On 13th July US Artist Lupe Fiasco came to Liverpool Carling Academy as part of his UK Tour. Off the back of a stellar performance at Glastonbury he arrived to a sold out venue and showcased why so many people, like the legendary Jay-Z, consider him “a breath of fresh air” in the currently stagnant Hip Hop Scene.
With great poise and precision Lupe and his band, systematically flowed through some of his biggest tracks starting with ‘Kick Push’. The energy and charisma of the young man from Chicago had the crowd awed and quite literally hanging on his every word. The event reached fever pitch when he dropped into the Grammy winning ‘Daydreamin’ and reached a crescendo when he rolled into an extended rendition of ‘Superstar’.
Lupe more than proved that his music can, and does, cross any race and regional boundaries. This was reflected in the make up of the crowd, which was as diverse a crowd as you are likely to find anywhere! Other notably facts, other than almost flawless execution of all his lyrics, were the intangibles. His interaction with the crowd. His pacing. His energy. Further everyone surely was impressed with his awareness as, unlike many touring artists, Lupe knew exactly what City he was in, as he delivered a small tribute to Anthony Walker before comically alluding to the Liverpool-Manchester rivalry. Further kudos to the man born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco for having his 1/15th artists’, Matthew Santos and Sarah Green, supporting him on stage for most of the performance.
A great evening was capped off with Mr Fiasco leading the crowd in a united rendition of ‘Superstar’, his biggest song to date; ‘If you are what you say you are, a superstar, well have no fear, the crowd is here…” Indeed it was and Lupe was very much a superstar on that night!
Yaw
The Hap
Merseymusic
Something extra…after this no more Lupe…
