My music tastes are all over the place, and recently I've been getting into more hip hop/rap. I used to hate the genre because of idiots like soulja boy dumbing down the music industry so much. Then I found out about Lupe Fiasco and some other people who are more underground (Blackalicious, Jurassic 5, Mos Def etc). This stuff is incredible because they're actually rapping about relevant topics and they've got amazing flow and lyrics.
Now, a couple months ago, I listened to Lupe's first two albums, Food and Liquor and The Cool. I thought they were fantastic. While listening to his albums, I did a little research. Damn, after realizing what he's been through, and how screwed up the music industry is, I have sooooo much respect for him now. Here's a link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lasers_(album)
There are also a ton of interviews with him speaking his mind against Atlantic Records, the music industry, corrupt governments etc.
So, having listened to both of his first 2 albums, I was stoked for Lasers. Then I heard it...SCREW YOU ATLANTIC. They messed it up so bad. Here's a few examples, forcing Lupe to make club songs so that the album could come out, autotuning a couple songs (including one about suicide), cutting the production budget, forcing him to make radio single hits, not releasing two incredible songs on the album that were supposed to (I'm Beamin and Shining Down) etc. Lupe even said himself that he hates his own album. I saw a review that said it felt like Lupe was a guest on his own album. That is so true.
Now there are a handful of extremely good songs though.
These are my two favorite from the album, Till I Get There, and All Black Everything
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0HQz6GRppc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71McnVwWPwU
Other great songs on this album, in my opinion, are Words I Never Said, Letting Go, and Beautiful Lasers.
The Show Goes On, and Never Forget You, are all right. They're feel good songs I guess. The rest though is garbage.
Oh well, looking forward to Food and Liquor 2.