Blue Intoxication

LUPE FIASCO - THE COOL
ARTIST: LUPE FIASCO
ALBUM: THE COOL
RATINGS: ****
RELEASED: 2007
*Lupe Fiasco got Kanye's groove. Lupe Fiasco's The Cool, commonly referred to as simply The Cool, is the critically acclaimed second studio album by Chicago hip hop artist Lupe Fiasco, released on December 18, 2007 in the United States. The Cool is a loose concept album, based on a song and its titular character from his debut album Food & Liquor. The album features production from Soundtrakk, Unkle, Patrick Stump and Chris & Drop, among others. Guest appearances include GemStones, Snoop Dogg, and Matthew Santos. The album debuted at #15, moved a spot up to #14 on the Billboard 200 in its second week. It debuted as the #1 rap record and remained there for 9 weeks. It has been certified Gold by the RIAA. The album was nominated for four awards at the 2009 Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album.


TIMBALAND - PRESENTS: SHOCK VALUE
ARTIST: TIMBALAND
ALBUM: PRESENTS: SHOCK VALUE
RATING: ****
RELEASED: 2007
*Timbaland Presents Shock Value (or sometimes just Shock Value) is the second solo studio album, and fifth album overall, by record producer and rapper Timbaland. It is his second album without partner Magoo (who is featured on one song), and Timbaland's first release on his own imprint, the Interscope Records-distributed Mosley Music Group. Shock Value features a long list of guest artists, among them Justin Timberlake, The Hives, Fall Out Boy, Keri Hilson, Nelly Furtado, Missy Elliott, 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, OneRepublic, the singer and pianist Elton John, Nicole Scherzinger and more. The disc will be followed by Shock Value II which will be released in 2009. It will have guest appearances by Justin Timberlake, Madonna, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Usher, Jonas Brothers, 50 Cent of G-Unit, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and more. The album was being supported by a Shock Value 2008 Tour. The tour was to begin in Australia and continue on to New Zealand but was postponed and then cancelled for unknown reasons.