Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, professionally known as Lupe Fiasco was born on February 16, 1982, is an American rapper and record producer who gained fame in 2006 with his debut album. He also leads the rock band Japanese Cartoon and was the CEO of 1st and 15th Entertainment.
Profile Summary
| Full Name: | Wasalu Mohammad Jaco |
| Date Of Birth: | February 16, 1982 |
| Place Of Birth: | Chicago, Illinois, U.S |
| Nationality: | American |
| Occupation(s): | Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer, Entrepreneur |
| Labels: | 30 Tigers, The Orchard |
| Net Worth: | $4 Million |
Early Life And Education
Born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 16, 1982, Fiasco, whose real name is Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, is of West African descent. Raised in a Muslim household in the West Side of Chicago, Fiasco had a tumultuous upbringing, with his father being a member of the Black Panther Party and exposing him to a variety of experiences. Despite his early dislike for hip hop music, he began rapping his poems in eighth grade and eventually pursued a career in music, taking on the stage name “Lupe Fiasco.”
Career
Fiasco started creating music at 18 in his father’s basement, despite his parents’ disapproval of his rap aspirations. He joined a group at 19 but found success as a solo artist. Influenced by Jay Z and Nas, Fiasco changed his style. Jay-Z helped him get a record deal with Atlantic Records after Arista dropped him. Fiasco gained recognition through his mixtape series, Fahrenheit 1/15, shared online.
Lupe Fiasco gained fame for his remix of Kanye West’s “Diamonds from Sierra Leone” titled “Conflict Diamonds,” shedding light on the conflict diamond industry. He collaborated with West on “Touch the Sky” for the album Late Registration.
Lupe Fiasco’’s debut album, Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor, released in 2006, was critically acclaimed and featured hit singles like “Kick, Push” and “Daydreamin’.” In 2007, he unveiled his concept album Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool, inspired by a track from his debut album, and it explored themes influenced by personal tragedies.
Lupe Fiasco’s album “The Cool” received critical acclaim and the lead single “Superstar” reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. His track “Paris, Tokyo” reflected his global touring experiences. He collaborated with Kanye West and Pharrell Williams in the group, Child Rebel Soldier, and joined Kanye West’s Glow in the Dark Tour.
In 2010, he introduced new songs from his album “We Are Lasers,” delayed by Atlantic Records. Fans petitioned for the album’s release, prompting Fiasco to thank them with a song called “B.M.F-Building Minds Faster.” In the meantime, Fiasco worked on his album “Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album” and explored other projects.
After a two-year wait, Lupe Fiasco’s album “Lasers” was released in 2011, featuring the hit single “The Show Goes On.” The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 204,000 copies in its first week. Despite mixed reviews, it garnered Grammy nominations.
Lupe Fiasco also supported Occupy Wall Street and dropped the mixtape “Friend of the People: I Fight Evil.” Following “Lasers,” he released “Food & Liquor 2” and faced backlash for sampling Pete Rock’s “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)” in the controversial track “Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free).” In 2012, Fiasco collaborated with Guy Sebastian on the successful single “Battle Scars.”
Lupe Fiasco released Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 in 2012, garnering praise and a Grammy nomination. Originally planned as a double album, Part 2 was canceled due to label constraints. Instead, he teased Tetsuo & Youth in 2013 with singles like “Light Blue” and “Jonylah Forever.” The album’s release date was delayed to 2015.
Amidst his projects, he released singles like “Mission” and “Next to It.” In 2014, Fiasco engaged in Twitter disputes with rappers Azealia Banks and Kid Cudi. He surprised fans in 2015 with the free mixtape, Pharaoh Height.
In 2016, Lupe Fiasco planned to release three albums but later changed the lineup to Drogas, Drogas Light, and Skulls. This decision was a result of controversy surrounding a freestyle he released in December 2016. Despite considering retirement from music at one point, he eventually released Drogas Light in 2017.
In 2018, he launched the documentary series Beat N Path and announced Drogas Wave. In 2022, Fiasco released “Drill Music in Zion” through 1st & 15th Too and collaborated with SentRock in April 2023. He also paid tribute to Amy Winehouse with the concept album “Samurai” in June 2024.
Personal Life
In a 2008 interview, Lupe Fiasco revealed his diverse martial arts background and ownership of “Righteous Kung-Fu,” a brand involved in fashion, sneakers, toys, and more. He also mentioned his family’s deep martial arts tradition, running five Karate schools in Chicago over three generations.
Regarding his love life, not much is known about Lupe Fiasco’s love life, but it is believed that he was romantically involved with the American model Dani Evans.
Lupe Fiasco Net Worth
Lupe Fiasco has accumulated a wealth of $6 million as a multi-talented artist in the music industry, excelling as a rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer.