Lupe Fiasco Bowing Out With Triple-Disc Set?

November 10, 2008 , 3:35 PM ET
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

Atlantic Records is declining comment on reports that rapper Lupe Fiasco will retire from music after releasing a triple disc album titled "LupEND."

Fiasco made the announcement during a Halloween show in Chicago, explaining that "END" stands for "everywhere," "nowhere" and "down here." No release date has been confirmed.

If true, the news shouldn't come as much of a surprise, considering Fiasco told Billboard as much last December. "'LupEND' -- that's going to be my last album's title," he said. "When you play a videogame, you can only put in three letters for your name and when the game's over, those three letters and 'END' pop up. My next record might be my last one."

The rapper's two albums, 2006's "Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor" and last year's high-concept "The Cool," have proven him to be one of the most exciting artists in hip-hop. Sales of "The Cool" have raced by those of the debut 549,000 to 375,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Fiasco has a handful of dates on tap before the end of the year, including Wednesday (Nov. 12) in Los Angeles.