Idolator

Every Tuesday, hundreds of albums are unleashed on the world. Every Monday, your Idolators will look at a few of those albums, and give you a thumbnail context for them—who the artist is, what the record will sound like, and who will probably buy it (or, at the very least, download it). This week, we look at new releases from Chicago MC Lupe Fiasco, solo Pea Fergie, Canadian foppers The Hidden Cameras, and the voices that embody those Bratz dolls your younger cousins are always toting around.

Lupe Fiasco, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor (1st & 15th/Atlantic)
The artist: "Touch the Sky" guest lyricist and Chicago-born MC who loves Nas and isn't above engaging in a little bit of blog beef.
The sound: Leaked versions of Food & Liquor have been making their way around the Internet since this spring, resulting in a cat-and-mouse-like game of remixing, leaking, and more remixing. The final version of Food & Liquor (which showed up on p2p sites last week) is going to have more guests—including Mike Shinoda, Kanye West, and Jill Scott—than the green room at 106 & Park.
The market: Food & Liquor has pretty huge pop potential—the lush ode to skateboarding "Kick Push" is one of the year's strongest singles, sound-wise. But will enough people look past its earlier versions and plunk down the cash for the album's proper release?

Fergie, The Dutchess (Will.I.Am/A&M/Interscope)
The artist: The "Humps"-wiggling female vocalist from the Black Eyed Peas. To us, she'll always be Stacy Ferguson.
The sound: All over the map, including straightforward R & B, L'Trimm-like pouting, and a Rita Marley-produced "No Woman No Cry" rip that transforms into an ill-thought pop-ska song at the end. Ludacris and will.i.am guest.
The market: Teenyboppers, post-teenyboppers, sassy soccer moms, and diehard Wild Orchid fans.

The Hidden Cameras, Awoo (Arts & Crafts)
The artist: Yet another rotating collective of Canadians with big sonic dreams and lyrics like "I'd rather wallow in the mud of my own rich imagination."
The sound: Lush orchestral pop, and a frontman who sounds like he's trying to forcibly channel Taking Tiger Mountain-era Brian Eno. Irresistibly listenable, if a bit precious at times.
The market: Guess.

Bratz, Forever Diamondz (Universal)
The artist: The newest cluster of dolls from the mega-trillion-selling lipsticked n' miniskirted Bratz line.
The sound: Radio Disney-ready sheen-pop. Too bad the Svengali behind this project wasn't inspired to add a cover of Nice N' Wild's freestyle hit "Diamond Girl."
The market: Parents who want to introduce their daughters into the world of shameless, showy materialism, but aren't ready to shell out for a copy of The Dutchess.

"On the CD Front" [Pause & Play]