Lupe Fiasco

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Lupe Fiasco
Fiasco performing at Northwestern University in May 2007
Fiasco performing at Northwestern University in May 2007
Background information
Birth name Wasalu Muhammad Jaco
Born February 16, 1982 (1982-02-16) (age 27)
Origin Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genre(s) Hip hop
Occupation(s) Rapper, songwriter, producer, CEO
Years active 2001–present
Label(s) Atlantic, 1st & 15th
Associated acts Child Rebel Soldier
Website www.lupefiasco.com

Wasalu Muhammad Jaco (born February 17, 1982),[1] better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco, is a Grammy-winning American hip-hop artist. He rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his critically acclaimed debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor. Prominent hip hop mogul Jay-Z describes him as a "breath of fresh air" in a new hip hop world characterized by mainstream pop and glamor, a sharp contrast with the widespread lyricism-focused rap of the 1990s, and critics have called him the "Hip-Hop Generation's Next Vanguard."[2]

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life and career beginnings

Jaco was raised a Muslim in an African American [3] family living on the West side of Chicago,[4] and is the fifth child of nine brothers and sisters. His father was an engineer, a prolific African drummer, karate teacher and owner of karate schools and army surplus stores.[5] His mother was a gourmet chef. He went to high school at Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois.[6] He was initially put off by the vulgarity and violent imagery of his father's N.W.A. records. He started rapping when he was in the eighth grade, and [4] upon hearing Nas' 1996 album, It Was Written, began to pursue hip hop music.[3][5]

Growing up, Jaco 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 the Firm album. They had the song, 'Firm Fiasco'. I just liked the way it looked on paper."[6]

By 19, Lupe Fiasco was in a group called Da Pak. They signed to Epic Records and released one single before splitting up.[7] Fiasco later signed a solo deal with Arista Records, but was dropped when president and CEO L.A. Reid was fired.[7] During this time, he had guest appearances on singles on Tha' Rayne's "Kiss Me" and "Didn't You Know" and also K Foxx's 2004 "This Life". He also released the song "Coulda Been" on a compilation of MTV's Advance Warning.[8] He began releasing many mixtapes, developing a fan base via the internet.

[edit] 2005–2006: Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor

Fiasco at the 2006 Intonation Music Festival in Illinois.

Lupe had gained a large underground following with the release of a series of critically acclaimed mixtapes, prominently Lupe's own Fahrenheit 1/15 Part I: The Truth Is Among Us, Fahrenheit 1/15 Part II: Revenge of the Nerds, and Fahrenheit 1/15 Part III: A Rhyming Ape. In 2005, Lupe was featured on two tracks on Mike Shinoda's solo mixtape titled Fort Minor: We Major and was even an active member on the official Fort Minor message boards.[9] During this time, rapper and mogul Jay-Z heard Lupe and assisted him in the production of what would become his debut album Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor.[10]

In 2005, Lupe appeared on the Kanye West track "Touch the Sky" from West's Late Registration. Soon after, he released his first single "Kick, Push", a song heavily influenced by skateboarding. As his popularity slowly increased, so did anticipation for his upcoming album Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor. The album was officially released on September 19, 2006. The album featured production from Jay-Z, Kanye West, Mike Shinoda, The Neptunes, Prolyfic, and more. Singles from the album were "Kick, Push," "I Gotcha" and "Daydreamin'" featuring Jill Scott. The critically lauded album was later nominated for three Grammy Awards including Best Rap Album. In the same year, he was voted by GQ as the "Breakout Man of the Year."[11]

[edit] 2007–2008: Lupe Fiasco's The Cool

Fiasco in November 2007

In 2007, Lupe announced his second album, Lupe Fiasco's The Cool, a concept album that expands on the story of the track of the same name on his first album. It was released on December 18, 2007 in United States. The first single and video from the album, "Superstar", featuring Matthew Santos, was released the first week of November 2007. Baseball's Troy Tulowitzki, Ryan Zimmerman, Gerald Laird and all-star Ryan Braun have used "Superstar" as their at-bat song.[12] The song has also been featured in HBO's Hard Knocks TV show.

Also in 2007, it was revealed that Fiasco, Kanye West and Pharrell Williams had formed a group known as Child Rebel Soldier.[13][14] Child Rebel Soldier, also known as "CRS", released their first album naming it Rebel Music. Rebel Music features samples of beats from the members albums such as Kanye West's: Graduation, Lupe Fiasco's: The Cool, and Pharrell Williams Hip-Hop/Punk Rock group N.E.R.D.. Also, "Rebel Music" includes remixes from those albums and fetures other Hip-Hop artists such as Jay-Z, Common, and N.E.R.D.. [15] CRS released one single from their album titled "US Placers", featuring a Thom Yorke sample.

Songs from Lupe Fiasco's The Cool are featured in the movie Street Kings. The songs "Put You on Game" and "Little Weapon" both appear in the latest trailer.

In an interview with The Village Voice, Fiasco revealed that he was writing a novel about a window washer[16] aptly titled Reflections of a Window Washer.

In 2008, Lupe and his band 1500 or Nothin joined Kanye's Glow in the Dark Tour, which also features Rihanna and N.E.R.D. The tour stopped in several cities, including his hometown of Chicago. He's been made #7 as the Hottest MCs in the Game of 2008 by MTV.[17]

Lupe announced that he was remixing The Cool with French electro house act Justice.[18]

Lupe Fiasco's "Superstar" has been included in the video game Lips.[19]

[edit] 2009–present: We Are Lasers

Fiasco announced at a Chicago concert late in 2008 that his next and most likely final album will be a three disk album and that the first disc "Everywhere" would come out in June 2009. The trio was going to be named LupE.N.D.[20] On January 30, 2009, Lupe Fiasco originally announced that LupE.N.D. will be postponed indefinitely. Instead, he would release three albums; The Great American Rap Album in June 2009, two following albums in December 2009 and June 2010, with LupE.N.D. following afterward.[21] However, it was announced Fiasco that his next album would instead be titled, We Are Lasers.[22]

[edit] Ventures

Fiasco is the co-founder and vice-president of 1st & 15th Entertainment, a record label under Atlantic[5]. Fiasco serves as the current CEO. In January 2006, Lupe signed with major footwear and apparel corporation Reebok becoming part of the "O.G" marketing campaign, where rap artists such as Lil Wayne and Mike Jones designed their own personal colorway of the Reebok "O.G" model.[23]

[edit] Discography

Main article: Lupe Fiasco discography

[edit] Awards and nominations

Year Award Result
2006 BET Hip Hop Awards for Hip-Hop CD of the Year: Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor[24] Nominated
BET Hip Hop Awards for Hip-Hop Video of the Year: "Kick Push"[24] Nominated
BET Hip Hop Awards for Rookie of the Year: "Kick Push"[24] Nominated
BET Hip Hop Awards for Element Award: Lyricist of the Year[24] Nominated
2007 BET Awards for Best New Artist[25] Nominated
Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance: "Kick Push"[26] Nominated
Grammy Award for Best Rap Song: "Kick Push"[26] Nominated
Grammy Award for Best Rap Album: Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor[26] Nominated
NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding New Artist[27] Nominated
Soul Train Music Award for Best New R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist: "I Gotcha"[28] Nominated
2008 Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance: "Daydreamin'" (shared with Jill Scott)[29] Won
MOBO Awards for Best Hip-Hop Act[30] Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards for Best Hip-Hop Video: "Superstar" (shared with Matthew Santos)[31] Nominated
Teen Choice Awards for Best Hip-Hop Song: "Superstar" (shared with Matthew Santos)[32] Nominated
Teen Choice Awards for Choice Music: Rap Artist[32] Nominated
BET Hip Hop Awards for CD of the Year: Lupe Fiasco's The Cool[33] Nominated
BET Hip Hop Awards for Alltel Wireless People’s Champ: Lupe Fiasco – "Superstar" (shared with Matthew Santos) Nominated
2009 Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance: "Paris, Tokyo"[34] Nominated
Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: "Superstar" (shared with Matthew Santos)[34] Nominated
Grammy Award for Best Rap Song: "Superstar" (shared with Matthew Santos)[34] Nominated
Grammy Award for Best Rap Album: Lupe Fiasco's The Cool[34] Nominated
USA's Character Approved Award for Musician: Lupe Fiasco[35][36] Won

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Lupe Fiasco: Biography". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/lupefiasco/biography. Retrieved on 2008-12-23. 
  2. ^ Adaso, Henry. "Lupe Fiasco - "Kick, Push"". About.com. http://rap.about.com/od/reviews/gr/LupeKickPush.htm. Retrieved on 2006-07-13. 
  3. ^ a b Adaso, Henry. "Lupe Fiasco". About.com. http://rap.about.com/od/artists/p/LupeFiascobio.htm. Retrieved on 2007-04-08. 
  4. ^ a b Creekmur, Chuck (2006-02-10). "Lupe Fiasco: Revenge of the Hip-Hop Nerd". Allhiphop.com. http://allhiphop.com/blogs/features/archive/2006/02/10/18133452.aspx. Retrieved on 2007-09-02. 
  5. ^ a b c Blackman, Guy (2007-01-08). "Lupe Fiasco - a sheep in wolf's clothing". The Age. http://www.stuff.co.nz/3921934a13975.html. Retrieved on 2007-09-02. 
  6. ^ a b Fruchter, Alexander (2006-05-11). "Hip To Be Square". Soundslam.com. http://www.soundslam.com/articles/interviews/interviews.php?interviews=in060511lupefi. Retrieved on 2007-09-02. 
  7. ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "Lupe Fiasco: Biography". Allmusic. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:dxfuxqlsldte~T1. Retrieved on 2007-09-02. 
  8. ^ MP3.com, 2006-09-26. Lupe Fiasco. MP3.com
  9. ^ http://forums.fortminor.com/showthread.php?t=2493 Lupe Fiasco on the Fort Minor message board
  10. ^ Lupe Fiasco - Almost Famous. Nobody Smiling
  11. ^ Lupe Fiasco Declared GQ's Breakout Man Of The Year
  12. ^ OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writers (July 31, 2008). OnMilwaukee.com Recommends: July 31 On Milwaukee. Accessed September 29, 2008.
  13. ^ "Lupe and Kanye teamed with Radiohead". MTV UK. 2007-05-30. http://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtvuk/30052007/lupe_and_kanye_teamed_with_radiohead. Retrieved on 2007-06-01. 
  14. ^ Gudmundson, Darryl (2007-05-29). "Kanye, Lupe & Pharrell Form Supergroup???". HipHopDX.com. http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.5291/title.kanye-lupe-pharrell-form-supergroup. Retrieved on 2007-06-01. 
  15. ^ SOHH Exclusive: Lupe Fiasco Talks Pharrell-Kanye Supergroup, "We Working On Some Surprises" | Daily Hip-Hop News | SOHH.com /
  16. ^ Dodero, Camille (2007-12-10). "Interview: Lupe Fiasco". The Village Voice. http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/archives/2007/12/interview_lupe.php. Retrieved on 2008-11-05. 
  17. ^ Lupe Fiasco Rises To This Year's #7 Hottest MC - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News
  18. ^ "Justice Remix Lupe Fiasco". MTV. http://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/17042008/415479/justice_remix_lupe_fiasco. Retrieved on 2008-05-23. 
  19. ^ Tom Magrino (October 22, 2008). Rihanna, Duran Duran kissing Lips mid-November GameSpot. Accessed October 22, 2008.
  20. ^ http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=115&csid2=844&fid1=34791] "Exclaim News". Accessed November 14, 2008.
  21. ^ "Lupe Fiasco's Retirement Plans Deferred". Rap-Up. http://www.rap-up.com/2009/01/30/lupe-fiascos-retirement-plans-deferred. Retrieved on 2009-02-01. 
  22. ^ Martens, Todd (2009-04-09). "Coachella preview: Lupe Fiasco". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/04/coachella-preview-lupe-fiasco.html. Retrieved on 2009-04-09. 
  23. ^ Simona Siad (2007-01-03). "Would you like music with your Reebok?: DJ Mick Boogie mixes tunes for kicks, and for fun". Excalibur. http://excal.on.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2726&Itemid=2. Retrieved on 2007-04-08. 
  24. ^ a b c d Henry Adaso. 2006 BET Hip-Hop Awards About.com. Accessed October 6, 2008.
  25. ^ (May 17, 2007). Beyoncé leads BET Awards with six nominations USA Today. Accessed October 6, 2008.
  26. ^ a b c (January 9, 2008) Lupe Fiasco Is "The Cool"-est Superstar in Hip-Hop Today; Grammy-Nominated Rapper's Sophomore Album Debuts at #1 on Reuters. Accessed October 6, 2008.
  27. ^ The 38th NAACP Image Awards Nominations Results
  28. ^ Mark Edward Nero (March 11, 2007). The 2007 Soul Train Music Awards About.com. Accessed October 6, 2008.
  29. ^ Gil Kaufman (February 10, 2008). Grammy Awards Get Rolling As Amy Winehouse, Alicia Keys, Kanye West Win Early Honors MTV. Accessed October 6, 2008.
  30. ^ The MOBO Awards 2008 BBC. Accessed October 6, 2008.
  31. ^ Bill Lamb (August 2, 2008). MTV Video Music Awards Announce Best Pop and Hip Hop Video Nominees About.com. Accessed October 6, 2008.
  32. ^ a b (June 17, 2008). 2008 Teen Choice Awards winners and nominees Los Angeles Times. Accessed October 6, 2008.
  33. ^ Henry Adaso. 2008 BET Hip Hop Awards Nominees About.com. Accessed October 20, 2008.
  34. ^ a b c d "The 51st Annual Grammy Awards Nominations List". Grammy. http://content.grammy.com/grammy_awards/51st_show/list.aspx. Retrieved on 2009-01-01. 
  35. ^ http://www.usanetwork.com/characterapproved/honorees/fiasco/index.html
  36. ^ http://www.defsounds.com/news/Lupe_fiasco_wins_first_ever_character_approved_award

[edit] External links

Sister project Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lupe Fiasco
v • d • e
Lupe Fiasco
Albums
Singles
"Kick, Push" · "I Gotcha" · "Daydreamin'" · "The Instrumental" · "The Emperor's Soundtrack" · "Dumb It Down" · "Superstar" · "Hip Hop Saved My Life" · "Paris, Tokyo" ·
Featured singles
Characters
The Cool · The Streets · The Game
Related articles


Persondata
NAME Lupe Fiasco
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Wasalu Muhammad Jaco
SHORT DESCRIPTION Rapper
DATE OF BIRTH February 16, 1982
PLACE OF BIRTH Chicago, Illinois, United States
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupe_Fiasco"
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