Posted on March 19, 2006
Hip-hop fans will be kicking down the door to Wilson Hall Auditorium Wednesday night for a chance to see Grammy-nominated rap artist Lupe Fiasco.
The 26-year-old emcee, a native of Chicago, possesses a hip-hop acumen more akin to pioneering acts of the early ’90s like De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest than his current contemporaries. Calling Fiasco a “conscientious rapper” does him little justice.
Although he has shown himself capable of rapping about a seemingly unlimited range of topics not often found in the current musical landscape, including the Illinois welfare system and religious hypocrisy, he is just as notable for his jaw-dropping wordplay and thought-provoking lyricism. Listeners would be hard-pressed to find another “conscientious rapper” who is equally adept at narrating a story as he is orchestrating a club anthem.
Fiasco rose to national prominence following a feature on Kanye West’s single “Touch the Sky” and a coveted endorsement by Def Jam CEO Jay-Z, who went on to executive produce the album despite its release on Atlantic Records.
Fiasco immediately distinguished himself from the mainstream hip-hop pack after the unlikely success of his single, “Kick, Push.” The song, an ode to skateboarding, established Fiasco as an artist to watch. Other singles failed to achieve the same level of success on the charts. However, Fiasco received a degree of vindication through three nominations at this year’s Grammy Awards, including a Best Rap Album nod for his debut, Food & Liquor.
Fiasco is far from a typical rapper. He is a practicing Muslim, and has expressed a strong interest in such hobbies like video games, anime and comic books — interests atypical in the hip-hop culture seen on television. It is these qualities, in addition to his own tremendous talents, that make Fiasco difficult to label and categorize, as is the fashion in today’s music industry, and instead help land him in the coveted realm of true artists.
Lupe Fiasco will perform at Wilson Hall on March 20 at 8 p.m., presented by UPB in conjunction with the Black Student Alliance and Alpha Phi Alpha. Tickets are on sale at the University Box Office for $12 with a JAC Card and $20 for public admission and purchase at the door.
