Lupe Fiasco, born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, was born in Chicago, where he saw and experienced more by the time he hit middle school than most people see in a lifetime. As a result, the city plays a role in his lyrics, outlook and attitudes.

The rapper described his childhood as one that was enlightening, if terrifying on the outside. "I grew up in the hood around prostitutes, drug dealers, killers and gangbangers, but I also grew up juxtaposed: On the doorknob outside of our apartment, there was blood from some guy who got shot; but inside, there was National Geographic magazines and encyclopedias and a little library bookshelf situation," he told Entertainment Weekly. "And we didn't have cable, so we didn't have the luxury of having our brains washed by MTV. We watched public television -- cooking shows and stuff like that."

Lupe, who adopted his stage name in high school, still seeks to educate and raise questions through his rhymes, like his feminist rap 'B---- Bad,' and has remained socially and politically active in the Occupy Wall Street movement and by discouraging fans from voting in presidential elections... especially for his fellow hometown boy, Barack Obama.

Watch the Lupe Fiasco 'Words I Never Said' Video Feat. Skylar Grey

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