Wale and Miguel Perform 2011 Hit at Blue Note
The artists reunited for a surprise set during Wale's residency days after the song's 15th anniversary.
By Chioma Brooks ·
R&B fans in Los Angeles got a rare treat on October 17 when Miguel joined Wale on stage at Blue Note Los Angeles. The two performers shared the spotlight for a live rendition of their 2011 hit, "Lotus Flower Bomb." The surprise appearance happened during the first night of Wale's two-night engagement at the jazz club.
The timing of the reunion aligned closely with the release date of the original track. "Lotus Flower Bomb" first came out on October 11, 2011. By the time the artists performed together, the song had just reached its 15th anniversary. Wale was in town to support his 2025 album, "everything is a lot." The intimate venue setting allowed the audience to hear the collaboration in a different light than a typical arena show.
The song remains a defining track from the early 2010s. It served as the lead single for Wale's second album, "Ambition." The recording paired Wale's rap style with Miguel's melodic vocals. Commercially, the track reached number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100. It held the number one spot on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for five weeks. In 2013, the duo received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Song for the recording.
Live performances of this specific song have been infrequent since the song's initial release. The pair previously performed together on the television show "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" in 2012. They also appeared at the Landmark Music Festival in Washington, D.C., in 2015. The recent performance at Blue Note added a new entry to a short list of public appearances for this material.
Wale's residency at Blue Note Los Angeles continues following the October 17 date. The venue hosts the remaining night of the two-night engagement. The surprise guest appearance marked a distinct moment in the set list for that evening.
