Professor Lupe Fiasco: "Drill Music in Zion" review

[@MuzikTrabolee]

'' It's hard being a Lupe fan, go to Harvard to be a Lupe stan I ain't sayin' that I'm harder, it's just harder when it's in Lupe's hands."" - Lupe Fiasco SLR2

[@yeshua7238]

It’s a shame the line is somewhat dated. Clearly MIT is where the Lupe Stans are at

[@JhalinskyMAn]

Go back to hard part, I would say pause but I was talkin bout my own balls!

[@phothewin6019]

My favorite Control response hands down.

[@SpinSurgery]

If anyone remembers, about a year ago Lupe Fiasco posted a video on Aesop Rock. In it, he was talking about his technique and some of the ways he executes his ideas and it was just a lot of a fun to see such a well respected artist being so enthusiastic about another. It also made it clear to me how RARE it is for an artist to support another in a real active-listener type of way. You can just see how incredible he would be as an academic lecturer on the topic of hip hop and you can also just feel his love for the subject in a way that is nothing but an absolute love of the subject matter and nothin is more charming or motivating in a professor than that imo. I would LOVE to see Lupe’s lectures. I wish more artists would approach hip hop similarly just to get that insight. I know how corny the name sounds but the book “How to Rap” was probably one of the most fun reads on the subject of technique in a similar vein. It’s just an organized collection of top MC’s talking about different aspects of rhyming. For example, there’s a chapter on different ways people use symbols and little systems to write down their flows and cadences and tech n9ne talks about using drum notation. Just stuff like that. Damn I’m so off topic, sorry! But check it out. It’s a fast and fun read.

[@paprika2058]

7 months late to this comment but that video completely changed my perspective on what is "cool" to do. Let me realize it was okay to nerd out be an active listener to things I don't prefer most of the time. Now we've got pumpkin seeds. so incredible.

[@mamba4817]

Aes and Lupe finally collabed

[@ElahiMalik]

Can’t wait for the deep dive into Lupe. Also a series on Mural, Mural jr, Ms Mural 👀

[@roramdin]

Love everything about these vids Professor! If only all teachers were as good as you, maybe I'd still be in school :-)

[@professorskye]

Hey, I just started watching your videos after seeing you with foreign man! Nice to see you here in the comments.

[@Fiveward]

Ro in Hivemind chat and now Prof Skye's comments. Love to see it

[@sibodisbands9713]

Damn this the crossover I need 🥲

[@codyladson]

Thank you for shouting out Flavortown 😂 that was my request. also You do not need to shorten these reviews. With Lupe I would watch it all if it was 4 hours long

[@professorskye]

Being a Patreon has its perks! (Sometimes)

[@jasons.8125]

Great analysis. Check out Tetsuo and Youth (cover art also by Lupe). "Mural" is a dense, rolling, masterpiece. "Dots and Lines" is running in at least 3 dimensions. So many others... guy's a genius.

[@chickenbobtv3052]

Lupe the greatest to ever rap

[@nyrisj]

Soundtrakk is Lupe's prominent producer. He has worked with him since he very first album and is responsible for all of his signature records. The title is a reference to The Matrix. Zion is where all the humans lived outside of the Matrix. In the 3rd film, the machines where attempting to literally DRILL into the city to kill the last of humanity.

[@TheRealWurzog]

Has it been confirmed by Lupe as a Matrix reference? The term Zion originally comes from the Bible and refers to Jerusalem/the Promised Land. Which is where Matrix gets the name from.

[@nyrisj]

@@TheRealWurzog Yes. Hot.97 interview where he explained it went out the other day, but also if you check out a freestyle he put out last year called Forest Fires, he says "my next album gon sound like it's drill music in Zion " after making some remarks about a movie starring Jada Pinkett. So the connection had already existed, plus the actual title track of the album has some not too subtle lyrics referencing robots that build robots and other imagery from The Matrix. All that being said, it's also very obviously about Drill Music in Zion as what was described in the video.

[@nyrisj]

@TheBunBun54321 I would rather let people come up with that on their own. Lupe loves his contradictory existences. Only time he's wrestling is with settling, only way he'll settle is if we wrestle over everything. His flow is like the Klu Klux vs the Panthers. Etc

[@chickenbobtv3052]

I’m here fr these type comments 💯🏆 lupe is THE goat

[@nurdeendeeno8840]

@@nyrisj very well put me guy lol

[@Ben-xj2rf]

One thing about the Yakuza line in Precious Things that I think is worth explaining for many who may not know: in Yakuza films (not sure if this happens in real life), when gangs come into conflict they often resolve it by having the instigator cut his finger off as a form of atonement. So “treated us like the Yakuza . . . you don’t use us to write the raps anymore” is his hands saying he turned against them and cut them off.

[@CGonz1744]

my lord, i never thought of that. Maybe he's implying that he had to keep cutting off his fingers during his time at Atlantic Records, which he states was very toxic, because of multiple conflicts he had with them and the entire music industry in general (music industry = yakuza?). In the end he was left fingerless and now cant write his raps with his hands because of it, so now he has to do it with his head (which he does btw). just so much symbolism to unpack it's overwhelming lol

[@johnhall123456789]

No hands = he didn’t write (with his hands) his lyrics for this record, more recorded straight in the booth

[@chemnitz1199]

I came for this, it’s called Yubitsume. You treated us like the Yakuza = You cut us off.

[@MR.FREEDMAN]

That "Autoboto" breakdown had my jaw drop. Well done.

[@archibaldnhlangano6575]

Thankd for the review it was a really entertaining listen. The Jazz deep dive was a little unexpected but a welcome surprise. As a far of anime it's always really interesting to me how thing's can recontextualised for a western audience during the dubbing process. As for Lupe, his music can be really dense so this album felt pretty accessible compared to some of his other albums. Fun fact he painted this album cover himself and did the same for his 2015 release Tetsuo & Youth.

[@mamba4817]

This channel is excellent. What your doing is important

[@basiliobernard7995]

Really good album and review, Lupe Fiasco is one of the couple handful’s of elite top tier emcee’s that are considered Jedi masters on the mic, and who really push the pen game and craft forward in Hip-Hop culture! And he’s said in a interview that he recorded and made this whole album in only a few days, impressive!

[@vickjr98]

The guy was born to rap

[@mitchiegotmovesy7635]

If you talked more about this I’d listen. But I loved this review! Thanks for talking about this album. I loved it. It was beautiful

[@merriammerkabah408]

The first "Mural" is off Tetsuo and Youth. After you listen to that album, watch the breakdown videos on the channel Times New Roman. For the songs: Mural, Adoration of the Magi & Dots and Lines. Good day sir, thanks for the review.

[@yunahr4120]

great Video! Its super interesting to listen to your deeper analysis.

[@darrinthomas89]

This is the first time I've watched a KZbin video that clocked in at over an hour......and it was well worth it ! Love the analysis. Love this album and it's all the more impressive that he recorded all of this deep and moving content in 3 days!!! I'm in awe he's truly one of the greatest artists of all time

[@codyscott2991]

Loved this video. Would love some more lupe videos! Maybe a breakdown of the mural trilogy

[@antwainjackson961]

Love your video!! Just subscribed!!! You just gave my favorite artist the review he deserved.

[@rubyrayne8]

Love this review! Normally I can’t watch a full video, nothing to do you with just my adhd. But I love Lupe and his music but I know I miss some of what he’s saying/doing. I usually need to go to the internet to help me dig deeper. I enjoyed your thorough review.

[@rubyrayne8]

Also wanted to say I love how you said there are no hero’s, we are all hypocrites, we are all on the hook. That is part of human existence. We ourselves are not hero’s.

[@Goodlookgraphics]

Kiosk really blew my mind. To find the art in the kiosk is crazy. As someone who has worked at a kiosk it is a very unique experience. You really have to work for your sales and are looked at by passing shoppers as an annoyance in many cases. They way that some people treat you as appears to associates in normal stores. It’s really a strange beauty to it and a surreal experience. Man the fact that lupe took that and made it into art. Wow.

[@TruJesus]

Beautiful review. Learned a lot. Thank you.

[@dele-586]

By far the best breakdown on lupe DMIZ, got a new fan here. Please do some more lupe breakdowns👍🏾

[@somainevent1]

His first studio album Lupe Fiasco: Food and liquor and his follow-up Lupe Fiasco's the Cool. Both are certified classics. You will learn all about his characters "the streets, the cool, the game, etc." He was/is going to write books/graphic novels about the characters used in his albums. Loved the breakdown. The breakdown of Autoboto.. mind-blowing

[@ashsusjsjekwek8282]

If only he did that. That would be amazing. His first 2 albums are his best 2 albums. Certified classics fs

[@CGonz1744]

@@ashsusjsjekwek8282 both albums he finished before he signed with Atlantic Records too. It's not a coincidence that the albums that his fans regard as classics weren't made while he was with Atlantic: Food and Liquor The Cool Tetsuo and Youth (technically dropped while he was with Atlantic, but it took Anonymous and his fan base to get the album to release) Drogas Wave

[@adrianh85]

First time watching you content, currently still blown away by your explanations and breakdown....

[@codyladson]

I’ve been waiting for this!!

[@jonathanroche3363]

Fantastic review. I love the album even more because of the insights you have given. One small highlight from Ms Mural is just how he rhymes the phrase "rejections or mistakes" throughout the entire verse. The technical rhyming fun he has while delivering layers of meaning is what makes him so engaging to listen to.

[@ScreamGeronimo]

This is a great, thank you so much for this. I’m sure you’ve heard it before but if you enjoy Lupe’s music, you MUST hear his album, The Cool!

[@OGNICKMARSH]

Loving this album. Glad to see you covering it.

[@SotoStuff]

Please keep doing longer reviews. They are very much appreciated.

[@wlp283]

Great content and review I would love to hear you break down more of lupe fiasco and long video are not an issues!

[@MrsDD23]

This is fireeeeee!!! What a beautiful way to gain knowledge, thanks Prof! 🔥🔥

[@drewagain]

Would love to see a dissection of "Mural" from the Tetsuo and Youth album

[@Bronzetigermask]

As per your request, please talk about the album more. I’d watch 2 hours on ms mural easy

[@RsGenjil]

So glad I found this channel, your content is amazing. The KDot and Drake beef was a blessing, glad I found this channel.

[@SaeedThaPraLem]

Lupe The 🐐

[@rainman415]

AND MFDOOM!

[@DARÉ_REBELO]

Love the review. ❤🧡💙 Thanks Prof. Lupe fiasco is my favourite rapper.

[@gocryelsewhere]

Please make these videos longer. I could easily listen to another hour on the breakdown of this album. I hope you do a video on the entire Mural series. Thank you. Peace and love to ya.

[@duartepako9220]

Fantastic review professor, you truly do this album and Lupe as a whole justice, there is so much to dig in and in my opinion he truly is the greatest to ever do it in his field!

[@d4nguyen]

I'm sure you've received a lot of requests to do Tetsuo and Youth and his older albums already. Would love to hear your thoughts on T&Y and contrasting it with his earlier works (Food & Liquor, The Cool, Lasers) that contain more of his popular hit songs on a major label.

[@joeharrison4783]

Zion partially is a matrix reference to the underground city in the 3rd movie, the last vestige of humanity away from the machines hunting them, but also I do see possible religious connotation. Carrera Lu is a flashy street alter ego of Lu he says is writing his best lines. Themes on the album of flooding, death (dmiz = demise), molding rappers of the future instead of trying to be a Superstar still. Just remembered the pac man references in the album because of Ms Mural (like era era era era sounding like his noise). The original mural had a verse that vaguely references pac man.

[@inspirebro3451]

Also, the album cover if you put it sideways it resembles Pac-Man

[@keenannash2947]

The name Zion was used in the matrix because it's a reference to a sacred land that is considered a utopia for people who were persecuted... even the matrix using the name is referencing the religious aspect of it.

[@joeharrison4783]

@@keenannash2947 True, but I can only fit so much explanation in before it becomes a wall of text people won't read. Thanks for the insight.

[@sbgcofficial6785]

@@keenannash2947 I was going to comment the same

[@ArmLegLegArmHead47]

Massive reach but what if "drill music" is also related to the "Machines" in The Matrix drilling into the walls of Zion.

[@Riquinni]

I really enjoyed this review and the insights you brought with it, definitely subscribed and look forward to more Lupe and others!

[@mikekoll3019]

I know this is an older video and someone may have already pointed this out, but "the Bears" in Kiosk is also supposed to be a play on "De Beers." Apologies if this has been said before. I thoroughly enjoyed your review/breakdown. Keep up the good work! AVAA

[@Saunatomorrow]

That Jazz analysis is spot on when it comes to what we see in American pop culture

[@edwardpolenzani1039]

Damn you created a hip hop minor at your school? That’s awesome! Love your analysis, you have a good ear. Sub’d!

[@batmaine]

This is the most amazing review of any album ever. Thank you for this.

[@CashMoneyMan10293847]

As someone who just discovered your channel off this video, you could definitely talk in depth for hours on these songs and I wouldn't mind

[@Advaitamanta]

Zion is the underground refugee society that Humans had in Matrix. Drill music in Zion is Lupe drilling a hole to Zion with his new album

[@MAandS]

Yes. I'm angry at you for not Reviewing his Tetsuo and Youth hahaha. We would all love to hear you talk about the opening track, Mural, for an hour.

[@laneyj]

Thanks for the in depth review. There's so many layers to Lupe's music; it deserves breakdowns like this. A few things: 1. Who plays with Ken? Actually, Punk, one of the best street fighter v players in the world, routinely plays with Ken. 2. You need to listen to food & liquor, the fahrenheit mixtape series, and Drogas Wave.

[@lizethwalker]

And Tetsuo and Youth

[@BuckMarley]

Subbed. I like your input, research, and breakdowns.

[@christiaanafrikaner8964]

Watching all the way from 🇳🇦, shouts out to the prof✌️...

[@Saunatomorrow]

My current city Orlando has been addressing the Redlining effect for years that was put in place probably more recently than most cities. However, The city seems to make great strides to alter this decades' old situation.

[@hiimmiso]

Please do more!

[@tysonmonroe4665]

Enjoying the reviews, I'm serious. Im a big Lu fan and to hear your view of breakdown is hit more than miss, respect.I only deeper point, I'm sure you've found by now Drill Music is also a play on the movie Matrix 2 when the free human race lives in a place called"Zion" and when they feel the machines are drilling down and they may meet their end they threw a dance "rave" and that is like this, Lu's last ditch party in his stronghold (his zion) is being infiltrated by the industry / machine pushing the same mubble rap on what is a beautiful vehicle. I also love what you said It's your music and my music and I'm just glad you enjoy hip hop! P.S. I love Lupe and Griselda, such is art.

[@chaosinorderrr]

Review Lupe Fiasco - WAV FILES. It deserves all the attention.

[@yoruichirules893]

Certainly a great take on the album. Would love to see a part 2 as well.

[@edwardpolenzani1039]

Autoboto chorus might also be referencing The Matrix movies (specifically Reloaded), since “The One” gets his abilities from “The Source” (also the machines are literally drilling their way to Zion to murder everyone)

[@joejett5084]

Lupe has a lot of amazing concepts but if you do another Lupe review, I highly suggest dots and lines.

[@gabemontes19]

This was an amazing review! You need to review food & liquor, the cool, tetsuo & youth, and drogas wave

[@414malmal412]

This is the only level of dissection Lupe's album deserves. The reactions don't do it justice.

[@Eanakba]

warning: Drogas Wave is great, but the musicality is even less of a focus there than it is here. For anyone who wants an easier listen, I recommend his first two albums, Food & Liquor and The Cool

[@guillermobenitez9139]

Bro this got so nerdy AHH I wish I knew ppl like you and the Dead End Hip hop guys in real life! I loved the Transformers part esp. And the Malcom X story yes I have a copy

[@anwartaylor6096]

Lupe is arguably the greatest rapper to ever live...he's the only rapper I can think of with 4 classic albums ('Food & Liquor', 'The Cool', 'Tetsuo & Youth', and 'Drogas Wave'). Perhaps too soon to say, but this album is likely AOTY so far, imo...while It's also one of his more sonically subdued and lyrically accessible projects to date. I can't get enough of it. Great review, Professor!

[@traplover6357]

2 classics, 2 great projects* but nonetheless agree with everything else. Top 20 MC for me imo

[@mitchiegotmovesy7635]

Missy Elliot, Outkast, Kanye, Jay Z that’s about it

[@anwartaylor6096]

@@traplover6357 With all due respect to whomever u have on your list, there simply are not 19 better rappers than Lupe (dead or alive)...and I don't care what angle u're looking at it from. There just aren't.

[@nishadgulvady5534]

There's an episode of Parts Unknown where Anthony Bourdain has dinner with Lupe and his family at their home in Chicago. Great great episode!

[@bigfakelaugh6209]

@@anwartaylor6096 Lol Lupe has one Classic at most and it would rank extremely low on a list of classic hip hop albums. He’s not top 50.

[@Texfan256]

Seeing my former professor pop up on my KZbin recommended on a Wednesday is not what I expected

[@professorskye]

Ha! Its always fun when students stumble on my channel. I actually had just started the channel when I taught you in the Haiti class. Speaking of Haiti, check out this video, it will tie in a lot of things that we covered in that course. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mV6Tm2ycj7eno9E

[@Texfan256]

French hip hop and rock was one of my favorite courses I’ve ever taken so it’s awesome you can share your passion and insight for music with a wider audience! I’ll be sure to check out the video thank you for sharing it

[@SaeedThaPraLem]

Thank You For This In-depth Review.

[@unspokenrespect]

Great review and yes you should talk longer. There are probably less then 5 youtubers that even go half as deep as you do on Lupe songs. Which means there is literally only you that is willing to give his lyrics the break down they deserve. Tetsuo & Youth and Drogas Wave are 2 of my favorite Lupe albums and they are as deep as the ocean. Hope you break those down also even though they are longer.

[@halfcuffed]

Tetsuo and Youth and FL pt 2 were my top 2 for Lupe until this album. After a few listens it's starting to creep up my list. It may be top 2 project for him.

[@hammaadurrehman1459]

Great great review. Would love to see your review on tetsuo and youth and/drogaswave…. Will you do it?

[@TylerNorCal]

Tetsuo & Youth is one of my favorite albums ever, really hope you get to that one day...you could make an hour long video just on 'Mural' 😂

[@mch-223]

1:02:55 Greatest rap review of all time. That’s the comment.

[@altevisuals7917]

Brilliant, i didn't want it to end.

[@jmasters7515]

The idea of there being drill music in heavens/Zion kind of reminds me of a question about Plato’s world of forms. If there is a perfect form of everything than is there also a perfect form of things like war and disease?

[@mamba4817]

I think the beats are great. Love everything about this album this is my favorite Lupe album and maybe the best album last year or one of

[@subzero296]

A Lupe review!!! Yes!

[@BeingAMonkey]

"We're going back faster than the DeLorean."

[@tnk4me4]

37:07 Alucard is a pretty interesting one because it's just Dracula inverted. So a lot IPs have used that name for their "dragons"[use TV tropes for an in depth explanation of what a dragon is]. There is an Alucard in Castlvania, but the most famous Alucard is definitely the one from Hellsing. That Alucard is notable for being used as the final solution for a British noble woman with a relationship that looks like slavery if you squint at it but it's clear that he's too powerful to actually he controlled and is only playing nice because it amuses him.

[@TheWhoreisland]

Vampire Hunter D is a anime/manga staring a half human half vampire vampire Hunter who is struggling to find and keep his humanity and protect who he is hired (at first) to protect. Alucard would be the main character from Trigun who has fully embraced the chaos and evil of vampire and used as a mercenary to get kill monsters that are doing evil in the world (I forget why but alucard the prince of darkness works for a government like agency lol)

[@aisidapatrick2781]

Alucard is a vampire from Hellsing Ultimate.

[@TheWhoreisland]

@@aisidapatrick2781 lol I typed that at first and deleted it I’m idiot 😂

[@seanjjpaul]

I could have listened to you talk about this album for hours lol

[@iamaquastonethrone77]

I highly appreciate your level of understanding. You sould look into Aqua Stone Throne.

[@OGNICKMARSH]

Would love to hear your thoughts on the original Mural as well as Mural Jr.

[@JaxDobba]

Mural is legitimately one of my favourite hip hop songs of all time. Such a great song

[@joeharrison4783]

@@JaxDobba I don't think there's such a thing as Lupe's best song, but Mural is without a doubt his most ambitious song.

[@bruyeretv]

Since you started listening from his HOUSE EP, can you please delve into Food & Liquor and then The Cool?

[@traplover6357]

Learning about synecdoche and metonymy from a Professor going into Lupe. Guess Lupe stans do go to Harvard or MIT where he works now 💀 Edit: Flavortown is a meme made by Guy Fieri

[@thEpRoCoOkiE]

with love from Flavour Town

[@Epok17]

Interesting take on the album title. I immediately thought “The Matrix” considering the climax of the trilogy concluded a giant drill making its way into the last human city named… wait for it… Zion. Which considering how Lupe is with nerd culture there could be a lot to unpack on that line of thought as well.

[@thevinyltruffle]

I like to move forward. And that means it’s hard for me to go back to hear things I missed. But, Drogas Wave is definitely worth doing so.

[@SolidSnake240]

I was the same way years ago until I realized I was cheating myself out of amazing music lol

[@NOBLENAGA007]

Not gonna lie… I reeeeeaaaaally want to hear your take on DROGAS WAVE. That album literally changed my world view and how I interpret life itself.

[@NOBLENAGA007]

Duuuuuuude. Exactly! I listened to Drogas WAVE maybe 36 to 40 times. I neeeeed to hear someone else's take on it. I personally think it is the greatest musical composition to ever to bless music.

[@desmondstallworth2934]

I think playing as Ken is a black thing. I didn’t meet people who prefer Ryu until I was 15

[@Saunatomorrow]

Alucard is Dracula backwards, in castlevania Alucard is a Half breed I think even related to Dracula so yeah the right hand is Wasalu Lupe and the left half is Carrara Lu

[@eddievazquez2215]

Professor I agree with you that this is an amazing album but please check out death of the cool

[@Nitecrawlr16]

That education on Jazz the transformer made me sick to my stomach. Never once did I make these comparisons and the fact that it was so brazenly placed in a children's show is crazy. Thank you for the video

[@johnsteed9282]

I stumbled upon this video by happenstance while going down the rabbit hole of what is the mind of Lupe and am wondering if you have reacted to his track known as mural. I would love to hear your perceptions from it!

[@yeetthebeet]

lupe is a genius!

[@jdisch10]

You still should absolutely listen to food and liquor, the cool, Tetsuo and youth, and Drogas wave

[@hobodojo]

I know this is old hat but.Carrara is a super expensive white marble. Just ..you know. Love your channel

[@DoodOverThere]

Faux Nem 1st verse is on of my favourites of all time

[@polordi161]

Do a video about the 3 Mural songs. They're other-worldly songs and you'll probably make me understand things I haven't.

[@Death2cornbread]

A little anime thing is connected to that hand rhythm. Vampire Hunter D(name and title of movie) is a Vampire that had one hand that's a parasite hand, which helps him in tight moments during or after fights. Where Castlevania Alucard is also is a Vampire that has hands, but don't need them to swing his weapon. Both are the son of Dracula-Alucard

[@BowieValheru]

I really think that the Alucard mentioned by Lupe is a reference to the Hellsing manga and anime, as that too is in line with the hand subject, as the Hellsing Alucard has his powers limited by a symbol on his right hand(or glove actually) and only has his full strength when his master gives him permission, that's when he used that weird symbol and is no longer restricted...but offcourse i could be wrong, we can both be wrong, or both right, it's a Lupe lyric, so who knows how many layers are in that one line.

[@Death2cornbread]

@@BowieValheru Alucard in hellsing used his hands... Alucard in castlevania doesn't have too.

[@MuzikTrabolee]

I wish you heard Tetsuo and Youth

[@ashsusjsjekwek8282]

That’s a gem in his discog. He needs to hear it

[@YesThisIsJamesWier]

I would love to hear a breakdown of an Aesop Rock record 😂