Lupe Fiasco is a stage name of Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, hip hop artist from Chicago. He was born on February 16, 1982. He is known to have political views highly critical of former President Barack Obama, despite of his African-American ethnicity.
In his youth, he preferred jazz to hip hop, partly because he was raised as Muslim. He reconsidered when heard album “It Was Written” by Nas. Soon he chose pseudonym, in honor of song “Firm Fiasco” by The Firm. He was a member of gangsta rap band Da Pak for a very short while, releasing just one single with them. They split because of Wasalu’s religious considerations. First album came out in 2006 after three years of hard work under title “Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor”. It was good and even got into book “1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die” by Robert Dimery. After quick follow-up in form of album “Lupe Fiasco's The Cool”, artist encountered troubles when his label refused to release third album “Lasers” in originally envisioned form, asking for additional, commercially appealing content. Lupe’s fans created a petition begging Atlantic Records to release it, eventually it gathered more than 16000 signatures. Album hit the shelves in spring of 2011 and, just like publisher expected, proved to be mediocre offering. Since then he released three more albums.
