There's a moment of bliss, but zero redemption in this mother/son street story that's not for the squeamish — even it's just a depiction of a sad reality.
It's not deliverance we're after in this new Lupe Fiasco, it's actual delivery... which is possible, but only with some harmless subterfuge and a long bike ride to the nice part of town.
Lupe Fiasco digs into his memories, when things were pure and simple, before Chicago was the murder capital of the USA. Ed Sheeran sings the effective and perfectly wistful hook, but it's directors Coodie & Chike who surely rummaged through their own Chicago roots in creating the handmade dreamscapes of childhood innocense to stand in stark contrast to the current chalk outlines.
It starts with imagery of guns, drugs and bitches, watches, chains and fried chicken. Then we take a step-back and see the young impressionable black kid watching it on TV until he gets cuffed and taken away, replaced by a white kid who watches something a bit more classically educational. And lastly, we get a peek at the board room where a "diverse" panel looks at the society they've helped create.
And that description actually leaves out some of the most controversial elements...
