NEW YORK, NY (Top40 Charts/ Atlantic Records) An iTunes Pass for 1st & 15th / Atlantic recording artist Lupe Fiasco's widely anticipated new album, "LASERS," is available on iTunes starting today at this link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lasers-itunes-pass/id418501270. The iTunes Pass gives fans the exclusive opportunity to pre-order the album and receive a series of pre-release tracks from the Grammy Award-winning superstar's pending third album weeks before its official release on March 8th, 2011.
Beginning today, fans purchasing the "LASERS" iTunes Pass will immediately receive the album's first two singles - "The Show Goes On" and "Words I Never Said (Feat. Skylar Grey)" - as well as "Never Forget You (Feat. John Legend)." In the three weeks leading up to the album's release, fans with the iTunes Pass will receive one new track from "LASER" each week including "All Black Everything" (February 22nd), and "Outta My Head (Feat. Trey Songz)," and "Coming Up" (March 1st ). And on the album's March 8th release date fans with iTunes Pass will receive the "LASERS" Deluxe Version plus two music videos and two bonus tracks.
"LASERS" is the eagerly awaited follow-up to Lupe's blockbuster second album, "LUPE FIASCO'S THE COOL," which debuted on Billboard's "Top Rap Albums" chart at No 1 upon its December 2007 release, and remained in the peak position for nine weeks. Fueled by the platinum certified hit single, "Superstar (Feat. Matthew Santos)," the highly praised collection went on to receive gold certification by the RIAA for sales exceeding 500,000.
The Chicago-based MC is without question one of the most compelling and creative artists of the modern era, offering a rare combination of complex, thought-provoking lyricism coupled with sure-fire beats. Lupe first made himself known with his featured appearance on Kanye West's hit single, "Touch The Sky," followed by his own anthemic hit single, "Kick, Push." As a result, his debut album, "LUPE FIASCO'S FOOD & LIQUOR," exploded onto Billboard's "Top Rap Albums" chart at No 1 upon its September 2006 release, while also entering the Billboard 200 at No 8.
The multi-talented rapper soon proved to be the year's biggest hip-hop breakthrough, garnering a trio of Grammy Award nominations, including "Best Rap Album," "Best Rap Song," and "Best Rap Solo Performance." Other honors included his being named as GQ's 2006 "Breakout Man of the Year" and one of Rolling Stone's "10 Artists To Watch 2006." In February 2008, Lupe took home his first-ever Grammy Award, scoring the "Best Urban/Alternative Performance" trophy for the smash single, "Daydreamin' (Feat. Jill Scott)."
"LUPE FIASCO'S THE COOL" found the rapper following up on his breakthrough debut by kicking and pushing against the boundaries of modern hip-hip. Loosely structured as a multi-character concept album detailing the "damaging influences" and "corrupt allure" of post-millennial Urban America, the set spawned colossal hit singles in "Hip-Hop Saved My Life (Feat. Nikki Jean)," "Paris, Tokyo," and the aforementioned "Superstar (Feat. Matthew Santos)."
Along with its RIAA gold certification, "LUPE FIASCO'S THE COOL" was honored with a quartet of 2009 Grammy Award nods, including "Best Rap Album," "Best Rap Song," "Best Rap/Sung Collaboration," and "Best Rap Solo Performance." The album also drew unanimous critical acclaim, coming in at No 10 on Entertainment Weekly's "The Best" list for 2007 - no mean feat considering the album was released with just two weeks left in the year. The album "recalls (Kanye) West's pop versatility and positive flair," EW declared, adding "Fiasco seems ready to join his former mentors in the big leagues." The New York Times was equally effusive, calling "LUPE FIASCO'S THE COOL" "one of the year's best hip-hop albums." USA Today awarded the album four stars, praising it as "a 19-track gem that showcases (Fiasco's) intricate wordplay on everything from the rap industry and celebrity life to gun-toting youth and sexual violence."
Lupe has been an active presence on the road, headlining multiple tours while also supporting such like-minded artists as his longtime friend and associate Kanye West. In addition, he has appeared at a number of leading festivals, including the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, and his hometown's own Lollapalooza and North Coast Music Festival.
Furthermore, Lupe has also made a variety of high-profile TV appearances, including sensational live shots on CBS' Late Show with David Letterman, CBS' Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live, NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly, NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno, PBS' Tavis Smiley, MTV's TRL, BET's Spring Bling, and the syndicated Ellen DeGeneres Show.
As if all that weren't enough, Lupe has also found time to make featured appearances on a wide range of recent tracks, spanning such artists as B.o.B, Bruno Mars, Janelle Monáe, Chris Brown, and Diggy Simmons.
For up-to-the-minute news and additional information, please visit www.lupefiasco.com.
