Lupe Fiasco Music Videos, Ringtones, Pictures and Photos including Daydreamin, I Gotcha, Kick Push Music Videos on Blastro

Lupe Fiasco

While most rappers today parrot on and on about a narrow spectrum of subjects - 20 inch plus rims, loose women, automatic weaponry, and illicit narcotics - Lupe Fiasco is unfraid to ditch this sort of tired superthug rhetoric. Born and raised in the rough-and-tumble neighborhoods of West Chicago, Lupe - real name Wasalu Muhammad Jaco - was influenced as much by rap acts like Nas and Crucial Conflict as he was by skateboarding, Japanese animation, and video games. He began rapping in high school, joining a group called Da Pak at age 19. Though the group soon dissolved, Lupe continued to pursue a career in rap as a solo artist.

After a failed deal with Arista Records in 2003, Lupe finally got his big break when he signed to Atlantic Records (D4L, Gnarls Barkley) in late 2004, bringing along his own 1st & 15th Entertainment imprint. After gaining momentum with a number of underground mixtapes and a highly respected appearance on Kanye West’s hit track "Touch The Sky", Lupe Fiasco finally entered the big leagues with the release of his debut album, Lupe Fiasco’s Food and Liquor, in 2005. The critically acclaimed album featured production by The Neptunes and Jay-Z, spawning three solid singles in the form of "Kick, Push", "I Gotcha", and "Daydreamin".

Lupe Fiasco’s Food and Liquor eventually rose to the #8 spot on the Billboard 200, with Lupe’s laid-back demeanor and witty lyricism (largely free of foul language) stealing the show. Following a highly-publicized 2007 tour with Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco once again turned the rap game on its head when he dropped his sophomore album Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool by the year’s end. Featuring a darker tone than his previous release, The Cool was a concept album loosely revolving around three characters (The Game, The Streets, and The Cool) and the trials and tribulations of inner-city life. The Cool eventually earned a Gold certification from the RIAA, riding on the success of singles like "Superstar" and "Hip Hop Saved My Life".