Who the hell is...

Lupe Fiasco?

Big up: Rappers are oft given to hyper- bole. Indeed, we hear tell of rappers holding onstage contests to see who is the best at exaggerating his own prowess. But nothing comes close to the high praise given to one Wasalu Muhammad Jaco by the mega-mogul of rap himself, Jay-Z. "He's as good as I was five years ago," declared Jigga, an assertion rivalled only by God saying that Eric Clapton "is not a bad guitarist". But who is this mystery man who merits such endorsement from the most powerful figure in rap? He's soon to be better known as Lupe Fiasco, and while his career to date hasn't been quite a fiasco, it has stalled a number of times, just when he was about to become a household name like 50 Cent or The Game. But now the Chicago rapper is here with his debut album, and expect him to do brisk business when his MC skills become apparent to the rest of the world. As good as Jay-Z? Impossible? In the world of Lupe Fiasco, nothing's impossible.

Muslim shady: Strictly speaking, Wasalu Muhammad Jaco shouldn't be rapping at all, and definitely shouldn't be hanging with the ladies and flashing the bling. You see, Jaco grew up a devout Muslim, a religion which frowns on those who indulge in rappers' delights. But he's able to reconcile his work with his worship thanks to his free-thinking parents, who made sure to open their son's eyes to other influences. His dad was an African drummer and multi-instrumentalist; mom was a gourmet chef who travelled around the world. "We were always around different cultures," recalls Lupe. "It is because of these artistic experiences that there are no limitations to what I talk about on my record."

No big deal: Lupe's first foray into the world of rap was as part of a four-piece group modelled on legendary teeny- hoppers Boyz N the Hood. The foursome signed to Epic and released a single, but were quickly dropped before they even had a chance to get hot. His next port of call was Roc-a-Fella Records, where he would meet future mentor Jay-Z. When that deal hit the rocks, Jay-Z met up with head of Arista LA and told him about this young rapper who was - gasp! - almost as good as Jay-Z himself. The executive signed Lupe but, sadly, was fired soon after, and not even the highest recommendation in rap could stop Lupe from losing his deal.

Store front: Lupe finally found a home at Atlantic and has just released his long- overdue album, Food & Liquor. "The title reflects on me being Muslim and being from the streets," he says. "In Chicago, the majority of corner stores are called 'food and liquors'. The store is where everything is at, whether it be the wino hanging by the store, or us as kids going back and forth to buy something. The 'food' is the good part and the 'liquor' is the bad part. I try to balance out both parts of me."