Haha, really? Don't get me wrong, I'm hyped for Tetsuo and Youth, but I feel like by Food and Liquor 2 he was focusing too much on his social messages and not nearly enough on making sure his flow was good.
Not to derail this thread, but I think this was 100% intentional on his part. I know a lot of hip hop loves the idea that nothing matters but the flow, but I think he intentionally challenged that idea in order to bring social awareness in rap to other people who might not have heard it before. Take for example "Bitch Bad". This song is not about the flow, it's completely about the lyrics and story. A lot of people hate this song, but I've shown it to people who do not like most hip hop and they really enjoy it. I mean, it's emotional right? It's challenges the way we think about women and hip hop and black culture. Turned down the music, turned up the social to bring attention to it. My biggest evidence that this was intentional is in the following lyric from ITAL (Roses):
I mean right there he's showing how self aware the album absolutely is. Now would I fault someone for not liking the album? Absolutely not. I can clearly see why people wouldn't like it. It often seems preachy and over the top. Totally get that 100% but I don't foresee myself not liking it for a while.I know you’re sayin’, “Lupe rappin’ ‘bout the same shit”
Well, that’s ‘cause ain’t shit changed, bitch
And please don’t excuse my language
Cause I would hate for you to misrepresent
The true expression of my anguish