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Lupe Fiasco

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Lupe Fiasco

Wasalu Muhammad Jaco (born February 17, 1982), better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco (IPA: [ˈluːpeɪ], LOO-pay), is an American recording artist, producer and CEO of 1st and 15th Entertainment. 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 a "hip-hop Generation Next vanguard."[1]

Life and career

1982–1999: Early life

Fiasco was born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco on February 17, 1982, in Chicago, Illinois.[2] He was born to a gourmet chef mother and an engineer father.[2] He was raised Muslim in an African American family living on the West side of Chicago.[3][4] His father, who was a member of the Black Panther Party,[5] was a prolific African drummer, karate teacher and owner of karate schools and army surplus stores.[6] He attended Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois.[7] He initially "hated" hip hop music for its use of vulgarity.[3] He began rapping when he was in the eighth grade, and upon hearing Nas' 1996 album, It Was Written, began to pursue hip hop.[4][6][8]

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 the Firm album. They had the song, 'Firm Fiasco'. I just liked the way it looked on paper."[7]

2000–2005: Career beginnings

At age 19, Fiasco was in a group called Da Pak. They signed to Epic Records and released one single before splitting up.[9] Fiasco later signed a solo deal with Arista Records, but was dropped when president and CEO L.A. Reid was fired.[9] 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.[10] In 2005 he was featured on the Kanye West song, Touch the Sky.

2006–2007: Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor

Fiasco at the 2006 Intonation Music Festival in Illinois

During this time, rapper and mogul Jay-Z heard Fiasco and assisted him in the production of what would become his debut album Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor.[11] 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 magazine as the "Breakout Man of the Year."[12]

2007–2008: Lupe Fiasco's The Cool

In 2007, Fiasco 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. While recording the album, Fiasco's father had died and his business partner, Charles "Chilli" Patton, was convicted of attempting to supply heroin and was sentenced to 44 years in prison.[5] 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. Baseball's Hanley Ramirez, Troy Tulowitzki, Ryan Zimmerman, Gerald Laird and all-star Ryan Braun have used "Superstar" as their at-bat song.[13] The song has also been featured in HBO's Hard Knocks TV show. Songs from "Put You on Game" and "Little Weapon" are featured in the movie Street Kings in the latest trailer.[citation needed]

Fiasco performing in Melbourne, Australia, 2009

Also in 2007, it was revealed that Fiasco, Kanye West and Pharrell Williams had formed a group known as Child Rebel Soldier.[14][15] Child Rebel Soldier, also known as "CRS", has released a mixtape called Rebel Music, featuring samples and remixes from the artists' respective then-current albums The Cool, Graduation and Seeing Sounds, and features other rappers, including Jay-Z, Common, and N.E.R.D.[16] CRS has so far released one single, entitled "US Placers" and featuring a Thom Yorke sample. Since its release and the ensuing Glow in the Dark Tour, the group has not yet been spoken of any further.

In an interview with The Village Voice, Fiasco revealed that he was writing a novel about a window washer[17] aptly titled Reflections of a Window Washer. In 2008, Fiasco and his band 1500 or Nothin joined West'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. In 2008, MTV named Fiasco the 7th Hottest MC in the Game[18] and announced that he was remixing The Cool with French electro house act Justice.[19] Fiasco's "Superstar" has been included in the video game Lips.[20]

2009–present: Lasers

Fiasco performing in Melbourne, Australia, 2009

Fiasco announced at a Chicago concert late in 2008 that his next and most likely final album will be a three disc album and that the first disc "Everywhere" would come out in June 2009. The trio was going to be named LupE.N.D.[21] 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.[22] However, it was announced by Fiasco that his next album would instead be titled, "We Are Lasers"; yet later his official rep announced and confirmed that it would instead be titled simply "Lasers".[23] On June 26th, Fiasco announced at the Chicago Theater that the album would be released fourth quarter 2009, most likely in December.[24] Furthermore, producer Drew Correa has stated that he has submitted beats for the album. The album's first single, "Shining Down," features Matthew Santos and is produced by Soundtrakk.[25] The single was released on July 7, 2009.[26]

Ventures

Fiasco is the co-founder and vice-president of 1st & 15th Entertainment, a record label under Atlantic.[6] Fiasco serves as the current CEO. Singer Matthew Santos, as well as Lupe himself are two of the most visible members.

In January 2006, Fiasco 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.[27] Fiasco also runs his own fashion label under the name "Trilly & Truly".[28]

Discography

Main article: Lupe Fiasco discography

See also

References

  1. ^ Adaso, Henry. "Lupe Fiasco - "Kick, Push"". About.com. Retrieved 2006-07-13.
  2. ^ a b "Lupe Fiasco: Biography". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
  3. ^ a b "Lupe Fiasco: rapping outside the box". FindArticles. CBS Corporation. 2006-12. Retrieved 2009-04-28. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ a b Creekmur, Chuck (2006-02-10). "Lupe Fiasco: Revenge of the Hip-Hop Nerd". Allhiphop.com. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  5. ^ a b Collins, Hattie (2008-04-12). "Lupe dreams". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  6. ^ a b c Blackman, Guy (2007-01-08). "Lupe Fiasco - a sheep in wolf's clothing". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  7. ^ a b Fruchter, Alexander (2006-05-11). "Hip To Be Square". Soundslam.com. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  8. ^ Adaso, Henry. "Lupe Fiasco". About.com. Retrieved 2007-04-08.
  9. ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "Lupe Fiasco: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  10. ^ MP3.com, 2006-09-26. Lupe Fiasco. MP3.com
  11. ^ Watson, Margeaux (2008-01-11). "Meet rapper Lupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco's The Cool". Entertainment Weekly. Time. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  12. ^ Lupe Fiasco Declared GQ's Breakout Man Of The Year
  13. ^ OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writers (July 31, 2008). OnMilwaukee.com Recommends: July 31 On Milwaukee. Accessed September 29, 2008.
  14. ^ "Lupe and Kanye teamed with Radiohead". MTV UK. 2007-05-30. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
  15. ^ Gudmundson, Darryl (2007-05-29). "Kanye, Lupe & Pharrell Form Supergroup???". HipHopDX.com. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
  16. ^ SOHH Exclusive: Lupe Fiasco Talks Pharrell-Kanye Supergroup, "We Working On Some Surprises" | Daily Hip-Hop News | SOHH.com /
  17. ^ Dodero, Camille (2007-12-10). "Interview: Lupe Fiasco". The Village Voice. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
  18. ^ Lupe Fiasco Rises To This Year's number seven Hottest MC - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News
  19. ^ "Justice Remix Lupe Fiasco". MTV. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
  20. ^ Tom Magrino (October 22, 2008). Rihanna, Duran Duran kissing Lips mid-November GameSpot. Accessed October 22, 2008.
  21. ^ http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=115&csid2=844&fid1=34791] "Exclaim News". Accessed November 14, 2008.
  22. ^ "Lupe Fiasco's Retirement Plans Deferred". Rap-Up. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
  23. ^ Martens, Todd (2009-04-09). "Coachella preview: Lupe Fiasco". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
  24. ^ http://lupefiasco-lupend.blogspot.com/2009/06/lupe-fiascos-lasers-update.html
  25. ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/producers-take-lil-wayne-to-the-prom-1003934662.story
  26. ^ Shining Down [feat. Matthew Santos (Explicit Album Version).] Amazon.
  27. ^ Simona Siad (2007-01-03). "Would you like music with your [[Reebok]]?: DJ Mick Boogie mixes tunes for kicks, and for fun". Excalibur. Retrieved 2007-04-08. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  28. ^ http://trillyandtruly.com/
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