Lupe Fiasco w/ Shiny Toy Guns May 9th Preview
Lupe: Welcome to San Diego!
Chicago is a typical American metropolis consumed with the hustle and bustle attitudes associated with the everyday lives of its citizens, as compared to the calm and relaxing demeanor procured by Californians. Known as the “windy city”, Chicago has created its own sense of identity and belonging with a culture enamored through the ideals of individuality and inventiveness. It also has become one of the foremost breeding grounds for musical talent, especially in the realm of hip hop.
Chicagoans pride themselves in their unwavering passion and motivation in attaining their goals. These attributes are directly related to artists who are imbedded in their work until they are satisfied with the finished product. Chicago has become home to some of the most renowned emcees that have found solace and inspiration in the very neighborhoods they grew up in. Considered as one of Chicago’s prodigal sons and a “breath of fresh air” according to Jay-Z, Lupe Fiasco has emerged as a voice of reason in turning hip hop back into a genre focused on lyricism and content.
Along with fellow hip hop heavyweights, Kanye West and Common, Lupe has placed his stamp on hip hop with a style and bravado that can be compared to Q-Tip, one of the founding members of the legendary hip hop group, A Tribe Called Quest. Lupe released his first album, Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor in 2006 with the single, “Kick, Push”. A track that centered on a love story between two skateboarders. The album was met with much fanfare and praise by both fans and critics and opened up Fiasco to the hip hop world. His second album, Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool, was released in 2007 and showed a different outlook on Lupe. It incorporated a darker side of him, which was contributed with the death of his father and legal controversy surrounding his business partner, Charles “Chilly” Patton. This was evident in tracks such as “Intruder Alert” and “Dumb It Down”.
This year has seen Lupe drop several freestyles, including “Turnt Up” and “Say Something”, which were apart of his mxitape, “Enemy of the State: A Love Story. He is slated to release his third and final album, Lasers, in mid-late May of this year. He has recently been on the road with hip hop sensation, B.o.B., on his Steppin’ Lasers tour.
USD has been fortunate enough in convincing Lupe to perform on Sunday, May 9th in the JCP Sports Auditorium with opening act, Shiny Toy Guns. If you haven’t already bought tickets for the concert, they are available at the box office for $15.
“Kick, Push” (Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor)
“Dumb It Down” (Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool)