Lupe Fiasco had a turbulent 2016. Fans couldn't have been faulted for unfollowing the rapper's social media accounts and simply conducting periodic checks for new music. Within eight months, Lupe intended to release three LPs by year's end, regretfully announced that the works were held up by clearance issues, and then, after a line from a stray upload caught the attention of the Anti-Defamation League, he fired off a vehement defense that closed with "I'm officially not releasing anymore music. Albums canceled." The sixth proper Lupe Fiasco full-length nonetheless materialized the following February. Though a like-titled album was intended for a 2016 release on Atlantic, this was issued through an arrangement with Thirty Tigers, outside the major-label system. The scope of sounds and guests suggest that it was at least made within it, as it's no shoestring-budget commercial departure. Longtime studio associates Soundtrakk and Simon Sayz are among the producers, as are some established veterans, such as Streetrunner, and comparatively new collaborators. Its high points are reached on a pair of collaborations with Ty Dolla $ign: "NGL," all tensed-up didactic fire, and the looser "Kill," co-produced by Ty and D'Mile with a smooth sway that recalls Patrice Rushen's "Where There Is Love" (and therefore Mobb Deep's "Temperature's Rising"). Another stand out is "Tranquillo," stern and swirling drama illustrated by Floss & Fame, where Lupe is in prime personal development mode. Big K.R.I.T. enhances the track, while Rick Ross nearly spoils the spirit with his opening line. Almost all the memorable moments occur during the first ten cuts, as the latter sequence resembles a "see if it sticks" track dumpage. There's a would-be stomp 'n' strum pop anthem, a sci-fi neo-Daft Punk disco-funk collision, and a soul rocker akin to a Maroon 5 sanitization of the Roots' "The Seed (2.0)." It at least ends positively with a gospel-imbued number that beams with pride and gratitude. The range in quality here indicates that superior work is in reserve.
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