Bang Time Arts

Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco, is by far one of the most underrated rappers and producers at the moment. He is one of very few rappers these days who are actually rapping for a purpose.

Born and raised in Chicago, he generated an interest in Hip-Hop after originally disliking the genre for its vulgarity. He started recording songs in his father's basement and joined an underground group called Da Pak but disbanded shortly after its inception.

Fiasco soon met fellow rapper Jay-Z, who helped him sign a deal with Atlantic Records. In 2006, Fiasco released his debut album Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor on the label and it received commercial and critical acclaim. He then released his second album, Lupe Fiasco's The Cool, in December of 2007. His single 'Superstar' became a hit and peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. His upcoming third studio album, Lasers, is slated for a March 8 release.

Lupe Fiasco has a certain knack for creating lyrical masterpieces that have a meaning behind them that's relevant to today's social and political issues. This is another reason why I, and many others, think he is so underrated. His rhymes are so damn catchy and his flow is so smooth.

Hopefully with the release of his new album, Lasers, he will also gain the respect and stardom that I think he deserves and get him up there with the likes of Kanye West and such.

Tell us what you think. Do you think Lupe is one of the most underrated rappers out there? Or do you think he has been given his fair share of fame?

Keep it banging.

Luke.