Reflect on why you think this particular instrumentation has been selected.
Lupe Fiasco – Stack That Cheese (Ft. Nikki Jean)
Produced by Lupe Fiasco, Floss & Fame
“Stack That Cheese” by Lupe Fiasco is the 19th track off his seventh studio album, “Drogas Wave”. The song is a spiritual successor to his 2007 hit “Hip Hop Saved My Life” and takes a more realistic look on the grim nature of a young rapper’s rise to fame.
The instrumentation on this track is reflective of how the track is a deeper dive on the topic than its predecessor. The inspiring guitar loop on “Hip Hop Saved my Life” is replaced with a sad, warm guitar riff, implying a tragic, dead-pan tone. The track also features loud live drums which complement the guitar very well. In conclusion, I think the choices made with the instrumentation are to convey the maturity and emotional depth of the theme as well as Lupe’s artistic growth since the original track.
Arrangement
Track Structure:
Verse 1 -> Chorus -> Bridge -> Verse 2 -> Chorus -> Bridge -> Verse 3 -> Chorus -> Bridge -> Outro
Although the track’s arrangement is rather basic and the instrumentation is similar throughout, Lupe uses the lyrical content in his verses to build on the song’s themes, giving the listener a sense of progression.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I think “Stack That Cheese” is a perfect example of how to make the best out of simple formats of arrangement and how even older hip hop formats have aged well over time.