What to say about Lupe? My honest opinion, is that he is one of the best lyricists in the Hip-Hop/Rap scene today. His lyrics are deep, his beats are sick, and he's continually put out great albums.
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Lupefiascointerview.jpg/220px-Lupefiascointerview.jpg[/img]
[U][B]Background[/B][/U]
Fiasco was born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco on February 16, 1982 in Chicago. Hee was one of nine children of Shirley, a gourmet chef, and Gregory, an engineer. His father was a prominent member of the Black Panther party, [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupe_Fiasco#cite_note-The_Guardian-6"][/URL] was a prolific African drummer, karate teacher, and operating plant engineer.[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupe_Fiasco#cite_note-theage-8"][/URL] Fiasco was raised Muslim on Madison Terrace housing project.
As a child, Lupe disliked rap and hip-hop, due to its vulgarity and lack of respect towards women. He often preferred to listen to artists like Benny Goodman and other clarinet players. He began rapping in the 8th grade, and decided to pursue it after listening to Nas' 1996 album, [I]It was Written[/I].
[U][B]Lupe Fiasco[/B][/U]
Growing up, Fiasco was given the nickname "Lu", the last part of his first name, by his mother. "Lupe" is an extension of this nickname, which he borrowed from a friend from high school. "Fiasco," he says, "came from [I]The Firm Album[/I]. They had the song, 'Firm Fiasco'. I just liked the way it looked on paper. I simply like the way the word looked (Fiasco). You know how rappers always have names like MC Terrorist--like they're 'terrorizing' other rappers? I knew fiasco meant a great disaster or something like that, but I didn't realize that the person named Fiasco would be the disaster, and that you should be calling other MCs fiascoes--not yourself. I was moving real fast at the time, and it kind of humbled me in a sense. It taught me like, 'Yo, stop rushing, or you're going to have some fiascoes.' So I just kept it. It's like a scar, I guess, a reminder to not over think or overrun anything ever again."
[U][B]Early Career
[/B][/U]Fiasco later signed a solo deal with [U]Arista Records[/U] but was dropped later after the C.E.O was fired. During his stay, however, he met Jay-Z, the president of [U]Def Jams[/U] at the time. Jay-Z called Lupe, "Fresh and stylish" and was said he also reminded Jay-Z of himself. This later helped Lupe sign a deal with [U]Atlantic Records[/U], where he still is today. After signing with [U]Atlantic[/U], appearing on songs such as Kanye West' "Touch the Sky", and gaining quick momentum in the community, he released his first single which was titled "Kick, Push". It would go on to nominated for a Grammy in 2007 and would further the career of Lupe.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl83mI69nX4[/media]
[I][U][B]Food and Liquor[/B][/U][/I][B][U] and [I]The Cool[/I][/U][/B]
Jay-Z would go on to help him the production of his first album [I]Food and Liquor[/I]. The title is, as Fiasco says, "The title reflects on me being Muslim and being from the streets. In Chicago, instead of having bodegas like in New York, the majority of the corner stores are called 'Food and Liquors.' The [I]Food [/I]is the good part and the [I]Liquors[/I] is the bad part. I try to balance out both parts of me...Food to me represents growth and progression. You eat food and you get strength. You need it to live. Liquor is not a necessity; it is a want. It destroys you. It breaks you down. I can see why it's prohibited in Islam...I've always felt like liquor represents the bad, the food represents the good, and everyone is made up of a little of both." The album was officially released on September 19, 2006. The album featured production from Jay-Z, Kanye West, Mike Shinoda, and more. Singles from the album were "Kick, Push," "I Gotcha", and "Daydreamin'". The critically lauded album was later nominated for three Grammy Awards, including "Best Rap Album". Fiasco won "Best Urban/Alternative Performance" for "Daydreamin" and was voted [I]GQ's[/I] "Breakout Man of the Year".
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFO46grxLJ0[/media]
In 2007, Fiasco announced his second album, [I]The Cool[/I], a concept album that expands on the story of the track of the same name on his first album. While recording the album, Fiasco's father died of type II diabetes[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2"][/URL] and his business partner, Charles "Chilly" Patton, was convicted of attempting to supply heroin and was sentenced to 44 years in prison.[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupe_Fiasco#cite_note-SF_Weekly-32"][/URL] These events greatly affected Fiasco and the subsequent themes discussed on the albu[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupe_Fiasco#cite_note-NY_Times-31"][/URL]m. The album was released in December 2007 in United States. The first single and video from the album, "Superstar" featuring Matthew Santos was released the first week of November 2007.The album's second single (released in the UK in April 2008) was "Paris, Tokyo"- a song based around Fiasco's experiences of touring the world between his first and second albums.[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupe_Fiasco#cite_note-34"][/URL]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty0u1PzXfTo[/media]
[U][B]Present Day:[/B][/U]
It was announced by Fiasco that his next album would instead be titled, "[I]We Are Lasers[/I]"; yet later his official rep announced and confirmed that it would instead be titled simply "[I]Lasers[/I]". The album's first single, "Shining Down," features Matthew Santos and is produced by Soundtrakk. The single was released on July 7, 2009. On January 26, 2010, a new song called "I'm Beamin" was released. "I'm Beamin" will be on the upcoming [I]Lasers[/I]; Fiasco referred to the song as a 'taste' of what is coming.[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupe_Fiasco#cite_note-46"][/URL]There are a few snippets of songs that have been released as of August 24, 2009, unofficially titled "Army Girl," "Ladies And Gentlemen," and "2 Ways."
On August 10, Lupe Fiasco released a snippet of a song "Go to Sleep," on his official Twitter page.[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupe_Fiasco#cite_note-54"][/URL]That snippet/song had the album titled [I]Food & Liquor II (TGARA)[/I]. This led to speculation that "Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album," would be Lupe's follow-up to[I] Lasers[/I].
On August 23, Fiasco released "Go to Sleep" in its entirety. While performing at Wake Forest University's Alumni Weekend Concert in Winston-Salem, NC on October 8, Fiasco revealed to the crowd that the album would be released in early March. On October 15, Fiasco and his fans protested outside the Atlantic Records headquarters in New York City for the release of his third studio album, [I]Lasers[/I]. After the long haul, Atlantic has announced a release date of March 8, 2011. The first single off of [I]Lasers[/I], "The Show Goes On[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Show_Goes_On_%28song%29"][/URL]", was released on October 26, 2010 via Lupe's official website. The song samples the song "Float On" by Modest Mouse. It was released to iTunes on November 9, 2010, and debuted at #57 on the [I]Billboard Top 100.
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[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rmp6zIr5y4U[/media]
Of course there is more, but this is just some information on my favorite artist of today. Now before you say anything, I'm not some crazy fan, I just appreciate his style. He's a real dude. I like other rappers, but Lupe is the most down to earth in my opinion. Even if you don't listen to Hip-Hop/Rap that often, I encourage you to listen to Lupe Fiasco. It seems he has something for everyone.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI6iZJOntY8[/media]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpK-TZInx2M[/media]
Lupe Fiasco sounds like a pornstar name
great rapper, easily one of the best of the 00's, can't wait for lasers, 3 fucking years in the making.
Agreed man ^
Lasers is going to be so dope. Bump that shit everyday.
Lupe Fiasco is good, but he doesn't really live up to the hype.
Overrated, in my opinion.
I respect the man but his music is pretty boring. I do quite like The Show Goes On, but that's for the same reason I like Float On, so...
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