Lupe Fiasco: "I have the right to speak out"

"SOLZHENITSYN PUT IT VERY QUAINTLY," says Lupe Fiasco. "Basically, there's a duality in everything — there's two sides to every story. Sometimes they complement each other, and sometimes they conflict." Exploring and exploding contradictions is second nature to Wasalu Muhammad Jaco — and while it's unusual to come across a pop star citing Soviet dissident authors, it's the sort of thing the 29-year-old's fans have come to expect. A relatively late convert to rap who dismissed it as sexist rubbish and preferred jazz as a kid; a devout Muslim who writes lyrics saying Palestinians have pushed moderate Israelis too far; a black Chicago native very much on the political left who refused to shake Barack Obama's hand on the night he was elected president — Lupe Fiasco knows duality better than most.