Single Review- “Shining Down” By Lupe Fiasco

Label: Atlantic Recording Corporation
Rating: 3 Guns

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Written By: Victoria H. (Urban Editor)

“Shining Down” is the first single off Lupe’s upcoming album Lasers (“Love Always Shines Everytime Remember 2 Smile”). The album is scheduled to be released December 2009.

Pairing with frequent collaborator, Matthew Santos, “Shining Down” is a blend of auto-tune, synth, rock and rap- sounding faintly like Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop”. Now, don’t think because I say that “Shining Down” sounds faintly like “Lollipop”, that this track is some auto-tune club banger- “Shining Down” is a gritty look at society.

Lupe delivers a sting to America (“I don’t idolize America/I’m dancing with the stars”) and continues to voice the concern he has for his community.

No, I ain’t the n—a tryna get a liquor line
When I be scrippin’ lines, want this petition signed
It says I’m sick of dyin’, sick of this prison time
I really love my people, I’m sick of pimpin’ mine

Lupe also pays respects to his father who passed, with the line “Rap name Lupe but my daddy named me warrior/This is his memorial.” I believe that Lupe’s career as a whole is a moving memorial to his father, as Lupe raps with intelligence and a worldliness you don’t always see in rap or music as a whole.

Matthew Santos sings the chorus with passion and brings a great balance to Lupe’s rhymes. I would love to hear a full album with both Lupe and Matthew as they are a great team.

It would not be fair to judge an album based on one song, but based on what Lupe has done and this single, I believe that Lasers is going to be an excellent album.