10 Times Popular Musicians Tried Out Completely Unexpected Genres
4. Japanese Cartoon (Lupe Fiasco) - Gasp
The rock-rap pipeline doesn't only travel one way. Plenty of hip hop artists, both good (Andre 3000) and bad (Lil Wayne) have dabbled in guitar-based music, but none in such surprising and under-appreciated ways as Lupe Fiasco did with his punk group Japanese Cartoon.
A dazzling lyricist hampered by a tin-ear for beats and an awkward singing voice, Fiasco's punk rock project Japanese Cartoon promised to be, well just that: a fiasco. And, sure, it's an uneven project (not least because of Lupe's decision to occasionally sing with the mockney accent of alter ego Percival Fats). Yet the album still has truly dazzling moments, as Lupe's flair for imagery and surprising grasp of melody cohere beautifully.
Most impressive is the track Gasp, regarded by Lupe as the album's "crown jewel". With legendary The Cult singer Ian Astbury providing a tasteful drum beat, it's a melodic, atmospheric closer, with lyrics exploring the darker side of technological progress.