Wale, Miguel perform 2011 hit
The artists reunited at a Los Angeles jazz club days after the 15th anniversary of their chart-topping collaboration.
By Tessa Cooper ·
Two R&B and hip-hop artists shared a stage in Los Angeles to perform a song from 11 years ago.
Miguel appeared as a surprise guest on October 17 at Blue Note Los Angeles. He joined Wale during the first night of a two-night performance run. The venue is an intimate jazz club in the city.
The collaboration dates back to October 11, 2011. On that date, the duo released “Lotus Flower Bomb” as the lead single from Wale’s sophomore album, Ambition. The track combined Wale’s rap delivery with Miguel’s vocals. It peaked at No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100. It held the No. 1 spot on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for five weeks. The song received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Song in 2013.
This reunion came just four days before the 15th anniversary of the single’s release. Wale was touring in support of his 2025 album, everything is a lot. The performance offered a live version of a track the artists have rarely performed together in recent years.
The pair had previously performed the song on national television and at a major music festival. In 2012, they appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. In 2015, they played the Landmark Music Festival in Washington, D.C.
The October 17 show marked the most recent time the two artists performed the track together. The performance took place in a small venue, distinct from the large festival stages where they previously played the song. Both artists were present for the full duration of the set that included the hit single.
The song remains a staple in the catalogs of both musicians. It was the first single released from Wale’s second studio album. The 2025 album tour serves as the current context for Wale’s live shows. Miguel’s appearance was not part of the original promotional schedule for the tour.
