Fresh: "Don't Stay"-Laura Izibor

Concert Review: Lupe Fiasco @ Temple University Homecoming 09’

The music blaring out of the overtly loud speakers hushed. The fog rose. The equipment crew that worked as if they were not receiving a Friday pay stub vanished and the lights dimmed. Within seconds the rupture of the crowd could be heard in stadiums all throughout Malaysia. The darkness filled the packed Liacouras stadium and the concert goers anxiously awaited the arrival of Mr. Wasulu Muhammad Jaco, better known to hip-hop lovers as the never dull, nothing short of hype --Lupe Fiasco.

The aviators, black v-neck t-shirt, khakis, and black acid wash jean jacket came out with a distinctiveness that shouted cocky. A walk that sang I’m here, and an energy that by now, after two highly-praised albums, and one Grammy, screamed I’m not going anywhere.

To me he never gets old. Four Lupe Fiasco concerts later and I’m still hooked. I still get a rush that hours later I can’t shake and days after I’m still reminiscing about.

Tonight is no different.

The bright lights flare and the Chicago native opens the show with “The Cool” the 10th track off his 2006 debut Food and Liquor.

He begins to warm up and by the time he spits his verse from the “Everyone Nose (remix)” he as well as the crowd were…well, hype.

In the mist of tracks from Food and Liquor and The Cool he gives us a taste of his new album L.A.S.E.R.S (Love Always Shines Everytime Remember 2 Smile) --“Shining Down” which is already my classic and “Fire,” which he continued to bring.

Tonight, like previous nights I’ve seen him, he lectures much and rambles a bit. Expressing love for Philadelphia, reflections on his success and questions about war.

He sets the stage for “Little Weapon” with Philadelphia resident Nikki Jean.

After the song wraps he goes on with his war lecture, and I’m thinking: play "Streets on Fire," just play it.

“Tonightttttttt……”

I go crazy.

He does as instructed and track 11, my favorite track on The Cool emerges lyrically from his mouth and instrumentally from his Dj, drummer, and guitarist.

I love it.

With his one and I mean only “one,” for the ladies as he too exclaimed, (playing “Paris, Tokyo”) he stayed focused, keeping it real and the crowd hype with an ending of “Superstar” and “Day Dreamin’”.

With the absence of some of his classics and my personal all time anthems (“Real,” “Pressure,” “American Terrorist,” “He Say She Say,” “Sunshine”) his performance was like always: classic. At 27 he has the energy of a 5-year-old and in Philly he fosters the same love as though he were in the Chi.

He can’t stand still, he doesn’t miss a beat, and he gives the crowd even more than they’ve expected.

His fusion of hip-hop and rock is classic. His performances’, priceless. His Fiasco, necessary.

Definitely a must see.