Lupe Fiasco’s most recent album, The Cool, dropped Tuesday.

I have to say that I was a bit embarrassed to run out to Fifth Element the second school let out, just to cop the follow up to a somewhat boring and all around Faux-Epic Food and Liquor.

The Cool has gotten good reviews, but if you are thinking of buying the album, know this:

The Cool’s theme is loose- it is a concept album based around a ’story’ of the child from his previously released song, He Say/She Say. This being said- the message that Lupe hopes to convey is almost shoved down your throat on every track. The trite nature of his hustla-sarcasm makes this feel like an album for scholars rather than listeners.

Lupe is quoted as saying, “I don’t know how to make a number one record, so I don’t even try.”

Lupe’s talents run beyond preacher- his message runs cold, but The Cool surely doesn’t. The first track is a terrible spoken word intro, and the second track is an unpromising interlude, reminiscent of his Food and Liquor days, entitled Free Chilly, but once the album gets moving, it feels like the most well composed album since… American Gangster.

When listening to the album for the first time, pretend as if you don’t already know what he’s going to say on every track, when his message gets tired, tune it out and ride the ascensions and dissensions of the album.

Best tracks: The Coolest, Go Go Gadget Flow, Gotta Eat, Put you On Game, Fighters, and Dumb it Down.