Lupe Fiasco
Born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, Lupe Fiasco burst on to the music scene with his debut album Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor. The hit single, Kick Push and collaborations with Kanye West on the track Touch the Sky in 2005 saw the Muslim rapper, gain the mainstream success that he deserved. YV's Chantelle Azille caught up with the Grammy-nominated superstar to talk about his new concept album, The Cool, Kanye West and what it's like having Jay-Z as a mentor.
Tell me about your new album?
Lupe Fiasco's The Cool, basically picks up from a song that I had on my first album called The Cool. It's like a concept album where I tell more of the story. It's a very dark album, which talks about a lot of dark things. I mean as far as subject matter and content. Music wise, it's a little more experimental than the first album.
Who have you collaborated with on the album?
I did a song with Snoop Dogg, Unkle, Patrick Stomp from Fall Out Boy and I worked with my crew, Farrah Green and Matthew Santos. Most of them are in-house.
Tell us a little bit about Superstar, the first single released off of your album?
Basically it's a song talking about the ups and downs of fame, you know the dark side of fame. It's darker than the first album.
Is it true that you won't be making any more albums after your third?
Yeah, I'll do collaborations and stuff like that. I've been in this job for like eight years now; it's time to do something else.
What would you like to concentrate on after?
I want to do fashion and I'm in the middle of writing a book. I've got my own fashion label and my own record label, so I'm going to sit back and run my record label and my other artistes. Trilly and Truly my fashion line has been going for about a year. I'm doing a bunch of stuff in Japan.
Who are your fashion icons?
Yoshi Yamamoto, Hiroshi Hachiwara, a bunch of Japanese guys.
The track Hip Hop Saved My Life sounds like it was taken from your own personal experiences.
No, it's actually a fictional story based on a rapper in Houston. A lot of the rappers that come out of Houston are some of the coolest rappers, so I did a song about a rapper in Houston like undercover. It pulls on some of the stuff that I went through but it's more fictional.
Who are your musical influences?
Jay-Z, mostly Nas and I really like a guy called Tom Weeks, he's pretty dope.
What track would you say was one to look out for?
A song called Fighters featuring Matthew Santos. Again, he was on the first single, it's pretty dope. My favourite song is probably a track called Streets on Fire.
What was it like working with Kanye West?
I've been working with him for a while; he didn't do anything on this album. We're actually working together on a group, me, Kanye and Pharell.
Child Rebel Soldier, right? When can we expect to hear from them?
Yeah, next year sometime. I don't want to put a specific time on it because everybody is still working, Kanye's on tour, I have to go on tour, Pharell's working on his N.E.R.D album so hopefully sometime next year.
What's it like having Jay-Z as a mentor?
Pretty dope. It's nice to have somebody up there in any game looking over your shoulder for you.
What are your thoughts on rappers who give out negative messages through their music?
I don't know, I don't want to judge anybody. I don't want to point the finger because I've put out negative messages in my music at one point in time, so just take responsibility for what you say, I guess.
What message do you hope to give out?
I hope to give out a positive one; I don't see myself as a role model.
As a Muslim, does your religion influence the kind of music that you make?
Kind of. It's more like the reason why I don't put negative influences in my music.
It must be difficult keeping up your faith with all the temptations that come with being in this industry?
Yeah it is. You just try to stick to yourself and try to keep to what is really important in this world as opposed to chasing what's good.
Being a Muslim and living in America, what are your thoughts on the war on terror?
I don't have any anymore, it's too much politics involved in it.
Having the amount of success you do, how do you manage to stay grounded and not let the fame get to your head?
(Laughs) It probably has!
Do you find it difficult to keep your private life private?
Yeah, it's slowly becoming less private but I suppose I should just keep my mouth shut about it and keep people around me that I can trust, but other that that it's not too bad.
Is there a special lady in your life at the moment?
Yes, very special. Yes, yes, yes!
So is she someone we know, anyone in the public eye?
No, she's not in the public eye.
When are you next going to be in the U.K?
I'll be in the U.K. in January promoting the album, doing a show or two.
What can we expect from you next?
Just touring. I'm actually thinking of coming back after the album release to do a lot of the festivals and stuff, so a lot more performing and touring.
Do you have any final words?
Thank you U.K!
Lupe Fiasco - Contributed
FACT FILE
Lupe Fiasco (star/narrator/writer/director)
Real Name: Wasalu Muhammad Jaco
Born: 1982
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
In 2005, Fiasco delivered a scene-stealing verse on Kanye West's hit single, Touch The Sky.
Fiasco was nominated for three Grammy Awards Best Rap Solo Performance (Kick Push); Best Rap Song (Kick Push); and Best Rap Album (Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor).
In addition to the Grammys, Fiasco was also honoured at the 2007 BET Awards (Best New Artiste nomination) and 2007 Soul Train Awards (Best New R&B/Soul or Rap New Artiste nomination for I Gotcha).
Most of his nominations came at the 2007 BET Hip Hop Awards: Hip Hop CD of the Year (Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor); Hip Hop Video of the Year (Kick Push); Rookie of the Year; and an Element Award - Lyricist of the Year.
Through Atlantic Records, his home base, Fiasco launched his own company, 1st & 15th entertainment. His first artiste (outside of his own projects) will be Gemini.
In January 2006, Fiasco signed a deal with Reebok. As part of the footwear/apparel company's 'O.G.' campaign, he designed his own sneaker.
GQ magazine named Fiasco as the 'Breakout Man of the Year' for 2006.
