Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco is
a curious kind of hip-hop star,
writes Andrew Murfett.
HOW did you start 2010? To say
that the first month of this year
was eventful for Chicago rapper
Lupe Fiasco would be a colossal
understatement.
Having leaked his excellent
mixtape Enemy of the State: a
Love Story at the end of last
year, his first in four years, in
January the 28-year-old Sunni
Muslim joined a group of
personalities (including actress
Jessica Biel) to climb Mount
Kilimanjaro to raise awareness of
the world's lack of drinking
water. He climbed all 5895
metres, he declares proudly.
''It actually changed my life,'' he
says. ''It was the hardest thing
I've ever done. At a certain
point, the altitude medicine
doesn't work. It becomes more
about your body. And then a
spiritual and mental thing.''
Lupe (Loop-ay) - real name
Wasalu Muhammad Jaco - is
difficult to pin down but, when
finally on the phone, he proves
articulate and candid. He speaks
passionately about the fact 1
billion people do not have access
to clean drinking water.
''They literally drink their water
from pools on the side of the
road they share with animals and
use as toilets,'' he says.
''You get to a certain point in
your career and you wonder if
you're being arrogant or you are
on the right path. This showed
me I am on the right path with
what I talk about. And now I
have more to talk about.''
The rapper returns to tour
Australia this week at a strange
time in his career. Having started
making music at the age of 16,
he earned his first record deal,
with Epic (Sony in Australia) at
19, before moving to Arista
(BMG) and, finally, his home
today, Atlantic (Warner).
Historically, there has been a
conflict between the music he
wants to create and the music
his label wants him to make.
''It's less about me being a
celebrity, because I guess I'm not
really a celebrity,'' he says. ''The
most difficult part of the music
business is the label. What I want
to do and what they want me to
do - creatively - is in conflict. It
doesn't keep me up at night. I
look at it as a challenge. It's not
meant to be easy.''
His first album for Warner,
2006's Lupe Fiasco's Food and
Liquor was a mini-revelation.
With mainstream hip-hop
flagging, the debut managed to
be something the genre lacked -
bold and fresh.
Critics touted Lupe as being on
par with Kanye, Jay-Z, Talib or
the Roots. Many astute hip-hop
observers called it a modern
classic. By now, then, he should
be a star. In 2007, with the
crossover smash single Superstar,
he even had a genuine hit single
on pop radio. Yet, for a number
of reasons, many of his own
doing, he is not.
''There's a misunderstanding with
my fanbase,'' he says. ''People
[at Warner] feel they know my
fans more than I do. They want
me to step out of my comfort
zone and step into theirs. I don't
have necessarily the celebrity
success they want me to have
but it's more social success and
being able to speak at a college
about world affairs. That's a
success, to me.
''I don't want to be Jay-Z and be
worth $400 million and perform
on every awards show. It's
getting in touch with somebody
who needs to improve their self-
esteem. As opposed to driving a
Bentley and putting some chains
on.''
At the same time, he is balancing
film scripts, a documentary he
produced for the History
Channel and a clothing line.
His third album for Warner,
Lasers, was submitted last
month. The label has yet to
announce a release date. ''It's an
album we both feel comfortable
putting out,'' he says. ''I'm
somebody saying the things that
maybe 98 per cent of the music
industry is not.''
Lupe Fiasco plays Sound Safari
at Melbourne Zoo tonight.

Could you please leave a link??
It's hard to read when it's presented like this.

Damn, I've missed Lupe. I'm patiently waiting for Lasers

@eldee

www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/music/beyond-bentleys-and-chains/2010/02/25/1266687120021.html

Lupe acts like a biiatch at times. You should see him crying online when his songs get leaked. Yet he doesn't want to get rich? lol

Lupe the kwl

OMG, I love Lupe

hax:

Lupe acts like a biiatch at times. You should see him crying online when his songs get leaked. Yet he doesn't want to get rich? lol

Kilimanjaro is like prison, you go there once and you find Jesus

Cheryl Cole went and she stopped being a slutty b[i]i[/i]tch

eldee:

Kilimanjaro is like prison, you go there once and you find Jesus

Cheryl Cole went and she stopped being a slutty b[i]i[/i]tch

Don't you mean 'church'?

hax:

Don't you mean 'church'?

Who meets Jesus in church these days??
That's so old.

Everyone that goes to prison comes out all deep and spiritual

eldee:

Who meets Jesus in church these days??
That's so old.

Everyone that goes to prison comes out all deep and spiritual

So true

Let's take T.I for an example

eldee:

Who meets Jesus in church these days??
That's so old.

Everyone that goes to prison comes out all deep and spiritual

LMAO
True, true.

FL Gators:

So true

Let's take T.I for an example

T.I. became all deep and spiritual before he even landed in prison. lol

hax:

LMAO
True, true. ;DT.I. became all deep and spiritual before he even landed in prison. lol

Oh plz, dude prolly went spiritual because he thought they'd "mess" da life out of him in prison.
Hey, turn to God if you think you're gonna die, no be so?

hax:

LMAO
True, true.

Lil Wayne's in jail now . . . this is how we'll actually get to know if it works

@ Hax.

Come on, you wont exactly be smiling when your music is being repeatedly leaked on the internet, especially now that Hip Hop is on life support.

Lupe is a cool dude. The proof is in the pudding from mixtapes to albums this kid is dope his music speaks for those with brains and ones that listen, I never heard him spit a weak or wack line, how many rappers can I say that their first 2 albums put me in a different place??!!

^True. But if he was rich like Jay-z, he wouldn't give two flips. So obviously, he does care about the money he's losing when people leak his songs hence the crying.   

I like the guy though but I really do get bored with rappers who constantly try to prove that they're deep and what not. Like seriously, who cares? Rap and move on. There's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to make money out of your career, that you love. It shouldn't be just about the people. Well, look at Nas(I love him by the way), maybe folks will stop yapping about how he's so deep and not a commercial rapper now that Kelis is milking him dry through child support.

eldee:

Lil Wayne's in jail now . . . this is how we'll actually get to know if it works

Hasnt he already?

Lyrics from "GoodBye"

I hope you never hated, and they say heaven's gated
But I think I know the code, and let's get your life right
By the end of the road, that's why I drive alone down memory lane
So if I crash I hope ya'll remember Wayne!

Lyrics from DROP THE WORLD

Just hope you're heaven-sent, and you're hell-proof
I-I walk up in the world and cut the lights off
And confidence is the stain they can't wipe off
Huh, my word is my pride
But wisdom is bleak, and that's a word from the wise

He's on his way to redemption na.

Lupe actually said this,hmm

@topic
I understand if you don't like performing at the President's Inauguration . . . collabos with MJ, Obama on text??

But I know you want some of that Beyonce booty maynne.
Who would say no to having that a[i]s[/i]s grinding on you in every music video

Dude, think twice maynne . . . even Jigga wants to be Jay-Z

FL Gators:

Hasnt he already?
He's on his way to redemption na.

Nah . . . that's just from the addiction to cough syrup

shotster50:

@ Hax.

Come on, you wont exactly be smiling when your music is being repeatedly leaked on the internet, especially now that Hip Hop is on life support.

If he really wants to help Hip Hop, then he should drop an album and stop climbing mountains. lol

Lupe is a cool dude. The proof is in the pudding from mixtapes to albums this kid is dope his music speaks for those with brains and ones that listen, I never heard him spit a weak or wack line, how many rappers can I say that their first 2 albums put me in a different place??!!

'I don't flow/floor, I ceiling' lmao

chiogo:

^True. But if he was rich like Jay-z, he wouldn't give two flips. So obviously, he does care about the money he's losing when people leak his songs hence the crying.   

Exactly! *jumps on Chiogo*
How've you been?

Look how long Blueprint 3 leaked before the release date was pushed.

I like the guy though but I really do get bored with rappers who constantly try to prove that they're deep and what not. Like seriously, who cares? Rap and move on. There's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to make money out of your career, that you love. It shouldn't be just about the people. Well, look at Nas(I love him by the way), maybe folks will stop yapping about how he's so deep and not a commercial rapper now that Kelis is milking him dry through child support.

Yeah. He's just getting more and more cryptic. He was cool on F&L, storytelling like 'Kick Push 1&2', 'Sunshine', 'He Say She Say' and 'American Terrorist' and all. Recently, it's like he's suffering from the Canibus syndrome. Trying too hard to go over everyone's heads.

chiogo:

^True. But if he was rich like Jay-z, he wouldn't give two flips. So obviously, he does care about the money he's losing when people leak his songs hence the crying.   

I like the guy though but I really do get bored with rappers who constantly try to prove that they're deep and what not. Like seriously, who cares? Rap and move on. There's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to make money out of your career, that you love. It shouldn't be just about the people. Well, look at Nas(I love him by the way), maybe folks will stop yapping about how he's so deep and not a commercial rapper now that Kelis is milking him dry through child support. 

I read the interview and i never saw where he said he wants to remain a pauper or he does not wants to make money, The reference was (jay z )type of money and if you all know what Journalism is allabout,You wont slag him for giving such response.

Its not like the dude went to a radio station to say,pple i dont want to make money, he was asked a question thus the answer he gave, pls we shud not judge pple we dont really know much about their personality.

@hax
It was *i dnt flaw/floor,i ceiling*

Anyway,in d same freestyle i thought he said *this is like my weakest stuff*

So free him,

The coolest nigga dnt want to rap against his belief,lets say he's kaka of rap.the guy get money na,bt nt extravagant,he modelled for reebok o,

The guy even dey try sing sef now(what u want) n chasing mtv's hottest rappers list

@FL Gators
Are u sure,u lyk him,when did u start listenin to wasalu?
Thought u r into weezy generic versions i.e drake

hax:

Exactly! *jumps on Chiogo*
How've you been?

*Hops on hax*  Missed ya I've been good, and yourself?

hax:

Look how long Blueprint 3 leaked before the release date was pushed.

I know, they were even on Nairaland. You know I had to cop me some songs. 

dejiariyo:

I read the interview and i never saw where he said he wants to remain a pauper or he does not wants to make money, The reference was (jay z )type of money and if you all know what Journalism is allabout,You wont slag him for giving such response.

Its not like the dude went to a radio station to say,pple i dont want to make money, he was asked a question thus  the answer he gave, pls we shud not judge pple we dont really know much about their personality.

I skimmed through the interview, really  But umm, I do get what he means by not wanting to be "as rich as Jay-z" like jigga is on another level in terms of wealth. So, I do get his point but when you make such a statement, you make yourself appear self-righteous(that's not the word I'm looking for). That means he shouldn't complain about losses, leaking, or whatever. Y'know 'cause he doesn't care about money, right? Oh, I get it - he doesn't care about too much money, like Jay-z's. 

Rhymstein:

@FL Gators
Are u sure,u lyk him,when did u start listenin to wasalu?
Thought u r into weezy generic versions i.e drake

lol I generally love good music.
Drake never lets me down, so does many other rappers like Lupe