Uprising
How Keith Lee Plans to Continue Eating
Keith Lee runs a booming business and draws 20,000 fans to his festival. But the food critic’s greatest satisfaction comes from instilling values in his children. With a new MACRO-produced docuseries, Keith Lee: All in the Familee (Tubi), Lee shows how he wins as a family man.
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UpRising: You've talked about your first festival, FamiLee Day, as something that grew out of your food tours. How did the idea come into focus and fruition?
Keith Lee: We started getting invited to food festivals and concerts, [including] one called Family Style, which is hosted by Complex. Then we got invited to Lovers & Friends festival, where we were able to invite 10 small businesses from Las Vegas that highlighted the [local] food scene. It got canceled right before. So that put the battery in our backs to learn about festivals on the back channels. Last year, we got the opportunity to host our very first festival with Complex in New York. Over 30,000 people showed up. That was like, okay, this is something we’re gonna do [independently]. We did our own [in May], and over 20,000 people showed up.
It must have given you a lot of confidence to see that success while working with Complex.
It was false confidence. It seems easy, but it was one of the hardest things I've ever done in business. But it was very rewarding.
What motivated you to capture that journey in your Tubi series, Keith Lee: All in the Familee?
There were core ideas we had going into the festival. One of them was a show that runs concurrently with the festival itself, to [show] the behind-the-scenes process and funnel people who want to see that into the festival. I really wanted it to be a way to see the [food] spots we picked, buy tickets, and come try the food. That was the idea behind it. Shout out to MACRO—I sat down with MACRO three weeks before we did Cannes [Film Festival], where we met the president of Live Nation. That's where the conversation really started. God willing, it came to fruition.
How did you land on New Orleans as the inaugural host city for FamiLee Day?
That was the very first place we went to on a food tour. I always switch between them and Chicago—1A and 1B—as far as food cities in the United States. And they have some of the best festivals already, with Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest. It was one of the hardest places because they do festivals and have a long history of what festivals look like. So if you do anything outside of that, it can [be off-putting]. But we were up for the challenge, and I'm happy we did it there.
What were some of the biggest lessons you learned from putting on this first festival?
The logistical issues were the hardest. There are so many moving pieces, stuff you don't even think will become an issue. It was just learning curves. Next year, I want to focus on education, because a lot of these small businesses have never done festivals on this scale. What does that process look like to set up? How can you cut prices or costs? I want to bring in people who have experience to facilitate that information.
What were you most proud of accomplishing with the festival?
One of the biggest things was safety. People really gave grace and had the mindset of having fun, which I can never be more thankful for. There were over 20,000 people there—Black families, kids, grandmas. To have us come together, have fun, listen to music, dance, and eat food, it really felt like an extended family reunion. That’s really hard to bring strangers together and make them feel like family.
What do you think will be different when you bring FamiLee Day to Chicago next year?
There might be a lot more people. Chicago is culturally rich. People show up and show out. I can't wait for people who've never had Chicago food. There aren’t many cities where people would literally fly there to eat. Chicago is one of those places.
Do you see Keith Lee: All in the Familee as a one-off project or the start of more on-screen projects?
I'll give you an exclusive. I can't say what it is, but we have something else coming with Tubi. I see it as the beginning of something. I'm excited to dive into a bunch of opportunities and just be limitless.
What was it about Tubi that appealed to you?
My mind always worked in the advancement of Black and brown people. Tubi is a platform where we are all there, and people can watch things for free. Accessibility is one of the biggest things that we've always hit on. It's not a character that I'm putting on; this is really how I live my life. My mind works the same in every aspect. So to have something that people can tap into, and it doesn't have a paywall barrier, that was one of the biggest factors for me. Eventually, we will go into a space where there is a paywall, and the people who want to watch us will, God willing, still come and watch us. But for the very first one, we wanted to go somewhere that was the most accessible and that looked like us.
There’s a funny moment from the second episode of All in the Familee where someone on social media curiously commented that they “love your music.” You obviously don’t make music.
My wife just said that yesterday. She said I was about to drop a mixtape. [Laughs]
Have you ever considered actually dabbling?
No. I would love to be on an intro of a Chance the Rapper or Rod Wave or Kirk Franklin song. Chance is my favorite rapper. He just came out with a new song; we could do a music video together that leads into the Chicago festival. That'd be dope. But as far as me making music? Absolutely not.
One of the highest compliments you could receive in the social media space is "We made the right person famous." What does it mean to you when you see people say that about you?
I'm gonna give you something again that I don't tell a lot of people. I don't pay attention to the good or the bad. Because again, when you allow people to tell you who you are, then you have to live with that, regardless of whether it's bad or good. I’m honored that people look at me in that way, but that does nothing for me. I have these conversations daily with my daughters. My oldest daughter walks in the house and tells me I'm famous and rich. And I have to sit her down and tell her I'm Keith and I'm dad. And that's the most important, because as long as you are what you discern and what you deem as a good human being, that's the only thing that matters. And if you believe in Jesus Christ, you get to live with him at the end. Those are the biggest things that matter to me. When I look in the mirror, I'm just Keith. I just be minding my business and chillin'.
—John Kennedy
Tap into Keith Lee: All in the Familee, on Tubi. Episodes three and four are now available for streaming.
Summer Jam
A five-song guide to the tracks you won’t be able to escape during the warm months.
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“Janice STFU,” Drake
This Lykke Li-sampling standout from Iceman has likely been stuck in your head since the album dropped last month. Drake boasts ("MRI machine scannin' my knee / Like how long you been runnin' the streets") and jabs at rivals with grade-A bars, but that syrupy hook is what makes this an addictive jam we’ll be singing along to until the leaves begin to change colors.
“Spend Dat,” Yung Miami
This ode to scammers has ridiculous sing-along value—and it’s only growing in popularity. Whether you’re blowing money fast or frugally, you’re sure to hear this one out in the wild all summer long.
“Ever Since U Left Me (I Went Deaf),” French Montana and Max B
If there’s one thing French Montana is gonna do, it’s flip an iconic sample in a whole new way. He and rhyme partner Max B revive KC and the Sunshine Band’s 1975 classic “That's the Way (I Like It)” for this bona fide hit that already has several remixes: West Coast, Bronx, Egyptian, and a special Knicks edition.
“Shabang,” Drake
Drake is back in his bag with a second summer anthem contender, a song that has already captivated the pop charts and TikTok in equal measure. It’s Drizzy at the hitmaking (and meme-making) peak of his powers.
“Pop Dat Thang,” Dababy
Controversies may have caused Dababy’s meteoric rise to take a hit around the top of this decade, but he’s back with one of his most undeniable anthems in years, thanks in part to a Miami bass-influenced hook and beat that recalls the days when Ghost Town DJs ruled radio. The remix with GloRilla, Yung Miami, and YKNIECE only makes it that much more potent.
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Bonus: “Waiting,” by Durand Bernarr. This one is still warming up, but the Big Sean collaboration is exactly what you’ll wanna hear at a dance party.
[TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT]
I’m hyperaware of my position, who I am, and what I am to young men… I know what it’s like to struggle as a young man and try to stay on the right track and make f**ked-up decisions and do things that are f**ked-up and pay the price, get arrested.
There’s a masculinity crisis in America, but this Hollywood superstar is doing his part to support his fans through social media interaction. Tap into this long read cover story to see who it is and get a whiff of what’s going on in his life, from acting to a rumored run for public office.
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[LET'S LINK]
“The Whole of New York Is Stressed Right Now”: How Knicks Finals Fever Reached Rikers Island [The Guardian]
Raising Kanan Star London Brown Is Treading the Tightrope of Aspiration and Emotion [Vibe]
“You’d Be Perfect for This!” Inside the Devious Casting Scam Sweeping Hollywood [The Hollywood Reporter]
All of Drake’s No. 1 Singles, Ranked From Worst to Best [Okayplayer]
From Pitch to Pavement: How Soccer Sneakers Became a Staple of Black Diaspora Style [Esquire]
Thirty Years After Olympic Gold, Dominique Dawes Is Still Changing Gymnastics [Capital B]
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[OUTRO]
Take This Audio Doggie Bag With You
“Tampa,” The-Dream Feat. Usher
The-Dream’s late 2000’s R&B run was special. He’s tapping back into that energy with his upcoming album, Love/Hate II, a sequel to his 2007 classic debut. For this one, he links with another legend from the A: the one and only Usher. Get into this R&B heater.
