*Moved to the Jefferson Theater* Vibe Fest Presents: Lupe Fiasco and Talib Kweli

This performance has moved to the Jefferson Theater. All previously purchased tickets will be valid at the new venue.

Chicago-born, Grammy Award-winning rapper Lupe Fiasco gained national attention with his 2006 album Food & Liquor, which helped cement a new wave of Chicago rappers in the national conversation. Revisit the album that put Lupe Fiasco on the map, and changed the course of Chicago hip-hop forever.

The independent rapper who parted ways with his former label, Atlantic Records, following the release of 2015’s Tetsuo & Youth, is pegged as one of the most gifted lyricists and visionaries to grace the mic.  Rising to fame in 2006 following the success of his debut album, Food & Liquor, Lupe has released six acclaimed studio albums; Drogas Light, released in 2017 on his own label, 1^st & 15^th.   These albums have netted 3 platinum singles, 3 RIAA Gold Certifications, 12 Grammy nominations and one Grammy Award in 2008 for his infectious single, “Daydreamin,” feat Jill Scott.  With a trilogy of albums set for 2018 and beyond, Lupe is at his creative peak as an artist.  Most recently, Drogas Wave released on September 21^st, 2018 via 1^st & 15^th. His efforts to propagate conscious material helped solidify him as GQ’s Man of the Year in 2006, and garnered recognition as a Henry Crown Fellow.

While musical genius and ingenuity are at the forefront of Lupe’s achievements, the artist extends his innovation to projects that aim to foster creative discourse and opportunities in underprivileged and impoverished communities.  As the co-founder and co-owner of community initiatives such as, We Are M.U.R.A.L, The Neighborhood Start-Up Fund, Society of Spoken Art, and Studio SV, Lupe Fiasco proves that he is more than just a mouthpiece for change, but a committed facilitator of intellectual community discourse and outreach.

TALIB KWELI
The Brooklyn-based MC earned his stripes as one of the most lyrically-gifted, socially aware and politically insightful rappers to emerge in the last 20 years.

“I’m a touring artist. I’m an artist that’s internationally known. I’m not just a local artist at this point in my career. I’m cognizant of the fact that what I do is beyond where it started. I’m trying to reach the apex of where I am now, but without turning my back on or dismissing what I’ve done before.”

After nearly 20 years of releasing mesmerizing music, Talib Kweli stands as one of the world’s most talented and most accomplished Hip Hop artists. Whether working with Mos Def as one-half of Black Star, partnering with producer Hi-Tek for Reflection Eternal, releasing landmark solo material or collaborating with Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Just Blaze, J Dilla, or Madlib, Kweli commands attention by delivering top-tier lyricism, crafting captivating stories and showing the ability to rhyme over virtually any type of instrumental.

In 2011, Kweli founded Javotti Media, which is self-defined as “a platform for independent thinkers and doers.” Kweli has set out to make Javotti Media (which released his 2011 album, Gutter Rainbows, and is named after his paternal grandmother) into a media powerhouse that releases music, films and books.

Jaewar & Vibe Riot is a forward-thinking and charismatic collective with an Acid Jazz sound that bridges the gaps between several musical genres. The brain-child of Creative Director and lead vocalist "JAEWAR", Vibe Riot is like a fine red Bordeaux where notes of Jazz, Reggae, Soul, and Spoken Word dance with an aroma of vintage Hip Hop and a not too sweet or tart wall of percussion and brass. Inspired by artists as diverse as The Roots, Lauryn Hill, and Yasin Bey (Mos Def), Jaewar & Vibe Riot are all about connecting with listeners through their energy and organic feel. The collective puts a particular emphasis on the live aspect of their music, mostly producing and performing their work as a unit, exploring the unique chemistry that can only come from a group of musicians performing together. Jaewar & Vibe Riot’s retro sonic aesthetics and thought-provoking lyrics are the most compelling weapons in their arsenal, alongside their verve as a live band and diverse musical palette.