As the weekend festivities surrounding the Global Citizen Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa got into full swing on Saturday night, Dave Chappelle kept the party going until the wee hours. The legendary comedian stayed on the mic and kept the crowd at club Car Fax captivated for hours, but it wasn’t for one of his must-see stand-up shows. The entertainment icon hosted the “Dave Chappelle Pop Up Jam Session,” and celebrities such as Jay-Z, Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry popped in and out of the experience. Ed Sherman briefly sang, but the party was mostly about Dave and his crew, Frederick Yonnet and the Band With No Name.
“South Africa, you guys are outstanding host,” Chappelle said around 3am. “Shout out to me, muthaf***n Dave Chappelle. I’m not just a comedian, I’m a muthaf***n movement.”
Not only did the band play a litany of classics, such as Tupac and Dr. Dre’s “California Love” and Slick Rick’s “Mona Lisa,” Chappelle himself sang and rapped some of the tunes. And while he he may never give Johnny Gill a run for his money, this was not Chappelle’s stab at being a serious vocalist. This was more like what you and your friends do at party when your favorite jam comes on: loud, proud and possibly just a bit off-key.
“Strumming my pain with his fingers,” Dave sang, inspiring the crowd to join in. “Singing my life with his words./ Killing me softly with his song./Killing me softly with his song./Telling my whole life with his words./ Killing me softly with his song.”
Later Dave and the band brought in some Otis Redding with “Try A Little Tenderness.”
“You know she's waiting,” Dave and the audience sang. “Just anticipating./
For things that she'll never, never, never, never possess, yeah yeah./But while she's there waiting, without them./ Try a little tenderness.”
When the famous baseline from Dennis Edwards’ “Don’t Look Any Further” came on, Chappelle started spitting Rakim’s lyrics from “Paid in Full” which samples the beat.
“Thinkin of a master plan,” Dave rapped, “cause ain't nuthin but sweat inside my hand./So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent./So I dig deeper but still comin up with lint./So I start my mission- leave my residence./Thinkin how could I get some dead presidents.”
One of the spectators yelled up to stage and asked Dave where the afterparty was. The famed funny man replied “I’m going to bed, n***a.” He later told the gathering that the it was “Special for African Americans to be in South Africa” before heading to the bar.
The Global Citizen Festival took place yesterday at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg with extra joy as a celebration of Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday. Jay-Z and Beyonce headlined, with Usher, Pharrell Williams, Chris Martin and Wiz Kid also on the star studded bill. Stay tuned for LiveXLive.com for more coverage of this beautiful event.