Ear on TV: The week of January 14

Usually, by December, the only albums released are box sets, reissues, compilations and the scattered unmarketable product. That's my excuse for completely missing Lupe Fiasco's excellent The Cool when it came out December 18.

Nearly 60 years ago Miles Davis presented the Birth of the Cool, Fiasco references that with his line "I present the death of tha cool" ("The Die,",) and the whole album gives a fascinating examination of the price of chasing the 'cool' in hip-hop culture. It's not just that Lupe would rather bug out on anime than play the usual rap game (see "Put You On Game,") but he's also running wild with geek experimentation (see "Hello/Goodbye [Uncool] featuring Unkle"). It's not your typical hip-hop ride, to say the least.

Lupe Fiasco brings his geek chic rap to Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson tonight, 12:37AM, on CBS.

Playlist: Picks of the week
Monday, January 14
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Lupe Fiasco
FUEL: The Daily Habit: American Steel
Tuesday, January 15
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Brett Dennen
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Kate Nash
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: KT Tunstall
Wednesday, January 16
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Wyclef Jean
Thursday, January 17
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Mars Volta
Friday, January 18
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Raheem Devaughn
RAVEHD: Later with Jools Holland: Patti Smith, The Cribs, Kate Nash, Joe Cocker, Simply Red
Saturday, January 19
PBS: Austin City Limits: Coldplay w/ Michael Stipe