Lupe Fiasco, 原名Wasalu Muhammad Jaco， 現年36歲。音樂流派：Hip hop。現在同時是rapper，songwriter，record producer和1st&15th的CEO。
原名Wasalu Muhammad Jaco，出生於芝加哥，是家裡九位兄弟姊妹中最小的成員，父親為非洲籍鼓手，母親為美食大廚，對於Hip Hop音樂的喜愛獲得家裡支持，早在上中學的時候就熱衷於饒舌表演，以東岸街頭詩人Nas為目標，其專輯It Was Written給了Lupe莫大震撼與影響。中學畢業後先是組團Da Pak並簽約於Sony廠牌旗下的Epic，不久解散後又因和Jay-Z合作單曲被L.A. Reid相中並簽入BMG廠牌旗下的Arista,不過他個人事業的發展卻並不順利，一直充當著小角色，直到和主流大廠Atlantic唱片簽約，在公司極為重視下全心著手籌備他的個人專輯。值得一提的是，雖然是Hip Hop歌手，但信奉伊斯蘭教的Lupe，卻遵守教規不去Club、不抽菸喝酒，成為樂壇的異類人物。
社會評價
Jay-Z 覺得他歌詞玩的文字遊戲讓人精神振奮；Twista把他看作來自芝加哥的下一個說唱大明星；XXL 雜誌評價他是一個在2006年與巨星們平起平坐的新秀，並且還將得到大量的稱讚。 業內人士都把他看作是前途無量的新星，他就是Lupe Fiasco,一個穆斯林，滑板高手與球鞋狂熱收集者，他以一首關於滑板的說唱歌曲《Kick,Push》橫空出世，不久在主流媒體開始熱播，不久他的處女專輯《Food and Liquor》就廣受好評。
一開始聽那旋律就知道這張專輯十分特別。Lupe在序曲中唱到“沒人會做得更好”，我們聽到的旋律流暢無比, 從詳盡的故事講述轉換到對社會的隱喻。文字遊戲如“跟一個盲人坐在一起然後給他描述什麼是黃色，這十分困難”就可以讓我們輕而易舉的了解到Lupe為什麼能得到這么多好評。 在整張專輯中各種名詞動詞入彈珠般迸射。《Just Might be Okay》就是一首文字遊戲的代表作. 這首曲子中以恰到好處的鼓點與喇叭聲為背景，Lupe 展現了他的抒情詩體“my vida loca was built like Bob Vila via God,” “now we hold the coming like contracepts” 以及“I’m cool I don’t foretell best/I ain’t nicest emcee/I ain’t Cornel West/I am Cornel Westside/Chi-Town Guevara…”
Lupe帶著他的精神食糧，成為美國hip-hop的未來。《Food and Liquor》表現了Lupe的嘻哈哲學，從愛情、社會到政治，涵蓋內容十分廣泛。Food是指社會的優秀，Liquor則是指社會的病態。如果你想為大腦提供些營養，這裡有豐富的智識；如果你想聽一些好聽的旋律，這裡也有適合你的節拍。這張唱片關注了社會各階層的生活,這將使它成為經典之作。這張專輯是對人生、社會的真實反映，兼收並蓄的包含各種元素，為你提供知識與娛樂，這也是Hip-Hop的真諦。
音樂作品
音樂專輯共5張
Lasers
歌曲12首
發布於 2011-03-04
音樂線上收聽
Xtreme
歌曲14首
發布於 2008-07-26
音樂線上收聽
The Cool
歌曲3首
發布於 2007-12-18
音樂線上收聽
The Cool
歌曲10首
發布於 2007-09
Food & Liquor
歌曲16首
發布於 2006-12-06
音樂線上收聽
以上音頻資源來自千千音樂
榮譽及獎項
BET Awards
2007, Best New Artist (nominated)
BET Hip Hop Awards
2007, Hip-Hop CD of the Year: Food & Liquor (nominated)
2007, Hip-Hop Video of the Year: "Kick Push" (nominated)
2007, Rookie of the Year: "Kick Push" (nominated)
2007, Element Award- Lyricist of the Year: (nominated)
Grammy Awards
2008, Best Urban/Alternative Performance: "Daydreamin'(feat Jill Scott)" (Winner)
2007, Best Rap Solo Performance: "Kick Push" (nominated)
2007, Best Rap Song: "Kick Push" (nominated)2007, Best Rap Album: Food & Liquor (nominated)
Image Awards
2007, Outstanding New Artist (nominated)
MTV Video Music Awards
2008, Best Hip-Hop Video: "Superstar" feat. Matthew Santos (nominated)
Soul Train Awards
2007, Best New R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist: "I Gotcha" (nominated)
履歷及從業經歷
Wasalu Muhammad Jaco (born February 17, 1982), better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco, is a Grammy-winning American rapper. 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 glamour, a sharp contrast with the widespread lyricism-focused rap of the 1990s, and critics have called him the "Hip-Hop Generation's Next Vanguard." [1] His second album, Lupe Fiasco's The Cool, was released on December 18, 2007.
Early life
Born and raised on the Westside of Chicago,Wasalu Jaco 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.[3] His mother was a gourmet chef.[4] Jaco went to high school at Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois.[5] He started rapping when he was in the eighth grade, but was initially put off by the vulgarity and violent imagery of his father's N.W.A..It wasn't until he heard Nas' 1996 album, It Was Written, at the age of 14 that he began to pursue hip hop music.
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."
Early career
By 19, Lupe Fiasco was in a group called Da Pak. They signed to Epic Records and released one single before splitting up.[6] Fiasco later signed a solo deal with Arista Records, but was dropped when president and CEO L. A. Reid was fired.[6] During this time, he had guest appearances on singles on Tha' Rayne's "Kiss Me" and "Didn't You Know" and also K Fox's 2004 "This Life." He also released the song "Coulda Been" on a 10/03 compilation of MTV's Advance Warning.[7] He began releasing many mixtapes, developing a fan base via the internet. Just after Arista went out of business, rapper Jay-Z offered Fiasco a contract with Roc-A-Fella records. Fiasco declined having already started his own record label.
In 2004, Arista went out of business and Lupe was signed with Atlantic Records. In early 2006, Lupe and his friend and hypeman Dusean "Bishop G" Dunbar started FNF Radio, a show on the college radio station WIIT located at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
2005–2006
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. During this time, rapper and mogul Jay-Z heard Lupe and assisted him in the production of what would become his debut album Food & Liquor.
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 about skateboarding. As his popularity slowly increased, so did anticipation for his upcoming album Food & Liquor. The album was officially released on September 19, 2006. The album featured production from Jay-Z, Kanye West, Mike Shinoda, The Neptunes, and more. Singles from the album were "Kick, Push," "I Gotcha" and "Daydreamin'" featuring Jill Scott. On the album "Fiasco masterfully melds his peerless storytelling gifts with his idiosyncratic passion for skateboarding, fantasy, and incisive sociopolitical commentary."[9] The critically lauded album was later nominated for three Grammys including "Best Rap Album." In the same year, he was voted by GQ as the "Breakout Man of the Year."Lupe also had a small feud with skateboarder Terry Kennedy.with Kanye West
2007–present
In 2007, Lupe announced his second album, "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 All-Star Ryan Braun has used "Superstar" as an at-bat song.Also in 2007, it was revealed that Fiasco, Kanye West, and Pharrell Williams, had formed a group known as Child Rebel Soldier..As of November 2007, no projects have been announced, with Lupe noting that the members of the group were busy with solo projects and things needed to "settle down some."However, a song made by CRS titled "US Placers," featuring Thom Yorke, has been released.
Songs from "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 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 will stop in several cities, including his hometown of Chicago. He's been made #7 as the Hottest MCs in the Game of 2008 by MTV.
Lupe recently announced that he was remixing The Cool with French house act Justice.
Ventures
Fiasco is the co-founder and vice-president of 1st & 15th Entertainment, a record label under Atlantic.However, due to the recent arrest and imprisonment of co-founder, CEO, and partner Charles "Chilly" Patton, Fiasco now 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.He designed a white/grey model of the shoe.
Personal life
Religion
Lupe has been open about his Islamic faith. He has noted the importance of religion in his life, stating: "Well, I was born Muslim, so Islam plays a part in my life and everything I do, to a certain extent. I'm not like the poster boy for Islam... I still got my flaws and stuff like that, so I don't really wear that on my sleeve... I don't go to clubs, I don't drink, I don't smoke, you know like my whole - the whole groupie situation is shut down." The front of Lupe's The Cool album cover is stylized to look like that of Persian calligraphy. Along with this, Lupe begins Food & Liquor by reciting an Islamic prayer: A'uzu billahi min ash shaitani r rajimi Bismi 'llahi 'r-rahmani 'r-rahim, which translates to "I seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the rejected. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Ever Merciful."
Influences
Lupe is highly influenced by Crucial Conflict, Kanye West, 8Ball & MJG, Spice 1 and Nas among others. Lupe regards It Was Written as his favorite album and cites it as his primary source of inspiration. Lupe is also an avid skateboarder, which influenced his debut single "Kick, Push." Lupe is also heavily influenced by Japanese-anime/otaku culture; he has referenced the following anime shows in his lyrics: Lupin the 3rd (in Kanye West's Touch The Sky), Transformers/Gundam (in Daydreamin'), and Trigun (in various songs). Furthermore Lupe Fiasco also takes influence from videogames, which he occasionally references in his songs. This is particularly apparent in the song, "Jedi Mind Tricks" where Lupe states "the boy game advance, come peep the genesis, I broke bread with society's menaces." A reference to the portable Nintendo console the Gameboy Advance, and the Sega Genesis console. Lupe Fiasco makes another reference to Sega in the single "I Gotcha"; where he references the company's mascot "Sonic the Hedgehog". This can be seen in a line from the song that states, " I love my city really hope that God bless it, have my mind moving faster than that hog in the hedges". Further adding to the videogame-based content that Lupe puts into his lyrics, and derives influence from is Squaresoft's Final Fantasy series, which is seen referenced in the song "And He Gets The Girl..." (which used a sample from N.E.R.D's song "Maybe"); from the "I Gotcha" single. This is evidenced by a line in the song that states, "I love Final Fantasy, I hate first-person shooters, Meteora was nice, but I bought Hybrid Theory twice". Lastly Lupe Fiasco's influence from the videogame realm can be seen in his references to Capcom's Street Fighter videogame series (which Lupe Fiasco is quite fond of). This can be seen in a line from the song "Gold Watch" that exclaims; "I like Street Fighter 2 I just really hate Vega only Ken and Ryu, I find it hard to beat Blanka". Lupe Fiasco's love, and influence of videogames is also conveyed in his rumored final album, "LupEnd" the spelling and titling of which is similar to the format of several "endgame" videogame screens (particularly 8-bit third generation, and 16-bit fourth generation videogames). Lupe Fiasco also derives inspiration from a variey of other sources like: comic book culture (particularly Japanese manga, a sentiment expressed in "Gold Watch"; and the Marvel Comics series X-Men which was referenced in the official "Superstar" remix), films (particularly Revenge Of The Nerds, and Star Wars, of which he has several underground mixtapes as well as songs named after), different forms of art (specifically Yate-born and social commentary driven graffiti artist Banksy; who Fiasco references in his song "I Gotcha"), and lastly German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.
with Kanye West
