Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, professionally known as Lupe Fiasco, is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. He rose to prominence for his cerebral lyricism and creative storytelling, with some designating him as the savior of hip-hop. He is part of SNDCLSH, Japanese Cartoon, and formerly a member of Da Pak, All City Chess Club, and Child Rebel Soldier. As of June 2024, he has released nine studio albums that met with critical reception. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the conscious hip-hop movement, Fiasco's music addresses subjects such as absent parents, gentrification, urban violence, conspicuous consumption, settler colonialism, and the African diaspora. Over the span of his career, he has been nominated for twelve Grammys, thirteen BET Hip Hop Awards, and four NAACP Image Awards. He joined the Aspen Institute's 2014 class of Henry Crown Fellows, is a recipient of the MLK Visiting Professorship Program at MIT (2022/23), and a Saybrook Associate Fellow (2023). He has been involved in philanthropic work and business ventures, including being the co-founder of M.U.R.A.L., 1st & 15th Entertainment, Studio SV, and Righteous Kung Fu. He has aspirations to win a Nobel Peace Prize. "Lupe" extends from the nickname, "Lu," borrowed from a Colombian high school friend. "Fiasco" originates from the Firm album and their song, "Firm Fiasco." He explained that he simply "liked the way it looked on paper."