LUPE FIASCO Performs His Debut 2006 Album ‘Food & Liquor’ at Downtown LA’s The Novo!

In September 2006, the Chicago-based rapper Lupe Fiasco released his debut album, “Food & Liquor.” It received four Grammy Award nominations, including Grammy Award for Best Rap Album at the 49th Grammy Awards. “Daydreamin’,” featuring Jill Scott, won Best Urban/Alternative Song at the 50th Grammy Awards.  The album features production from The Neptunes, Kanye West, Mike Shinoda, Craig Kallman, Prolyfic, Needlz, Soundtrakk and Brandon Howard. Jay-Z, Chill, and Fiasco himself are credited as the executive producers for the album.

Photo Credit- @visionaryphototeam

This past weekend, on Saturday (February 23rd), Fiasco celebrated this 12-time Grammy Award Nominee collection with his first and only concert in downtown Los Angeles at The Novo located in the heart of LA LIVE.

From beginning to end, Fiasco was happy and energetic on stage. Supported by a full stellar band, the rapper performed every song on “Food & Liquor.” His band included two incredible back-up singers, several guitarists, two drummers, a pianist, several violinists, a couple trumpeters and more. Together, they all brought the album to life and accurately re-created what everyone heard the first time they heard all of the songs on “Food & Liquor.”

To everyone’s delight, Lupe Fiasco shared a few thoughts about many of the songs before starting the track.

Before getting into his hit “Kick, Push,” he mentioned how much the song changed his life and he asked the crowd to remember the first time they heard it. He jokingly added that many of the audience probably wasn’t even born yet! The humor didn’t stop there, before performing “I Gotcha,” Lupe shared how much producer Pharrell charged to work with him on that song.

“Pharrell charged me so much money but this one joint alone is worth its weight in gold.”

For “Pressure,” the rapper welcomed the 13-year-old Compton rapper, C Bleu to freestyle in place of Jay-Z’s verse.

The sold-out audience sang along to every song and had their phones up taking pictures and filming during their favorite tracks. “He Say She Say” and “Daydreamin” got the entire venue swaying together and shouting along with Fiasco.

As the concert was wrapping up, the rapper explained to the crowd, “So much of [‘Food & Liquor’] was done before I came into being a man, so sorry if it sounds a little adolescent. I had two choices: I could have gone into the streets or made a song about skateboarding, but here I am.”

The night truly showed what a timeless album “Food & Liquor” is and how it continues to be loved by fans all these years later.

Connect with Lupe Fiasco Here-  Website