Lupe Fiasco

Lupe and Islam Lupe is a devout Muslim and considered a leader by many Muslim youth in America. Interview with Lupe when asked about Islam and his Music: "Well, I was born Muslim, so Islam plays a part in my everything I do, to a certain extent. I'm not like the poster boy for Islam you know what I'm saying? So it's like I still got my flaws and stuff like that, so I don't really wear that on my sleeve. [But] I'm really with some underlying consciousness, no matter what it is that I can talk about -cocaine, or I can talk about carrying guns. I've been literally carrying guns since I was five, like four or five years old, simply because my father was in the military and he wanted to teach us how to shoot. I've been shooting AK's since I was as baby, you know? I don't like to glorify ignorance or nothing like that, but I know you need to – you can talk about it in certain aspects. You'll still get the people who don't listen unless you're talking about nonsense. Catch their ear, and then at the same time, teach them something, you know? It [also] plays on the extra curricular stuff that happens about, about being like a rapper and being in the music business like going to – all right, 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." When asked about why his album name was Food and Liquor, he replied: “The title reflects on me being Muslim and being from the streets... In Chicago, instead having bodegas like in New York, the majority of the corner stores are called ‘Food and Liquors.’ The store is where everything is at, whether it be the wine-o hanging by the store, or us as kids going back and forth to the store to buy something. The ‘Food’ is the good part and the ‘Liquor’ is the bad part." His album Food and Liquor begins by him saying "A'uzu billahi min ash shaitani r rajimi Bismi 'llahi 'r-rahmani 'r-rahim" which translates to "I seek refuge from Satan. In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful." This is what many Muslims say before beginning a task. Lupe then finishes the albums stating "Salamwalaikum" meaning "Peace." In one song, "Hurt Me Soul," he begins saying "Astagfirullah" meaning "I seek forgiveness from Allah." In one song, "American Terrorist," he talks about his views on Islam and how Islam is viewed in todays society. He also tries to clear up misinterpretations of 21st Century Muslims. The lyrics to "American Terrorist" can be found below. Lupe always tries to keep in touch with the Islamic community, for example saying "Eid Mubarak" to many people during the month of Ramadan. Although he lives a celebrity life, in an interview with AOL Music Sessions he had the following to say: "I've never drank alcohol a day in my life. I've never taken any form of drugs. That culture is still kinda alien to me." Fast Facts Real Name: Wasalu Muhammad Jaco Convert: No Sect: Sunni Born: February 16th, 1981 in Chicago, Illinois Career: Rapper- Soul, Real Life, Rebel Rap, & Unique Biography 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 and Liquor was set to surface during 2006, though an unfinished version leaked during the spring. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide Download Lupe Fiasco's "Muhammed Walks" - (RIGHT CLICK AND THEN CLICK SAVE TARGET AS) Size: 5MB Format: MP3 According to the lyrics this song is offered free: I ain’t tryin to profit of the prophets so this one’s for free Lyrics to "Muhammad Walks" - By Lupe Fiasco (Clip from Farenheit 911) Awootho billahee min shaytaan nirrajeeme bismillah hir Rahman neer raheem (Athaan) This is one’s for all my brothers and sisters who died in Iraq, Israel, Afghanistan and right here in America (Jesus Walks) Abraham Talked Muhammad Talked And Moses split the sea (Jesus Walk with me) I ain’t tryin to profit of the prophets so this one’s for free G’s up along with Muhammad and Jesus In the Quran they call him Isa Don’t think Osama and sadaam are is our leada We pray for peace, but the drama intrigues us All, so we fall for the illusions of the beast So instead of tryin to teach we show our teeth Saying God, different beliefs Hijabs, Sunday clothes, yamika, kufi, same mission beneath We all tryin to get to where the sufferin ends In front of the Most High bein judged for our sins Can front for the Most High, so the struggle Continues You, every bird, bird and tree, me, her and me We virtually on the same boat With the same goats, on the same sea Tryin to stay afloat, and put the devil in the yolk With a couple of God’s quotes (CHORUS) ATHAN (astaghfriullah) And to the sisters and the mothers of ours Who cover theyselves cause they’re lovers of God The Creator of the worlds, Sculptor of the stars, During Hajj we walk, through Ramadaan we starve Though you not eatin, there’s a feedin of the mind A defeatin of the demons, a seein’ of the signs A leanin on the lines from the surahs Getting purer, God deemed it unclean (There’s no eatin of the swine) Nor drinkin’ of the wine We all been to the wind, so I send out a message to my kind I’m Cordial to Mr Norfull, Mrs. Adam you’re the theme song when I’m battling* Creb flow, player whats happenin I can hear the truth in your rappins’ (No) Sex before you marry No grudges You should be carry no lyin Not supposed to be gamblin’ CHORUS ( I know it sounds familiar) We all the same man It’s all a game The devil hate each and every one of us exactly the same ( I wanna walk like Jesus, talk like jesus SAW) You know (uh) And To my Akh’s tryin to stay on their deen It gets mean especially when u stay on the scene And at the same try to stay out of trouble But don’t forget the blessing’s in the struggle The Most Forgiving will forgive it if you stay repentant And hustle You gotta stay on your salats, your zakats, your Quran To my homies and miskeen Astagfurallah, Allah forgive us all For we all are sinners Bless us to be among the winners When it ends But until then please strengthen the mission within our hearts All praise is due to God (Amen) Tellin it how it was taught me I ain’t tryin to sell it can be brought for free This is how it is Now how it ought to be Muhammad talk to me Jesus walk with me I hope…. (CHORUS) Lyrics to "American Terrorist" from Lupe Fiasco's album "Food and Liquor" Close your mind close your eyes see with your heart how do you forgive the murderer of your father? the ink of a scholar is worth a thousand times more than the blood of a martyr we came through the storm nooses on our necks and a smallpox blanket to keep us warm on a 747 on the pentagon lawn wake up the alarm clock is connected to a bomb anthrax lab on a w. virginia farm shorty aint learned to walk already heavily armed civilians and little children is especially harmed camoflouged torahs, bibles and glorious qurans the books that take you to heaven and let you meet the Lord there have become misinterpreted, reasons for warfare we read em with blind eyes i guarantee u there's more there the rich must be blind b/c they didnt see the poor there need to open up a park, just close 10 schools we dont need em can u please call the fire department they're down here marchin for freedom burn down their TV's, turn their TV's on to teach em CHORUS now the poor klu klux man c that we're all brothers not b/c things are the same b/c we lack the same color that's green, now that's mean cant burn his cross cause he cant afford the gasoline now if a muslim woman strapped with a bomb on a bus with the seconds running give you the jitters? just imagine a American-based christian orginization planning to poison water supplies to bring the second-coming quicker nig*** they aint livin properly break em off a little democracy turn their whole culture to a mockery give em coca-cola for their property give em gum, give em guns, get em young, giv em fun if they aint givin it up, then they aint gettin none and dont giv em all naw ,man, just give em some its the paper, then these cops must be al-qaeda CHORUS(2X) It's like don't give the black man food, give red man liquor red man fool, black man nig** give yellow man tool, make him railroad builda also give him pan, make him pull gold from river give black man crack, glocks to teens, give red man craps, slot machines... Now bring it back (Repeat last verse) CHORUS Links Lupe Fiasco Official Site Lupe's MySpace Discuss This Article References: Pop Artist information about Lupe Fiasco Copyright © 2006 All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved. http://www.musicremedy.com/articles/2709 http://www.allhiphop.com/features/?ID=1319 http://boards.atlanticrecords.com/artists/lupefiasco/forums/a/tpc/f/261104763/m/3001016342

Last Updated ( Friday, 19 January 2007 )