Rapper LUPE FIASCO is determined to never play up to a "gangsta image" in order to sell more records after growing up in a rough urban environment.

The 25-year-old witnessed a great deal of crime and social problems during his childhood in Chicago, Illinois - and has vowed to never exploit the situation for commercial gain.

He says, "The whole gangsta image, that ain’t nothing.

"When I was growing up, there was a crack house next door to us and they were trying to expand. My father was like, ‘Are you serious?’ He took his gun, walked next door, and said, ‘You’re done,’ while I aimed my gun out of the window.

"I was 13 or 14 and to see that, a lot of the facade and the upkeep (of trying) to impress people was eliminated very early for me."