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LUPE FIASCO
Food & Liquor Atlantic ****

Wasalu Muhammad Jaco knows all about living up to frenzied expectations. Since the Chi-Town rapper swapped rhymes with Kanye West on Touch the Sky, all eyes have been on the devout Muslim and skateboarding fan to see if he's the real deal. What you'll find on Food & Liquor is evidence pointing to a wordsmith you won't encounter every day of the week. Click right through to Hurt Me Soul, for instance, and catch Fiasco getting lowdown and vocal about some of hip-hop and life's more pressing ills. Or turn to American Terrorist to hear him break it down bluntly about another form of American homeland insecurity. He can also play the pop game: Kick Push is a warm and funky ode to skateboarding and love, while Daydreamin' is a breezy jazz joint where he's joined by Jill Scott. Throughout, Fiasco's beats are faultless, with A-listers like Jay-Z, West and Pharrell reaching for the buttons alongside such newer cats as Prolyfic, Soundtrakk and Needlz. One of the best hip-hop sets in '06. www.lupefiasco.com  Jim Carroll