Questions about Lupe Fiasco

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When was Wasalu Muhammad Jaco born and where did he grow up?

Wasalu Muhammad Jaco was born on the 16th of February 1982 and grew up on the West Side of Chicago within the Madison Terrace housing project. He was one of nine children raised by Shirley and Gregory Jaco in a household that blended discipline with chaos.

What inspired Lupe Fiasco to change his name and start his music career?

Lupe Fiasco adopted his stage name at age 19 by borrowing it from a high school friend and adding Fiasco as a reference to The Firm song Firm Fiasco. He began his music career after hearing Nas' 1996 album It Was Written, which transformed his poetry into rap.

When was the album Food & Liquor released and what themes did it explore?

Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor was released on the 19th of September 2006 and explored themes of absent parents, terrorism, and Islam. The album referenced Chicago corner stores where food represented growth and liquor represented destruction.

Why was the album Lasers delayed and when was it finally released?

The album Lasers was delayed for six months because Atlantic Records feared it lacked commercial singles and wanted to control the songs. It finally arrived on the 8th of March 2011 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.

What independent ventures did Lupe Fiasco launch after leaving major labels?

Lupe Fiasco founded 1st & 15th Entertainment and launched fashion lines including Righteous Kung-Fu and Trilly & Truly. He also released a three-part television documentary called Beat N Path and became a visiting scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

What happened during Lupe Fiasco's performance at President Obama's second inauguration?

Lupe Fiasco was removed from the stage during President Obama's second presidential inauguration on the 20th of January 2013 after performing a 30-minute version of Words I Never Said. The performance contained anti-Obama lyrics that led to his removal from the event.