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Lupe Fiasco's 'Black Panther' Review Won't Sit Well With Some People

“…When you do see a movie that’s all black folks, this for me specifically, there’s a bias."

Chicago emcee Lupe Fiasco holds his often-controversial industry opinions to as high an esteem as he holds his own Hollywood and hip-hop tenure.

Yes, even if those opinions stand outside of the popular consensus, such as the second-rate review he handed the seventh-highest-grossing film in history and Marvel superhero epic, Black Panther.

The “Kick, Push” rapper took his thoughts on the $1 billion grossing movie to his Instagram Live, where he first explained the cultural impact of the movie, which is lauded for its principally all-Black cast in a superhero classic. Lupe said that as a man born in 1982, a generation where original movies and follow-up remakes were abundant, he’s not a fan of much modern-day film. That’s in part due to his meticulous eye for computer graphics, special effects and other cinematic distinctions that have changed over time.

When it comes to Black Panther, which he gave an “A-,” it was all about the acting.

“So [Black Panther] still falls into that category of just being like an OK film,” he said. “I don’t think that the acting was super amazing, but for various reasons. One, I don’t think we’re used to seeing Black people on screen that much, so when we do see a movie that’s all Black folks—for me, specifically—there’s a bias.”

He admitted that his bar for acting talent is much higher than most, and his favorites like Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino and “one of the greatest, Denzel Washington” have become his personal standard for acting excellence. It’s no shot at the cast, however, as he praised other standouts from the film such as the women of the cast, who he said took the shine from everyone else. Lupe would, however, have preferred to see actors such as London’s Idris Elba and Doctor Strange’s Chiwetel Ejowifor earn roles in the movie as “really great African or African-American actors who [he] would have really loved to have seen just kill.”

Interesting take, but strongly contrasting to the vast majority.

Listen to his full review in the video below.

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