Lupe Fiasco's Newest Rap Album

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 & Liquor was set to surface during early 2006, though an unfinished version leaked during the spring, pushing its official release back to September instead. The album earned Fiasco three Grammy nominations. A highly conceptualized follow-up, The Cool, was released in December 2007.

In 2007, Lupe announced his next album, The Cool, a concept album acting as a sort of sequel to the song of the same name from his first album. It was released on December 18, 2007 in United States. The first single and video from the album, "Superstar," featuring Matthew Santos, was released the first week of November 2007.

Also in 2007, it was revealed that Fiasco, Kanye West, and Pharrell Williams, had formed a group known as Child Rebel Soldier. As of November 2007, no projects have been announced, with Lupe noting that the members of the group were busy with solo projects and things needed to "settle down some."

Lupe Fiasco's The Cool Album

Lupe Fiasco's The Cool, commonly referred to as simply The Cool, is the second studio album by Chicago hip hop artist Lupe Fiasco, released on December 18, 2007 in the United States. The Cool is a loose concept album, based on a song and its titular character from his debut album Food & Liquor of the same name. The album features production from Soundtrakk, Unkle, and Patrick Stump, among others. Guest appearances include, but are not limited to, GemStones, Snoop Dogg, and Matthew Santos. The album debuted at #15, moved a spot up to #14 on the Billboard 200 in its second week.

The album debuted at number fifteen on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 143,407 copies in its first week. Although the album did have higher first week domestic sales than his debut effort Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor did, it failed to chart as high. In its second week, the album jumped one spot to number fourteen, selling 54,398 copies. In its third week, the album fell three spots to number seventeen, selling 30,782 copies. In its fourth, the album fell six spots to number twenty three, selling 20,498 copies. In its fifth week, it fell three spots to number twenty six, selling 18,526 copies. In its sixth week, it fell three spots to number twenty nine, selling 17,928 copies. In its seventh week, it fell fifteen spots to number forty four, selling 15,841 copies. In its eighth week, it fell thirteen spots to number fifty seven, selling 14,767 copies. The album has sold 316,819 copies in the US so far.

Lupe Fiasco's The Cool CD

Track listing

1. Baba Says Cool For Thought
2. Free Chilly - (with Sarah Green/Gemstones)
3. Go Go Gadget Flow
4. Coolest, The
5. Superstar - (with Matthew Santos)
6. Paris, Tokyo
7. Hi-Definition - (with Snoop Dogg/Pooh Bear)
8. Gold Watch
9. Hip-Hop Saved My Life - (with Nikki Jean)
10. Intruder Alert - (with Sarah Green)
11. Streets On Fire
12. Little Weapon - (with Nikki Jean/Bishop G)
13. Gotta Eat
14. Dumb It Down - (with Gemstones/Graham Burris)
15. Hello/Goodbye (Uncool) - (with UNKLE)
16. Die, The - (with Gemstones)
17. Put You On Game
18. Fighters - (with Matthew Santos)
19. Go Baby - (with Gemstones)