Review & Photos: Lupe Fiasco Samurai Tour in Columbus

Written By Neil Shumate, OOTB Publications

Renowned Chicago hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco brought his 20-date Samurai album tour to a packed TempleLive in Columbus last night along with Billy Blue, Cavalier, Frayne Vibez, Pat G., TDK.

Throughout the set Lu engaged fans with a high-spirited, energetic attitude complete with dances, hand motions and gestures. He awed the crowd rockin’ his red mic with clear and crisp flawless fast flows, backed and hyped by DJ Smokey.

Lu frequently interacted with the audience and from the start he took everyone back to his early days as an MC as fans sang together “Kick, Push, Kick, Push… Coast” from his 2006 album debut Food & Liquor.

Paying homage to being introduced as a rap artist in 2005, he also performed the Kanye West song he was featured on, “Touch The Sky.”

Many tracks from The Cool were performed, including: “Gold Watch,” “Hip-Hop Saved My Life,” “Superstar” and others.

The crowd smiled and swayed while singing along to the chorus of his 2023 tribute song to video games and gaming systems: “Channel No. 3.”

The remarkable lyricist also focused on his ninth album Samurai—an intense storytelling concept album inspired by a 30-second clip of a 2015 Amy Winehouse documentary on which she mentions battle raps and refers to herself as a samurai that’s ready to battle. From the summer 2024 released album, he performed “Samurai,” “Mumble Rap,” “Til Eternity” and others.

Overall, Fiasco touched on every album in his catalogue minus his Drogan era; he even performed part of popular audience-requested “Mural.”

LUPE FIASCO (click to enlarge)