Lupe Fiasco

[@BuckMarley]

Parallel is “Resurrection” in multiple mythologies

[@SeminoleSpaceForce]

You guys missed the natural theme transition in the album. He says it was about the mythical slaves who didn't drown, but he says some went back home while others came on shore in the Americas. If you listened to Haile Selassie and Alan, you hear the sound of waves on the beach signifying the transition from the sea myth to the land myths.

[@WilkineBrutus]

It's mythological literature. It's like a documentary film with strong replay value. Avant-garde storytelling... @LupeFiasco has the entire #hiphop culture trying to decipher the message and themes. "You can accomplish anything if you survive blackness" #DrogasWave

[@umang6771]

Holy sh*t, 2018 has been a great year for hip-hop. Look how many dope releases there have been.

[@redpillproductions7187]

YOOOOOO now I just realized he also used word play to say Jonylah's last name Watson/ Walzing on top of that water...Walzing is dancing...walking on water, wow wow. BRUH

[@AsterisqBeats]

Bro... my mind is a pretzel just thinking about this!

[@user-hm8sd1ig8q]

Drogas wave & tetsuo and youth albums are his best projects period. I've been listening to hip-hop for a long long time those two albums are the best albums in hip hop history time line. I just wanna say thank you for real #lupe_fiasco

[@KaylaMarie_]

In Forever Alan he says that Alan jumps in the water to save a little boy. "Ain't that wow? Crowd goes wild" Reference to walking on water wow wow from Wav Files. Damn

[@kingzingo]

there is also later on another wow using 2pac head as O and his hands as W W

[@thomasbrailsford6313]

This album is like the Godfather. It is a long ass movie, but it is good! And actual well crafted album. The order of the language represent the order of events. Well crafted Lupe!

[@soberhippy8240]

Lupe went full Aesop Rock on this album.

[@X22689]

Sober Hippy Aesop be spiitin riddles lol

[@LouieV6]

Fun fact: Aesop is one of Lupe’s favorite rappers.

[@alltonwatson2461]

How do we get those two on a song or albun together? They're both my favorites, but I didn't know Lupe listened to Aesop.

[@averylopez2296]

This comment made me so happy

[@Allinonetry]

Album of the Year! nothing even comes close! Great review

[@freddymain6910]

Lupe is what J Cole fans think J Cole is lmao

[@BARON2695]

lol true😂😂

[@dking986]

What I will say is J Cole is alot more accessible than Lupe is. I mean Lupe just casually mentions uncommonly known historical figures, Confucianism, hinduism etc. Like even smart people are gonna have to take a minute to break down all Lupe is talking about. J Cole delivers a positive message that is therapeutic and relatable to the listener the main trait of J Cole being how down to Earth he is. Lupe can unintentionally be alienating due to his intelligence which can lead people to thinking he is pretentious and his complexity can scare some people off. So it makes sense J Cole is more popular because he appeals to a bigger demographic of people

[@freddymain6910]

Dakwon King I agree, though my point was more about Cole fans making out Cole’s music to be deeper than it actually is so we’re on the same page.

[@dadorage1695]

Oddisee is more that to me

[@Twenty_Four_7]

the thing is , as a fan of both, i dont think it matters anymore that LUPE isnt as popular as i think he should be. its just one of those things that makes his art even more honest.

[@VAZQUEZK08]

This was absolutely a great review!! One of your guys best yet, I m happy that you guys loved it as much as I did, especially myke haha Lupe deserves much more recognition, cuz this is absolutely a beautiful album!! ALBUM OF THE YEAR!!!!!!

[@haydendecker8895]

F

[@MTWENTY]

Yall should reach out to Lupe to do an interview and have him breakdown some of the album. It’s better to hear directly from the sources mouth

[@hashoar.8752]

MTWENTY he saids he ain’t doing interviews no more. Sucks

[@MTWENTY]

Hashoa R. I think he said he’s done with radio interviews. But he might pop up in other ways. You never know with Lupe sometimes

[@dealowmorgan885]

Great review fellas. Thanks for taking your time and not rushing like other folks. This is the most complex album I've heard in years. And you guys did a great job breaking it down.

[@Skywarp0317]

I’ve been waiting for this notification, dying to hear y’all’s take on this album. I’ve had it on repeat since it dropped, haven’t listened to anything else, and I’m still unpacking it. Lupe gave us a real masterpiece with this one.

[@tee1442]

I took the theme of slaves being thrown overboard as lupe being tossed aside by the music industry. Like the slaves he was going to drown, but instead he found out he could survive underwater (independent) and could create his own wave and crash the slaves ships (record labels). By doing so saving artist like him, basically saving himself and that is when Alan forever and jonylah forever come in. those songs are about saving yourself. There is still more to unpack but this my theory so far

[@brucec8495]

I thought it was an expression of what led to the African Diaspora. The beginning is a historical/mythos analysis of slave trade. The second half was the effect of slavery on modern society

[@CptRexFilms987654321]

“Diaspora and sonnets!”

[@cashbbrown6067]

Bruce Chang-Gu eloquently put sir 💯

[@DLloydisDFG]

It's even deeper then yall think, The Trans Atlantic Slave Trade was prophesied to happen to God's chosen people in the Bible Deuteronomy 28:68 And the LORD shall bring thee into Slavery again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for Slave men and Slave women, and no man shall free you"

[@zerozaku1468]

Breh i been waitin on this👏🏾👏🏾. Yall always come through, thank you!

[@LukeFennell]

man it always looks like you guys have so much fun doing these.

[@unspokenrespect]

Great review. Lupe's albums are the greatest when they have that complexity to them. That replay value comes with knowing I will hear and understand something new every time I listen to this album.

[@kashstory]

Really enjoyed this reviews, guys. I love when ya'll get passionate about this stuff. I really thought it was great too, the album surpassed my expectations. It tops his last two for me. It had som real nice surprising moments on it, one of the things I love about it is the myraid of deliviers and flows he has on it. Just so many different styles of rap he displays. Whether he's rapping in Spanish on Drogas, a Jamcian accent on Gold, or just when he decides to spazz with a complete electric flow like the last verse on Kingdom. And the storytelling and themes on here are top-notch. I like that he raps with more purpose and clarity, compared to the abstract style he had on T&Y. And it's still just as dense. And the production is real nice, one of the best produced Lupe albums. I do have a few problems with it though, I do think it's lengthy and has a bit of filer like everyone else. I also think he could've tightned it up a little more, and make it more cohesive and focused. I would've also cut out a lot of the pop singer hooks, and just have him sing the hooks instead. Also, I miss when Lupe sometimes was more raw and fun with it. I want to a here more personal Lupe songs, and where he shows a lot of passion. But there's definitely moments like that throughout the album. All in all, it was a great album, it was truly crafted well, and I really enjoyed it.

[@19dweezy88]

You guys are the only legit KZbin channel that I'll listen to when it comes to rap album reviews because you guys are always on point! Man I wish I had the opportunity to be a guest on a dead end hip hop review with my boy Cyril, we would be so consumed talking about the next dope rap album. You guys are great, keep it up!! Mikey C Town and Feefo are my favorites when it comes to breaking down the album but I got love for you all.

[@mellow6749]

AOTY

[@mrjasonshay]

Album of the year no doubt.. those 8 first songs alone are very heavy. Wav Files is an amazing song

[@emmanuele1143]

“Wave files”. Walking on water.. w.o.w w.o.w. The w.o.w is an acronym for walking on water

[@bboyfan22]

I didn't even catch that. Damn man...

[@lordjugga168]

"Like Pac using both hands and his head is the O" 👀

[@dking986]

Dammit Lupe! So clever

[@Insomnia_Central_]

Dang bro nice catch

[@Insomnia_Central_]

Lord Jugga shit all makes since now 😂

[@thetruest7497]

Lupe cemented his 🐐 status with this one. I got that Happy Timbuk2 Day on repeat right now followed by that Sun God Sam. Before it was Manilla and Wav Files, then Mural Jr.

[@mjgardner33]

Much Respect. Y'all the realest in this review game. Hell, probably the realest in all of media. Preciate the work y'all put in.

[@757reaper]

Finally a review that dug into the album. Love it guys.

[@djsolegit]

THANK YOU. This is now my number 1 album of all-time and I'm glad to finally see a review that somewhat reflects my feelings. I hope this and Fantanos review will get more people listening to this masterpiece. I was so with you when you said reviewers who gave this a spin or 2 and claimed to digest it in 2 days were straight buggin. LMAO

[@vladimirklizschko9337]

Fantano gives it a strong 6 or light 7 at best bruh...dont get me started

[@FILOMusic]

Great to see that the greatest of all time is finally getting SOME of the reviews and recognition he deserves (even if it's still not enough). No one is on Lu's level when it comes to rapping. Period. AOTY. Album of the decade. Another classic.

[@khoikidd]

7am around here, great way to start the day with a dehh review!!

[@bsmi1361]

This album should be winning a Grammy..

[@cashbbrown6067]

bsmi1361 totally agree but to be realistic it won’t smh

[@mariom8137]

If Yall want Lupe to keep putting out more music, PLEASE SUPPORT AND BUY THE ALBUM! Or stream it at the very least

[@leodj02]

This easily one of the best reviews you guys have done

[@Flow349]

The moment I’ve been waiting for

[@Flow349]

Estryus Flemming that’s an interesting take

[@Flow349]

Estryus Flemming lol it’s all good bro it gave me something to think about

[@NightmareChild013]

Seemed like a general theme for the album was re-imagining tragedy to be something better. Like the slaves instead of drowning learn to breath underwater and save other slaves. Alan instead of drowning learns to swim and saves another kid from drowning. Jonylah instead of being shot her father leaves that life style to raise her, she becomes a doctor and saves a baby who was a victim of gang violence. Except on the song about his career where he says he wouldn't change a thing. Reminds me of how on Tetsuo & Youth there was a common theme of resurrection. Like when we save or help the kids, we're saving or helping our selves. When I hear the part of "don't mess up the kids" it reminds me of mumble rappers. How a lot of the kids in that culture are addicted to drugs and they literally wear their problems on their face. And instead of teaching them or trying to guide them with patience and understanding we hate them and resent them. Those kids are the next life and the next generation of hip hop, they are our being ruined by the drugs that the last generation peddled and instead of trying to help we push them further by not accepting them for who they are.

[@NightmareChild013]

If the next wave of hip hop are these drug addicted kids the last generation ruined by peddling them the drugs then they'd be the drogas wave of hip hop.

[@sosa_califas4634]

Right!!! Just like when he revisited Coulda Been... It represented new breath into his career being that-that was the first song he recorded in a legit recording studio

[@kingssunii7824]

I’ve definitely listened to this album more than once! I feel like I’m reading audio book of some deep introspective novel on the history of slaves but it’s still jammin. Love the album even wit the long track list. By the way where did mike get his Stevie Wonder T-shirt from???

[@dking986]

I listened to this album today after watching this review and after spending some hours listening to this and with the help rap genius (because this is a very complex project) I gotta say this is one of Lupe's best projects. And its a blessing that an album this achingly beautiful could come out in 2018 showing that real rap and hip hop are alive and well. The multiple layers that this album deals with mainly slavery and the atlantic slave trade, his relationship with atlantic records, drugs=drogas, and resurrection amongst others things makes the whole album almost a triple entendre in itself. And there's so many moments on this album that are so powerful multiple songs of this album gave me chills it was so emotionally impactful. It was worth spending the long amount to digest this album and there's still a bunch of the album I'm still trying to figure out but this is easily an AOTY contender without question. This is masterpiece level work! Shout out to Lupe Fiasco! Whether people recognize your genius or not no one can say you don't rap your ass off on this and are incredibly intelligent. This project was amazing!

[@rainman415]

Well said King! I totally agree

[@geralthoster6286]

I think one of the metaphors he is using is taking tools and images of oppression and transforming them into symbols of hope and spiritual wealth. He's communicating his hardship as a person and his difficult shared journey as a person of color within America. I really respect that he made nods to so many parts of American/African/Carribean culture in the process. It's just awesome. He does an amazing job of honoring people from all walks of life that have contributed to the preservation and perseverance of black culture. He took tragic stories and preserved names that were almost reduced to news headlines and transformed them into stories about redemption and resilience. I mean I really think this album is as dense and important as TPAB, which is so bada** cause Lupe is the only person who could touch on these topics and have us root for him and everyone else caught in the struggle. Sorry if that is long, we could seriously write multiple books about this album. It is just so amazing. Thanks for reviewing it DEHH!

[@WhoaNellyJake]

Thank you guys for reviewing the new Lupe! I would love to hear all ya'll opinions of the new new BROCKHAMPTON and Wayne

[@KTKZon58]

Myke hit the nail on the head. Lupe did a lil soundcloud thing about the importance of mythology and how it relates to the way it has shaped our views and perceptions of our world. So he said that with this album he's trying to create new mythologies for us to pass down and give to our people

[@neomerge]

Album was incredible for sure. Thanks for shedding new info on some of those songs. I gotta go back and relisten now.

[@tylerhartsell8711]

loved this album.. can't wait for yall's Carter V & YSIV reviews... love those albums as well we have gotten so many good albums this year its crazy. My top 10 of the year changes almost every day.

[@TheLuiscelaya]

One of the best albums for me. Probably top 3 of favorite projects by Lupe.

[@paul.andre24]

THANK - YOU!! Brockhampton and Lil Wayne are next

[@602castncrew]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYKlgZx-jNGHr7c

[@itshigh-keybrandon8718]

Honestly I kinda don't want them to do Brockhampton just cause I have a feeling their definitely not going to like it😂 if they wasn't fucking with the Saturation series like that I know they not gonna like iridescence, Mike might like it but I don't think the others will

[@DannyFrio]

Iridescence was more or less a pop album imo

[@paul.andre24]

@@602castncrew audio too low, I'm sorry

[@nasirjones9992]

André BM tha carter v is trash

[@sir_charelzwatzbrackin7705]

Thanks guys, I thought the album was fantastic before I watched this review but listening to yall break it down beyond my comprehension makes me extremely excited 2 learn a complete breakdown of the content.

[@dgomez828]

DEHH is exactly how reaction videos are meant to be done. Thank you guys very much.