“Samurai is expected to be one of Fiasco’s most intrinsic works, as he is known for his conceptualized approach in his albums.” – Forbes
“The Chicago legend’s ninth album is inspired by battle rap and Japanese culture…” – CLASH Magazine
Lupe Fiasco combines his twisty lyricism and incisive social commentary with a fire and desire to experiment that makes him one of the most exciting live performers in hip-hop. Today, Lupe offers a treat for fans new and old, delivering Lupe Fiasco x Nu Deco Ensemble Live From Miami Beach, a one-of-a-kind live album, featuring some of his most beloved music performed with the backing of a full orchestra.
On January 17th, 2026, Grammy Award-winning hip-hop icon Lupe Fiasco joined Miami’s Nu Deco Ensemble, a hybrid orchestra dedicated to reimagining a fresh vision of what an orchestra can accomplish in the 21st Century, for a special concert at Miami Bandshell. Invigorated by the backing of the 33-person full orchestra, led by conductor Jacomo Bairos, Lupe forcefully rhymes every word of career highlights like “Daydreamin’,” “Kick, Push,” and “Paris, Tokyo,” emphasizing the musicality innate to Lupe’s tongue-twisting bars. In addition, Lupe presents unique live versions of new hits, including “Samurai,” from his critically acclaimed 2024 album of the same title, and “SOS,” an outtake released for the first time on 2025’s Samurai DX. The Nu Deco version of 2015’s “Dots & Lines” (from Tetsuo & Youth) begins with a solo guitar exhibition from Aaron Lebos, while songs like “Daydreamin’” and thrilling closer “Superstar” benefit from the powerful pipes of backing vocalists Kelley Kessell and J Howard. The 9-track set is a scorcher, reaffirming Lupe’s status as one of the most proficient and electrifying live performers in hip-hop today.
The new live album continues a big year for Lupe Fiasco. The rapper celebrated the 20th anniversary of his Grammy-winning debut album, Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor with the “Lupe Fiasco Presents: Food & Liquor 20th Anniversary Tour.” The tour concluded last week with sold out shows at Pier 17 in New York City and a rare hometown show in Chicago. The new live album features brand new versions of F&L highlights “Kick, Push” and the Grammy-winning “Daydream.” Lupe recently dropped “Crash Out,” an outtake from the Food & Liquor sessions, included on the 1st & 15th compilation Chill’s Spotlight Vol. 7.
Last year, Lupe made noise with the release of Samurai DX, the deluxe edition of Lupe Fiasco’s critically acclaimed 2024 album Samurai. The new expansion features two songs from the Samurai sessions, the self-produced recent single “SOS” and the Soundtrakk-helmed “High Note,” plus remixes of original album highlights “Samurai,” “Palaces,” and “Bigfoot.” Featuring vocals by Troy Tyler, the new remixes add a fresh perspective to Lupe’s rhymes, changing up the style without sacrificing the soul. The record’s second half, and the vinyl version’s Side B, includes instrumental versions of the DX‘s five vocal tracks. In the Spring, Lupe perfomed a special performance at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he is a visiting professor teaching “Rap Theory and Practice,” in May. His MIT concert formed part of “GHOTIING MIT: Public Art,” an innovative project by the List Visual Arts Center that turns campus installations into live sonic experiences. Offstage, Lupe further cemented his academic credentials by joining the faculty of the prestigious Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University.
With his place in hip-hop history already secure, Lupe looks to hone his blade, perfecting his craft and exploring the limits of what hip-hop, and fine art, can be. Stay tuned for much more from Lupe Fiasco, and his label 1st & 15th, as the year moves along.
Stream Lupe Fiasco x Nu Deco Ensemble Live From Miami Beach HERE
Lupe Fiasco x Nu Deco Ensemble Live From Miami Beach Tracklist:
Credit: Karl Ray
Nu Deco Ensemble
Credit: Alex Markow
Please contact Michelle or Kevin for more info.
About Lupe Fiasco
With a career spanning more than two decades, Lupe Fiasco has continually redefined hip-hop’s creative limits. His 2024 album Samurai earned year-end accolades from outlets like The Needle Drop, Okayplayer, and FLOOD for its ambitious concept and razor-sharp lyricism. Building on the critical success of 2022’s Drill Music in Zion, praised by NPR, Complex, and The FADER, and many others, including Clash’s Jazmin Kylene, who wrote “Keeping us well-fed and in constant questioning, there is no doubt Lupe Fiasco is fulfilling his purpose and artistic servitude every time he obliges to step back into the dojo.” In 2023, the iconic Chicago native also settled into his position as a visiting professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he teaches “Rap Theory and Practice” and spearheaded the “GHOTIING MIT: Public Art” project. Off-stage, he leads several community initiatives, including We Are M.U.R.A.L., the Neighborhood Start-Up Fund, and Society of Spoken Art, while his single “Pound For Pound” now headlines the AAA game Undisputed. Catch him this spring, as he celebrates his debut album with the “Lupe Fiasco Presents: Food & Liquor 20th Anniversary Tour”
About Nu Deco Ensemble
Since its inception in 2015, Miami-based Nu Deco Ensemble has exploded onto the scene by captivating audiences, holistically engaging with its community, and fusing innovative, genre-bending orchestral performances and collaborations with the highest levels of musical artistry. Nu Deco is reimagining a fresh vision of what an orchestra can achieve in the 21st century. Created by Jacomo Bairos and Sam Hyken, Nu Deco Ensemble is a flexible and innovative hybrid orchestra that celebrates living and 20th century composers, reimagines traditional classical works and revered popular artists, and collaborates with a wide range of diverse musical and visual artists. The ensemble has collaborated with the likes of Jacob Collier, Kishi Bashi, PJ Morton, Masego, and Luis Fonsi, and most recently partnered with PBS and Bandshell Laboratories on Four Seasons for the Five Senses, an immersive reimagination of Vivaldi staged at the Miami Beach Bandshell.
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Nu Deco Ensemble: website | instagram | tiktok | youtube | spotify
Lupe Fiasco x Nu Deco Ensemble Live From Miami Beach: https://lupefiasco.ffm.to/livefrommiamibeach
Samurai DX: https://lupefiasco.ffm.to/samuraidx
“SOS”: https://lupefiasco.ffm.to/sos
“Palaces” (Remix): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS7Ii49ai04
Samurai: https://orcd.co/lupe-samurai
“No. 1 Headband”: https://youtu.be/-qpInC2hSSw
“Cake”: https://orcd.co/lupe-cake
“Samurai”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcoRc2ieFzE
DRILL MUSIC IN ZION: https://orcd.co/dmiz