Lupe Fiasco to Perform Conscious Hip-Hop at Fonda Theatre

Jordan Bailey

Conscious hip-hop is defined by meaningful lyrics that touch on contemporary social issues like racial injustices and inequality, human rights, philosophy and politics. Lupe Fiasco is one of the proliferators of conscious hip-hop, and an MC that helped bring evocative conversations to the forefront of the entertainment industry.

Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, otherwise known as Lupe Fiasco, is a native of Chicago, a city that has since become a breeding ground for up-and-coming MCs. But back in 2006 a young Jaco released his debut album Lupe Fiasco’s Food and Liquor with production assistance from Jay-Z and Kanye West. The album featured the single “Kick, Push,” which sent Jaco to the head of the hip-hop class. The track tapped into the widespread skateboarding scene at the time, one that was more or less separate from hip-hop at that point. The melding of these two youth cultures managed to broaden Jaco’s fanbase, sending his album to critical acclaim, prompting three Grammy nominations, four BET Award nominations and a number eight spot on the Billboard 200 list. The Cool was his sophomore effort from the following year and featured another hit track, “Paris, Tokyo,” which showcased Jaco’s flawlessly layered lyrics about his experiences travelling abroad.

Despite the success of Lupe Fiasco, during a Jan. 2015 interview, Jaco revealed that it was time for him to step down from the podium of public view. He mentioned his most recent album, Tetsuo & Youth, released in January of 2015 would be his last with longtime label Atlantic Records and the beginning of his “transition” away from the spotlight. Though in his mind it may be time to step down and watch his successors take the throne, there are still plenty of hip-hop fans who remember those special moments in the mid-2000s. Thankfully, next month will see Lupe Fiasco take the stage once more in Los Angeles to remind us what conscious hip-hop is all about.

Lupe Fiasco will play Fonda Theatre on Jan. 18. Click here for ticket information.