Lupe Fiasco is doing his part to Zombie hip-hop. “The Cool” has all the elements needed for a hot rap CD, but does it all completely different from everyone else.

He’s got the message song in “Little Weapon” (the writing had a little help from head Fall Out Boy, Patrick Stump), a stand-out beat, “Go Go Gadget Flow,” the H-Town screwed up chorus on “Dumb It Down,” and a wow feature on “Hi- Definition” with Snoop Dogg. (Yeah, he had Jay-Z and Jill Scott on “Food & Liquor,” but there’s just something about this feature that seems better than before.) In “The Die” he shows off his speed and delivery and features an upcoming artist from his camp, ‘1st & 15th,’ Gemstones.

Fiasco also was sure add a new element that seems to be very necessary on any successful hip-hop CD, the ‘rock beat,’ with the track “Hello/Goodbye (Uncool).” Lupe gets the “rock beat” down to a “T” and meshes with the guitars and drums perfectly.

This CD is perfect from track No. 1 to No. 19 and it’s getting my first IPod ever. So what if it’s only my second review? (Note from the editor: An IPod is what Tracy awards to CDs that are just about perfect.)