i ain't no joke: Chappelle's power punch
hip hop's new daily operation | 6.12.20
Normally, I wouldn’t show you something so unrefined, I hope you understand. —Dave Chappelle
Like so many, The Motto No. 40 woke up to Dave Chappelle’s 8:46 (Netflix). Released free on YouTube and IGTV, the special is a riveting ride through the emotions Chappelle experiences in the wake of the George Floyd killing and the protests — lead by younger generations — that continue to take America to task.
I drew inspiration also from the execution of the idea — strictly the production side. Recorded Saturday June 6 in Yellow Springs, Ohio, 8:46 is the first in-person concert/comedy show in the U.S. since the pandemic hit the U.S. The 100-person crowd went through temperature checks, were seated in pairs, and the new social distancing, and face masks were mandatory. My CRWN thinking cap is on.
More sermon than punchlines, Dave’s raw routine helps solidify the case that he’s one of the all-time greats. One of the best bits finds Dave firing back at CNN anchor Don Lemon who challenged celebrities to use their platforms to speak. Dave said the streets at the time were doing the talking and he wasn’t needed. With this groundbreaking special, he proved himself wrong.
top billin’:
mood ⬇️
I can’t lie like I don’t rap about killing and dope, but I’m telling my young-ins to vote. You saw the pictures, now here’s the clip 🔽 Lil Baby bares his soul and goes deep into society ills on his new song, “The Bigger Picture” ⏬
another one we warned you about 🔽 YG’s “FTP” gets the B&W treatment — it’s intense ⬇️
Cops wanna pull me over, embarrass me / Abusin’ power / You never knew me / Thought I was arrogant. As promised, DaBaby added a new opening verse to his No. 1 song 🎤🔽
Pop Smoke’s posthumous album is pushed back to July 3. But we still have a new song — with a prison-phone guest verse from the incarcerated Rowdy Rebel.
say-something-nice challenge: Nicki looks great here ⏬
allow me to introduce myself:
Compton rapper Buddy’s 2018 collabo with ASAP Ferg “Black”(RCA) hit hard. So it’s only right, given our current climate, to go in with a sequel. Grew up in the west bumpin’ Dogg Pound and Jigga / Everybody wanna be Black / Don’t nobody wanna be a nigga / Feel like Malcolm X/ Peekin’ outside my window.
allow me to re-introduce myself:
reggae giant Buju Banton is now Roc Nation-affiliated, and this ⤵️ is the new single from his upcoming Upside Down 2020. Due June 26, it’s his first album in 10 years.
for the sport of it:
former Brooklyn Nets’ guard, Iman Shumpert guest stars and guest raps in his wife’s new video. There’s a big reveal, too: the beautiful couple have a second child on the way. Blessings!
what more can I say:
Definitely should have kept a better journal during my YN reign at XXL. I say with all humility that there are so many great moments, it’s hard to keep track. How did we get Chappelle on our cover at the height of Chappelle’s Show (Comedy Central) mania? We wanted him to be a guest editor of XXL, and I think Vanessa Satten and I just pulled up to his New York City office and asked him. He led a round table discussion with all his favorite artists.
Thank you, Dave for that moment. And thank you for today.
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a danyelliott production
Danyel Smith + Elliott Wilson