Lupe Fiasco#All City Chess Club

{{Quote box |bgcolor=#bbccff |salign=right |width=30% |align=right | quote = I grew up in the hood around prostitutes, drug dealers, killers, and gangbangers, but I also grew up juxtaposed: 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.| source =– Fiasco, on his childhood.}}

Fiasco was born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco on February 16, 1982, in Chicago, Illinois.{{cite web|url=https://allmusic.com/artist/lupe-fiasco-p741971/biography|title=Lupe Fiasco – Biography|last=Kellman|first=Andy|work=AllMusic |access-date=December 4, 2011}}{{cite web|title=Lupe Fiasco, Word Star|work=Chicago|url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/August-2007/Word-Star/|date=August 2, 2007|access-date=December 4, 2011|last=Smith|first=Bryan}} Fiasco is of West African descent,{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2003279913_skaterap01.html |title=Kick, push, coast, rap |last=Lee |first=Chris |date=October 1, 2006 |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=October 18, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203011614/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2003279913_skaterap01.html |archive-date=February 3, 2011 |df=mdy }} one of nine children of Shirley, a chef, and Gregory, an engineer.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2008/01/17/successes-rapper-lupe-fiasco/|title=Lupe Fiasco: The Art of Being Cool|last=Watson|first=Margeaux|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=January 17, 2008|access-date=December 27, 2010|archive-date=August 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804233501/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20170520,00.html|url-status=live}} His father, a member of the Black Panther Party, was a prolific African drummer, karate teacher, operating plant engineer, and owner of karate schools and army surplus stores.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/apr/12/urbanmusic.culture|title=Lupe dreams|last=Collins|first=Hattie|date=April 12, 2008|work=The Guardian |access-date=July 5, 2009 }}"Biography Today", p.58{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/music/sheep-in-wolfs-clothing/2007/01/04/1167777216586.html|title=Sheep in wolf's clothing?|last=Blackman|first=Guy|date=January 8, 2007|work=The Age |access-date=September 2, 2007}} Fiasco was raised Muslim on the West Side of Chicago on Madison Terrace housing project.{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_2_62/ai_n27094633/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120529194511/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_2_62/ai_n27094633/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-05-29|title=Lupe Fiasco: rapping outside the box|date=December 2006|work=FindArticles|publisher=CBS Corporation|access-date=April 28, 2009}} At the age of three, he began taking martial arts classes.{{Cite news|title=Lupe Fiasco Grew Up With Martial Arts — Then Went To China To 'Study With The Masters'|url=https://www.npr.org/local/309/2019/07/03/738432706/lupe-fiasco-grew-up-with-martial-arts-then-went-to-china-to-study-with-the-masters|access-date=2020-08-25|website=NPR.org|language=en}} His parents divorced when he was five, and he went on to live with his mother, but his father still remained an important part of his life. He described his father's influence over the family by saying, "After school, my father would come and get us and take us out into the world—one day, we're listening to N.W.A, the next day we're listening to Ravi Shankar, the next day, he's teaching us how to shoot an AK-47, the next day, we're at karate class, the next day, we're in Chinatown...".

In sixth grade, he went to live with his father full-time in Harvey, Illinois."Biography Today", pp. 59–61 His father lived next door to a crack house and taught Fiasco to use guns to defend himself from drug dealers. Despite his unstable upbringing, Fiasco states that he was well-educated as a child, asserting that his parents exposed him to a diverse array of subjects and that reading was highly encouraged in his household. As a teenager, Fiasco participated in Academic Decathlon competitions. His mother described him by saying, "He was a great spirited child. Smart, a bit complex; he kind of was a loner; he didn't hang with a lot of people...He always had the glasses. Always had a book bag over his shoulder and some type of a writing tablet." Fiasco initially disliked hip hop music for its use of vulgarity, and preferred to listen to jazz; he idolized clarinet player Benny Goodman. His struggle to learn to play an instrument led him to create poetry instead, which led to his interest in the lyrical aspects of music.{{cite news|title=Lupe Fiasco accepts the outsider label as a positive rap|last=Capobianco|first=Ken|date=November 13, 2006|work=The Boston Globe}}

He began rapping his poems in the eighth grade, and upon hearing Nas' 1996 album, It Was Written, began to pursue hip hop. While attending Thornton Township High School, Fiasco met gang member Bishop G. The two became friends due to their shared interest in music. Fiasco's father allowed him and Bishop to make mixtapes in his basement, and the two gained notoriety at the school for their music. However, they were kicked off stage during their first performance because their eclectic musical style was not embraced by the hip hop community. Early in his career, he went by stage names Little Lu and Lu tha Underdog."Biography Today", p.61 Growing up, Fiasco was given the nickname "Lu", the last part of his first name, by his mother. "Lupe" is an extension of this nickname, which he borrowed from a friend from high school. "Fiasco" is a reference to The Firm song "Firm Fiasco"; the rapper "liked the way it looked on paper."{{cite web|url=http://www.soundslam.com/articles/interviews/interviews.php?interviews=in060511lupefi |title=Hip To Be Square |access-date=September 2, 2007 |last=Fruchter |first=Alexander |date=May 11, 2006 |publisher=Soundslam.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108062632/http://soundslam.com/articles/interviews/interviews.php?interviews=in060511lupefi |archive-date=January 8, 2011 }} He also said of his name, "You know how rappers always have names like MC Terrorist—like they're 'terrorizing' other rappers? I knew fiasco meant a great disaster or something like that, but I didn't realize that the person named Fiasco would be the disaster, and that you should be calling other MCs fiascos—not yourself...it kind of humbled me in a sense. It taught me like, 'Yo, stop rushing, or you're going to have some fiascos.'"

File:Lupe Fiasco 2006.jpg, 2006.]]

When Fiasco was 18, he began creating music as a solo artist in his father's basement, even though his parents were not keen on having their son be a rapper. He scoured flea markets and secondhand stores, where he was able to find an old mixing board and a record player, stacks of vinyl records, and mic stands. At age 19, Fiasco joined a group called Da Pak, which was influenced by other California gangsta rappers such as Spice 1 and Ice Cube. Da Pak signed to Epic Records and released one single before splitting up. Fiasco later described the experience, saying "We had a song out about cocaine, guns, and women, and I would go to a record store and look at it and think, 'What are you doing?' I felt like a hypocrite. I was acting like this rapper who would never be judged, and 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.""Biography Today", pp.61–62

After turning away from gangsta rap, he developed a greater appreciation of the lyricism of Jay Z and Nas. His mother also gave him a record of the influential group The Watts Prophets, one of the first bands to use spoken words with music."Biography Today", p.62 Although he was without a group for the first time, Fiasco continued to record music. One of these first self-recorded tracks was "Could Have Been", which described the career options he could have pursued had he not begun rapping.{{cite web|url=http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/646/return_of_the_cool/|title=Lupe Fiasco: 'Paris, Tokyo'|last=Lewis|first=Pete|date=March 3, 2008|access-date=April 16, 2008|work=Blues & Soul|publisher=Blues & Soul Publications, Inc.}} He viewed the song as a turning point in his career that marked a drastic change in the subject matter of his music. "Could Have Been" was released as a demo tape and discovered by MTV despite the fact that no video was created for the song.

Fiasco later signed a solo deal with Arista Records, but was dropped when president and CEO L.A. Reid was fired. During his short tenure at Arista, he met Jay-Z, who was the president of Def Jam Recordings at the time. Jay-Z referred to him as a "breath of fresh air", saying that he reminded him of a younger version of himself. Jay-Z later helped him get a record deal at Atlantic Records. While Fiasco was working on his debut solo album, he released his mixtape series Fahrenheit 1/15 over the internet, which gained notoriety by word-of-mouth.

He remixed Kanye West's song, "Diamonds from Sierra Leone", renaming the new version as "Conflict Diamonds". With this remix, Fiasco wished to raise awareness of the conflict diamond business.{{cite news|title=The death of bling|last=Batey|first=Angus|work=The Times |date=January 20, 2007}} This caught West's attention, and he asked Fiasco to perform on the song "Touch the Sky" for West's album Late Registration. The song, which sampled Curtis Mayfield's "Move On Up", became a hit in the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number forty-two.{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=kanye west|chart=all}}|title=Touch the Sky – Lupe Fiasco – Chart History|magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 13, 2009}} After this success, Fiasco's first single "Kick, Push" was released earlier than expected. The song was a love story about two people sharing a passion for skateboarding, a topic generally not discussed in hip-hop.{{cite news|title=The revolution will not be televised. And you won't hear it on the radio, either|last=Hardimon|first=Zharmer|work=Houston Chronicle |date=June 18, 2006}} Fiasco explained, "[Skateboarding culture is] just as deep as hip-hop. I'm not the greatest skateboarder, but I'm a damn good rapper, so I made a damn good skateboarding song." The single, and its accompanying music video, helped Fiasco get attention in the hip-hop community, and was later nominated for two 2007 Grammy Awards."Biography Today", p.63 During this time, he recorded guest performances on Tha' Rayne's "Kiss Me" and "Didn't You Know" singles, and also on K Foxx's 2004 "This Life".

Jay Z assisted him in the production of what would become his debut album Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2008/01/11/meet-rapper-lupe-fiasco/|title=Meet rapper Lupe Fiasco – Lupe Fiasco's The Cool|last=Watson|first=Margeaux|date=January 11, 2008|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=April 28, 2009|archive-date=September 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912030304/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20170758,00.html|url-status=live}} The title of the album is a reference to 'Food and Liquor' stores common in Chicago. He explains, "The store is where everything is at...Food to me represents growth and progression. You eat food and you get strength. You need it to live. Liquor is not a necessity; it is a want. It destroys you. It breaks you down. I can see why it's prohibited in Islam...I've always felt like liquor represents the bad, the food represents the good, and everyone is made up of a little of both.""Biography Today", p.64 Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor was officially released on September 19, 2006. The album featured production from Jay-Z, Kanye West, Mike Shinoda, The Neptunes, Prolyfic, among others. The record spawned the singles "Kick, Push", "I Gotcha" and "Daydreamin'" featuring Jill Scott. The critically lauded album was later nominated for three Grammy Awards including Best Rap Album. Fiasco won "Best Urban/Alternative Performance" for "Daydreamin'".{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1581288/20080210/winehouse_amy.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213062039/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1581288/20080210/winehouse_amy.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 13, 2008|title=Grammy Awards Get Rolling As Amy Winehouse, Alicia Keys, Kanye West Win Early Honors|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=February 10, 2008|access-date=October 6, 2008|work=MTV News}} In the same year, he was voted by GQ magazine as the "Breakout Man of the Year." He also received four BET Hip Hop Award nominations, and it made it to number eight on the Billboard 200 and number two on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart."Biography Today", p.65 That same year he participated in the first Cypher at the BET Hip-Hop Awards.

{{Quote box |bgcolor=#bbccff |salign=center

|quote = It was a lot of tragedy coming into this album. In the midst of a lot of success, I was so busy I didn't have time to properly mourn. Talking to yourself, having some therapy with yourself – it was the hardest record to write because of the emotions.

|source = – Lupe Fiasco, on Lupe Fiasco's The Cool{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2008/01/09/2008-01-09_cerebral_rapper_lupe_fiasco_thinks_big_w.html|title=Cerebral rapper Lupe Fiasco thinks big with new Grammy bid|last=Louie|first=Rebecca|date=January 8, 2008|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 7, 2010}}

|width = 30%

|align = right

}}

In 2007, Fiasco announced his second album, Lupe Fiasco's The Cool, a concept album that expands on the story of the track of the same name on his first album. While recording this album, Fiasco's father died of type II diabetes and his business partner, Charles "Chilly" Patton, was convicted of attempting to supply heroin to a drug ring and was eventually sentenced to 44 years in a correctional facility.{{cite web|url=http://www.sfweekly.com/2008-01-09/music/lupe-fiasco-hints-at-music-retirement/|title=Lupe Fiasco hints at music retirement|last=Westhoff|first=Ben|date=January 9, 2008|work=SF Weekly|access-date=December 27, 2010|archive-date=January 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119020058/http://www.sfweekly.com/2008-01-09/music/lupe-fiasco-hints-at-music-retirement/|url-status=dead}} These events greatly affected Fiasco and the subsequent themes discussed on the record. The disc was released in December 2007 in United States while the first single and video from the album, "Superstar" featuring Matthew Santos was released the first week of November 2007. Lupe Fiasco's The Cool, a concept album that expanded upon recurring themes in Food & Liquor, is about "a hustler who dies and comes back to life, only to get robbed by two little kids with the same gun that killed him."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1047214/the-unclassifiable-lupe-fiasco|title=The Unclassifiable Lupe Fiasco|magazine=Billboard |last=Crosley|first=Hillary|date=November 27, 2007|access-date=December 6, 2011}} Fiasco decided not to work with well-known producers for the album since he considered it to be "too expensive", noting the commercial failure of his Pharrell collaboration, "I Gotcha".

File:Lupe Fiasco MHMF1.jpg, on July 19, 2008.]]

Lupe Fiasco's The Cool was very well received by critics and was referred to as "one of the year's best hip-hop albums" by The New York Times.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/17/arts/music/17choi.html?ref=music |title=New CDs |work=The New York Times | date=December 17, 2007 |last=Pareles |first=Jon |access-date=June 15, 2011}} "Superstar", a semi-autobiographical account of his rise to fame, was released as the first single from the album, and peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=lupe fiasco|chart=all}}|title="Superstar" Chart History|magazine=Billboard |date=February 21, 2008}} Baseball's Hanley Ramírez, Troy Tulowitzki, Ryan Zimmerman, Gerald Laird and Ryan Braun have used "Superstar" as their at-bat song.{{cite web|url=http://onmilwaukee.com/buzz/articles/omcrecs073108.html|title=OnMilwaukee.com Recommends: July 31|work=OnMilwaukee|date=July 31, 2007|access-date=September 29, 2008}} The album's second single (released in the UK in April 2008) was "Paris, Tokyo" – a song based around Fiasco's experiences of touring the world between his first and second albums. Moreover, in 2007 it was revealed that Fiasco, Kanye West and Pharrell Williams had formed a group called Child Rebel Soldier.{{cite news|title=Lupe and Kanye teamed with Radiohead|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/lupe-fiasco/news/40268-lupe-and-kanye-teamed-with-radiohead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310163253/http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/lupe-fiasco/news/40268-lupe-and-kanye-teamed-with-radiohead|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 10, 2009|publisher=MTV UK|date = May 30, 2007|access-date=June 1, 2007}}{{cite news|first=Darryl|last=Gudmundson|title=Kanye, Lupe & Pharrell Form Supergroup???|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.5291/title.kanye-lupe-pharrell-form-supergroup|work=HipHopDX.com|date=May 29, 2007|access-date=June 1, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070601155337/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.5291/title.kanye-lupe-pharrell-form-supergroup|archive-date=June 1, 2007|url-status=dead}} CRS initially released one single, entitled "US Placers" and featuring a Thom Yorke sample. In an interview with The Village Voice, Fiasco revealed that he was writing a novel about a window washer, aptly titled Reflections of a Window Washer.{{cite web|last=Dodero |first=Camille |date=December 10, 2007 |title=Interview: Lupe Fiasco |work=The Village Voice |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/archives/2007/12/interview_lupe.php |access-date=November 5, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022201639/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/archives/2007/12/interview_lupe.php |archive-date=October 22, 2008 |df=mdy }} In 2008, Fiasco and his band 1500 or Nothin joined Kanye West's Glow in the Dark Tour which also featured Rihanna and N.E.R.D. The tour stopped in several cities, including his hometown of Chicago. In 2008, MTV named Fiasco the 7th Hottest MC in the Game{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1587662/20080516/fiasco__lupe.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914155027/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1587662/20080516/fiasco__lupe.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 14, 2008|title=Lupe Fiasco Rises From Nowhere On Last Year's List To This Year's #7 'Hottest MC In The Game'|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|work=MTV News|date=May 16, 2008|access-date=January 14, 2009}} and announced that he was remixing The Cool with French electro house act Justice.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/lupe-fiasco/news/41537-justice-remix-lupe-fiasco|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313012356/http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/lupe-fiasco/news/41537-justice-remix-lupe-fiasco|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 13, 2009|title= Justice Remix Lupe Fiasco|work=MTV News UK|date=April 17, 2008|access-date=May 23, 2008}}

{{anchor|All City Chess Club}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = All City Chess Club

| background = group_or_band

| years_active = 2010–2015{{cite news|url=https://djbooth.net/.amp/features/2017-09-19-chuck-inglish-lupe-fiasco-all-city-chess-club |title=Lupe Fiasco's All City Chess Club Supergroup Was Always Doomed According to One Member |newspaper=Djbooth |date=February 12, 2018 |access-date=2020-04-10}}

| genre = {{hlist|Experimental hip hop|hipster hop}}

| label = 1st & 15th

| associated_acts =

| past_members = * Asher Roth

• B.o.B
• Blu
• Charles Hamilton
• The Cool Kids
• Diggy
• Doseage
• Jermaine Cole
• Lupe Fiasco
• Pharrell Williams
• Wale

}}

At a performance in New Zealand in February 2010, Fiasco performed new material from the then-titled We Are Lasers for the first time.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1632523/lupe-fiasco-preview-new-lp-on-forthcoming-tour.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112081958/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1632523/lupe-fiasco-preview-new-lp-on-forthcoming-tour.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 12, 2012|title=Lupe Fiasco To Preview New LP On Forthcoming Tour|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|date=February 24, 2010|access-date=December 9, 2011|work=MTV News}} He claimed that the album was complete and waiting for a release date from his label, Atlantic Records. However, Atlantic feared that the record lacked commercial singles, and presented Fiasco with songs the label wanted him to record.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1644559/20100727/fiasco__lupe.jhtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904234229/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1644559/20100727/fiasco__lupe.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 4, 2012|title=Lupe Fiasco Talks Fan Petition, Lasers Being In Limbo|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|work=MTV News|date=July 28, 2010|access-date=December 7, 2010}} Fiasco declined, as he was told he would not have any ownership of the songs. He explained, "I don't think the label cares about an album...People just want their number-one record." For six months, the cause of the album's delay remained unclear to the public. In response, Fiasco's fans created an online petition demanding that Atlantic Records release Lasers. The petition garnered considerable attention on hip hop blog sites as well as over 16,000 signatures. Fiasco stated that the petition "brought [him] to tears", and in response to the petition, Fiasco released a song titled "B.M.F-Building Minds Faster" to thank his fans.

While waiting for Lasers to be released, Fiasco completed another album, titled Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/blogs/2010/09/08/interview-lupe-fiasco-talks-lasers-delay-japanese-cartoon-and-food-liquor-ii/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102184423/http://www.complex.com/blogs/2010/09/08/interview-lupe-fiasco-talks-lasers-delay-japanese-cartoon-and-food-liquor-ii/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 2, 2013|title=Interview: Lupe Fiasco Talks "Lasers" Delay, Japanese Cartoon, and "Food & Liquor II"|last=Ahmed|first=Insanul|work=Complex|date=November 8, 2010|access-date=December 7, 2010}} He was unsure if the Food and Liquor II would ever be released, though he released the song "Go To Sleep" from the record "out of desperation" to put out new music. He also pursued numerous side projects in the midst of the delay. In April 2010, Fiasco formed the hip hop collective All City Chess Club along with Pharrell, Asher Roth, B.o.B, The Cool Kids, Charles Hamilton, Blu, Diggy Simmons, Wale, J. Cole, & Dosage.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1639510/bob-all-city-chess-club-side-project-fun-creative.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209035307/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1639510/bob-all-city-chess-club-side-project-fun-creative.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 9, 2012|title=B.o.B Says All City Chess Club Side Project Is 'Fun And Creative'|last=Rodriguez|first=Jayson|date=May 18, 2010|access-date=December 9, 2011|work=MTV News}} The group has so far made one song, a remix of Fiasco's "I'm Beamin".{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10969/title.lupe-fiasco-introduces-all-city-chess-club-supergroup-or-remix-collab|title=Lupe Fiasco Introduces All City Chess Club; Supergroup Or Remix Collab?|last=Hughes|first=Krysten|work=Hip Hop DX|date=April 4, 2010|access-date=December 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531181201/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10969/title.lupe-fiasco-introduces-all-city-chess-club-supergroup-or-remix-collab|archive-date=May 31, 2011|url-status=dead}} Additionally, On July 16, 2010, Fiasco released his rock side-project Japanese Cartoon's debut EP In The Jaws of the Lords of Death. Japanese Cartoon was influenced by a variety of musical genres, with Fiasco saying, "I've always been a fan of all music...Hip hop is just something I actually know how to do but I always had aspirations to participate in other forms of music. Once I got to create some hip hop, it was like, 'Okay, what am I going to do now?' So my artistic side was like, 'Yo, let's do some rock music.'"

More than two and a half years after the album's completion, Lasers was released on March 8, 2011. The first single from the record was "The Show Goes On", which samples "Float On" by Modest Mouse. "The Show Goes On" debuted at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/2010-11-27/hot-100|title=Billboard Hot 100: Week of November 27, 2010|magazine=Billboard |date=September 12, 2008|access-date=December 10, 2010}} The lead single peaked at number 9 since then. The producers involved on the album include Alex Da Kidd, King David "The Future" and Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis, while featured artists include Skylar Grey, Trey Songz, and John Legend. Upon the album's release, Lasers debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 204,000 copies.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/472523/lupe-fiascos-lasers-lands-at-no-1-on-billboard-200|title=Lupe Fiasco's 'Lasers' Lands at No. 1 on Billboard 200|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=March 16, 2011|magazine=Billboard |access-date=March 20, 2011}}{{cite web|last=Rabin|first=Nathan|url=https://www.avclub.com/articles/lupe-fiascos-longdelayed-lasers-debuts-at-number-o,53268/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320030731/http://www.avclub.com/articles/lupe-fiascos-longdelayed-lasers-debuts-at-number-o%2C53268/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 20, 2011 |title=Lupe Fiasco's long-delayed Lasers debuts at number one |work=The A.V. Club|date=March 16, 2011 |access-date=March 17, 2011}} Despite the album's commercial success, Lasers received mixed reviews from most music critics.[https://www.metacritic.com/music/lasers Lasers Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More]. Metacritic. Retrieved on March 20, 2011 Writing for AllMusic, editor Andy Kellman gave the record three out of five stars and criticized its "lumbering, overwrought choruses", writing that "If there is one MC whose rhymes should not be dulled for the sake of chasing pop trends, it's Lupe Fiasco".{{cite web|last=Kellman |first=Andy |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/lasers-r2124241/review |title=Lasers – Lupe Fiasco |work=AllMusic |access-date=December 10, 2011}} Lasers, however, was nominated Best Rap Album, with "The Show Goes On" nominated for Best Rap Performance, and Best Rap Song at the 2012 Grammy Awards. Lupe Fiasco later involved himself at the Occupy Wall Street movement where he donated tents and released a poem in support of the protesters. He also released his "Friend of the People: I Fight Evil" mixtape on Thanksgiving Day.

File:Lupe Fiasco 2012.jpg 2012]]

Fiasco subsequently released Food & Liquor 2, as well as put work into a joint album with fellow Child Rebel Soldier & All City Chess Club member Pharrell.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/LupeFiasco/posts/10150542982607282 |title=Facebook |publisher=Facebook |access-date=2012-04-09}}{{dead link|date=October 2016}} Prior to the album's release, he revealed that there would be no more mixtapes after "Friend Of The People: I Fight Evil" prior to Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, which was planned to be a double-disc with Part I set to release in fall 2012. Its lead single, the Simonsayz and B-Side produced track Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free), was released on May 21, which stirred controversy from an infuriated Pete Rock for using a sample from They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.). Rock said that he felt "so violated" by the use of the sample,{{cite web|title=Pete Rock Slams Lupe Fiasco for Crappy 'T.R.O.Y.' Bite|url=https://www.spin.com/2012/05/pete-rock-slams-lupe-fiasco-crappy-troy-bite/|work=spin.com|date=May 22, 2012|access-date=19 April 2013}} although the original track itself used samples from Tom Scott and James Brown.

In 2012, Fiasco also collaborated with Australian singer Guy Sebastian on the single "Battle Scars". The single was recorded in Sebastian's Sydney studio when Fiasco was in Australia for Supafest, and is featured on Sebastian's album Armageddon.[http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/music/guy-sebastian-eyes-us-market-with-lupe-fiasco-releasing-battle-scars-as-his-new-single/story-e6frf9hf-1226456055874 Sun Herald Entertainment News] Retrieved 26 August 2012. It debuted at number one in Australia in its first week, becoming Fiasco's first number one single.{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Guy+Sebastian+feat%2E+Lupe+Fiasco&titel=Battle+Scars&cat=s |title=Guy Sebastian feat. Lupe Fiasco – Battle Scars |work=Australian Charts Portal |access-date=20 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920001856/http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Guy%20Sebastian%20feat.%20Lupe%20Fiasco&titel=Battle%20Scars&cat=s |archive-date=September 20, 2012 |df=mdy }} On 21 August it was announced "Battle Scars" would be included on Fiasco's fourth album, Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1, and was released as the fourth single in the United States on 28 August 2012.James, Jessie (21 August 2012).[https://web.archive.org/web/20130926043445/http://stupiddope.com/2012/08/21/guy-sebastian-lupe-fiasco-battle-scars-music-video/ Guy Sebastian Lupe Fiasco Battle Scars]. Stupid Dope. Archived from [http://stupiddope.com/2012/08/21/guy-sebastian-lupe-fiasco-battle-scars-music-video/ the original] on 21 August 2012.[http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2012/08/lupe-fiasco-reveals-new-singles-says-battle-scars-drops-on-august-28/ Lupe Fiasco announces Battle Scars as next single] Retrieved on 21 August 2012. It reached number 71 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, number 23 on the Billboard Digital Song Chart and number one on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Chart.Adams, Cameron (11 September 2012)[https://web.archive.org/web/20130127065646/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/guy-sebastians-aria-number-one-song-battle-scars-with-lupe-fiasco-hits-73-on-the-us-billboard-hot-100/story-e6frfn09-1226471957412 Guy Sebastian's ARIA number one song Battle Scars with Lupe Fiasco hits 73 on the US Billboard Hot 100].news.com.au. Archived from [http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/guy-sebastians-aria-number-one-song-battle-scars-with-lupe-fiasco-hits-73-on-the-us-billboard-hot-100/story-e6frfn09-1226471957412 the original] on 29 January 2013.[https://archive.today/20120912194223/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/chart-search-results/singles/14118857 R&B/Hip-hop Digital Song Chart 15 September 2012] Billboard.biz. Archived from [https://archive.today/20120912194223/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/chart-search-results/singles/14118857 the original] on 13 September 2012. The song spent 20 nonconsecutive weeks in the Billboard Hot 100, and reached platinum certification.[http://acharts.us/song/72443 Guy Sebastian and Lupe Fiasco – Battle Scars].aCharts.US. Retrieved 29 January 2013.[https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Battle+Scars%22 RIAA searchable database – Battle Scars] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130615210715/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Battle+Scars%22 |date=June 15, 2013 }}.Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 20 May 2013 "Battle Scars" spent six weeks at number one in Australia, and has been certified 9× platinum by ARIA.[http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesaria-charts-accreditations-singles-2013.htm ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2013 Singles] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409211136/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesaria-charts-accreditations-singles-2013.htm |date=2013-04-09 }}. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 9 December 2013 It also reached number two and double platinum in New Zealand and number two in Norway.{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Guy+Sebastian+feat%2E+Lupe+Fiasco&titel=Battle+Scars&cat=s |title=Guy Sebastian feat. Lupe Fiasco – Battle Scars |work=New Zealand Charts Portal |access-date=24 September 2012 |df=mdy }}[https://web.archive.org/web/20121130103734/http://nztop40.co.nz/ Official New Zealand Music Chart – 26 November 2012].Recording Industry Association New Zealand (RIANZ). Archived from [http://nztop40.co.nz/ the original] on 25 November 2012.[https://web.archive.org/web/20121228040335/http://lista.vg.no/liste/topp-20-single/1/dato/2012/uke/49 VG Lista – Top 20 Singles. Issue 49 2012].VG Lista. Archived from [http://lista.vg.no/liste/topp-20-single/1/dato/2012/uke/48 the original] on 7 December 2012.

Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 was released on September 25, 2012. The songs "Go to Sleep" and "Bitch Bad" were also released as singles. The album received generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics.{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/4898/Lupe-Fiasco-Food--Liquor-II-The-Great-American-Rap-Album-Pt-1.aspx|title=Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 by Lupe Fiasco reviews|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?|access-date=October 3, 2012}} At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 70, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on 18 reviews.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/food-liquor-vol-2-the-great-american-rap-album-pt-1/lupe-fiasco|title=Food & Liquor, Vol. 2: the Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1 Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More|publisher=Metacritic. CBS Interactive|access-date=September 27, 2012}} It was also nominated for Best Rap Album at the 55th Grammy Awards.{{cite web |last=Vasquez |first=Andres |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22121/title.grammy-nominees-revealed-frank-ocean-drake-2-chainz-among-those-nominated |title=Grammy Nominees Revealed; Frank Ocean, Drake & 2 Chainz Among Those Nominated | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2012-12-06 |access-date=2014-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015042730/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22121/title.grammy-nominees-revealed-frank-ocean-drake-2-chainz-among-those-nominated |archive-date=October 15, 2013 |url-status=dead }} Originally, the album was set to be released as a double-disc album, but Atlantic Records did not allow this arrangement, so the album was divided into two. It was confirmed that a Part 2 will be released in Spring 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.thelupendblog.com/2012/09/lupe-announces-release-date-of-fl2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426054425/http://www.thelupendblog.com/2012/09/lupe-announces-release-date-of-fl2.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 26, 2013|title=The LupE.N.D. Blog: Lupe announces Spring Release for FL2: TGARA Part 2|publisher=The LupE.N.D. Blog|date=September 29, 2012|access-date=September 29, 2012}} Lupe has said the album showcases more of his dexterity and lyrical substance.{{cite web|last=Bristout |first=Ralph |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/features/2013/01/xxl-presents-the-35-most-anticipated-albums-of-2013-3/#13 |title=XXL Presents... The 35 Most Anticipated Albums of 2013 – XXL |publisher=Xxlmag.com |date=2013-01-14 |access-date=2014-08-09}} S1 has confirmed to be producing on the album.{{cite web |last=Ryon |first=Sean |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22486/title.s1-reveals-production-for-kanye-wests-new-solo-album |title=S1 Reveals Production For Kanye West's New Solo Album | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2013-01-09 |access-date=2014-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318183143/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22486/title.s1-reveals-production-for-kanye-wests-new-solo-album |archive-date=March 18, 2015 |url-status=dead }} On January 17, 2013, he canceled the plan for the release of the second part of the original double disk. He then said that he would release another studio album in 2013.{{cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22575/title.lupe-fiasco-cancels-food-liquor-ii-the-great-american-rap-album-pt-2- |title=Lupe Fiasco Cancels "Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 2" | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2013-01-17 |access-date=2014-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215185038/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22575/title.lupe-fiasco-cancels-food-liquor-ii-the-great-american-rap-album-pt-2- |archive-date=February 15, 2015 |url-status=dead }}

On February 10, 2013, on the red carpet for the Grammy Awards he announced his fifth studio album would be titled Tetsuo & Youth.{{cite web |last=Miles |first=Dante |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22866/title.lupe-fiasco-announces-new-album-tetsuo-youth- |title=Lupe Fiasco Announces New Album "Tetsuo & Youth" | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2013-02-10 |access-date=2014-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318193800/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22866/title.lupe-fiasco-announces-new-album-tetsuo-youth- |archive-date=March 18, 2015 |url-status=dead }} Since then, he has released songs that are not slated to be on Tetsuo & Youth. These songs are "Light Blue" and "Jonylah Forever." Upon hearing her name in Lupe's song Form Follows Function, Imogen Heap reached out to Lupe on Twitter to give a thank you which led to Fiasco asking her to appear on his next album making her a possible guest artist on Tetsuo and Youth.{{cite web|title=Imogen Heap on Lupe's Next Album? (We Think This Needs To Happen!)|url=http://www.thelupendblog.com/2013/04/imogen-heap-on-lupes-next-album-we.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423142457/http://www.thelupendblog.com/2013/04/imogen-heap-on-lupes-next-album-we.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-04-23|work=Article|publisher=thelupENDblog.com}} On August 4, 2013, Lupe Fiasco revealed a new song would be released on September 11, titled "Peace of Paper/Cup of Jayzus".{{cite web|author=B.J. Steiner |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/08/lupe-fiasco-announces-peace-of-papercup-of-jayzus/ |title=Lupe Fiasco Announces 'Peace Of Paper/Cup Of Jayzus' – XXL |publisher=Xxlmag.com |date=2013-08-05 |access-date=2014-08-09}}

On August 24, 2013, Fiasco revealed the first song from Tetsuo & Youth, "Crack", featuring Chris Brown.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/08/lupe-fiasco-ft-chris-brown-crack-preview |title=Lupe Fiasco Previews "Crack," New Single Featuring Chris Brown |publisher=Complex |date=2013-08-25 |access-date=2014-08-09}} Then on October 3, 2013, Fiasco announced the Tetsuo & Youth Preview tour to take place between November 2 and December 15, 2013. The tour featuring label-mate Stalley as a supporting act, and The Boy Illinois as an opening act.{{cite web|last=Diep |first=Eric |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/10/stalley-joins-lupe-fiasco-boy-illinois-upcoming-tour/ |title=Stalley Joins Lupe Fiasco And The Boy Illinois On Upcoming Tour – XXL |publisher=Xxlmag.com |date=2013-10-28 |access-date=2014-08-09}} He also revealed the album Tetsuo & Youth would be released in early 2014, but was later postponed to 2015.{{cite web|author=B.J. Steiner |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/10/lupe-fiasco-will-hitting-road-new-tour/ |title=Lupe Fiasco Will Be Hitting The Road With A New Tour – XXL |publisher=Xxlmag.com |date=2013-10-03 |access-date=2014-08-09}} On October 14, 2013, Fiasco released the first supposed song from the album, "Old School Love", featuring singer Ed Sheeran.{{cite web |last=Baker |first=Soren |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.25735/title.lupe-fiasco-announces-old-school-love-single-featuring-ed-sheeran |title=Lupe Fiasco Releases "Old School Love" Video | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2013-12-09 |access-date=2014-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210105517/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.25735/title.lupe-fiasco-announces-old-school-love-single-featuring-ed-sheeran |archive-date=December 10, 2014 |url-status=dead }} Then on October 21, 2013, Fiasco revealed that Big K.R.I.T. and Rick Ross would also be featured on the album.{{cite magazine|last=Lee |first=Christina |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lupe-fiasco-is-avoiding-politics-on-tetsuo-youth-20131025 |title=Lupe Fiasco's 'Tetsuo & Youth' Avoiding Politics |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=2013-10-25 |access-date=2014-08-09}}

On May 19, 2014, Fiasco released the first promotional single before the announcement of the album's track list. "Mission" is a track to empower those facing cancer, revere cancer survivors, and remember those who have passed due to cancer-related illnesses," he explains. He has teamed up with Stand Up to Cancer as a celebrity ambassador. Together, they are planning collaborations tied to the track that will be unveiled the same year.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2014/05/18/new-music-lupe-fiasco-mission/|title=New Music: Lupe Fiasco – 'Mission'|work=Rap-Up|access-date=January 20, 2015}} On June 24, 2014, Fiasco released a second promotional single titled "Next to It" which features Ty Dolla Sign on the hook.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/next-to-it-feat-ty-dolla/889552196 |title=iTunes – Music – Next To It (feat. Ty Dolla $ign) – Single by Lupe Fiasco |publisher=iTunes |date=2014-06-24 |access-date=2014-08-09}}

Most recently due to the Ferguson riots of 2014, Lupe Fiasco has ended up on Twitter feuds with fellow rappers Azealia Banks and Kid Cudi.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2046726/azealia-banks-lupe-fiasco-kid-cudi-twitter-war/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150118223659/http://www.mtv.com/news/2046726/azealia-banks-lupe-fiasco-kid-cudi-twitter-war/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 18, 2015|title=Kendrick Lamar's Political Comments Set Off A Fight Between Lupe Fiasco, Azealia Banks And Kid Cudi|work=MTV News|access-date=January 20, 2015}} The feud between Kid Cudi and Lupe Fiasco has not been resolved and has reportedly become worse, with Lupe Fiasco making threats on MTV.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2057361/lupe-fiasco-kid-cudi-beef/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150126030944/http://www.mtv.com/news/2057361/lupe-fiasco-kid-cudi-beef/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 26, 2015|title=Lupe Fiasco To Kid Cudi: 'Talk To Me, Before I F—k You Up'|website=mtv.com|access-date=March 17, 2018}}

On August 29, 2015, Lupe surprised fans with a new free mixtape, entitled Pharaoh Height, featuring six new tracks that carry Egyptian-themed titles with cuts like "Valleys," "Kings," and "Pyramid."{{cite web |url=http://www.ballerstatus.com/2015/08/29/lupe-fiasco-pharaoh-height-mixtape/ |title=Lupe Fiasco – Pharaoh Height (Mixtape) |publisher=BallerStatus.com |date=August 29, 2015 |access-date=August 30, 2015 |archive-date=September 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924145254/https://www.ballerstatus.com/2015/08/29/lupe-fiasco-pharaoh-height-mixtape/ |url-status=dead }}

In April 2016, Fiasco announced that he would release a final three albums (Drogas, Skulls, and Roy),{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/62808-lupe-fiasco-says-roy-will-be-his-last-album/|title=Lupe Fiasco Says Roy Will Be His "Last Album"|website=Pitchfork|date=January 8, 2016|language=en|access-date=2019-06-24}} later becoming Drogas, Drogas Light, and Skulls, but in October 2016, he announced he wouldn't release those albums between October and January and past 2017 would release new music.{{cite web |url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/there-is-a-strong-chance-lupe-fiasco-wont-release-any-albums-this-year-news.24780.html? |title=Lupe Fiasco will not release albums between October and January |last=Schwartz |first=Danny |date=16 October 2016 |website=Hotnewhiphop |access-date=16 October 2016}}

File:Lupe fiasco AC (1).jpg

On December 12, 2016, Lupe released his "N.E.R.D" freestyle (named after the funk rock duo of that name and over the instrumental to J. Cole's "Everybody Dies"), which included the line "Artist gettin' robbed for their publishing/By dirty Jewish execs that think his alms from the covenant."{{cite web |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/singles/id.35825/title.lupe-fiasco-raps-over-j-coles-everybody-dies-on-n-e-r-d |title=Lupe Fiasco Raps Over J. Cole's "Everybody Dies" On "N.E.R.D." |date=December 12, 2016 |website=HipHopDX.com |access-date=December 13, 2016}} Brian "DJ Z" Zisook of hip-hop website DJBooth, who is Jewish, wrote an editorial denouncing that line for its alleged anti-Semitism.{{cite news |url=http://djbooth.net/news/entry/2016-12-12-lupe-fiasco-nerd-freestyle-anti-semitic |title=Lupe Fiasco's Anti-Semitic Lyrics in "N.E.R.D" Freestyle Are Dangerous |date=December 12, 2016 |newspaper=Djbooth |access-date=December 13, 2016}} After "N.E.R.D" was apparently removed by SoundCloud for "hate speech," Lupe ultimately tweeted that he saw the situation as a sign from God to retire from music for good, announcing the cancellation of Drogas, Drogas Light and Skulls.{{cite web |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/news/id.41647/title.lupe-fiasco-calls-it-quits-once-for-all |title=Lupe Fiasco Calls It Quits Once & For All |date=December 13, 2016 |website=HipHopDX.com |access-date=December 13, 2016}} However, he announced DROGAS light would be released on 10 February 2017.{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/drogas-light/1188857868 |title=Drogas light Pre-Order |date=December 16, 2016 |website=Apple.com |access-date=December 16, 2016}} The new album will be distributed through the record label Thirty Tigers.{{cite web|last1=Sodomsky|first1=Sam|title=Lupe Fiasco Announces New Album Drogas Light|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/62706-lupe-fiasco-announces-new-album-drogas-light/|website=pitchfork.com|date=December 24, 2016|publisher=Conde Nast|access-date=2017-01-23}}

In March 2018, Fiasco premiered a three-part television documentary called Beat N Path where he embarked on a journey around China to follow his passion for martial arts. This documentary is a tribute to his late father who was a grand master and ran a martial arts school in Chicago. His experiences will help him write his next single called "Air China". The documentary aired exclusively on KIX in Southeast Asia.{{cite web|last1=Dini|first1=Azri|title=Lupe Fiasco travels to China for "Beat N Path"|url=http://www.thehive.asia/2018/03/lupe-fiasco-travels-to-china-for-beat-n.html|website=thehive.asia|access-date=2018-07-12|archive-date=July 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712182431/http://www.thehive.asia/2018/03/lupe-fiasco-travels-to-china-for-beat-n.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Cross Borders on Lupe Fiasco's New Beat n Path|url=http://www.mysky.com.ph/Cebu/updates/848/2018/02/26/cross-borders-on-lupe-fiasco-s-new-beat-n-path|website=mysky.com.ph|access-date=2018-07-12}}{{cite web|title=Beat N Path China|url=http://www.studiosv.tv/portfolio-view/beatnpath-china/|website=studiosv.tv|access-date=2018-07-12}}

On September 13, 2018, Fiasco announced that Drogas Wave will be released on September 21, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/lupe-fiasco-announces-new-album-drogas-wave/|first1=Michelle|last1=Kim|title=Lupe Fiasco Announces New Album Drogas Wave |publisher=Pitchfork|date=2018-09-13 |access-date=2018-09-14}} The album is the second part of a planned trilogy of albums, with Drogas Light as its predecessor followed by Skulls.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/lupe-fiasco-announces-new-album-shares-gizzle-collaboration-jump-1942252 |title=Lupe Fiasco announces new album and shares Gizzle collaboration 'Jump' |publisher=NME |date=2017-01-11 |access-date=2017-02-10}}

Fiasco released Drill Music in Zion on June 24, 2022, through 1st & 15th Too and Thirty Tigers. It was preceded by two singles, "Autoboto" and "Drill Music in Zion". On 9 December 2022, Fiasco was featured on Aesop Rock's song "Pumpkin Seeds", produced by Blockhead. The song is a fundraiser for the Collaboratory, an organization promoting two local DIY skateparks in Dayton, Ohio.{{cite web|last=Deville|first=Chris |date=9 December 2022 |title= Aesop Rock – "Pumpkin Seeds" (Feat. Lupe Fiasco) |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2207966/aesop-rock-pumpkin-seeds-feat-lupe-fiasco/music/}}

On 28 April 2023, Fiasco released the song "SentRock" in collaboration with the Chicago visual artist SentRock. The song was written and produced by Fiasco, while SentRock painted a piece with references to the song's lyrics.{{cite web|last=Saponara|first=Michael |date=28 April 2023 |title= LUPE FIASCO POPS THE TRUNK ON NEW 'SENTROCK' COLLAB|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/lupe-fiasco-sentrock-song}}

Fiasco released Samurai on June 28, 2024, through 1st & 15th Too and Thirty Tigers. It was preceded by two singles, "Samurai" and "Cake".{{Cite web |title=Samurai by Lupe Fiasco |url=https://genius.com/albums/Lupe-fiasco/Samurai |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=Genius |language=en}} Samurai is a concept album dedicated to the life and legacy of neo-soul singer Amy Winehouse.{{Cite web |title=Lupe Fiasco Honors Amy Winehouse on Evocative New Album, 'Samurai' |url=https://www.bet.com/article/f3geoc/lupe-fiasco-honors-amy-winehouse-on-evocative-new-album-samurai |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=BET |language=en}}

Fiasco's influence include Nas, Jay Z, Common, AZ, De La Soul, N.W.A, Mos Def, Pharrell Williams, A Tribe Called Quest, Q-Tip, Linkin Park[http://boards.atlanticrecords.com/artists/lupefiasco/ubb.x/a/frm/f/261104763 Lupe's message to fans] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050828182601/http://boards.atlanticrecords.com/artists/lupefiasco/ubb.x/a/frm/f/261104763 |date=August 28, 2005 }} Atlantic Records[https://genius.com/discussions/270001-Lupe-says-that-his-favourite-album-ever-is-by-linkin-park Lupe says that his favourite album ever is by linkin park] Genius and Gang Starr.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}}

Fiasco, along with rappers Common, Mos Def and Talib Kweli, has been credited as a pioneer of the conscious hip hop movement, which focuses on social issues.{{cite news|title=Plenty to say|last=Neems|first=Jeff|work=Waikato Times|date=December 16, 2006}} Subjects touched upon on Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor include absent parents, terrorism, Islam and religion, war, and prostitution. Fiasco attributes his interest in social issues to his highly cultured upbringing, as he describes his mother as "very intellectual" and his father as a "Renaissance man". He rejects the misogyny common in hip hop, which he discusses in the song "Hurt Me Soul".{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jan-16-et-fiasco16-story.html|title=Fiasco moves them to the brink of euphoria|last=Weiss|first=Jeff|work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 16, 2008|access-date=December 9, 2011}} Despite this, Fiasco is opposed to censorship in music: "If we're going to [censor things] that are offensive, then we are going to have to blind and deafen everyone. Come on, man. Let's focus on education and literacy and poverty."{{cite news|url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/article/day-of-outrage-targets-offensive-lyrics-in-hip-hop/|title='Day of Outrage' targets offensive lyrics in hip-hop|last=Ahmed|first=Azam|date=August 7, 2007|access-date=December 10, 2011|work=The Chicago Tribune }}

Fiasco employs various lyrical techniques in his songwriting. The rapper views hip-hop as a medium conducive to storytelling, a primary element of his lyrics due to his background in theater. He wrote plays as a child, which had a strong effect on his songwriting approaches. Fiasco utilizes both metaphors and literal statements in his work, which he describes as "getting from point A to point B in as few words as possible". His use of metaphors is exemplified by the song "Gotta Eat" from Lupe Fiasco's The Cool, which is told from the perspective of a cheeseburger and addresses the poor nutrition in black communities in the United States, while using a continuous metaphor of drug dealing and hustling.

In 2001, Fiasco co-founded 1st & 15th Entertainment with Charles "Chilly" Patton. 1st & 15th is an independent record label separate from Atlantic Records named after the traditional twice-monthly paycheck dates. Although his albums are released by Atlantic since he is under contract with it, most of his works are usually produced by 1st & 15th and its in-house producers. Although Fiasco was initially to serve as vice-president, he became CEO after Patton was convicted on drug charges.{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphoprx.com/2007/06/04/lupe-fiascos-record-label-partner-sentenced-to-44-years-denies-involvement-in-drug-ring/ |title=Lupe Fiasco's Record Label Partner Sentenced To 44 Years, Denies Involvement In Drug Ring |work=Hip Hop Rx |date=June 4, 2007 |access-date=April 28, 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=10554 |title=Lupe Fiasco's Business Partner Sentenced to 44 Years in Drug Case |work=XXL |date=June 4, 2007 |access-date=April 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005071101/http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=10554 |archive-date=October 5, 2007 |df=mdy }} Fiasco and singer Matthew Santos were two of the most recognizable signed artists. In November 2009, Fiasco announced he would discontinue the 1st & 15th label: "It was just such a 'this isn't right for you right now. This isn't gonna work for you right now. You need to be focused on you. Do you really want that, do you really have the capacity to do it?'"{{cite web|url=http://www.rubyhornet.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5728:lupe-fiasco&catid=21:interviews&Itemid=49 |title=Lupe Fiasco: Don't Forget'em |work=Ruby Hornet |date=November 9, 2009 |access-date=April 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205151739/http://rubyhornet.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=21%3Ainterviews&id=5728%3Alupe-fiasco&Itemid=49 |archive-date=February 5, 2010 |df=mdy }} In March 2013, Fiasco took to Twitter to announce that he had become the Creative Director at Higi, a scoring system based in the Chicago area that helps you to discover more about yourself so you can look, live and feel better.

In 2005, he founded Righteous Kung-Fu, a company that designs fashions, sneakers, toys, video games, comic books, and graphics for album covers and skateboard decks. Fiasco also runs a fashion line out of Righteous Kung-Fu called Trilly & Truly.{{cite web|url=http://www.formatmag.com/features/lupe-fiasco/|title=Lupe Fiasco Interview|access-date=December 10, 2011|last=Coachman|first=Dale|date=December 24, 2006|work=Format Magazine|archive-date=April 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427100706/http://www.formatmag.com/features/lupe-fiasco/|url-status=dead}} He has sponsored a skateboard team and has endorsements from DGK Skateboards."Biography Today", pp.68–69 In January 2006, Fiasco signed with major footwear and apparel corporation Reebok, becoming part of the "O.G" marketing campaign where rap artists such as Lil Wayne and Mike Jones designed their own personal colorway of the Reebok "O.G" model.

In 2009, Fiasco performed in The People Speak, a documentary feature film that employs musical performances of the letters, diaries, and speeches of everyday Americans, based on historian Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailynorthwestern.com/campus/lupe-fiasco-and-guests-let-the-people-speak-1.2063380 |title=Lupe Fiasco and guests let "The People Speak" |last=Scoggin |first=Andrew |date=November 12, 2009 |access-date=January 6, 2011 |work=The Daily Northwestern |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701011251/http://www.dailynorthwestern.com/campus/lupe-fiasco-and-guests-let-the-people-speak-1.2063380 |archive-date=July 1, 2010 |df=mdy }} On January 7, 2010, Fiasco joined musician Kenna, actress Jessica Biel, and other celebrities and activists for an expedition to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro called Summit on the Summit to raise awareness of the billions of people worldwide who lack access to sanitary drinking water.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1633660/lupe-fiasco-used-karate-magic-climb-mount-kilimanjaro.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130715202333/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1633660/lupe-fiasco-used-karate-magic-climb-mount-kilimanjaro.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2013|title=Lupe Fiasco Used 'Karate Magic' To Climb Mount Kilimanjaro|last=Montgomery|first=James|date=March 10, 2010|access-date=December 10, 2011|work=MTV News}} On January 20, 2010, Fiasco released a track called "Resurrection" with Kenna in response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake. The song, part of a compilation released through the charity Music for Relief, aimed to encourage donations for immediate relief and long-term recovery following the disaster.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1629979/linkin-park-lead-music-relief-project-benefit-haiti.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225031957/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1629979/linkin-park-lead-music-relief-project-benefit-haiti.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 25, 2013|title=Linkin Park Lead Music For Relief Project To Benefit Haiti|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|work=MTV News|date=January 19, 2010|access-date=December 10, 2011}}

Between 2020 and 2023, Fiasco has been a visiting scholar and artist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which he taught the class "Rap Theory and Practice". He often collaborates with Professor of Digital Media Nick Montfort.{{Cite news |last=Darville |first=Jordan |date=5 January 2023 |title=Watch Lupe Fiasco's M.I.T. lecture "Rap Theory & Practice: an Introduction" |url=https://www.thefader.com/2023/01/05/watch-lupe-fiasco-mit-lecture-rap-theory--practice-an-introduction |work=The Fader}}{{Cite news |last=Méndez |first=Chris Malone |date=31 March 2023 |title=Lupe Fiasco takes his talents from MIT to Yale with new fellowship |url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/2023-03-31/291617/lupe-fiasco-takes-his-talents-from-mit-to-yale-with-new-fellowship |work=Revolt}}{{Cite news |last=Cummings-Grady |first=Mackenzie |date=28 December 2022 |title=LUPE FIASCO BREAKS DOWN EMINEM & KENDRICK LAMAR LYRICS IN MIT RAP LECTURE: WATCH |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/lupe-fiasco-mit-course-rap-theory-practice-watch |work=HipHopDX}} In January 2025, Fiasco became a visiting scholar at Johns Hopkins University's Peabody Institute.{{cite news |last1=Wolfe |first1=Ellie |title=Rapper Lupe Fiasco named visiting professor at Peabody Institute |url=https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/higher-education/lupe-fiasco-peabody-institute-HHH5LKVRYBFDDC4RDVRY6OUIAI/ |access-date=January 3, 2025 |work=The Baltimore Banner |date=January 3, 2025 |language=en}}

Lupe Fiasco is an avid gamer and likes to play the Street Fighter series of fighting games. He surprisingly won an exhibition match of Street Fighter V against professional player Daigo Umehara in 2016, defeating him 3–2 using Ken.{{cite web|last1=Plunkett|first1=Luke|title=Lupe Fiasco Beat Daigo In Street Fighter V|url=http://kotaku.com/lupe-fiasco-is-fighting-daigo-in-street-fighter-v-righ-1759326820|website=kotaku.com|date=February 16, 2016 |publisher=Kotaku|access-date=2016-03-16}}{{cite web|last1=Hussain|first1=Tamoor|title=Rapper Lupe Fiasco Agrees to Face Daigo Umehara in Street Fighter 5|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/rapper-lupe-fiasco-agrees-to-face-daigo-umehara-in/1100-6434237/?ftag=GSS-05-10aaa0b|website=Gamespot|access-date=30 January 2016}}

During a 2008 interview with methodshop, Lupe Fiasco revealed that he has "a black belt in karate, two black belts in the styles of samurai sword fighting, kendo and aido" as well as "the equivalent of a black belt in Chinese wushu." Fiasco is such a fan of martial arts, he named one of his companies "Righteous Kung-Fu," a brand that does fashion design, sneakers, toys, video games, comic books and more. He also once revealed on Facebook that his family is "three generations deep in the martial arts" and they have 5 Karate schools in Chicago.

{{Quote box |bgcolor=#bbccff |salign=right |width=30% |align=right | quote =...I'm not like the poster boy for Islam... I still got my flaws and stuff like that, so I don't really wear that on my sleeve... 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.| source =– Fiasco, on his faith.{{cite web|url=https://methodshop.com/lupe-fiasco-interview/ |title=Interview: Lupe Fiasco On The Hip-Hop Industry, Jay-Z, Chicago, And His Karate Skills|date=August 6, 2008|publisher=MethodShop.com |access-date=2012-09-26}}}}

Lupe Fiasco has stated on MTV's Rap Fix, as well as in various other media, that he is Muslim and that Islam "plays a part in my life and everything I do, to a certain extent... I don't like putting my religion out there, I don't like wearing it like that, because I don't want people to look at me as the poster child for Islam. I'm not. I don't want them to look at my flaws and be like, 'oh, that's the flaws of Islam'."{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/827866/rapfix-live-with-lupe-fiasco-and-beanie-sigel.jhtml#id=1692296 |title=Lupe Fiasco Brings 'Bitch Bad' To 'RapFix Live' | News Video |publisher=MTV |date=2012-08-22 |access-date=2012-09-26}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite web|url=http://www.patheos.com/blogs/altmuslim/2007/01/muslim_rapper_walks_to_the_top_of_the_charts/ |title=Rapper Lupe Fiasco: Muslim rapper "walks" to the top of the charts |publisher=Patheos.com |date=2007-01-09 |access-date=2012-09-26}}{{cite web|url=http://www.muslimsubjects.org/blog/2012/02/%E2%80%9Cwords-i-never-said%E2%80%9D-by-lupe-fiasco/ |title=Blog Archive » "Words I Never Said" by Lupe Fiasco |publisher=muslimsubjects.org |date=2012-02-16 |access-date=2012-09-26}} His mixtape series Fahrenheit 1/15 featured a remix of Kanye West's "Jesus Walks" entitled "Muhammad Walks", which went on to become very popular in the Muslim community."Biography Today", pp.62–63 He can be heard using Islamic recitals in "Hurt Me Soul", "Little Weapon", "Hi-Definition" as well as the intro and outro tracks to Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor. Lupe Fiasco has endorsed the idea that Islam will some day "be the world's religion and conquer the world."{{cite web|url=http://thegrio.com/2014/10/04/lupe-fiasco-islam-world/|title=Lupe Fiasco believes Islam will conquer the world|work=theGrio|date=October 4, 2014|access-date=January 20, 2015}}

In an interview with Stephen Colbert on the satirical news show The Colbert Report, Fiasco stated his credo on political philosophy: "You should criticize power even if you agree with it."{{cite web | url =http://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-arts/2011/06/more-political-views-from-lupe-fiasco-11307.html | title =More of Lupe Fiasco's thoughts on Obama and politics | author =Sarah Godfrey | publisher =tbd.com | date =June 9, 2011 | access-date =May 3, 2013 | archive-date =May 21, 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130521102318/http://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-arts/2011/06/more-political-views-from-lupe-fiasco-11307.html | url-status =dead }} In another interview in June 2011 on the CBS program What's Trending, Fiasco discussed the political content of his music, stating, "My fight against terrorism, to me, the biggest terrorist is Obama and the United States of America. I'm trying to fight the terrorism that's actually causing the other forms of terrorism. You know, the root cause of terrorism is the stuff the U.S. government allows to happen. The foreign policies that we have in place in different countries that inspire people to become terrorists."{{cite news |title=Lupe Fiasco Calls Obama a "Terrorist" |url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/123467904.html |publisher=NBC|date=June 8, 2011 |access-date=June 8, 2011}} He additionally criticized Obama for his stance on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/mar/03/lupe-fiasco-lasers-atlantic|title=Lupe Fiasco: 'I have the right to speak out'|last=Batey|first=Angus|work=The Guardian |date=March 3, 2011|access-date=December 12, 2011}} Fiasco says he did not vote in U.S. elections until 2018.{{cite web | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1694167/lupe-fiasco-roland-martin-voting-twitter-debate.jhtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921232325/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1694167/lupe-fiasco-roland-martin-voting-twitter-debate.jhtml | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 21, 2012 | title =Lupe Fiasco's Anti-Voting Stance Ignites Heated Twitter Debate | author =Rob Markman | publisher =mtv.com | date =September 20, 2012}} He said on Twitter that he changed his stance due to the racial views of Donald Trump, and that he would vote for Democratic candidates.{{cite web|title=@LupeFiasco on Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/lupefiasco/status/951833489418149891}} However, in 2023 he implied on Twitter that he still had never voted, and endorsed Cornel West's 2024 presidential campaign, saying it would be the "first and last time" he would vote.{{cite web|title=@LupeFiasco on Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/lupefiasco/status/1665795400664780801?s=46&t=W4MONnSrayYsOixg_2vRNw}}

On January 20, 2013, he was removed from the stage by the security for refusing to move onto the next song after performing a 30-minute version of "Words I Never Said", which contains anti-Obama lyrics, in Washington D.C., during Obama's second presidential inauguration.[http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22613/lupe-fiasco-removed-from-stage-after-making-anti-obama-comments/ Lupe Fiasco Removed From Stage After Making Anti-Obama Comments] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506164537/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22613/lupe-fiasco-removed-from-stage-after-making-anti-obama-comments |date=May 6, 2015 }} HipHopDX.com, January 21, 2013[https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jan/21/lupe-fiasco-obama Lupe Fiasco ejected from inaugural event after anti-Obama rant] The Guardian, January 21, 2013 In June 2015, Lupe Fiasco wrote an open letter about white supremacy.{{cite web|url=http://www.opnlttr.com/letter/lupe-fiasco-pens-open-letter-white-supremacy |title=Lupe Fiasco pens open letter on white supremacy|publisher=opnlttr.com |date=2015-06-23}}

Having done the artwork for Tetsuo & Youth, Drogas Wave and Drill Music in Zion, Fiasco has also spoken on his interest in visual arts via interviews and his infamous Instagram Lives, specifically in photography, acrylic painting, chiaroscuro and pencil drawing.

On October 11, 2020, via his official Instagram, Fiasco shared that he had held his first art exhibition at SOHO House Chicago. On October 15, 2022, he shared images via his official Twitter account of an alleged soon to be released graphic novel themed around the Atlantic Slave Trade titled Longchains.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/LupeFiasco/status/1581353277932769290|publisher=twitter.com |date=2022-10-22}}

{{main|Lupe Fiasco discography}}

• 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)

{{main|List of awards and nominations received by Lupe Fiasco}}

In 2006, Lupe was named one of GQ{{'s}} Men of the Year along with being awarded one Grammy in 2008 along with 12 nominations. He has been nominated for numerous other awards and has also been awarded the Character Approved Award for a Musician by the USA Network in 2009.{{cite web|last=Haddow|first=Douglas|title=GQ Man of the Year – Lupe Fiasco|url=http://www.formatmag.com/news/gq-man-of-the-year-lupe-fiasco/|work=News|date=November 21, 2006|publisher=Formatmag.com|access-date=November 21, 2006|archive-date=March 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080316053828/http://formatmag.com/news/gq-man-of-the-year-lupe-fiasco/|url-status=dead}}

{{reflist}}

• Biography Today – Lupe Fiasco (2009). Omnigraphics. Detroit, Michigan. {{ISBN|978-0-7808-1052-5}}.

{{commons category}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{official website|https://www.lupefiasco.com}}
• {{IMDb name|id=2400930}}
• {{YouTube|u=LupeFiasco|{{PAGENAMEBASE}}}}
• {{IMDb title|1156524|The People Speak}}

{{Lupe Fiasco}}

{{Lupe Fiasco singles}}

{{Child Rebel Soldier}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fiasco, Lupe}}

Category:1982 births

Category:Living people

Category:African-American activists

Category:21st-century American businesspeople

Category:21st-century American male musicians

Category:21st-century American rappers

Category:21st-century African-American businesspeople

Category:African-American fashion designers

Category:African-American male rappers

Category:21st-century American male rappers

Category:African-American male singers

Category:African-American Muslims

Category:African-American record producers

Category:Alternative hip-hop musicians

Category:American anti-war activists

Category:American businesspeople in fashion

Category:American fashion designers

Category:American hip-hop record producers

Category:American hip-hop singers

Category:American kendoka

Category:American male karateka

Category:American music industry executives

Category:American wushu practitioners

Category:Anti-corporate activists

Category:American anti-poverty advocates

Category:Atlantic Records artists

Category:Businesspeople from Chicago

Category:Child Rebel Soldier members

Category:Henry Crown Fellows

Category:Hip-hop activists

Category:Midwest hip-hop musicians

Category:Occupy Wall Street protesters

Category:Rappers from Chicago

Category:Record producers from Illinois

Category:Shoe designers

Category:Thirty Tigers artists

Category:Muslims from Illinois