Top Shelf: Lupe Fiasco's 'Food and Liquor'

By Will Hermes

Published November 14, 2006 at 4:00 PM EST

Lupe Fiasco is a Chicago-based rapper who made his mainstream debut on the most recent CD by Kanye West, who is also from Chicago.

Now Fiasco is further cementing the Windy City's reputation as a breeding ground for innovative hip-hop, with a new CD, Food and Liquor.

Critic Will Hermes thinks it's one of the year's best.

The cover of Lupe Fiasco's CD, a clear contender for hip-hop record of the year, shows the rapper floating through space with a boombox, a Nintendo DS, a ninja doll and a copy of the Koran that he got from his Dad — all things he considers essential.

If achieving greatness in rap requires separating yourself from the pack of copycats, then Lupe Fiasco has made an impressive start.

Will Hermes

See stories by Will Hermes

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