Inquiringmind

*Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor*This article is part of the Food & Liquor era.Released: September 19, 2006
Label: 1st & 15th Entertainment / Atlantic RecordsCategory

## ***Inquiringmind***

### **Language**

English

***Inquiringmind*** (also known as ***INQMND***) was an online Canadian magazine primarily focusing on the growing subculture of Canada and abroad. Founded by Michael Bercasio in May 2005, it underwent a hiatus in 2010, revived in 2012, and dissolved in 2014. In 2005, they reached out to American rapper Lupe Fiasco for a write-up of his day in the life over a span of several weeks.

## Entries

### Part 1

Lupe Fiasco is one of the most anticipated artists' of late to come from the Chicago grounds. He got down on Kanye West's *Late Registration'*s "Touch the Sky" and his latest single, "Kick...Push...Coast" has the streets buzzing. With Jay Z co-executive producing his forthcoming LP, "Food & Liquor", it's a sure bet you'll hear more of the homie from the windy city.

A few weeks back I asked our homie, Lupe Fiasco, if he'd be down to do a write up for *IQMND*. We threw some ideas back and forth, the end result was dope. Over the next four weeks Lupe will share the day to day life of a rapper/fashionista at work and play and everything in between.

So it begins...

**- - - The Stussy Week - - -**

***Wednesday, October 5th, 2005.***

So Its the first day of Ramadhan...yeah I'm a struggling Muslim...the first day is probably the hardest cuz its such a break from my regular routine of early afternoon "Dunkin' Donuting" we dont break fast until like half past 6 o'clock I wanna skate but I cant cuz I'll probably collapse from dehydration...but me and the good folks at the RKF (My Other Company) are hard at work trying to finish the skate decks and Qee Vinyls for the collaboration we set-up between 1st&15th Records (My Other Other Company) and my man Dano's brand Street0404 Connoisseurs out of Singapore...We are way behind schedule and fear missing some badly needed press...the shoes Dano customized for the collabo have been up at Hypebeast.com since last month everything else was supposed to follow soon after but I had to fly off to London to perform with Kanye and things kinda went haywire...speaking of Kanye I'm still in limbo whether or not I'm going to jump on the 40 or something city "Touch The Sky Tour"...which is a whole other ball of wax...a 40 city tour smack dab in the middle of Ramadhan sounds a little menacing...but Inshallah (Godwilling in Arabic) everything will work itself out...also getting a shipment of perks in tomorrow...hahahaha...a few of the colorways of Stevie's DGK Sneakers also my girl at DC hit me up asking for my sizes so that can only mean one thing....hahaha...yeah I'm one of those guys who gets a lot of cool stuff for free...

***Thursday/Friday, October 6th/7th 2005.***

So I was in the studio last night listening to the last of the mixes on the album...I got my DGK's too I'm supposed to get two more colorways today...also my good friends at Motorola sent me one of those ROKR Phones with the iTunes in it but it wont turn on for some reason : (...I sat in on a focus group for it a while back and put my two cents in on it...did a "Phoner" with XXL Magazine yesterday too...was dope cuz the interviewer was cool...hopefully all of the decks and toys for the 1st&15th x ST0404 Collabo will be done today cuz we have to photograph everything tomorrow but it should be cool...Mike (as in Mike Shinoda from Linkin Park) sent me the final version of the record me, him & Ghostface did for his Fort Minor mixtape...dope...also a few little business hiccups occurred but everything should be cool Godwilling...Its The Third day of fasting and I'm kinda feeling sluggish but its all to the good...no real word on the tour with Kanye yet and its coming up soon so I'm trying to keep my schedule clear...Did somebody say Michael Jordan???...also my man Semtex who does radio for the BBC in London hit me and let me know my single "Kick, Push" just got added to there playlist...

***Saturday/Sunday, October 8th/9th 2005.***

So Still fasting...We spent the whole day saturday shooting the decks and toys for the ST0404 x 1st&15th Records collabo...Yessuh!...the packages are kinda sick too All praises due to the man upstairs...I've been trying to stay in the Mosque cuz at least I know I'll get my prayers in on time...there is one a few miles from my house that I used to go to when I was a shorty so I try to go back for Ramadan every year when my schedule allows...This whole Pakistan Earthquake thing coupled with everything else that has happened got me thinking the end of the world is near...I went into Uprise on Sunday just to break up the monotony for a sec and found myself being the center of attention...all the skaters are really excited about the video shoot for "Kick, Push" because its going to be shot in Chicago and have a bunch of Chi-town skaters taking part in it...we supposed to start shooting soon...Bah Humbug!...my schedule is starting to fill up fast...I was asked to come to Singapore for the last exhibition of the collabo so I gotta get prepared for that and I gotta get on somebody's tour somewhere soon...we also kicked off FNF Army my online and offline street team which Godwilling will help get the word out a little more...Also the RKF has to get started on some more projects for 1st&15th to get ready for my release...I gotta do FNF Radio (My very own college radio show) tomorrow night with Shayla G (1st&15th's first lady)...ohh and did I mention I feel a little under the weather on top of all that...and I gotta go see my momma one of these days...As we keep on truckin' baby!!!

***Monday/Tuesday, October 10th/11th***

Busy days...still in Chicago had a meeting at a radio station....got my itinerary for like the next 2 weeks or so...got crackin on the RKF design and product schedule for the next 4 or 5 months...went up in St. Alfred its like Kicks/HI but just in Chicago and hollered at them for a minute shout out to my man Henry from Supreme who works there!!!...the Mita Delta's are so sick!..went and ordered a bunch of skate decks form Uprise for the projects we got coming...The DGK Ramen Noodle deck for Marcus McBride is so sick!...did FNF Radio with Shayla G was dope even though I was so sick (haha used "so sick" three times! but if u count the last "so sick" it would make four...nope five!!!) it was also the first Podcasted FNF Radio show so that was a good look...I did a photoshoot today with Craig Bauer (a.k.a. the guy whose mixing my album) up at his studio he mixed Kanye album too...I was a lil unprepared but it was still cool its for some audio magazine or something...still fasting...trying to get my prayers in on time today I'm a little off...God Help Me!!!...found out I'll be in the December issue of Complex so I'm kinda excited bout that...just found this dope beat that I think I'm going to try to get to Jay...as in Jay-Z...I'm also thinking about taking up collecting Manga books...I wanna go see "Lord Of War" with Nick Cage too...got the studio lounge at the crib furnished today...And I had some stale Reese Sticks and salty Kifta Kababs (Lebanese Food) last night ...not a good look...And did somebody say Marriage???...1,495 MySpace friends & counting....

### Part 2

If you didn't check Lupe's first diary drop last week, you slept. Peep it before you bless this week's piece. Ready or not, Lupe's ready to steal this week's spotlight like Lupin the 3rd, check it...

Last week, Lupe took you with him as he endured his first week of Ramadan. Strugglin' to keep up, he still manages to get work done on both the musical and business sides of his hustle. Yeah, we know you're jealous of his line of skate decks. Yeah, we know you're jealous of his sneaker collabo with ST0404. Yeah we know you're jealous of freebies from DC, DGK and Motorola. Yup, that's his record label 1st and 15th takin' off. Yup, that's A Rhyming Ape scorchin' the mixtape scene. Yup, that's "Kick, Push" flowin' through your airways and soon, to a tv near you. Lupe's on his way up, and no one's even seeing him-yet. But how's Lupe's health holdin' up this week? Will it allow him to endure on a tour with Kanye that will for damn sure put him on the map nationally? Keep reading and find out...

**- - - "Lization" Week - - -**

***Wednesday/Thursday, October 12/13th, 2005.***

Hahaha....so I'm dumb sick...Your not supposed to fast when your sick so I didn't fast yesterday...I'm not fasting today either just to beat this bug I got so I can just fast all the way through the end of Ramadan...My voice is shot I sound like Darth Vader...My partner Chilly (we own 1st&15th & RKF together) wouldn't let me leave the crib so I was stuck...just eating concoctions of his own recipe to try and shake this sicky...yeah "sicky"...I tell my girl that when I'm sick so she'll feel sorry for me...Did somebody say marriage???...I got the designs for the tee's for the 1st&15thxST0404 collabo....I gave up on that ROKR phone...copped some Mita Delta's and some Reebok Pump's cuz they remind me of the Tasmania's from Japan which I'll probably never find so I just thought I'd try to fool myself...got a couple of The Hundred's tee's too and the RKF is about to press up our 1st run of tee's so in a minute I probably wont be rockin anything else...I been in some deep thought lately...Did somebody say marriage???...I still haven't went to go see my moms...I'm starting to feel bad bout that...so maybe tomorrow Inshallah...I've been having to turn down afterparty invites for the Kanye tour cuz I still dont know if I'm on it or not yet...a girl in Miami hit me up on Myspace and was like she was expecting me to come out on "Touch The Sky" but I never did...maybe becuz I wasn't there lady...I'm supposed to go to the studio tonight to listen to some new musical pieces that were added to album...It just wont end...also I found this new Chi-Town based brand called Fashion Geek that is to my liking so I'm supposed to get a few pieces tonight from one of the owners Zo...I been roaming the internet in my time of sickyness...Found a dope Mr. Jago site that had a bunch of his pieces on there...Wallpaperilization!!!....I like the whole "organic robot" thing he got going on...I want him to do a few pieces for me Inshallah...maybe a RKF Backpack collabo or something...I Google my name a lot too just to see what people are saying interesting stuff...I been zooted up on 1,000 Mg Vitamin C's from Walgreen's and OJ , Kosher Hot Dogs & Wonder Bread and microwaveable French-Fries...1,658 Myspace friends & counting...Still aint seen "Lord Of War" either...and I gots to get a haircut...

***Friday, October 14th, 2005. @ 10:18 am***

Dear Diary...hahaha...Jamirouqui new video is dope...I went to this African Dance festival preview last night..and guess who was there???...My Momma : )...she tried to give me some money...She said she was "Rollin'" and pulled out a hand fulla hundreds...My sister was there too...it was cool...some South African breakdance/rap group was there...dope culturulization!!!...Today is my girl's birthday I dont know what to do for her...Did somebody say marriage???...Back fasting Alhamdulilah!!! (Praise God In Arabic)...Got my Fashion Geek stuff...Reeeediculous!!!...sicky is almost shook...

***Friday, October 14th, 2005. @ 11:37 am***

Yo Where My Nike iD's Already???...shout to Acyde...I had to call in to the radio station WGCI here in Chicago cuz somebody wanted to verify if I was latino or not...I'm not...but I want some Taco Bell real real bad...Also I was supposed to have a photo shoot with XXL magazine tomorrow but I just learned it got pushed back which is cool cuz I had the RKF breaking they necks to do a StarBoard by tomorrow...I also thought about using this nifty little time thing from time to time so I can update a little more clearer as things happen \*Blackberry goes off in background\*...hold on......hmmmm...........aight back to it....see what I mean...Real Time Baby!!! (thats "time" four...no five times...nope Six!!!) Nike iD Futura FC's? WOW!!!...oh yeah its Jumaah today its like chuuuch for muslims but on Friday starts at like 1:30...got the sketches for the 1st run of RKF shirts...dope...and I just "fanagled" an LMAC.TV Hoodie...muhahahahaha...whaddup Messie...Singapore Rules!!!

***Friday, October 14th, 2005. @ 12:51 PM***

JUST GOT PICS OF LAST SHOE DANO DID FOR COLLABO...OH MY GOD!!!.... Made it to Jumah Alhamdulilah!...RKF had a big day business and design wise...I had a wicked headrush and almost fainted seriously...not a good look...need a rest I guess...got my car washed...did some 1st&15th biz...was in the city all day...more Reese Sticks fresh this time though...Starbucks stupifies me now...Its like a student union but you dont need a student ID to get in or be a student but you feel compelled to buy something just to validate u kicking it in the place...Its like a McDonalds not giving u the bathroom key unless u buy a small fry but completely self-imposed cuz u dont want the manager to think your freeloadin'...I was the uncoolest person to my girl...I had to take a booster shot of Coldplay...I think counseling is in order but I dont even know where to begin...growing up Muslim and still living quite secular has given me a very peculiar value system...punctually hypocritical is a fair description of it too...its like I dont be fitting in either one...I'm the Middleman...sooo not good for relationships...but I guess its my youth and lack of experience with it all too...SORRY!!!...got the developmental sketches for my album cover and a headache...fell asleep fully dressed...See N.E.R.D.'s "Provider"...\*curtains close on Friday\*

***Saturday, October 15th, 2005. @ 10:37 AM***

I'm supposed to go perform at this college homecoming later on...their school bands official song is "Kick, Push" or something like that...its supposed to be like a surprise performance...I got up feeling real "out of the box"...I stepped outside the crib to an army of oil black Crows in my driveway...\*Keenan Ivory Wayans pokes head out of bushes & says "Message!"\*...Went to go pick up my dry cleaners so I could knock that out early...I have to dry clean all my clothes because tomorrow I'll be Gone To November...no Wyclefin'...so I gotta have all my clothes prepped so I wont be searching for a place outta town..its nothing new...I gotta start packing too..man!...its a lot to do...I need an assistant...I gotta go pre-record FNF Radio tonight too...I gotta start a Pro-Activ regiment too...yup just like Puff...(I aint even gone count the "too's" its too early)...Momma just called to inform me Cornel West (My favorite nerd!!!) is speakin at the Millions More thing on C-Span right now...Fasting continues...

***Saturday, October 15th, 2005. @ 9:15 PM***

Show got cancelled...flight got pushed up so I should be in NYC tomorrow...the angriest city on Earth!!!...gotta love it...DQM here I come...I was in the middle of nowhere earlier...Le' Country...Its my refuge from the Metropolitanization...Lamb Chopilizations for dinner....mmmmm....Motorola supposed to send me another ROKR...had to do some Q-U-ality control on some RKF designs...runnin around rampant gettin ready for the flight tomorrow...came down to the studio my man Cold Hard from Crucial Conflict was there and my man Majic who has an album Godwilling comin out on Motown sometime soon...He did somework for my my album too...he dope...did a quick meet & greet with this girl group we might start working with...Did somebody say Bape Max 1's???...and did you know that to "Ape" something means to "Copy" it...learned that off Jeopardy...now u know...didnt get in till dumb late...had to get that StarBoard for the shoot...which I didnt get...no FNF Radio either...got the Mini Cooper up to 111 mph though...and thats Saturday...you will be missed

***Sunday, October 16th, 2005. @ 10:55 AM***

I have two huge bags with 2 weeks worth of clothes...1 bag is just sneakers though...I dropped my PDA in the airport in Chicago...cracked the screen...bummer...but it still works...my man Nigel from the RKF dropped off the deck at the terminal for me though...gangsta!!!...$40 Business Class Upgrades on ATA are the bee's knee's...I think some Coach Classer just crushed my hats with his bag in the overhead...I really need some showerilization right bout now...I gotta do some media training or something like that today...Brainwashilization...so I can interact with my interviewers a little more interactively I guess...I plan on rebelling...

***Sunday, October 16th 2005. A few hours later in NYC***

Hello New York...I really thought the plane was going to crash...media training was aight...business acumen was on full blast...went to my favorite pizza spot on 36th & 8th in Manhattan...got my chocolate chip cookilization on...nothing much else occured...hello Sandman...zzzzzzzzzz

***Monday, October 17th, 2005.***

Busy day...more media training...got a haircut...did a photoshoot for XXL...was up in Supreme cuz I had to get some trucks & wheels for my StarBoard...Man I love Supreme...shout out to homey that put my deck together for me...I'm mad though cuz I missed out on the red Supreme x Vans chumpy's...hit up Kid Robot too...Man I love Kid Robot...not as much as Rotofugi in Chicago but still dope...cant wait till those Munny's drop...why does it seem to me Neckface is "cheating" with his regular, plain bombs...more pizzalization...watched The Incredibles in the hotel....still dope...got up with my man Stevie Williams at this RBK party for Allen Iverson...can u you see "x" right now??...just imagine DGK x RKF...Dirty Righteous Ghetto Kung Fu Kids...hahaha...Cool Beans!!!...big ups to my man Virgil from Fort Home for holding me down on FNF Radio...still fasting...man I wanna skate...did somebody say my Nike iD's are ready???...Gotta get up early...Alhamdulilah!!!

***Tuesday, October 18th, 2005.***

Had to go to Brooklyn aka New York City Lite: A smoother bolder New York with half the carbs...for a shoot with Vibe...dope...then I went to Reed Space, for the interview I wanted to do it in 360 Toy Group but they were closed...Staple Designs is dope...very friendly...I got a shirt and free pink camo portable ash tray...went up to the record label for a music meeting and a creative meeting for my album cover...HI TOYA!!!...got my Curry Chickenilization on...got up with my brother Esco...he's a up & coming model...he kinda famous too though...more pizza...then I went and laid it down and then the Sandman sucker punched me...peace out tuesday....

## References

1. ↑ Marshall Jr., Robert (March 23, 2012). "Michael Bercasio and Greg Washington: Inquiringmind the Revival". *Hypebeast*.
2. ↑ "A Day in the Life with Lupe Fiasco!". *Hypebeast*. October 14, 2005.
3. ↑ "Guess Who's on Third? Day to Day with Lupe Fiasco Pt. 1". *Inquiringmind*. December 27, 2005. Archived from the original on November 24, 2005.
4. ↑ "Guess Who's on Third? Day to Day with Lupe Fiasco Pt. 2". *Inquiringmind*. December 27, 2005. Archived from the original on November 24, 2005.