Give Lupe A Standing Ovation For “SLR 3 (Round of Applause)” Posted by Lucas Garrison on 08/19/13 | Filed under Top Stories, Lupe Fiasco, SLR 3

I know Lupe Fiasco is talented, but recently, he has been falling off the rails to the point where I wonder what the hell is going with him. Recent Lupe is a lot like Kanye, it’s not that the music is bad, but he is so eccentric and the music is so far out there that it makes me long for the old days of “Kick, Push” and “Hurt Me Soul”. A good amount of people were digging his “Control” response, “SLR 2”, but hearing Lupe imitate other rappers and spit in German was odd to say the least--there is a reason (or a few) why it spawned an emergency podcast-- and it didn't quite catch me. That being said it was a dope response and was pretty impressive, but it was lacking that je ne sais quoi that was so tangible in older Lupe. Just as I was starting to think the silky smooth Lupe was lost in North Scorea forever, he completely flips the script on “SLR 3 (Round of Applause)” and brings us a buttery effort.

It might not be the popular opinion, but I prefer “SLR 3” to the predecessor. I think it’s the simplicity that really does it for me. With “SLR 2” there was a lot to chew on and it seemed all over the place, but this is just him at his best; expert lyricism over a dope beat (from Floss & Fame in case you were interested). “Control Response” was a high-octane, relentless effort, but my favorite songs from Lupe have always been when he takes a more simplistic approach. Fiasco has a special way of making it sound so easy, while still on another level lyrically and “SLR 3” is a great example of that; this is vintage Lupe. Call me crazy but this my favorite release from him in a hot minute. Now its time for another The Cool and Food & Liquor binge .

See Also:  The Emergency Lupe Fiasco “SLR2” Podcast With The Rap Critic
See Also:  Has Lupe Fiasco, North Scorea Janitor, Officially Gone Off The Hinges?