Soul Sounds #1: Lupe Fiaso's "The Coolest"

True to my word, here is the first offering for our “Soul Sounds”. Now this comes with a caveat. Due to circumstances beyond my control (studying, classes, youtube pulling down videos like crazy), I may not be always able to post audio along with the lyrics to these songs. And even if I am, for the fore-seeable (next couple of months), I will probably post the lyrics in the morning, and then the video/audio clip later in the day. Sorry folks, but that’s just the way it gonna be for awhile. Oh yea, and if you looking for Soulja Boy’s greatest hits in this space, you need to go back and take that left turn at Albuquerque. Now, on to our story…

Our inaugural “Soul Sounds” post is certain to raise the initial ire of the Spotless Cussbud (as she shall now be forever referenced in this space), due to the repeated use of one of her least favoured words (my arguments on this point is another post for another day). However, in this case, it is merited and adds value to the song. “The Coolest”, by Lupe Fiasco, is a blend of social commentary, introspection, and pretty cool theater. It examines what makes us cool, and how far we are really willing to go to get it without being overly judgmental. However, I’ll save further discussion on this topic for the commentary. Without further ado, ladies and germs, “The Coolest”:


The coolest niggah... what? [X16]
Lord please have sympathy, and forgive My Cool Young History, as
The coolest niggah... what? [X4]

[Verse 1]
I love the Lord,
But sometimes it's like that I love me more
I love the peace
And I love the war
I love the seas
and I love the shore
No love for no beach
baby, that's loyal
But she doesn't see, therefore I spoil
I trip, I fall
run up and brawl.
I love her, with all my heart
Every vein, every vessel,
every bullet lodged
With every flower that I ever took apart
She said - that she would give me greatness,
status, placement above the others
My face would grace covers
of the magazines of the hustlers
Paper, the likes of which that I had never seen
Her eyes glow green with the logo of our dreams
The purpose of our scene,
The obscene obsession for the bling
She would be my queen,
I could be her king
Together, she would make me cool
and we would both rule, forever,
And I would never feel pain
and never be without pleasure, ever, again
And if the rain stops,
And everything's dry
she would cry
Just so I can drink the tears from her eyes
She'll teach me how to fly
Even cushion my fall
If my engines ever stall
and I plummet from the sky
But she will keep me high
And if I ever die
She would comission my image on her bosom
To hum
Or maybe she'd retire as well
A match made in Heaven set the fires in Hell
and I'll be...

The coolest niggah... what? [X8]
Lord please have sympathy,
And forgive My Cool Young History as
The coolest niggah... what? [X4]

[Verse 2]
And so began our reign
The Trinity, her and I came
No weather man could ever stand
What her and I can
Hella hard
Umbrella, whatever,
put plywood on propeller panes,
And pray to God that the flood subside
'cause you gonna need a sub till he does reply
And not one of Jared's
You think it's all arid
and everything's irie
Another supply
That means another July
Inside my endless summer
That was just the eye of the Unger
Felix, 'cause he is the cleanest among the
Younger, outstanding achieving up-and-comers
The ones that had deadbeat daddies
and well to do mommas
But not well enough to keep 'em from us
The ones that were fightin' in class
Who might not pass
Rap record pressure to laugh
and a life not fast
"Can you feel it?"[echo]
That's what I got asked
"Do I love her?"[echo]
I said I don't know
Streets got my heart, Game got my soul
One time's my sunshine will never hurt your soul
Quote
To a crying, dishonored baby momma
Who's the momma to a daughter
That I had fathered from afar
My new lady gave me a Mercedes
and a necklace with a solid gold key
Like the starter of a car
The opener of a door or two pounds of raw
You gave me a baby, but what about lately?
then ha-ha-ha-ha-ha'd
Right up in her face, G
There's more fish in the sea,
I'm on my mission to be, be

The Coolest niggah... what? [X8]
Lord please have sympathy,
and forgive My Cool Young History
The Coolest... what? [X4]

[Verse 3]
Come. These are the tales of The Cool.
Guaranteed to make you go and fail from your school
And seek unholy grails like a fool
and hang with the players of the pool
Fast talkin' on the hustle
No Heaven up above you
No Hell underneath ye
and nowhere will recieve thee
So.
Shed no tear
when we're not here
and keep your faith,
as we chase

The Cool [echoes]