Lupe Fiasco – 10 Rappers With Roots in Chicago

Although Lupe Fiasco is one of the big-name spitters to come out of the Windy City, he wasn't always a fan of hip-hop. When he was in elementary school, he thought the genre was too vulgar. However, things did change after he started rapping his own poetry in the eighth grade.

Developing his material in his family's basement, Fiasco turned his back on gangsta rap, which is a common style that is prevalent in certain parts of the city, and joined up with Jay-Z to work on his sound.

Fiasco has been known for his conscious hip-hop and put himself on the map by releasing a remixed version of Kanye West's 'Diamonds from Sierra Leone' called 'Conflict Diamonds.' He has released four albums and is gearing up to drop his fifth LP, 'Tetsuo & Youth,' at some point this year.

Watch Lupe Fiasco's 'Conflict Diamonds' Video