I always know that I'm capable of changing. On one hand, if I change for the worse, I don't want to be remembered. If I change for the better, I just want to be remembered as 'He did not lead them astray.' Not the multi-Grammys and his songs, his accolades and what he's achieved on paper. It's 'He did not lead them astray.' That's my fear, to lead astray, to create the cycle, the butterfly effect of me being the role model, the example of you doing wrong.
Fiasco on his legacy, during Festival of Faith and Music in 2009[3]
Wasalu Muhammad Jaco (born February 16, 1982), professionally known as Lupe Fiasco (/ˈluːpeɪ/ LOO-pay), is an American rapper, educator, and entrepreneur. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, he rose to prominence for his cerebral lyricism and creative storytelling, with some hailing him as the savior of hip-hop.[a][4] He is a member of SNDCLSH and Japanese Cartoon and was previously part of Da Pak, All City Chess Club, and Child Rebel Soldier. As of June 2024, he has released nine studio albums, with Samurai being his latest. As of February 2025, he has sold 22 million RIAA-certified units in the United States.[5]
Regarded as one of the pioneers of the conscious hip-hop movement, Fiasco's music addresses subjects such as absent parents, gentrification, urban violence, conspicuous consumption, settler colonialism, and the African diaspora. Over the course of his career, he has been nominated for twelve Grammys, thirteen BET Hip Hop Awards, and four NAACP Image Awards. He joined the Aspen Institute's 2014 class of Henry Crown Fellows, is a recipient of the MLK Visiting Professorship Program at MIT (2022/23), and became a Saybrook Associate Fellow (2023). He joined the faculty of the Johns Hopkins University's Peabody Institute in 2025 as a visiting professor for its four-year Hip Hop program.[6] In addition to his music, Fiasco has been involved in philanthropic work and business ventures, including co-founding M.U.R.A.L., 1st & 15th Entertainment, Studio SV, and Righteous Kung Fu.
Biography[]
1982-1999: Early life[]
A fresh, cool young Lu.
I grew up in the 'hood around prostitutes, drug dealers, killers, and gangbangers. On the doorknob outside of our apartment, there was blood from some guy who got shot; but inside, there was National Geographic magazines and encyclopedias and a little library bookshelf situation. And we didn't have cable, so we didn't have the luxury of having our brains washed by MTV. We watched public television—cooking shows and stuff like that.
Fiasco describing his childhood[7]
Wasalu Muhammad Jaco was born at 10:14 A.M. on February 16, 1982, in Chicago, Illinois,[8] during a time when Chicago was recognized as the most segregated metropolitan area in the nation and faced significant poverty.[9][10] He was named after one of his father's army friends and was told that 'Wasalu' meant 'warrior,' but he could not find substantial translation evidence for this. His parents, both converts to Islam, met at a mosque and shortly married thereafter.[11] His mother, Shirley (1954–), was a gourmet chef, while his father, Gregory (1952–2007), was an operating plant engineer at Northwestern Hospital. His father was also a martial arts instructor, a member of the Black Panther Party, and an Army Green Beret.[12] Fiasco was raised in the Madison Terrace housing projects in East Garfield Park.[13] His parents divorced when he was five years old, and he lived with his mother while remaining close to both parents. He told Entertainment Weekly in 2008, "I got nine brothers and sisters. Three of us have the same mother and father, everyone else is half brothers and sisters."[7] He is the youngest boy and the fourth youngest overall.[14]
Fiasco grew up naturally inquisitive with a thirst for knowledge, influenced by his mother, an intellectual, and his father, who introduced him to various cultures. A voracious reader, he devoured a wide range of print media, from comics and National Geographic magazines to novels by Jules Verne and Mark Twain. He wasn't strictly raised in his Muslim faith, as his father "always kept everything around us, from Western philosophy to Eastern philosophy," fostering diverse thought.[15] His free time was spent watching Nova, listening to Tchaikovsky, and skateboarding for fun.[16] As a child, he built robots and aspired to become a rocket scientist, though he struggled with math.[17] He also practiced various forms of martial arts and handled firearms from a young age. His main interests included chess, Transformers, karate, and shortwave radio,[18] creating a stark juxtaposition as he witnessed street violence and encountered gang culture growing up.
Fiasco has family members who were police officers or gang members. Growing up in Chicago, widely recognized as one of the most gang-occupied cities in the United States, he remained a neutron. However, he admitted that he nearly joined the Latin Kings ("Sittin' Sideways (Remix)") and considered the Gangster Disciples ("City of the Year"). He has two older brothers who were policemen, a brother who was a high-ranking GD, and friends who were Vice Lords.[19] He once tweeted: "When it was time to choose a potential street gang to join in junior high [I chose] Latin King."[20] In an interview with The Ringer, he explained, "There was gangbanging—we didn't have Bloods and Crips but we had GDs, Vice Lords, Latin Kings, King Cobras, Black Souls, BDs, we had all the others. Maybe people don't really appreciate that those gangs are just as strong, or stronger in their neighborhoods than Bloods and Crips—Bloods and Crips just have a better brand—but [Chicago-founded gangs are] just as violent, just as influential. And I think sometimes people miss that that's a part of my DNA—that I come from the streets."[21]
In sixth grade, he moved to live full-time with his father in the suburb of Harvey, where they resided next to a crack house. Gregory Jaco confronted the drug dealers, gun in hand, to ward them off.[14] Fiasco attended Thornton Township High School, where he was involved in numerous extracurricular activities, joining the chess club, participating in Academic Decathlon, and working as a stagehand in school theater productions, including managing lights and sound.[15] He was briefly transferred to Honors Chemistry but felt uncomfortable in the advanced group and returned to regular classes after two weeks. His teacher, Calvin Stark, recognized his potential, stating, "Every time I would call on him, he would respond with the correct answer. I said to myself, 'There's something up with this kid. He's smart. Very smart.'" Fiasco's mother described him as "Smart, a bit complex; he kind of was a loner; he didn't hang with a lot of people. […] Lupe may have had the nerd persona, but when he would go out to play he was in the 'hood. That's where he lived, and he learned to deal with that."[16] Additionally, Fiasco worked as a short-order cook at a greasy spoon near his house, clocking forty hours a week for sixty dollars. To compensate for the low wages, he ate free fast food, much to the disapproval of management.[22]
Fiasco decided early on to pursue a rapping career over a post-secondary education.[23] According to Shirley, Fiasco was twelve years old when he began writing raps, inspired by Too $hort. Displeased about her son becoming a gangsta rapper, with much of his material focusing on guns and violence, she guided him onto a different path[24] and gave him a The Watts Prophets record, which helped shape his style.[2]
During his teenage years (ages 15-17), Fiasco engrossed himself in the music of Jay-Z, Nas, Pharoahe Monch, and Wu-Tang Clan. After a failed attempt to learn the clarinet, as his high school didn't offer any lessons, he turned to poetry as another form of expression.[25] He began rapping in eighth grade, inspired by Dusean "Bishop G" Dunbar, a fringe gang member whose poetry impressed the teachers and made Fiasco believe he could do it too. Bishop taught him "how to rhyme and use stanzas," and eventually became his hype man.[16] At sixteen, he began to take rapping seriously, where Nas' It Was Written left a profound impact. He explained, "I started to define myself along those lines. You know how people are searching for who they want to be, or how they want to act in their teenage years. That album hit me right then."[26]
He established his stage name in high school, with "Lupe" stemming from his own nickname, and also borrowed from a Colombian high school friend named Guadalupe.[27] "Fiasco" was inspired by the song "Firm Fiasco" from The Firm album. He explained that he simply "liked the way it looked on paper."[28] It also acted as a reminder, where "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 fiascos.' So I just kept it. It's like a scar, I guess, a reminder to not overthink or overrun anything ever again."
His father helped support his passion by driving him and Bishop to second-hand stores for musical equipment, enabling them to create a basement studio and produce street mixtapes. Their initial performances faced criticism at school for sounding different from their peers, but they gained recognition through word of mouth.[16] They were part of the 1500s crew with Napo and Doughboy, expanding in junior year to include emcees, DJs and graffiti artists, fully immersed in Hip Hop culture.[29] In 1999, he was offered his first record deal from Aftermath Entertainment.[30]
2000–2004: Da Pak and 1st & 15th[]
"Armpits" samples The Partridge Family's "I Think I Love You" (1970).
In 2000, Fiasco had to pick up his younger sister on the West Side. He took the bus but got off a stop early and walked up the block to his mother's house. Record producers driving by recognized him as a rapper and invited him to showcase at Raw Dope Studios, where Aftermath Entertainment was scouting talent. There, he met Charles "Chilly" Patton, a friend of Aftermath's representative, Big Chuck. Fiasco joined the hip-hop group Da Pak, alongside Nahvee, Butcher, and Delow,[31] signing with Epic Records. They released only one promotional single, "Armpits," before disbanding after the A&R was fired. Fiasco reported complications within the group, noting that they lacked creative control and were mismanaged. The music made him feel hypocritical, as it focused on "cocaine, guns, and women," themes that he disliked for their misogynistic and vulgar lyrics. He added, "I had to destroy that guy. Because what Lupe Fiasco says on this microphone is going to come back to Wasalu Jaco. When the music cuts off, you have to go home and live with what you say."[26] That same year, Fiasco considered dropping out of school, spending much of his time at the studio. Chilly encouraged him to graduate, and Fiasco went to summer school to complete a course and earned his diploma.[11]
In 2001, he and his manager, Patton, created their independent record label, 1st & 15th Entertainment, which attracted interest from major labels, including Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella. They turned down the deal because it didn't want them as an imprint production company. Around 2002, they signed with Arista Records. During this time, Fiasco operated quietly behind the scenes, releasing a few promos as part of Arista Cats and battle rapping other emcees. His song "Coulda Been" was featured on MTV's Advance Warning compilation, and he appeared on singles such as "Kiss Me," "Didn't You Know (Remix)," and "Life." For an early period in his career, Fiasco succumbed to the stereotypical rapper image, buying expensive jewelry and driving around in a BMW with 20-inch rims. He explained, "And it's because I thought at first that that's what you needed to succeed. If I want to get my albums in the stores then I have to be like that, too." One day, he was hungry but didn't have any cash on him. This moment became a wake-up call, and his materialistic desires faded as he began to see through the façade.[16]
Charles "Chilly" Patton has been Fiasco's manager even when serving his prison sentence. Fiasco would mention #FreeChill(y) in songs, interviews, and performances. Patton was released on July 19, 2023, from the Dixon Correctional Center.
In May 2003, Patton was apprehended during a house raid, where six kilos of heroin was found, suspected to be running a drug trafficking ring to fund the 1st & 15th label. Police wiretapped Patton's phone calls for about a month, and on March 24, 2003, they documented him arranging Amtrak train reservations for himself and Fiasco the following day for an alleged drug transaction.[32] The two were arrested, and police confiscated their studios, cars, and jewelry. While Fiasco was acquitted of all drug charges, Chilly was incarcerated, and Jay-Z stepped in as a mentor and executive producer.[29] Fiasco would later recount these events in his music, maintaining that Chilly took the rap for him.
In 2004, he had already laid down the groundwork for his solo album Food & Liquor, though toward the end of its completion, A&R L.A. Reid stepped down, partly due to significant financial losses the label had faced during his tenure.[33] This led to projects being shelved and artists either dropped from the roster or moved to subsidiary labels. Fiasco, wanting to be released from his contract, was advised by Arista's A&R representative, Mark Pitts, to move to Atlantic Records, introducing him to Craig Kallman of Atlantic.[26] Since Jay-Z was poised to become the label's next president, Chilly proceeded with the record deal, which was arranged behind bars, with Kallman visiting him in the county jail. However, Jay-Z was offered his masters and a position at Def Jam Recordings, and chose to accept their proposition instead.[34] The advance money from Atlantic was used to bail Chilly out, and Fiasco debuted the first installment of his Fahrenheit 1/15 mixtape series, The Truth Is Among Us, near the end of that year. One of its songs, "Muhammad Walks," resonated as a contemporary anthem within the Muslim community for its exploration of his Islamic faith.[35]
2005–2008: Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor and The Cool[]
In 2005, Fiasco released the mixtapes Revenge of the Nerds and A Rhyming Ape as the second and third parts of the Fahrenheit 1/15 series. His remix of "Conflict Diamonds" over Kanye West's "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" beat gained attention from online, with West himself taking notice. This led to Fiasco's feature on West's 2006 single, "Touch the Sky," which peaked at number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has since been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), British Phonographic Industry (BPI), and Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Their friendship predates this collaboration, though; Fiasco even brought West in to showcase for Arista, where executive L.A. Reid infamously advised West to stick to beats instead of rapping.[36] Fiasco was an opening act on West's Touch the Sky Tour, filling in for Common, who at the time was casted in a film.[37]
The collaboration and self-released music garnered an online cult following, leading Rolling Stone to name Fiasco one of their 2006 Artists to Watch. His debut solo single, "Kick, Push," peaked at number 78 on the Billboard Hot 100, and its music video played heavy rotation on MTV and BET. Fiasco was featured on the covers of Billboard and The Fader, along with a sponsorship deal with Reebok ahead of his debut album—unprecedented at the time.[38]
Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor was originally set for a June 2006 release,[39] but the leak of the bootlegged version in April delayed it to September 19 instead. As a way to pacify his fans for the time being, Fiasco released the mixtape Touch the Sky on May 5, 2006, hosted by DJ E.Nyce, which compiled previous material and freestyles. Food & Liquor debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200 and sold 81,000 copies in its first week. It gained widespread critical acclaim and received a nomination for Best Rap Album at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards. In the same year, he won Best New Artist at MTV Woodies and was named Breakout Man of the Year by GQ magazine.
In 2007, the hip-hop supergroup Child Rebel Soldier was formed, comprising Fiasco, Pharrell, and Kanye West. Their debut single, "Us Placers," was included on West's mixtape Can't Tell Me Nothing. Fiasco also appeared on XXL's inaugural Freshman Class list alongside Saigon, Lil Boosie, Rich Boy, Gorilla Zoe, Young Dro, Papoose, Joell Ortiz, Crooked I, and Plies. He received his first Grammy win for "Daydreamin'" featuring Jill Scott, though was unable to attend the ceremony, and his lawyer accepted the award on his behalf.[40]
Towards the end of the year, Fiasco released his highly anticipated sophomore album, Lupe Fiasco's The Cool, on December 18, 2007. During its recording, Fiasco faced personal challenges: his father passed away from complications of type II diabetes and heart disease, his business partner Chilly was convicted on multiple drug charges and sentenced up to 44 years in prison, and his friend Stack Bundles was murdered—factors that contributed to the album's darker tone. The album was preceded by the single "Superstar" featuring Matthew Santos, which peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best Rap Song. The album's concept centers on a male hustler who is raised from the dead across several tracks. The protagonist, Michael Young History ('My Cool Young History'), also known as The Cool, is influenced by the supernatural entities The Streets (femme fatale archetype) and The Game (negative influence of the hustler lifestyle). Fiasco made this storyline spawn from the Food & Liquor songs "He Say She Say" and "The Coolest," where Young grows up without a father and turns to the street life only to meet his demise. Several critics found this concept to be puzzling, including The Guardian, who declared it "ma[de] no sense," though the overall response was generally positive.[41] The album moved 160,000 copies in its first week, surpassing his debut by nearly double the sales figures, and like its predecessor, was nominated for Best Rap Album at the Grammy Awards. It debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200 and number seven on the UK Albums Chart. In its second week, the album rose to number 14 on the Billboard 200. Fiasco had plans for a multimedia franchise stemming from The Cool, which would have included collectible toys, comic books, and a horror-themed radio show.[42][43]
In 2008, The Cool was supported by its tracks "Hip-Hop Saved My Life," "Paris, Tokyo," and "Dumb It Down," which were re-released as singles, each accompanied by a music video. Fiasco performed extensively in promotion of the album, with The Cool Tour dates in conjunction with the Coca-Cola Refresh Your Flow Tour and Kanye West's Glow in the Dark Tour around North America and Europe. He appeared at music festivals such as Glastonbury Festival, Lollapalooza, and Bonnaroo, and on talk shows including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Show with David Letterman, and The Tavis Smiley Show.
That same year, he co-founded the indie rock band Japanese Cartoon alongside bassist Graham Burris, keyboardist Matt Nelson, and producer Le Messie. Initially, Fiasco vehemently denied his involvement, claiming that a man by the name of Percival Hindenburg-Fats was the frontman and that he merely helped with the band's finances and production.[44]
2009–2011: Lasers[]
The Lasers manifesto has thirteen aims that align with themes on his third album.
Fiasco created a manifesto for his upcoming project, with the working title of We Are Lasers. The idea stemmed from one of his friend's partners, who discussed punk bands that built their careers around manifestos. Fiasco considered the Black Panther movement, which outlined clear aims, too, and believed he was at a point in his life where he could define his artistic vision and aspirations.[45] Challenges with his record label, Atlantic, led to a period of discontent for Fiasco. He admitted to feeling suicidal at certain points, a topic addressed in "Beautiful Lasers (2 Ways)," which he wanted to release as the album's lead single.
The promotional concert Remember 2 Smile took place on October 29, 2009, at Congress Theater in his hometown. The event featured vignettes exploring themes such as Life, Death, Art, Fame, Faith, and Politics throughout the performance. On Thanksgiving 2009, he released his mixtape Enemy of the State: A Love Story, a project he put forth in response to MTV omitting his name from their "2009 Hottest MCs" list. He felt that excluding positive influences from such lists left hip-hop without alternative representation, elaborating in an interview, "If you look at it and 90% of it is negative, it's like we gotta have something positive on the list. […] It's not because I want the glory and fame, but so kids can have a different role model or choice of role model."[45]
On January 19, 2010, the charity single "Resurrection" featuring Kenna was released as part of Download to Donate for Haiti. He went on the headline tour, Steppin' Lasers, where he confirmed the album was already finished and performed a few new songs at his concerts. In April 2010, Fiasco formed the hip hop collective All City Chess Club alongside Pharrell, Asher Roth, B.o.B, The Cool Kids, Charles Hamilton, Blu, Diggy Simmons, Wale, J. Cole, and Dosage. They released only one song, a remix to "I'm Beamin'" called "We Beamin'," before disbanding presumably due to schedule conflicts.[46]
The delay of Lasers sparked an online petition, followed by the fan-organized peaceful protest known as Fiasco Friday, held on October 15, 2010, outside Atlantic's headquarters. Although Atlantic had already announced the release date for Lasers, around 200 fans gathered in a show of celebration and support. Fiasco found the moment inspirational, feeling that his message of positive change was getting out.[47] The album's lead single, "The Show Goes On," was released on October 26, 2010, and contained a sample of "Float On" by Modest Mouse. It became a point of contention, as Fiasco was pressured to push out more pop-oriented tracks or risk his album not being released, believing it was retaliation for him not signing a 360 deal. He added that the lyric 'Have you ever had the feelin' that you was bein' had?' was particularly fitting, likening his situation to being held at "gunpoint." "The Show Goes On" became his greatest solo hit commercially, peaking at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, number five on the ARIA Singles Chart, and was certified 3× Platinum in 2014 by the RIAA. The album's second single, "Words I Never Said," was released on February 8, 2011. Presented to him as a love song with Skylar Grey's hook, Fiasco decided to address world affairs instead, mentioning 9/11, government fiscal policy, and the Gaza War. It peaked at number 89 on the Billboard 100. The third single, "Out of My Head" featuring Trey Songz, charted at number 40 on the Billboard 100, followed by the fourth single, "I Don't Wanna Care Right Now" featuring MDMA, that failed to appear on the Hot 100 but debuted at number 12 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. In the days leading up to Lasers' release, fans could pre-order the album using an iTunes pass, receiving songs in advance and eventually gain access to the deluxe version, which included two music videos and two bonus tracks.[48]
Lasers, released on March 7, 2011, received backlash for its commercialized sound and departure from Fiasco's usual lyricism. Despite fan disappointment and Fiasco's own dissatisfaction with the album's creation process, it debuted atop the US Billboard 200, marking his first album to do so, and sold 204,000 copies in its first week.[49] It was the first rap album released that year to top the charts and received a nomination for Best Rap Album at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, while "The Show Goes On" was nominated for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance. On April 28, 2011, Fiasco performed at MTV's inaugural O Music Awards held in Las Vegas.
During his Generation Laser Tour, Fiasco supported the Occupy Wall Street movement, donating tents, sharing the poem "Moneyman," and speaking about the cause at his concerts. On June 28, 2011, Fall Out Boy's lead vocalist Patrick Stump released the single "This City" featuring Fiasco. It peaked at number 25 on US Billboard Pop Songs, serving as the lead single from Stump's debut solo album, Soul Punk, where the singer reworked the entire album to make the track fit conceptually.[50] On November 24, 2011, Fiasco released the mixtape Friend of the People: I Fight Evil. Originally announced as his next release for Christmas 2009, the project was set aside for his climb up Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to raise profits for water wells that were eventually installed two years later.[51] Consequence of Sound highlighted the mixtape's use of electropop beats sampled from artists such as Ellie Goulding and M83, deviating from traditional hip-hop sounds.[52]
2012–2015: Food & Liquor II and Tetsuo & Youth[]
On August 10, 2012, Australian singer-songwriter Guy Sebastian released "Battle Scars" with Fiasco, appearing on Sebastian's sixth album, Armageddon, and Fiasco's fourth album, Food & Liquor II. The song peaked at number 71 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the ARIA Charts, becoming Fiasco's third top ten and first number one single in Australia. It spent twenty nonconsecutive weeks on the Hot 100, and was nominated for a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration. The song earned Fiasco his first ARIA Music Awards nomination and has been certified platinum in Australia, the United States, and New Zealand. They performed "Battle Scars" on The X Factor, Late Show with David Letterman, and at the 2012 ARIA Music Awards.
In September 2012, tensions briefly arose between Fiasco and drill artist Chief Keef when Fiasco commented on Baltimore's radio station, 92 Q Jams, about violence being perpetuated by gang culture. He mentioned they "all look like Chief Keef," offending the fellow Chicagoan rapper, who responded with an open threat on September 5 via Twitter. Fiasco replied that they were not "goons" and urged efforts to prevent further violence, emphasizing the need to rise above street life that "takes and takes till there is nothing left."[53] He announced his intention to retire from music after releasing his next album, devastated over the environments people in his community are forced to grow up in, which only continues cycles of violence. Following the Twitter exchange, he leaked the song "American Terrorist II," speculated to be the lead single from the second part of his Food & Liquor II album.[54] Days later, at the Yorkfest show on September 12 in Toronto, Canada, Fiasco issued an apology to Chief Keef for his comments, expressing a desire for Keef to succeed and thrive.[55][56]
Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 was released on September 25, 2012, delving into America's history of colonialism, imperialism, and racism. The album met with generally positive responses from critics and debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 90,000 copies.[57] Fiasco started working on the record in 2009, around the same time he awaited the release of Lasers. He explained to Refinery29 the title: "the core of that [debut] album was food and liquor, which means the good and the bad, human nature and duality, where we do good things and then we do terrible things. So, it's [the new album] still impressing that point, but the core of it is The Great American Rap Album."[58] The album launch, endorsed by the Samsung Galaxy S III, took place at Cedar Lake on September 27, 2012.[57] Preceded by the singles "Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free)," "Bitch Bad," and "Lamborghini Angels," the former two elicited controversy. "Around My Way" contains an interpolation of Pete Rock and CL Smooth's "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)," where the producers re-recorded the beat. Rock took to Twitter the day of the single's release to say how he felt "violated" and it "should['ve been] left alone."[59] Fiasco clarified how his team reached out to Pete Rock in November and had been in touch for the past six months, receiving permission to use it.[60] Meanwhile, "Bitch Bad" and its music video were panned by Spin magazine, who described it as "mansplain[ing]" and "counterproductive,"[61] prompting Fiasco to call for a boycott of the publication. The Great American Rap Album was nominated Best Rap Album at the 55th Grammy Awards, marking his fourth consecutive nomination in the category.
In 2013, he embarked on the Tetsuo & Youth Tour, billed as a preview of his forthcoming album. He performed the new songs "Crack" and "Law," though a majority of his setlist consisted of songs the audience was already familiar with. Opening acts included Manchester Orchestra, Dee-1, Mickey Factz, and Stalley.[62] In June 2013, Fiasco was co-featured alongside Rick Ross on "Poor Decisions," a single by Wale included on the compilation album MMG Presents: Self Made, Vol. It premiered exclusively on Vibe and has the three rappers reflecting on decisions that can inevitably affect one's future, for better or for worse.[63] On October 14, 2013, he released "Old School Love" assisted by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, intended as the lead single from Tetsuo & Youth, though it did not make the final track listing. The song peaked at number 93 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 18 on the New Zealand Singles Chart, and number 23 on the ARIA Chart.
Fiasco signing physical copies of Tetsuo & Youth.
In 2014, Fiasco took on the role of celebrity ambassador for Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C), where he released the song "Mission" on May 19, 2014, as an uplifting anthem. His own grandmother passed away from cancer, and several of his close ones were affected, including Professor Ronald "Kwesi" Harris from Chicago State University, who also inspired the track.[64] The remix, featuring fellow Chicagoans Jennifer Hudson and Common, was released on September 5, and the trio performed the song live during the televised special for that year.[65] On May 20, 2014, Fiasco was announced as the music director for the United States men's national soccer team's 2014 FIFA World Cup campaign. He helped coordinate in-game music programming and created the song "Stellar Light," which was released in full the following year.[66]
Due to the delay of Tetsuo & Youth, Fiasco remarked, "Atlantic Records won't release the album until they get a 'pop' single. [S]o putting together a mini-project while they find one for me. It's called 'Lost in the Atlantic Ocean' with a bunch of my friends to stay active and happy…" The next day, on October 15, 2014 (which happened to be the third anniversary of Fiasco Friday), the hacktivist group Anonymous used Twitter to threaten Fiasco's label for a release date, giving them an ultimatum: agree to their request or face their wrath. They also made it known that they were willing to fight for music that educates the masses to continue being released. Within less than 24 hours, the record label met their demand. Fiasco responded with "V" for vendetta, where the Guy Fawkes mask is the symbol of Anonymous.[67] In December 2014, he was featured on "Linger," released as the fourth single from Guy Sebastian's seventh album, Madness.
On January 20, 2015, Tetsuo & Youth was released, with Fiasco deliberately avoiding political themes and linear storytelling.[68][69] The album debuted at number 14 on the Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 42,000 copies in the United States, and appeared on several year-end lists. Critical response was generally favorable, with Kellan Miller of XXL evaluating that Fiasco "has arguably released his most thematically layered and engaging album to date."[70] The song "Mural" is his most-viewed solo song on Genius, with 693.8 thousand views. Being his final project with Atlantic, Fiasco considered moving to Red Bull or Blue Note Records, but both ultimately fell through.[71] On August 29, 2015, he released his mixtape Pharaoh Height 2/30 to Hightail as a free digital download. The title is a play on his Fahrenheit 1/15 mixtape series and consists of six songs. On September 27, 2015, he announced that The Cool 2 was in the works.[72] On December 18, 2015, coinciding with The Cool's eighth anniversary, Fiasco provided an update on the sequel, expected to drop in Winter 2017.[73] Near the end of the year, Fiasco and Sky Gellatly, who make up the DJ duo SNDCLSH, released their debut extended play (EP), Don't Drop the Flag, on December 23. All proceeds from the project's sales were dedicated to supporting youth, reflecting their commitment "to supporting the next generation of creative thinkers."[74]
2016–2018: Drogas Light and Wave[]
From January to May 2016, Fiasco embarked on the nationwide Tour for the Fans, featuring opening acts Billy Blue, The Boy Illinois, and Zverse.[75] On February 15, 2016, he participated in a Street Fighter exhibition match against Japanese esports player Daigo Umehara, winning 3-2 using Ken.[76] Viewers accused the tournament of being fixed, though Fiasco insisted he had trained beforehand and played his best. On December 12, 2016, he published his freestyle "N.E.R.D." on SoundCloud. Brian "DJ Z" Zisook, who is Jewish, wrote an article for DJBooth condemning the lyric 'Artists getting robbed for their publishing / By dirty Jewish execs who think it's alms from the covenant' on the grounds that it was antisemitic.[77] The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) also expressed disappointment, with CEO Jonathan Greenblatt issuing a statement on how it reinforced negative stereotypes about Jewish people.[78] Fiasco deemed the track "poorly interpreted" and asserted that he did not support "real" antisemitism. He directly replied to Greenblatt's statement, saying, "I didn't [call the execs] dirty becuz they were Jewish I called them dirty becuz their [sic] horrible fucking human beings."[79] The subsequent backlash led to him announcing his retirement from music and canceling all upcoming albums.
Nevertheless, Drogas Light was released on February 10, 2017, through 1st & 15th Entertainment and Thirty Tigers. It sold 19,702 copies in its first week and received mixed responses. Critics felt it did not showcase the rapper's skillset, especially as his first project after leaving Atlantic Records. With its foray into trap music and numerous guest features, Edwin Houghton of Pitchfork called it Fiasco's "most subversive album yet."[80] Fiasco revealed during his headline concert U.S. tour that it was a compilation of scrapped records from previous projects.[81]
The Beat n Path docuseries won Best Direction at the Asian Academy Creative Awards in Hong Kong.
On March 8, 2018, Fiasco premiered his martial arts documentary series Beat n Path in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. It was dedicated to the memory of his father, who had instructed him to complete his martial arts training in China. Produced by Studio SV, a company he co-founded with Bonnie Chan Woo, proceeds from the project went towards the Rebuild Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing buildings and neighborhoods on the South Side of Chicago.
His seventh studio album, Drogas Wave, was released on September 21, 2018, and is his longest work yet, with twenty-four tracks. It debuted at number 60 on the US Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 11,099 equivalent units (4,951 of which were in pure album sales).[82] Another concept album, Drogas Wave revolves around the manilla—currency used during the transatlantic slave trade. Fiasco constructed the narrative around the enslaved African LongChains, who escape their bondage and, instead of drowning, survive underwater with the mission of sinking passing slave ships. He intends to adapt the album's storyline into a screenplay or graphic novel, entitled Wave. To promote the album, he embarked on the Drogas Wave Tour, visiting select U.S. cities.
2019–2022: House, Tape Tape, and Drill Music in Zion[]
On March 12, 2019, he performed at 312 Day, a festival celebrating the culture of Chicago. On July 1, 2019, he released the promotional single "Air China," sharing his experiences of traveling to the country for his series Beat n Path.[83] On Halloween 2019, the music video for the vault record "Hey Lupe" premiered on The FADER. It served as the third single from Chill's Spotlight, a playlist curated by Chilly.[84] On November 21, 2019, he headlined Red Bull Music Festival, performing Food & Liquor in its entirety for the first time in Chicago. His sister, Ayesha Jaco, was present to perform the intro.[85]
In 2020, he released the two collaborative extended plays House and Tape Tape, with Kaelin Ellis and Soundtrakk, respectively. The first originated via the Internet, where record producer Ellis tweeted out a beat that caught Fiasco's attention.[86] This led to a fully fleshed-out project released on July 24, 2020, with guest appearances from Virgil Abloh and Crystal Torres. The EP was dedicated in memory of Fiasco's and Sky Gellatly's fathers, with Peter Gellatly passing away from COVID-19. The EP's first and only single, "Shoes," was dedicated to the late Ahmaud Arbery, who was murdered by three white men while jogging. Abloh hypothetically designed a pair of shoes for Arbery. Tape Tape was created with his longtime producer and released on October 2, 2020. It was largely inspired by Lil Uzi Vert and Travis Scott, with Fiasco rapping over Soundtrakk's trap beats. The project contained just two tracks—"Oh Yes" and "Apologetic"—and was described as a playlist, with songs to be gradually added depending on audience reception.[87]
On October 8, 2020, the first four episodes of The Lupe and Royce Show podcast premiered, hosted by Fiasco, Royce da 5'9", and Tom Franks. The show mainly discussed current events, personal anecdotes, and Hip Hop,[88] though it ended a year later after the exchange of disses between Fiasco and Royce. What started as a verbal disagreement escalated into unfriendly relations, culminating in Royce's diss track, "Silence of the Lambda," on July 22, 2021. The track took shots at both Fiasco and Mickey Factz. Fiasco quickly responded several hours later using the same beat, "Steve Jobs: SLR 3 1/2," and the public generally agreed that Fiasco won the exchange.[89] On August 9, 2021, Fiasco announced the creation of an album within 24 hours, but the process spanned three days as he needed rest. On September 24, 2021, an album inspired by the documentary film of the same name, The One and Only Dick Gregory, was released, featuring "Big Energy" by Fiasco.[90] On the same day, his feature on the single "Rómpelo" by Cuban musician Cimafunk was also released.
Fiasco released reinterpreted DMIZ merchandise, which raises awareness of the detrimental impact petroleum industries has on the environment and human health.
On May 28, 2022, he was a special guest at Coldplay's Chicago show during their Music of the Spheres World Tour. They performed "Superstar" together, followed by the band's "God Put a Smile Upon Your Face."[91] On June 10, 2022, he released the song "Galveston" exclusively to Apple Music as part of their compilation album Juneteenth 2022: Freedom Songs.[92] On June 24, 2022, Drill Music in Zion was released to positive critical consensus and added to various year-end publication lists, with HipHopDX nominating him for "Best Comeback."[93] The title was conceived from his 2021 freestyle, "Forest Fires," in which he mentioned his next album's name. He worked with Soundtrakk and likened the project to Nas' Illmatic due to its ten tracks and magnum opus status. On October 10, 2022, The Cool was certified platinum by the RIAA; his first album to achieve this milestone.[94] The recognition came after The Cool 15th Anniversary Tour, during which he performed the entire record at shows. On December 9, 2022, the song "Pumpkin Seeds" with Aesop Rock was released to benefit the organization The Collaboratory, which works to restore two skateparks in Dayton, Ohio.[95]
2023–present: All Proceeds to My Chain and Samurai[]
On April 28, 2023, Fiasco released the single "SentRock," named after street artist Joseph "Sentrock" Perez, who created the accompanying painting inspired by the music. This was followed by a slew of standalone singles as part of the All Proceeds to My Chain (APTMC) series, including "Checkin'," "Outside," "Channel No3," and "Roc-A-Fella Y'all," that would go towards a new jewelry piece by Riic the Jeweler. During the summer, Fiasco joined American reggae-rock band Dirty Heads' Island Glow Tour as an opening act on select dates. He debuted the song "Better Days" during his set, which remains in the vault. On July 19, 2023, Chilly was freed from prison under the new Illinois law that allows extreme sentences to be revisited.[96]
Fiasco performing at Hip Hop 50 Live in The Bronx, New York.
In collaboration with Google, Fiasco launched the artificial intelligence (AI) tool TextFX on August 2, 2023, designed to assist rappers, writers, and wordsmiths. He demonstrated the tool with his song "Glass of Water," clarifying that it doesn't generate raps directly, but instead serves as a device to elevate writing, offer endless possibilities, and encourage new insights into text.[97] On August 11, Fiasco was a featured performer at Mass Appeal's Hip Hop 50 Live, held at the Yankee Stadium in New York, celebrating fifty years of Hip Hop culture.[98]
In 2024, Fiasco released several loosies in the first four months, including "Dominican Barber," "LLC," and "Indio" to YouTube. He performed at Coachella's Heineken House venue for both weekends, where he announced his long-awaited project Samurai, scheduled for release that summer.[99] The lead single and title track, "Samurai," dropped on May 17, 2024, followed by the second single, "Cake," on June 7, 2024. Music videos for both singles were directed by Chris & Blaq. His ninth studio album, released on June 28, 2024, centers on the concept of Amy Winehouse becoming a battle rapper. Like Drill Music in Zion, the album was entirely produced by Soundtrakk.[100] The music video for one of its tracks, "No. 1 Headband," dropped the same day. Fiasco told Forbes that at this point in his life, he no longer sees himself pursuing an artist career, feeling that he belongs in other spaces and now creates music purely for enjoyment.[101] On July 23, 2024, he announced the first batch of dates for the Samurai Tour.[102] To attract audience attendance, the first ten people to spend $100 on merchandise at each venue would receive an exclusive mixtape, Rhymen Shop, in the form of a USB containing the files sent digitally. Fans were asked not to leak or torrent the music, out of respect for the rapper's wishes.
On August 14, 2024, Fiasco revived Child Rebel Soldier as just himself, where he went back to the original idea of him "rapping over Radiohead beats."[103] He released the song "Shrink" to YouTube, which earned a copyright strike days later, and he decided to leave the project alone. On October 11, the song "Pound for Pound" was released to promote the new boxing video game Undisputed, developed by Steel City Interactive. On November 8, his feature alongside Punch on Ab-Soul's song "Peace" was released from Soul's sixth studio album, Soul Burger.
On January 1, 2025, Fiasco announced his two new platforms, Rhymen Shop and Endless LUP. The first informed fans that those who bought the mixtape during his Samurai Tour could collect more content (called "Flavors") at future events, with the USB cards (called "Bowls") serving as primary access passes. Additionally, there would be another chance for fans to obtain access. Meanwhile Endless LUP, its name an antithesis to LupEND and play on "endless loop" works as a radio station that generates AI music based on Fiasco's works. It is set to play on select radio stations, organized with MIT.[104]
On May 30, his feature alongside Homeboy Sandman on Aesop Rock's song "Charlie Horse" was released from Aesop's eleventh studio album, Black Hole Superette.
Artistry[]
Songwriting[]
I like to make music where people ingest it and make it their own. I leave it blank enough, vague enough for people to insert their own meaning into it.
Fiasco, on making his music open to interpretation[28]
Fiasco is often categorized as a backpack[105] and conscious rapper,[57] who music critics laud his complex, erudite lyricism or willingness to engage in social commentary. Fiasco finds a distinction in his artistry between mixtapes and albums, likening it to having two different careers.[106] Since albums must often be compartmentalized and formulaic in many ways to sell, his pen game is best reflected in his mixtapes. Around the time of The Cool album, he noted that he no longer writes with a target audience in mind and explained, "[I] realized at a certain point, even if I made something that was completely impossible, which is zero audience in mind, people would still take it and kind of interpret it and project into it things that they wanted to see anyway. So at a certain point, […] it was more about like I'mma do fifty percent, and then you're gonna do your fifty percent as the audience."[107] During an Instagram livestream, Fiasco demonstrated his creative process by punch-in freestyling.[108]
Fiasco has favored "simple complexity" in his songs, which, on the surface, are straightforward but allow listeners to deconstruct and extrapolate their layers and meanings. He compares this with jazz, for its depth.[109] He claims what makes a good lyricist includes punchlines, double entendres, and wordplay. He incorporates numerous cultural references and allusions in his work, focusing chiefly on bars. He aims to create songs that uplift and enlighten as redemptive work for his past, when he ran the streets.[110] His music functions as resistance, reform, and revolution, exploring African-American history, systemic oppression, economics like planned obsolescence, and life for inner-city youth. Fiasco employs various techniques in his songwriting, including anthropomorphizing inanimate objects to describe violence and racial tensions ("Twilight Zone"); using parody by mimicking radio songs ("Dumb It Down"); delivering stream-of-consciousness to showcase dense wordplay, continuous flow, and intricate rhyme schemes ("Mural"); and creating alternate realities to honor deceased individuals subjected to violence ("Jonylah Forever"). He coined the term resurrectives, a musical form of commemoration and immortalization where he brings the person back to life. The songs "Jonylah Forever" and "Alan Forever" are prime examples of this, in which Fiasco creates another life for them to save themselves. He also creates portraitures for others, as he told Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: "It's rare that you see artists pay homage to other artists through art […] So I wanted to kind of take up that mantle of doing portraits of people, lyrically, with raps."[111]
Regarding profanity in his songs, Fiasco's father once warned him that any curse uttered will release a demon from hell. He believed there to be power behind expletives, using them intentionally to ensure people listened or to express himself with honesty and rawness.[112]
Themes[]
Fiasco frequently narrates the life experiences of African Americans, covering subjects such as disenfranchisement, poverty, racism, enslavement, immigration, and other racial disparities. Recurring themes in his work include liberation through death, morality and conflict, and questioning the status quo.
Fiasco's first album Food & Liquor centers around duality, symbolized by its title representing the balance between good and bad. He explores common human flaws like hypocrisy, ignorance, and corruption that perpetuate injustices, while simultaneously depicting the Chicago landscape through personal experiences. His second album, The Cool, similarly contemplates societal troubles, such as child soldiers, gun violence, glorification of street life, and immigrant status. The inclusion of the Michael Young History (MYH) storyline creatively examines the repercussions of "chasing the cool" lifestyle. Lasers was criticized for its radio-friendly sound, though it retains elements of Fiasco's intended messages. Tracks like "Words I Never Said" urge action in the face of adversity; "All Black Everything" reimagines a world where racism never existed; and "State Run Radio" critiques the oversaturation of commercial music, where records that raise awareness are blocked or seldom played.
The sequel to Food and Liquor, The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1, primarily focuses on the country's history and socio-political climate from Fiasco's perspective. Similar to his debut record, it deals with topics such as colonialism and discusses corruption within institutions (religion, economy, government, schools). He quips in "ITAL (Roses)," to those who complain that he raps about the same things, "Well, that's 'cause ain't shit changed, bitch." However, his next album, Tetsuo & Youth, takes a more abstract approach, with tracks like "Mural" featuring a loose interior monologue and "Dots & Lines" referencing the Pigpen cipher. The album is popularly thought to be played in reverse, telling the story of Fiasco's journey with Atlantic Records and the idea of freedom through death and resurrection. Christian themes are also present, with songs like "Adoration of the Magi" and "Madonna (And Other Mothers in the Hood)" referencing specific religious figures. Dr. Raphael Travis Jr., author of The Healing Power of Hip Hop (2015), explains how Fiasco tackles both inner and outer perspectives, including issues like arms trafficking, the prison system, and the social welfare safety net.
Thematically, Drogas Light is a varied album, touching on subjects ranging from the prevalence of guns and drugs in the United States to love ballads like "Law" and "More Than My Heart," a tribute to his mother. Fiasco adopts a more humorous and lighthearted style, occasionally interspersed with moments of social consciousness. Tracks like "Jump" narrate his encounter with a trapper who wants him as her ghostwriter, "It's Not Design" studies the meanings of love, and "Tranquillo" reflects on Black stereotypes, dignity, and struggles to make a living. Drogas Wave takes on a conceptual approach in its first part ("Wave"), with dominant themes of water and slavery. Fiasco created the story of the LongChains, who escape their bonds and save themselves by drowning. Instead of death, they live underwater with the mission of sinking passing slave ships. This storyline intersects with the MYH narrative, where Young was given liquor instead of water, leading to his transformation into an animated corpse. The second part, "Drogas," examines the impact of drugs on society. It includes interludes that confront these issues, advocating for youth guidance ("Don't Mess Up the Children (Interlude)") and the freedom of the mind ("Baba Kwesi (Interlude)").
Drill Music is reminiscent of Fiasco's earlier works, featuring straightforward messages but adopting a jazzier approach. Fiasco explores materialism ("Kiosk"), human interaction and technology through the anthropomorphism of hands ("Precious Things"), and violence in hip-hop ("On Faux Nem"). Samurai refrains from addressing explicitly conscious topics and is described as Fiasco's most personal album to date. It chronicles his experiences and intertwines the concept of Amy Winehouse as a battle rapper. Fiasco elaborated on the album's purpose in a press release: "The overall themes of the album speak to the constant fight and the battle one goes through being in the entertainment industry. Some of the things we need to defend."
Influences[]
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Jay-Z and Nas have been cited as influences on Fiasco's artistry.
Fiasco mainly grew up listening to West Coast gangsta rap,[113] though he was initially put off by hip-hop's use of vulgarity and the degradation of women. He has an eclectic taste in music, with a particular fondness for jazz above all other genres. Before embracing rap, he primarily listened to classical and jazz, naming Benny Goodman and Thelonious Monk as major influences.[114] He relayed to Complex, "My favorite songs aren't hip-hop songs; they're songs from Queen like 'Somebody to Love.' Hip-hop is just something I actually know how to do."[115] Recently, he has been drawn to the boom bap subgenre, for its "80 to 95 BPM range with laid-back, jazzy layers."[116]
Fiasco credits his father for introducing him to rap, playing artists like Public Enemy, N.W.A., Ravi Shankar, and King Sunny Ade during his martial arts training.[117] He named J. D. Walker, the Godfather of Chicago's Underground Rap scene, for sparking his interest in wanting to become a rapper.[24] He has identified Jay-Z as a key musical influence, stating he "literally would not be rapping if it wasn't for [him]." Fiasco learned to rap by freestyling over Jay-Z beats, a practice that has become second nature to him.[118] In a July 2018 tweet, Jay-Z ranked in his top three rappers, for reasons including lyrical ability, sales, longevity, and influence.[119] His top five, whom he professionally looks to in order to become a better rapper, are Jay-Z, MF Doom, Aesop Rock, Ghostface Killah, and Jay Electronica.[120] Other notable influences on him include Nas, Spice 1, 8Ball & MJG, Crucial Conflict, Q-Tip, Psychodrama, and Geto Boys, with the former's album It Was Written leaving a strong impression on him.[121][69]
Public image[]
Fiasco at a Occupy Wall Street protest on October 15, 2011, as photographed by James Cox. Cox wrote in the caption, "Last Saturday Lupe Fiasco visited and brought supplies to #OccupyChicago which were later destroyed and confiscated by CPD that night."[122]
My gift and curse is that I'm always 10 years ahead. I'm not saying that out of ego. It's just something that I've noticed. You do something, and then 10 years later such and such did it. Then you're like, 'Oh, I did that 10 years ago!'
Fiasco noticing his tendency to be ahead of his time[71]
Fiasco acknowledges his "nerd" image, which essentially reflects who he is. His ability to engage with modern technology, from blogging on Myspace to exploring artificial intelligence, demonstrates his forward-thinking mindset and his drive for novelty. He has an alter ego, Carrera Lu, who is described as the "anti-Lupe Fiasco" and engages in an ostentatious lifestyle. He maintains a private personal life and is reluctant to do interviews, feeling that the media often twists his words. There has been a period of unfavorable press coverage and public perception, especially after Fiasco faced backlash for calling President Barack Obama a terrorist in relation to the authorization of numerous drone strikes in the Middle East. He argued that Obama was responsible for the collateral damage as well, where innocent civilians suffered or lost their lives. Following these statements, he faced professional repercussions, including being blackballed, losing sponsorships, friendships, and support from his crew. When asked if he regretted his remarks, he stated that it opened a door for him, where "It's gonna affect change on a much much higher level in a much much more direct way with the folks who actually have their hands on the levers of social change, social direction, and social power."[69] He sees himself as the "underdog" in the game, which helps fuel his drive to do his best.[123]
Publications tend to view Fiasco as eccentric, didactic, elusive, and radical. LA Weekly's Jeff Weiss described him as a rapper who didn't fit in any hip-hop circles, noting, "You wouldn't exactly call Fiasco soft. […] But he's not rough enough for those weaned on the grimy New York city-street rap of the '90s, he's too irreverent and iconoclastic for the old backpack crowd, and he's unwilling to dumb it down for ringtone radio."[124] Likewise, Yelena Bailey of How the Streets Were Made (2020) viewed Fiasco as "somewhat of an outlier" in mainstream hip-hop: "was the child of Black radicalism, a Chicago rapper who rejected the materialism and overt misogyny that permeates much of hip-hop." She highlighted his role as a cultural critic, focusing on American imperialism and internal issues within Black communities, and ascribed Lasers as his fall from mainstream. In his book Rebel Music, A.J. Ryan noted that Fiasco "did not let mainstream success take him off message. Each of his albums contains exquisitely rhymed messages, explicit and veiled, meant to challenge the status quo of Hip Hop." Ryan Bassil, writing for Noisey, gave a retrospective of Fiasco's career decline, where his outspoken social commentary often overshadowed his musical output, making survival in the industry challenging.[125] Former Lehigh faculty member James Braxton Peterson, author of Hip-Hop Headphones (2016), observed that Fiasco's early fans from Food & Liquor were introduced to his "complex radically progressive politics," and emphasized on his unique ability to maintain authenticity whilst navigating the hip-hop space.
In their critical analysis from Black Sexualities: Probing Powers, Passions, Practices, and Policies (2010), Juan Battle and Sandra L. Barnes identified the Platinum Age of hip-hop as spanning from 1995 to 2006, during which Fiasco promoted a more flexible understanding of Black masculine identity by presenting an alternative to the prevailing values of that era. They suggested that artists like Fiasco could expand the narrow and traditional view dominating hip-hop, pointing out how his background, steeped in the glorification of gangs and drugs, could have led him to conform to the conventional norms of that time. Instead, he chose to craft a distinctive persona. Battle and Barnes added, "Lupe's identity, then, is quintessentially postmodern," viewing him as a compelling contrast to artists like Jay-Z, who they argue often explore themes of Black masculine authenticity in a more limited manner.
Kamaludeen Mohamed Nasir, in Representing Islam: Hip-Hop of the September 11 Generation (2020), praised Sunni rappers such as Fiasco, Mos Def, and Q-Tip as examples of hip-hop's Afrohumanism and positivity. Nasir highlighted their use of the Arabic language as a counterpoint to hegemonic dominance of English in rap. Brian Flota and Joseph P. Fisher, authors of The Politics of Post-9/11 Music: Sound, Trauma, and the Music Industry in the Time of Terror (2013), asserted that Fiasco bridges the gap between entertainment and education, especially evident in Food & Liquor for its commentary on the Diamond Age, poverty, crime, and America's own acts of terrorism. They contended that Fiasco's outspoken nature and potential association with radical Muslim identity underscore the challenges of voicing dissent in post-9/11 America, reflecting broader concerns about threats both foreign and domestic.[126]
Hip-hop heavyweights quickly recognized Fiasco's talent early in his career. Jay-Z described him as "refreshing" to The Source in 2003, and Nas co-signed to XXL in 2007, "I'll listen to anything he do. That n**** really cool as a muthafucka. He's fun and it ain't just about being lyrical, 'cause some idiots get scared off that road." Both saw him as a younger version of themselves. GZA from Wu-Tang Clan complimented Fiasco's public image, seeing him as "an example for these young dudes" due to his lyricism, engaging storytelling, and authenticity.[127] Rakim told The Guardian, "We really need some of that consciousness, that fly on the wall that watches over us and comments. I like B.o.B and Lupe Fiasco a lot, they're both exploring the music, but I don't see a lot of artistry out there."[128] Ice-T shared similar thoughts on the at-the-time rarity of conscious subject matter in rap, "Saying you sell drugs, that's not edgy to me, let's talk about some issues. Lupe Fiasco does it. I've listened to some of his stuff. He's not afraid but there's a lack."[129]
Peers like Pharrell dubbed Fiasco the "future of hip-hop," and Ye called him "super gangsta" despite his perceived nerd persona.[130] Ab-Soul expressed his admiration in a 2014 interview with XXL, saying, "Of course, I am an avid Lupe follower. I hold it dear to the concepts that he presents and the ideas that he was into. It's all to provoke thought. I like when people oppose."[131] Cornel West has called Fiasco "the most important hip-hop artist of his generation,"[3] commending his courage in vocalizing opinions and supporting them through action. West stated, "You can appreciate the artistic contributions for a lot of different musicians. But the ones that have your heart are the ones who are full of heart and deep love in taking a political risk over and over and over again."[132] Brother Ali held similar views, calling Fiasco "very sincere and genuine," adding, "He preaches it like he feels it. That's what we should want from artists. We should want people they give it to us raw and uncut and without filter. I support him. I think he's an important person for Hip Hop culture."[133] Baba Kwesi spoke of Fiasco's philanthropic work with "Mission" and Stand Up to Cancer: "To have an artist like that lend his voice, I think he's a stronger voice for a lot of people who are often times perceived as the voices. Because sometimes when people are saddled with these kind of health challenges, they become throwaways, quite frankly. They become, y'know, 'Oh, well, you know, they're going to fade away eventually.' No, no. He's giving life to these brothers and sisters."[134]
Heralded as the savior of hip-hop, Fiasco's album Lasers experienced a downturn that polarized both fans and music critics. His high-profile battle with Atlantic Records continued for two more albums before he fulfilled his contract and took the independent route. He claimed he was now a "D-list celebrity," and ventured into academia after completing the phases of commercial, cultural, and entrepreneurial success. He opted to "pop out every once in a while," and then teach at MIT.[71]
Legacy[]
He might be one of the most slept on rappers of this generation, but a lot of people gained a lot of influence from him. Not just Chicago artists, but worldwide artists look at him as somebody who really pushed this shit forward.
Saba to Billboard[135]
Fiasco is commonly defined by his thought-provoking lyricism and esoteric wordplay. During a time where hip-hop was thought to be dead, a notion widely attributed to Nas' thoughts about the genre's growing evolution, concerns arose about its commercialization and the diminishing of sociopolitical messages. This intergenerational dissonance had fingers pointing to Southern rap, though Nas didn't intend to disparage any particular artist or region.[136] Fiasco was seen by some fans as the one to save the genre, appealing to audiences who wanted something authentic and new. He helped shift the image of rappers, allowing lyrical, "nerd" rappers to become more accepted and visible in mainstream music. He has arguably paved the way for future rappers like Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole, where Cole acknowledged in 2010 that lyricism was gradually returning to the rap space, "Slowly but surely it's turning that corner. Especially with the signing of Lupe, when he got on that's when the turn really started." Wale also credited Fiasco's vanguard role, saying, "People think Kanye started these new n****s. But Lupe Fiasco started all of this shit for us to get a chance and for Complex to really fuck with n****s like us."[137] Fiasco has also collaborated with international artists, extending to a Japanese audience through his works with Double ("Run Away Love"), Big-O ("City Wings"), DJ Deckstream and Verbal ("Can You Let Me Know"), and Shakkazombie. He has worked with Cuban musician Cimafunk ("Rómpelo") and UK rapper Sway.
Writing for HipHopDX, Justin Hunte expressed admiration for Fiasco's boldness in tackling controversial subjects, opining, "there remains something noble about Chi-town's Guevara relentlessly waving his beliefs without fear of backlash. Someone has to shine a light on all the world's ills, right? If not Lu, then who?"[138] Forbes writer Thomas Hobbs believed Fiasco helped preserve political conscious rap in mainstream music,[19] while DJBooth's Michael Hannah argued, "Lupe established the idea that an artist can generally stay true to himself and reach new heights of success in popular and mainstream circles. It helped continue the acceptance of experimenting with genre blending and crossover sounds."[139] According to Forbes contributor Andrea Bossi, Fiasco "made a name for himself through careful lyricism, socially conscious themes and reflective storytelling." She continued, "There's a poetic and uplifting nature about his music, which has contributed to his staying power. His insightful lyrics are part of rap's rich lineage, connecting artists across generations."[140]
Fans who analyzed the rapper's songs would share their theories on message boards and forums ahead of Genius' creation. Fiasco told Vulture in 2020, "You're talking to a person who's somewhat personally responsible for building an industry of annotating lyrics. When Rap Genius came out, I met with the owners […] That shit exists for the sole purpose of 'Because it's n****s like Lupe who say shit that I don't understand. And I need to figure that shit out.'"[86]
Many rappers and musicians have given praise to Fiasco or named him as an influence, including Ab-Soul, Aesop Rock,[141] A$AP Rocky, Big Pooh, Bun B, Chance the Rapper,[142] Common, Danny Brown,[143] Denzel Curry,[144][145] Frank Ocean,[146] Isaiah Rashad,[147] Jay-Z, Joe Budden,[148] Kendrick Lamar, Kid Cudi,[149] Lil B,[150] Lil Durk, MC Lyte,[151] Nas, Saba, Schoolboy Q,[152] Ty Dolla $ign,[153] Tyler the Creator,[154] Vic Mensa, and Wale.
Twista posited, "Lupe represents Chicago real well. As far as lyricism and being articulate and not [embracing] the ignorant rapper tag. He makes us sound educated." Vic Mensa addressed the importance of Chicago rappers representing: "Kanye and Lupe coming out around the time I was 11 years old, that meant the world to what I'm doing now. Just to be shown that the possibility existed. Of being somebody that had the understanding of the hood but also saw past that, and saw something bigger that connects to people universally."[155] Taylor Bennett named Fiasco as one of his inspirations, saying, "he was the first person to make nerds cool, not trying to be a thug or something he wasn't in his songs."[156] Chinese rapper Feezy found Fiasco's music enlightening, where "Having been a well-behaved, straight-A student ever since I can remember, I'd never thought about how one can so boldly express their opinions and contemplations in songs—that was really refreshing to me."[157]
Personal life[]
Fiasco, of West African descent, was born a Sunni Muslim and has observed how his faith, to an extent, influences everything he does, especially as a rapper and within the music business. He explained, "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." He clarified that while Islam plays a significant role for him, he prefers not to be seen as a spokesperson for the religion or to publicly highlight it, as he doesn't want people to equate his personal flaws with Islam itself.[158] He had an English-born stepfather, Chris Bolton, who was a Zimbabwe freedom fighter and appeared in Thomas Mapfumo's biography, having been Mapfumo's sound engineer for many years.[159] Bolton passed away in June 2019, and Fiasco paid tribute to his "other father" in a post.[160]
Fiasco is an avid fan of martial arts, sports cars, GT Racing, video games, and anime. He has expressed aspirations to win a Nobel Peace Prize.[161] He grew up closely following the success of the Chicago Bulls and has a personal connection with the Chicago Bears. He shared with ESPN, "The '85 Bears did these stylized posters. Jim McMahon redid 'Miami Vice,' and they showed him in a suit with an Uzi. When they showed Mike Singletary, he was a samurai, cutting the football in half. The armor he had on was my father's. My father was a big guy, and it was the only samurai armor they could find in the city that was big enough to fit [Singletary]."[162] On December 6, 2019, he stated, "I'm more culturally Japanese than I am African,"[163] which he had previously articulated in his 2007 song "Gold Watch": "I am American mentality with Japanese tendencies."
Martial arts is an integral part of Fiasco's life, his family being "three generations deep."[164] His father owned and operated several martial arts schools in Chicago as a way to counter gang culture and provide an alternative. Fiasco started training at the age of three and earned the first of his four black belts at aged 10. He explained its significant impact on him, "There was no difference between the house and the dojo. That's all I knew was martial arts so everything in life got filtered through that. So whether it be the streets, whether it be school, my daily activities, the things I was interested in, the type of movies I would watch, everything was kind of filtered through the martial arts." On November 11, 2024, he earned his 7th Dan Black Belt during his father's commemorative ceremony.[24]
He refrained from voting in U.S. elections until 2018, citing his reservations about Donald Trump's racial views as a factor in his decision. He announced on Twitter that he would be supporting Democratic candidates, though in 2023, implied that he had still never voted. Fiasco endorsed Cornel West's 2024 presidential campaign, saying it would be the "first and last time" he would vote.[165] He expressed support for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the 2020 and 2024 elections.
Business and ventures[]
Nicolas Lesaffre was commissioned to create the LFT avatars, having over 100 designs.
In 2001, Fiasco and Chilly co-founded the entertainment company 1st & 15th Entertainment, named after bi-monthly paychecks. The company had local in-house producers and musicians and operated as an imprint of Atlantic Records. In 2009, Fiasco folded the company to focus on other aspects of his career.[45] Despite this, the 1st & 15th brand continues to be marketed on all his releases. In 2005, he established Righteous Kung Fu, a company involved in designing fashions, sneakers, toys, video games, comic books, and graphics for album covers and skateboard decks. Its fashion line, Trilly & Truly, worked with the late Virgil Abloh, who designed their collections and graphics.
In 2010, he started the book club The Readers to promote literacy. In 2013, Fiasco assumed the role of Creative Director at Higi, an app promoting well-being and a healthier lifestyle through a scoring system.[166] He also started the website and company WOLF Studio to host his abstract works.[167] In 2015, he co-founded the educational guild Society of Spoken Art to introduce rappers to the fields of linguistics and semiotics. In 2017, Fiasco and Bonnie Chan Woo founded the production company Studio SV, debuting their first project, Beat n Path, in 2018. In 2022, he established Société Internationale d'Ur, an association for the world's oldest recorded board game.
Education[]
Fiasco became a visiting professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, being a recipient of the MLK Visiting Professorship Program. He was invited to teach a course on rap, that began for one academic year before being invited to teach for subsequent years. In 2023, he announced his position as a Saybrook Associate Fellow at Yale University. In 2025, he announced his teaching post for rap at the Johns Hopkins University's Peabody Institute, which introduced its first Bachelor of Music in Hip-Hop.[168]
Paintings[]
During the 2010s, Fiasco ventured into visual arts, "drawn to the idea of creating something that could live on forever." He initially experimented with photography but decided to pursue painting after an artist he had commissioned to create a piece encouraged him to make it himself. Working under his birth name, Fiasco debuted his abstract paintings in January 2015 at Soho House in Fulton Market.[169]
In September 2016, he presented his collection Beta as a solo exhibition at Ed Paschke Art Center. He said in a statement, "The themes I explore are perfectly suited for the art center's mission to provide an accessible, open space for emerging artists."[170]
Writings[]
He has written a short story for Chicago Sun-Times,[171] contributed to the book Guns in the Hands of Artists, and co-authored articles for Wired.[172]
In an October 2024 interview with Way Up with Angela Yee, he revealed that he had finished the first draft of the Wave musical with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage.[173] Other workers to the project include Rebecca Taichman and William Wells. It is currently awaiting the green light to be staged at The Park Avenue Armory.[174]
Fashion[]
Fiasco has collaborated with a variety of companies and streetwear brands, including Kia, Pepsi, Google, Maharishi, and Swagger. In 2006, he entered into an endorsement deal with Reebok, becoming a face of their "I Am What I Am" campaign. As part of this agreement, he was prohibited from purchasing shoes from other brands.[175] This restriction led to him receiving a cease-and-desist letter after appearing on the cover of Billboard magazine wearing Nike SB Blazer Mission, which were sourced from stock images. The magazine apologized on his behalf, unaware of his deal, though Reebok severed ties with him.[176]
In 2008, Fiasco was an opening act for Kanye West's Glow in the Dark Tour, where he sported a specially made pair of Dita Midnight Special sunglasses.[177] That same year, he launched the fashion line Fallacy of Rome (FoR) in collaboration with FALSE founders Le Messie and Amanda Scully.[178] Together, they released several collections, though Fiasco eventually gave up creative direction due to being overwhelmed by other commitments and workload.[179] He was also supposed to be featured on an original song for the Nike+ Original Run series, though his sample was unable to be cleared. It was reported that he designed an exclusive pair of Nike Air Force 1 iD's for Fallacy of Rome, with only four pairs made available at a retail price of $2,000 each.[180] Fiasco worked with Greedy Genius and Converse, creating the Paratrooper and Converse Chuck Taylors. His work with Converse was part of the brand's (Product) RED campaign, where a percentage of the proceeds went toward combatting AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.[181]
In 2009, he participated in Nike Basketball's 2009 MVP musical comedy commercials, where he performed as Blitzen, a brazen reindeer who aims a diss track at Kris Kringle (voiced by KRS-One), Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. In response, Kringle challenges him to a basketball match where Kringle, Bryant, and James annihilate the reindeer on the court.[182][183]
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Fiasco is friends with Song for the Mute founders, Melvin Tanaya and Lyna Ty.
In 2012, Fiasco was announced as the brand ambassador for Vans OTW. He was also the face for a few of U.S. Alteration's seasonal collections. In 2014, he modeled for the Australian menswear label Song for the Mute's fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. In 2015, he collaborated with YOUth to launch a limited-edition shirt in promotion of Tetsuo & Youth. In 2018, he created the clothing brand Cobra Deportes Electrónarcos, which works in line with his esports team,[184] and in 2021, established the Nishigawa Iaidō Club.
On November 8, 2024, he and Maharishi released a training and post-training collection celebrating the launch of Fiasco's Nishigawa Iaidō Club.[185]
Technology[]
In 2012, he presented his "ROTHKO" project, where there were three audio formats: "Yet for Computers," "Then for Cyborgs," and "At Last for Humans." He commented on the piece, "The visual relationship between the wave form paintings and some of Rothko's work is kind of like an unexpected byproduct of creating the song and compressing it in such the fashion that we did. Its super cool how the song about him actually ending up resembling one of his paintings. A new form of abstract expressionism using an abstract expressionist to abstractly express it." It was eventually donated to MIT's ICE Lab.[186]
In February 2021, he introduced LFTs (a play on the abbreviated non-fungible token), utilizing the Ethereum blockchain for security. LFTs function as digital passes for fans, granting access to exclusive features, merchandise, and bonuses, aiming to build a community bridging hip-hop and technology.
In 2023, he collaborated with Google to create the AI language app TextFX that helps compose raps. The app went on to win three Webby Awards, a recognition presented annually by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences for excellence on the Internet.[187] In 2024, he appeared in an ad for Google Gemini and attended the annual developer conference Google I/O on May 14.[188]
In January 2025, he introduced Endless LUP, which would serve as a radio station that uniquely never plays the same AI-generated song twice.
Appearances in other media[]
Fiasco made cameo appearances on the television shows One Tree Hill and Empire as himself. He also served as a commentator in the documentaries The People Speak (2009), Summit on the Summit (2010), Monochrome (2021), and Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World (2023). He was credited as the moderator for the short documentary film The Revenge of Emmett Till (2016).
In 2019, he was a guest judge on Netflix's music competition show Rhythm + Flow for the Chicago preliminary auditions. In 2021, he appeared in the film Amen Break, which documents Virgil Abloh's Spring/Summer 2022 collection.
Philanthropy[]
Our dad's pledge or plea was to make your community better than you found it. Lupe chose music.
Ayesha Jaco explaining her's and Fiasco's involvement in the arts[189]
M.U.R.A.L. was founded as The Lupe Fiasco Foundation, before its name change in 2015.
Fiasco has used his platform for advocacy and charitable endeavors. He co-founded the non-profit charity organization M.U.R.A.L. with his sister, Ayesha Jaco, aimed at assisting inner-city youth;[190] participated in Summit on the Summit to raise awareness about the global water crisis; invested in Zero Mass Water, a tech company focused on providing clean and sustainable drinking water; and supported movements like Occupy Wall Street, which protests economic inequality and corporate greed, and Project Orange Tree, which calls for an end to structural violence.[191]
On What's Trending, when asked if social involvement is a responsibility for artists, Fiasco responded, "I think charity and being socially responsible is a responsibility for everyone. We're human beings, we're tribal creatures. In a group, it's how we survive. That's the nature of our kind of existence. And so, you definitely have to have a responsibility for other people that are around you. You know, to see them succeed and what have you. Or just to see them do better. So I think that's beyond me being an artist, even if I wasn't an artist I'll be doing the same thing. When I wasn't famous, I was doing the same thing. When I didn't have money, I was doing the same thing. I'm still helping wherever I could."[192]
Discography[]
Studio albums
- Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor (2006)
- Lupe Fiasco's The Cool (2007)
- Lasers (2011)
- Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 (2012)
- Tetsuo & Youth (2015)
- Drogas Light (2017)
- Drogas Wave (2018)
- Drill Music in Zion (2022)
- Samurai (2024)
Filmography[]
- Beat n Path (2018)
Tours[]
|
Headlining
|
Co-headlining
Supporting
|
Awards and nominations[]
With his first four albums, Fiasco was consecutively nominated for Best Rap Album at the Grammy Awards. In 2008, he won his first Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative Performance with "Daydreamin'," although he was unable to attend the ceremony due to contracting pneumonia. His impromptu acceptance speech was made eight years later, in 2016, at the Cincinnati show during his Tour for the Fans.
In 2017, he received the Chicagoness Award at the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC)'s 10th Annual Momentum Awards. The CEC board chairperson, Jim O'Connor, Jr., wrote of the rapper: "captures the very essence of Chicagoness. Lupe has redefined what it means to be an artist in Chicago, and has become a role model to the next generation of Chicagoans, powerfully impacted his community and shown true entrepreneurial spirit in every aspect of his work."[193]
Fiasco was named the 2023 Rap Laureate by the organization Words Beats & Life, whose debut publication reviewed his cultural contributions.[194]
In 2024, during the Chicago stop of his Samurai Tour, Fiasco was given his own day in his hometown. Celebrated on November 10, 2024, the day acknowledges "his artistic contributions, dedication to social justice, and his continuous efforts to elevate and empower communities in Chicago and across the world and inspire future generations to pursue change through art, innovation, and community engagement."
About.com placed him 35th on their 2007 list of "The 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time."[195] He was ranked 41st on Forbes' 2023 list of "The 50 Top Rappers of All Time."[140]
On February 26, 2025, the RIAA awarded him a plaque for selling 20 million certified units.
Notes[]
- ^[a] This article follows the grammatical rules set by KRS-One in 40 Years of Hip Hop, where "Hip Hop" refers to the culture and "hip-hop" refers to its products, such as the musical genre.
References[]
- ↑ Elibert, Mark (July 7, 2022). "Lupe Fiasco Brings 'Carrera Lu' Alter-Ego to Life in 'Autoboto' Video". HipHopDX.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Biography Today, pp. 57-69
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Interview with Cornel West and Lupe Fiasco". Calvin Digital Commons. April 3, 2009.
- ↑ Juon, Steve (September 19, 2006). "Lupe Fiasco :: Food & Liquor". RapReviews.
- ↑ Corrine, Amber (February 28, 2025). "Lupe Fiasco Lends His Artistry and Advocacy to RIAA's Annual Musicians on Call Benefit Event". Vibe.
- ↑ Mier, Tomás (January 2, 2025). "Lupe Fiasco Will Teach Rap at Johns Hopkin's Peabody Institute". Rolling Stone.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Watson, Margeaux (January 17, 2008). "The Successes of Rapper Lupe Fiasco". Entertainment Weekly.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@lupefiasco)". Instagram. February 16, 2020.
- ↑ "Chicago Alleged as Leader in Bias". The Washington Post. May 3, 1982.
- ↑ "Chicago Losing War Against Poverty, Study Says". Chicago Tribune. July 10, 1988.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Lupe Fiasco | Stardom, Semiotics & Soul-Searching". YouTube. April 25, 2021.
- ↑ "Gregory Jaco and The Southside Warriors". Dojo Rat. September 13, 2010.
- ↑ Lee, Chris (September 29, 2006). "Kick, Push, Coast, Rap". The Seattle Times.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Risen Magazine (@risenmagazine)". Issuu. September 1, 2006.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Lupe Fiasco: Two Sides to Everything". NPR. March 11, 2011.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 Smith, Bryan (July 17, 2007). "Lupe Fiasco, Word Star". Chicago Magazine.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Twitter. November 29, 2020.
- ↑ Collins, Hattie (April 12, 2008). "Lupe Dreams". The Guardian.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Hobbs, Thomas (May 19, 2022). "Rapper Lupe Fiasco: 'It's My Job to Shine Light and Expose the Dark Side'". Financial Times.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Imgur. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ↑ Thompson, Paul (August 2, 2022). "'Rappers Don't Fall Off': Lupe Fiasco on Aging in Hip-Hop, Drill Music, and the Audience". The Ringer.
- ↑ Rodriguez, Jayson (April 1, 2011). "Lupe Fiasco Recalls Being Paid in Food, on 'When I Was 17'". MTV News. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020.
- ↑ Thompson, Paul (May 2, 2019). "The Brilliant Ambiguity of Lupe Fiasco's 'The Truth Is Among Us'". The FADER.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Braboy, Mark P. (December 2, 2024). "How Lupe Fiasco Became Immortalized as Chicago's Rap Sensei". The TRiiBE.
- ↑ "Reel Notes S4 Episode 22: Lupe Fiasco on True Detective, Criticism, Soundtrakk, 'Samurai', & More". YouTube. July 17, 2024.
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- ↑ Cornish, Melanie (July 15, 2005). "Lupe Fiasco - Next Breakthrough". HipHop-Magazine.com. Archived from the original on July 29, 2005.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Fruchter, Alexander (May 11, 2006). "An Interview with Lupe Fiasco - Hip to Be Square". SoundSlam.com. Archived from the original on September 8, 2006.
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 Kayser, Brian (January 22, 2005). "Lupe Fiasco". HipHopGame. Archived from the original on December 17, 2005.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Twitter. February 10, 2019.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@lupefiasco)". Instagram. May 23, 2020.
- ↑ "Drug Conspiracy Trial Starts for Music Producer and Wife". Chicago Tribune. March 1, 2007.
- ↑ Dansby, Andrew (January 14, 2004). "L.A. Reid Exits Arista". Rolling Stone.
- ↑ Berry, Peter (December 5, 2016). "Jay-Z Is the Reason Lupe Fiasco Signed to Atlantic Records". XXL.
- ↑ "Lupe, Muslim Culture Hits Streets". Chicago Tribune. June 21, 2007.
- ↑ Ahmed, Insanul (February 19, 2021). "Lupe Fiasco Recalls How L.A. Reid Once Trashed Kanye West's Rapping". Genius.
- ↑ Allen, Jason (December 23, 2005). "Kanye West: Touches the Sky Live in San Jose". IGN.
- ↑ Stonebrook, Ian (September 19, 2021). "Lupe Fiasco: Streetwear's First Superstar". SoleSavy.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco Rolls with Jay-Z, Shinoda". Billboard. May 13, 2006.
- ↑ Slavik, Nathan (April 22, 2016). "Lupe Fiasco Finally Gets Grammy Award for 'Daydreamin' 8 Years Later". DJBooth.
- ↑ Petridis, Alexis (January 18, 2008). "Lupe Fiasco, The Cool". The Guardian.
- ↑ Solarski, Matthew (November 30, 2007). "Lupe Fiasco Talks The Cool, Cheeseburgers, Retirement". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on December 13, 2007.
- ↑ Nelson, Steffie (December 23, 2007). "Double Dose of Cool". Los Angeles Times.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco Abandons Rap and Launches Post-Punk Band?". NME. January 5, 2009.
- ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 "Lupe Fiasco: Don't Forget'em". Ruby Hornet. November 9, 2009. Archived from the original on February 5, 2010.
- ↑ Phillips, Yoh (June 7, 2016). "All City Chess Club, the Rap Supergroup That Never Was". DJBooth.
- ↑ Ramirez, Erika and Hood, Bryan (March 7, 2011). "Lupe Fiasco on Lasers, Lame Rap, and His Battles with the Music Industry". Vulture.
- ↑ Cooper, Roman (February 19, 2011). "iTunes Pass Available for Lupe Fiasco's 'Lasers'". HipHopDX.
- ↑ Gee, Andre (September 26, 2018). "Lupe Fiasco Eschews Label Drama and Controversy for Ambitious 'Drogas Wave'". Vibe.
- ↑ Graff, Gary (July 25, 2011). "Patrick Stump: Solo Album Has 'Nothing to Do with Fall Out Boy'". Billboard.
- ↑ Huynh, Davis (November 24, 2011). "Lupe Fiasco - Friend of the People (Mixtape)". Hypebeast.
- ↑ Young, Alex (December 8, 2011). "Album Review: Lupe Fiasco – Friend of the People Mixtape'. Consequence.
- ↑ Gale, Alex (September 6, 2012). "Lupe Fiasco Hints at Retirement After Chief Keef Beef". BET.
- ↑ Lilah, Rose (September 5, 2012). "American Terrorist Pt. 2". HotNewHipHop.
- ↑ Khandaker, Tamara (September 19, 2012). "Fantastic Fiasco Performance at Yorkfest". Excalibur.
- ↑ Ryon, Sean (September 13, 2012). "Lupe Fiasco Shouts Out Chief Keef, Apologizes for Comments". HipHopDX.
- ↑ 57.0 57.1 57.2 Greenburg, Zack O'Malley (October 19, 2012). "Power of Music Part 2: Lupe Fiasco and the Business of 'Conscious Rap'". Forbes.
- ↑ Rankin, Seija (October 2, 2012). "Lupe Fiasco on Food & Liquor II, Vintage Shopping, & Election Day". Refinery29.
- ↑ Weingarten, Christopher (May 22, 2012). "Pete Rock Slams Lupe Fiasco for Crappy 'T.R.O.Y.' Bite". Spin.
- ↑ Lelinwalla, Mark (May 24, 2012). "Lupe Fiasco Calls Pete Rock's Tweets 'Foul,' Says Issue Is Not Resolved". XXL.
- ↑ Hogan, March (June 26, 2012). "Lupe Fiasco Mansplains Misogyny on Counterproductive 'Bitch Bad'". Spin.
- ↑ Charity, Justin (December 11, 2013). "Live Review: An Ambivalent Lupe Fiasco Takes the Stage in NYC". Complex.
- ↑ "Vibe Premiere: Wale Feat. Rick Ross & Lupe Fiasco 'Poor Decisions'". Vibe. June 3, 2013. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013.
- ↑ "CSU's Kwesi Harris Fights Cancer, Inspires Lupe Fiasco Single" | Chicago State University
- ↑ Leight, Elias (August 29, 2014). "Lupe Fiasco Releases 'Remission' Remix with Common & Jennifer Hudson". Billboard.
- ↑ Murray, Robin (May 21, 2014). "Lupe Fiasco to Act as 'Music Director' for USA World Cup Squad". Clash.
- ↑ Kyles, Yohance (October 16, 2014). "Anonymous Claims They Forced Atlantic Records to Give Lupe Fiasco's Album a Release Date". AllHipHop.
- ↑ Lee, Christina (October 25, 2013). "Lupe Fiasco Is Avoiding Politics on 'Tetsuo & Youth'". Rolling Stone.
- ↑ 69.0 69.1 69.2 Ketchum III, William E. (February 22, 2019). "Lupe Fiasco on New World Water and Changing the World with His Bars Before Leaving Rap Behind". Vibe.
- ↑ Miller, Kellan (January 22, 2015). "Lupe Fiasco's 'Tetsuo & Youth' Is a Return to Form". XXL.
- ↑ 71.0 71.1 71.2 Ogbunu, C. Brandon (November 1, 2022). "Lupe Fiasco on His Latest Challenge: Teaching at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology". Andscape.
- ↑ Donaldson, Erich (September 28, 2015). "Lupe Fiasco Announces 'The Cool 2' Album, Continues Massive 2015". DJBooth.
- ↑ Hunte, Justin (December 18, 2015). "Lupe Fiasco 'The Cool 2' Release Date & Cover Art". HipHopDX.
- ↑ Ohneswere, Shahendra (January 11, 2012). "Life + Times SNDCLSH (Lupe Fiasco, Sky Gellatly & DJ Kue) 'Letting Go Remix'". Life + Times.
- ↑ Green, S. (January 2, 2016). "Lupe Fiasco Announces 'Tour for the Fans'". The Source.
- ↑ "Street Fighter V Launch Event: Lupe Fiasco vs Daigo Umehara". Capco. February 12, 2016.
- ↑ Zisook, Brian (December 12, 2016). "Lupe Fiasco's Anti-Semitic Lyrics in 'N.E.R.D' Freestyle Are Dangerous". DJBooth.
- ↑ Platon, Adelle (December 14, 2016). "Anti-Defamation League CEO Calls Lupe Fiasco 'N.E.R.D.' Lyrics 'Offensive' & 'Anti-Semitic'". Billboard.
- ↑ Reed, Ryan (December 15, 2016). "Lupe Fiasco Lyrics Deemed 'Anti-Semitic' by Anti-Defamation League". Rolling Stone.
- ↑ Houghton, Edwin (February 14, 2017). "Drogas Light by Lupe Fiasco". Pitchfork.
- ↑ Zisook, Brian (May 5, 2017). "Lupe Fiasco Admits He Made a Crappy Album Because Atlantic Didn't 'Deserve' His Best". DJBooth.
- ↑ Eustice, Kyle (October 1, 2018). "Hip Hop Album Sales: Brockhampton Nabs Billboard 200's Coveted Spot with 'Iridescence'". HipHopDX.
- ↑ Ch, Devin (July 1, 2019). "Lupe Fiasco Drops His 'Air China' Exclusive, Rife with Social Commentary". HotNewHipHop.
- ↑ Dandridge-Lemco (October 31, 2019). "Listen to This Previously Unreleased Lupe Fiasco Song Recorded 15 Years Ago". The FADER.
- ↑ Long, Zach (September 18, 2019). "Red Bull Music Festival Chicago Is Back with Lupe Fiasco, Saba, Jamila Woods and More Local Acts". Time Out.
- ↑ 86.0 86.1 Ketchum III, William E. (August 4, 2020). "Lupe Fiasco vs. Everybody (Even Himself)". Vulture.
- ↑ "Tape Tape". YouTube. October 2, 2020.
- ↑ Pranam, Aswin (October 17, 2020). "The Lupe & Royce Show Is Podcasting at Its Finest". Forbes.
- ↑ Powell, Jon (July 22, 2021). "Royce da 5'9" and Lupe Fiasco Send for Each Other on Diss Tracks". Revolt.
- ↑ Bustard, Andy (September 24, 2021). "Lupe Fiasco Drops New Song 'Big Energy' as 'Food & Liquor' Celebrates Double Milestone". HipHopDX.
- ↑ Kaufman, Gil (May 30, 2022). "Coldplay Blast Chicago Fans with Waves of Intergalactic Love at Show Featuring Hometown 'Superstar' Lupe Fiasco". Billboard.
- ↑ Elibert, Mark (June 20, 2022). "Lupe Fiasco Breaks Down 'Galveston' Track Featured on Apple Music's 'Juneteenth 2022' Compilation". HipHopDX.
- ↑ "2022 Hip Hop Awards - HipHopDX Nominees". HipHopDX. December 5, 2022.
- ↑ Lavin, Will (October 1, 2022). "Lupe Fiasco Proclaims 'The Cool' His Best Album: 'I'm Not Bullshittin'". HipHopDX.
- ↑ Saint-Louis, Tai (December 9, 2022). "Lupe Fiasco & Aesop Rock Join Forces on Blazing New Track 'Pumpkin Seeds'". HipHopDX.
- ↑ Dukmasova, Maya (September 28, 2023). "Chicago Man Becomes First in Illinois to Get Reduced Sentence Under New Law". Injustice Watch.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco - Glass of Water - My First Song Co-Written with AI". YouTube. August 2, 2023.
- ↑ Lamarre, Carl (June 5, 2023). "Run-DMC, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg & More to Headline Hip-Hop 50 Live Concert at Yankee Stadium". Billboard.
- ↑ Horvath, Zachary (April 17, 2024). "Lupe Fiasco Drops Coachella-Inspired Single 'Indio' Ahead of Upcoming Album". HotNewHipHop.
- ↑ Williams, Jaelani (June 28, 2024). "Lupe Fiasco Honors Amy Winehouse on Evocative New Album, 'Samurai'". BET.
- ↑ Ekpo, Ime (June 29, 2024). "How Lupe Fiasco's New Album, 'Samurai,' Archives His Artistic Evolution". Forbes.
- ↑ Williams, Aaron (July 23, 2024). "Lupe Fiasco Will Become a Wandering 'Samurai' on the Upcoming Tour for His New Album". Uproxx.
- ↑ Lewis, Dash (July 17, 2024). "We've Got a File on You: Lupe Fiasco". Stereogum.
- ↑ Mendez, Marisa (January 3, 2025). "Lupe Fiasco Launching Radio Station That Will Play AI Versions of His Own Music". HipHopDX.
- ↑ Harling, Danielle (December 18, 2013). "Lupe Fiasco Praises Joey Bada$$ as a Backpack Rapper". HipHopDX.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco on Plans for Mixtape Catalog with Virgil Abloh (Ch 6)". YouTube. May 18, 2021.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco". BBC. July 20, 2024.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@lupefiasco)". Instagram. July 3, 2021.
- ↑ Rodriguez, Kenny (August 6, 2005). "Lupe Fiasco - Almost Famous". NobodySmiling.com. Archived from the original on February 6, 2006.
- ↑ McKinney, Jessica (October 30, 2017). "Allow Lupe Fiasco to Explain Why He's the Greatest Lyricist of All Time". BET.
- ↑ "Conversation with Lupe Fiasco". YouTube. April 23, 2020.
- ↑ "NiteCap 1/2: Lupe Fiasco: 'There's Wealth in Other Avenues'". YouTube. November 19, 2012.
- ↑ Rodriguez, Jayson (October 11, 2007). "Lupe Fiasco vs. A Tribe Called Quest: A 'Fiascogate' Timeline". MTV News. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014.
- ↑ Watson, Margeaux (January 11, 2008). "Meet Rapper Lupe Fiasco". Entertainment Weekly.
- ↑ Ahmed, Insanul (September 10, 2010). "Interview: Lupe Fiasco Talks 'Lasers' Delay, Japanese Cartoon, and 'Food & Liquor II'". Complex.
- ↑ Smith, Niall (July 23, 2024). "Lupe Fiasco Conquered Rap – And Now He's a Samurai". Clash.
- ↑ Hafiz, Imran (July 2, 2019). "Lupe Fiasco's New Documentary Series Explores His History in Martial Arts". Vice.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco Breaks Down Jay-Z's 'God Did' Verse, Says It's 'Absolutely Not' His Best". HipHopDX. September 7, 2022.
- ↑ Sanfiorenzo, Dimas (July 3, 2018). "Lupe Fiasco Ranks the Three Greatest Rappers of All Time". Okayplayer.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Twitter. September 16, 2016.
- ↑ Rabin, Nathan (October 31, 2006). "Lupe Fiasco". The A.V. Club.
- ↑ "James Cox (@haute-flashes-blog)". Tumblr. October 19, 2011.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco on Black Martial Arts Movement, Hip-Hop and His 'Samurai' Tour". YouTube. November 14, 2024.
- ↑ Weiss, Jeff (January 9, 2008). "No One Wants to Smoke a Blunt with Lupe Fiasco". LA Weekly.
- ↑ Bassil, Ryan (November 23, 2015). "Lupe Fiasco Released One of 2015's Finest Rap Records, So Why Are People Nervous to Talk About It?". Noisey.
- ↑ Frazier, Walter (December 30, 2010). "Lupe Fiasco Drops Label Beef to Focus on 'Lasers'". Billboard.
- ↑ DeRogatis, Jim (August 26, 2007). "New Clan Plan". JimDeRo.com.
- ↑ Fitzpatrick, Rob (May 11, 2011). "Rakim: Still Preaching 'Not for Profit'". The Guardian.
- ↑ "Ice-T Chats VH1's 'Hip-Hop and the Crack Generation,' Rick Ross Swagger Jackin, Public Enemy Swag". Vibe. September 16, 2011.
- ↑ "Ye ⚡️Drink Champs". YouTube. May 13, 2024.
- ↑ Diep, Eric (June 25, 2014). "Ab-Soul's 9 Biggest Musical Influences on 'These Days…'". XXL.
- ↑ "Dr. Cornel West Discusses Obama, Violence in Chicago, Lupe Fiasco & Jay Z on The Joy Daily Show". YouTube. February 13, 2013.
- ↑ Slavik, Nathan (September 19, 2012). "Brother Ali Talks Working with Jake One, Lupe Fiasco & More [Exclusive Interview]". DJBooth.
- ↑ "Kwesi Ronald Harris Lupe Fiasco's Impact". YouTube. August 7, 2014.
- ↑ Braboy, Mark (February 23, 2022.). "Saba Is Finally Appreciating the Good Things in His Life". Billboard.
- ↑ Younger, Briana (August 3, 2020). "The South Is Rap's Past, Present and Future". NPR.
- ↑ Ahmed, Insanul (May 4, 2011). "Wale's 25 Favorite Rap Albums". Complex.
- ↑ Hunte, Justin (September 24, 2012). "Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor 2: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1". HipHopDX.
- ↑ Hannah, Michael (December 19, 2014). "The Legacy of Lupe Fiasco's Classic Album 'The Cool' 7 Years Later". DJBooth.
- ↑ 140.0 140.1 Bossi, Andrea (March 16, 2024). "The 50 Top Rappers of All Time". Forbes.
- ↑ "Aesop Rock (@AesopRockWins)". Twitter. May 24, 2016.
- ↑ "Chance the Rapper (@chancetherapper)". Twitter. April 14, 2013.
- ↑ "Danny Brown (@xdannyxbrownx)". Twitter. December 9, 2008.
- ↑ "Denzel Curry - Records in My Life (2018 Interview)". YouTube. October 8, 2018.
- ↑ "Chicago Music Discovery Platform (@realonesshow)". Instagram. September 9, 2024.
- ↑ Baker, Ernest (March 18, 2011). "Who Is Frank Ocean?". Complex.
- ↑ "Isaiah Rashad (@isaiahrashad)". Twitter. June 20, 2011.
- ↑ "Joe Budden (@JoeBudden)". Twitter. August 21, 2016.
- ↑ "Kid Cudi: Mad Man on the Moon (2010 Cover Story)". Complex. September 17, 2010.
- ↑ "Lil B (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD)". Twitter. May 30, 2015.
- ↑ "MC Lyte Talks Marriage, Kids, Female MCs & Rap Beef!". YouTube. April 23, 2015.
- ↑ "ScHoolboy Q (@ScHoolboyQ"). Twitter. September 12, 2014.
- ↑ Balfour, Jay (August 1, 2014). "Ty Dolla $ign Says Lupe Fiasco Freestyled 'Next to It,' Names Prince Among Dream Collaborations". HipHopDX.
- ↑ Ocho, Alex (April 16, 2024). "Tyler, the Creator Gives Lupe Fiasco His Flowers After Performing 'Paris, Tokyo' with Him at Coachella". Complex.
- ↑ "Vic Mensa Talks Signing to Jay Z, Working with Kanye West + More". YouTube. April 21, 2015.
- ↑ Bix, David (May 28, 2019). "Taylor Bennett On Soundset, Fatherhood, Chicago, and His Upcoming Project". Twin Cities Arts Reader.
- ↑ Ip, Cyril (February 24, 2024). "Chinese Rapper Feezy Talks About Lupe Fiasco, WeChat, US vs Chinese Hip Hop, and His Latest Album, The Weatherman". South China Morning Post.
- ↑ Watkins, Greg (February 10, 2006). "Lupe Fiasco: Revenge of the Hip-Hop Nerd". AllHipHop.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Twitter. December 7, 2019.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@lupefiasco). Instagram. June 14, 2019.
- ↑ Coachman, Dale (December 24, 2006). "Lupe Fiasco". Format Mag. Archived from the original on January 11, 2007.
- ↑ Lotring, Roger (February 28, 2011). "Fiasco Revs Up His Team for 'Lasers'". ESPN.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Twitter. December 6, 2019.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Facebook. July 24, 2015.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Twitter. June 5, 2023.
- ↑ Harling, Danielle (March 11, 2013). "Lupe Fiasco Introduces New Health & Wellness App Called Higi". HipHopDX.
- ↑ "Wasalu Jaco (Lupe Fiasco) Interview". Vimeo. October 7, 2013.
- ↑ Mier, Tomás (January 2, 2025). "Lupe Fiasco Will Teach Rap at Johns Hopkin's Peabody Institute". Rolling Stone.
- ↑ Lulay, Stephanie (March 10, 2015). "Chicago Rapper Lupe Fiasco's Next Artistic Endeavor: Painter". DNAinfo.
- ↑ Unrau, Reuben (August 19, 2016). "Rapper Lupe Fiasco to Show Paintings in Solo Exhibition". WTTW.
- ↑ Burgess, Omar (June 7, 2012). "Loose Links: Lupe Fiasco's 'Robot City,' Making UGK's 'International Player's Anthem' and Harlem Love from The New York Times". HipHopDX.
- ↑ Ogbunu, C. and Fiasco, Lupe (August 11, 2023). "Hip Hop 2073: A Vision of the Future, 50 Years From Now". Wired.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco on Kick Push vs Hood Street Music, Atlantic Records Hack, His 'Samurai' Album, + More". YouTube. October 4, 2024.
- ↑ "Current Works in Production". RebeccaTaichman.com Retrieved October 5, 2024.
- ↑ Welty, Matt (November 6, 2013). "The 15 Most Unbelievable Sneaker Endorsements of All Time". Complex.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco Says Nike SB Owes Him a Sneaker Collab | Full Size Run". YouTube. June 30, 2022.
- ↑ Kan, Eugene (July 23, 2008). "Lupe Fiasco x Dita Midnight Special". Hypebeast.
- ↑ Aw, Melissa (July 28, 2012). "Uncovering the Mystery of Le Messie". Yahoo! News.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco Covers Highsnobiety Magazine". HipHop-N-More. January 19, 2011.
- ↑ "Fall of Rome x Nike Air Force 1 Lows 'AFIV'". Hypebeast. June 23, 2008.
- ↑ Kan, Eugene (October 11, 2008). "Lupe Fiasco x Product (RED) Converse Chuck Taylor Low". Hypebeast.
- ↑ Chang, Emily (December 21, 2009). "Nike Basketball - MVPuppets: Blitzen Raps (Featuring Lupe Fiasco) | Video". Freshness Mag.
- ↑ "Blitzen Talks Trash to LeBron, Kobe and Santa, Gets Dunked On". Animal New York. December 24, 2009. Archived from the original on December 24, 2009.
- ↑ Diep, Eric (April 18, 2018). "Lupe Fiasco Talks Guest-Starring on 'ELEAGUE The Challenger: Street Fighter V,' Nicki Minaj's 'Chun-Li' & His Upcoming Music". Billboard.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco's Nishigawa Iaido Club". Maharishi. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Twitter. October 24, 2016.
- ↑ "TextFX" | The Webby Awards
- ↑ "Google – Welcome to the Gemini Era". YouTube. May 14, 2024.
- ↑ Kyles, Yohance (December 27, 2019). "A Conversation with Ayesha Jaco on Providing the Poem for Lupe Fiasco's 'Food & Liquor' & Their Childhood in Chicago". AllHipHop.
- ↑ Dempsey, Bobbi (February 12, 2024). "Ayesha Jaco Is Leading the Fight to Help More People in the BIPOC Community Live to 100". Parade.
- ↑ "Rapper Lupe Fiasco Puts Voice Behind Anti-Violence Group Project Orange Tree". WBEZ. April 2, 2013.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco Calls Obama 'The Biggest Terrorist'". YouTube. June 8, 2011.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco to Receive Chicagoness Award at 10th Annual Merrick Momentum Awards". 1871. October 26, 2017.
- ↑ Griffin, Marc (March 23, 2023). "Lupe Fiasco to Be Honored as 2023 Rap Laureate in Washington D.C.". Vibe.
- ↑ Adaso, Henry (March 18, 2007). "The 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time". About.com.
External links[]
- Official Website
- Lupe Fiasco on Apple Music
- Lupe Fiasco on YouTube
- Lupe Fiasco on SoundCloud
- Lupe Fiasco on Internet Movie Database
- Lupe Fiasco on Spotify
- Lupe Fiasco on Bluesky
- Lupe Fiasco on Twitter
- Lupe Fiasco on Amazon Music
- Lupe Fiasco on Facebook
- Lupe Fiasco on Instagram
- Lupe Fiasco on Threads
- Lupe Fiasco on Tidal
- Lupe Fiasco on TikTok
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