Lupe Fiasco

Posted on 07.18.2006

16 comment(s)

Lupe Fiasco
Real Name : Wassulu Muhammad Jaco
Hometown : Chicago

Lupe fiasco biography :
It’s not easy being a best kept secret, especially for an artist who is constantly mind traveling and has so much to say. It has to be just as hard when one of hip-hop’s greatest and most respected MC’s tells one of the most powerful record executives in the world that the talents of the person he’s representing are similar to his own five years ago. That’s exactly what retired rap legend and current President of Def Jam Records, Jay-Z, told then Arista Records CEO L.A. Reid in a meeting back in 2002 about wunderkind Lupe Fiasco.

The 23 year-old Chicago native, who has been highly regarded and coveted by many top-level executives and industry insiders for the past three years, has remained relatively unknown in the public eye. Until now. With the release of his Atlantic Records debut, FOOD & LIQUOR, Lupe Fiasco is sure to take the entire music industry by storm.

Raised on Chicago’s Westside as the youngest boy of nine brothers, Lupe (born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco) is an eclectic soul with varied interests ; something that was developed from the upbringing of both of his parents. Lupe’s parents made sure he was exposed to anything and everything that was in their environment, which he credits as a major influence as a person and as an artist.

’My father was a real prolific African drummer and can play anything from the Djiembe’s to the bagpipes. My mom is a gourmet chef that has traveled the world. We were always around different cultures. It is because of these artistic experiences [that] there are no limitations to what I talk about on my record.’

There are also no limitations to Lupe’s skill and ability as an MC. He has the drive to explore artistic region beyond your comfort zone and the desire to break boundaries, all the while having the edge and street credibility to resonate with the purist and the thug, suburbia and the streets, all in one. Rapping since the eighth grade, Lupe began taking the craft seriously when he was 17 years old, inspired by other MC’s and groups such as Twista, Nas, Crucial Conflict, Spice 1, Eightball and Psycho Drama. Lupe followed this love, and at the age of 19, his group Da Pak landed their first major record deal under Epic Records. The set-up of the four-man group was ’similar to Boyz N Hood,’ according to Lupe. Unfortunately, the group disbanded soon after releasing their first single.

Unfazed and determined, Lupe and his manager/business partner Chill moved ahead. At one point, the rapper planned to sign with Roc-a-Fella Records. ’That’s when I first met Jay,’ recalls Lupe. ’The situation fell through, but we always stayed in contact because he respected my partner and me as a fellow rapper. He did [a lot] to help me boost my career.’ Lupe then signed with Arista Records, but once again his career was halted, this time because Arista head L.A. Reid was relieved from his post. After being thrown around labels, luck finally struck when a former Arista A&R rep and manager of the Notorious B.I.G., Mark Pitts, brought Lupe to the attention of Atlantic Records CEO Craig Kallman. Atlantic proved to be a perfect fit.

’The title reflects on me being Muslim and being from the streets,’ says Lupe about FOOD & LIQUOR. ’In Chicago, instead having bodegas like in New York, the majority of the corner stores are called ‘Food and Liquors.’ The store is where everything is at, whether it be the wine-o hanging by the store, or us as kids going back and forth to the store to buy something. The ‘Food’ is the good part and the ‘Liquors’ is the bad part. I try to balance out both parts of me.’

Laced with 14-tracks of complex, thought-provoking and playful lyricism coupled with sure-fire beats, FOOD & LIQUOR will be distributed by Atlantic through Lupe’s company, 1st & 15th Productions, and will feature production by the likes of Nottz, Needles, the Buchanans, Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, not to mention 1st & 15th producers Soundtrakk and Pro. The song that is sure to help thrust Lupe from underground phenom to mainstream success is the album’s lead single that is dedicated to the art of skateboarding, ’Kick, Push,’ produced by Soundtrakk. ’It’s a skateboarding song. I used to skateboard when I was younger. I was really into it. I never really knew that skateboarding was so deep as a culture. It’s just as deep as hip-hop. I’m not the greatest skateboarder, but I’m a damn good rapper, so I made a damn good skateboarding song.’

Many artists have albums that aim to reach a diverse audience, but Lupe is a living embodiment of the word. Lupe is a devout Muslim and a deep thinker who listens to jazz. But he’s also a young man who loves the ladies and likes to chill with his crew. The continued success of hip-hop depends on individuals who combine the streets with intelligence with strong radio airplay. And with Lupe Fiasco, rap has found another favorite son. ’[When I retire], I want to step away on positive note.’ says Lupe. ’What you put out into the world comes back to you. You actually change the world with what you do. I want to put some good in the world.’

Lupe Fiasco Discography :

Lupe Fiasco Albums :

2006 : Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor

Lupe Fiasco Singles :

2006 "Kick, Push" - Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor
2006 "Touch The Sky" (Kanye West featuring Lupe Fiasco)
2006 "Just Might Be Okay" (Lupe Fiasco featuring Gemini)
2003 "Didn’t You Know" (Tha Rayne featuring Lupe Fiasco & Joe Budden)
2003 "Pop Pop"

Lupe Fiasco Appearances :

Albums :
2006 : Need For Speed : Most Wanted (Original Soundtrack)
2006 : NBA Live 2006 (Original Soundtrack)

Mixtapes :
Fahrenheit 1/15 Part I
Fahrenheit 1/15 Part II : Revenge Of The Nerds
Fahrenheit 1/15 Part III : A Rhyming Ape
Lupe Fiasco : Touch The Sky (Hosted by DJ E Nyce)
Lupe the Jedi
Nerds In Paradise
DigitalJunkeez.com Presents... Lupe Fiasco "The Great"
DJ Green Lantern Presents Fort Minor : We Major (featured on tracks 8 and 11)

For more information on Lupe Fiasco, visit his official website : www.lupefiasco.com
www.myspace.com/lupefiasco

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No profanity, or inaproppriate remarks.

Lupe Fiasco, by [2008-05-12 12:28:50]

one of the best lyricis in the game hands down and if u dont think so listen closer or go somewere else so they can dumb it down

Lupe Fiasco, by thamach1 [2008-04-28 19:27:13]

i like lupe (bottom top, dumb it down, propor) all good songs. but i dont like that he is w/ dudes like nas and kanye. they both suck, especially that one "stronger" song. i wish he would be w/ guys like DMX or the wutang clan. he will change rap like pac did, but pac had a way of writin his stuff so everyone even white ppl could connect to what he said

Lupe Fiasco, by [2008-03-06 21:19:26]

I’ve listened to Daydreamin’ a dozen times. Respect for respect with a message.

Lupe Fiasco, by monte [2007-12-15 21:32:35]

i hope this new cd is like food and liquor i am fan now keep it up lupe

Lupe Fiasco, by HipHoppa [2007-08-01 14:41:13]

this dudes tough. i like his music.

Lupe Fiasco, by shorty03 [2007-05-24 13:41:53]

he is the hottest guys ive ever seen,to bad that im only 17 tho and hes 23.oh well we girls can dream cant we ??hehe amen to you sister,that girl izabella sounds tight and like a goofy person.she is right about him being sexy tho.peace !!!!

Lupe Fiasco, by shorty03 [2007-05-24 13:36:42]

hes not acting like kanye stupid !!you try being in that business industry and then you can tell me !!your acting like an idiot dude.dude,he is soooooodam sexy tho geeesh.

Lupe Fiasco, by Nostradamus [2007-03-18 10:26:32]

Lupe grew some orangutangee titties and now sings like an old bitch.

Lupe Fiasco, by [2007-02-07 10:44:02]

what up homeboy this ice i haven’t copped your album cuz i never really heard you but a track i got with you papoose and styles changed my mind i think you a sick cat i hope your album just as good as your verse on the cipher

Lupe Fiasco, by kristy [2007-01-30 00:08:05]

i reackon his a lubbly lookin’ sing

Lupe Fiasco, by Izabelle [2007-01-17 13:10:38]

dayum !! dis is one of the hottest guyz i ever seen....the sickest rhymer on earth keep doin yo thang !! luuv u alwayz !!

Lupe Fiasco, by Been Inspired [2007-01-08 17:09:04]

Truly Gifted Kid i have every single he ever done on my PC your a true inspiration and i only pray that you will acomplish great things in your life, Great man in the making of being a true Role Model and thats hard these days to expecially from scratch, Born legend,

Plus Soo Fione too xx

Lupe Fiasco, by chief [2006-12-06 21:52:30]

yo, im chief, i got the album, "food&liquor" and its THEE BOMB !! im glad i got the cd and his rap skill is a chi-town classic sounds. The best tracks are kick,push 1and2 ,I gotcha, and sunshine. I especailly like SUNSHINE, it remind me of my gurl. The best thing about the album is the cover and the color theme. I gotta tell yall, it me remind the color of the 80s !! Lupe keep the classic sounds up, you inspires me 4 real !!!!!!!!!

Lupe Fiasco, by Rory McMaster [2006-10-29 23:52:27]

Lupe aint trying to sound like anybody. Not even Kanye west. he’s our brother and I think its about time U come to New Zealand bro. Kakete.

Lupe Fiasco, by Substance [2006-10-03 16:41:37]

Lupe Fiasco is not trying to sound like Kanye. His delivery, lyrics, and the concepts of his song are very different from Kanye’s. Anytime someone trys something different they are either biting the closest alternative or wack. Everyone says hip hop is dead but the only thing they will support is the same stuff they are cryin about.