I didn't like L.A.S.E.R.S on first listen, largely because it lacked the diversity of The Cool, that album had all kinds of songs and experiments, and some really out-there lyrics (at least as far as mainstream hip-hop artists go).

It definitely felt like a dumbed-down version of what Lupe is capable of, quality lyrics or no quality lyrics.

He had to dumb it down though. Or else the album would never have come out period! Atlantic Records were being @ssholes about the whole situation.

But even with it being dumbed down he still has some excellent tracks on there.

Going to just hold out till Tuesday before giving it a spin. It sounds like even if it's decent I'm going to be disappointed... and if that's the case, **** Atlantic Records in their face.

Good short little article there.

"The potentially good news for fans is that Lupe was busy recording his next album The Great American Rap Album while he was working on Lasers. He hopes to have that out before the end of 2011."

Just like he hoped to have this album out in 09 when tracks started leaking? I would be stoked to have multiple releases in a year, but am I really supposed to believe that we'll get it this year with all the politics involved?... Unless, of course, it's another dumbed down album already.

Nice synopsis djchameleon. Still don't care for the album.

My place of work has Sirius Hits 1 playing whilst my manager is in. After that, my iPod is hooked up. But during the period of time that an authority figure is on duty (4-5 hours per day / 6 days a week), I am blessed to hear the same **** on repeat. In no way am I an expert on Top 40 music (nor would I ever want to be in this day and age) but Lasers was waaay too Top 40ish for me. And that makes River Man angry. And when River Man get angry, RIVER MAN SMASH.

Therefore, 2 mehs up from me.

Remember he is still under his contract with Atlantic so I don't think they will let him put out anything as complex as his first two albums. He's going to have to churn out two more top 40 approved albums before he can get back to his roots.

I feel like he should make two versions of the same album.....one that's dumbed down for the radio and goes with what the Label wants then for his fanbase he should release the album that he truly wanted to make and it's raw form with no hangups or anything and release that like to a satellite station or maybe just for downloads only.

Yeah, it's just going to suck if we look back on his discography down the road and there's a 3 album stain in the middle of his career. Of course I'm assuming the worst when I haven't even heard Lasers yet. On that note, who the **** was I kidding... I can't wait till Tuesday, just started spinning it.

I already know and overall like Words I Never Said, The Show Goes On, I'm Beamin', and Shining Down from their previous releases, and so far Letting Go with Sarah Green is a plus track. Not bad so far.

MDMA kills this album, in a bad way. The auto-tune absolutely ruins any tracks he's on, makes me forget it's even a Lupe album. No business having that there on an album that also includes: "Now if we auto tune that ****/ We can hear the songs from that opera-groomed fat bitch/ Tellin' us not to pursue it, just to shoo it like a blacksmith"....etc etc.... "Well I'm not havin' it, no". Having Matthew Santos back on all these tracks instead of MDMA would have made this album pretty epic.

I agree somewhat but I mean MDMA gives the whole electronic feel to it which makes sense considering that Lasers is the theme. So the whole digital autotune feel makes sense imo.

I definitely see your point, but it's hard for me to get behind it when that's not what the artist wanted or intended whatsoever. I've been reading a lot of interviews recently where Lupe is basically describing the process behind this album... and he hates most of these tracks. All of the auto-tune garbage and the track with John Legend (who I dig) were basically something that exec's came up to him with and said 'just rap an accessible dumbed down song on this, ok?' This isn't a Lupe Fiasco album, this album is:
Atlantic Records "Lasers" (feat. Lupe Fiasco)


http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/165...o-lasers.jhtml
http://www.complex.com/music/2011/02...o-hates-lasers

Yep you are right. It's like Atlantic Records Presents Lasers feat Lupe Fiasco

that couldn't be a more dead on interpretation.

Like I suggested earlier though, he should release two versions of the same album or maybe do a mixtape of the songs that he wanted to put on versus what he has to put out because of the studio.