Chicago-based Muslim MC
Lupe Fiasco began rapping in junior high school and joined a group called Da Pak several years later. The group signed to Epic, released one single, and split up, all before
Fiasco reached the age of 20. Thanks in part to the vocal support of
Jay-Z,
L.A. Reid signed
Fiasco as a solo artist to Arista, but before anything of significance was able to happen (only a promo single and a couple guest appearances were set up),
Reid was fired, leaving the MC without a label.
Fiasco eventually landed at Atlantic. Preceded by the single "Kick, Push," as well as several mixtapes and an appearance on
Kanye West's "Touch the Sky," the album
Food & Liquor was set to surface during early 2006, though an unfinished version leaked during the spring, pushing its official release back to September instead. The album earned
Fiasco three Grammy nominations. A highly conceptualized follow-up,
The Cool, was released in December 2007. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
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