Lupe's dedication welcomes any new comer to his music cordially with a melody that
really needs no introduction. The horns and drums mix into an epic street sound
that captures the deft listener immediately. Autobiographical? You might
think so. He definitely understands the nuances of a young skaters life.
How many kids get a skate board at six years of age? Not many. This tale
however is going to carry you through this journey with the eyes of either an innocent
child learning to engage the world or an adult reminiscing about the days of their
youth. The child, so young and uncoordinated, is certain to take falls
in his new endeavors. We know many children surrender their initial desires
to failure. In some though their passion fuels their desire to not be defeated.
As an adult we would sometimes see this as stubbornness, but Lupe would reveal that
this strength is a necessity in the world yet to come soon to this soon be man.
At the end of this first verse the listener must be curious to the plight of this
young man. Where does the rhythm of Kick, Push, Coast touch me? In the
heart of my youth who remembers spending days kicking, pushing and hoping it was enough
to coast down the block avoiding any pitfalls that may come to me or that I may roll
upon. The coast is more like the wind in a sail and less of the effort exerted
by his feet. Don't be fooled by his melodic caricature of the grinder as a misfit
or a rebel. The terms remind me of the days when everyone felt like a miss-fit
and only wanted someplace to Be. And so ends Act 1. Just as you begin
to get comfortable with this kid you identify with his merriment and pleasure of boarding
as he discovers the sedition of love from a far. An independent young daughter
coming of age and knowing that her independence is as important to her as it is to
him. While you image the two riding together in the days untold there must be
some definite growth in their relationship. For the girl finally takes him to
a lot, presumably outside her apartment, and is driven away. You have to wonder,
was it that they weren't welcome to skate or they weren't welcome to make/hang out
as boyfriend and girlfriend. Ultimately you have to ask if he did them a favor.
Until Act 3 you just keep kicking and pushing. Maybe just maybe, coast.
