NPR Music is celebrating Black Music Month with an array of name new Tiny Desk live shows. Collectively, these artists signify the previous, current and way forward for Black music. This month of fastidiously curated exhibits is a celebration of Black artists expressing themselves in methods we have by no means seen earlier than, and of the Tiny Desk’s distinctive means of showcasing that expertise.
“WTF is a Tiny Desk and no!” are the phrases that led to one of the publicized journeys any musician has taken to get to NPR headquarters. That was Juvenile‘s response to Twitter person @theylovemyke’s request for him to play a Tiny Desk live performance again in April. His response ignited Black Twitter, launching a barrage of tweets and reposts of favourite performances on the Desk, as followers implored the “T.C. soldier” to rethink. His viral reconsideration led to some DMs, which led to some telephone calls, and the date was set. Juve, like some rappers in his class, had by no means heard of our little nook in Washington, D.C., however he quickly discovered.
The strain to ship was palpable within the planning levels however because the band was assembled, my expectations had been exceeded. Tiny Desk alumni and New Orleans natives Trombone Shorty and Alvin Ford had been introduced into the fold. One other Tiny Desk vet from New Orleans, Jon Batiste, flew in from London simply to be part of the set. Juvenile sourced The Amours from proper right here in D.C. to deal with background vocals, together with string gamers from the Louisiana Philharmonic for the grand finale. The architect of the Juvenile/Money Cash Data sound, DJ Mannie Contemporary, turned the glue that pieced all of it collectively. The end result was one of the rambunctious experiences on the Desk. The Sizzling Boy coasted by means of highlights from a decades-long, groundbreaking profession, concluding with a efficiency of “Again That Azz Up,” so exuberant that the viewers demanded an encore and the band obliged. A Tiny Desk first.
SET LIST
- “Intro (feat. Mannie Contemporary)”
- “400 Degreez (feat. Mannie Contemporary)”
- “Bling Bling (feat. Mannie Contemporary)”
- “Ha”
- “Set It Off”
- “Sluggish Movement”
- “Rodeo (feat. The Amours)”
- “I Want A Sizzling Lady (feat. Mannie Contemporary)”
- “Venture Bitch (feat. Mannie Contemporary)”
- “Again That Azz Up (feat. Mannie Contemporary)”
MUSICIANS
- Juvenile: vocals
- Mannie Contemporary: vocals, results, keys
- Alvin Ford: music director/drums
- Josh Connelly: guitar
- DJ Raymond: bass
- Brandon Butler: keys
- BK Jackson: saxophone
- Trombone Shorty: trombone
- Kevin Woods: trumpet
- Jon Batiste: melodica
- Jakiya Ayanna: vocals
- Shaina Aisha: vocals
- Hannah Yim: violin
- Jake Fowler: cello
TINY DESK TEAM
- Producer: Bobby Carter
- Director/Editor: Joshua Bryant
- Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin
- Artistic Director: Bob Boilen
- Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Kara Body, Maia Stern, Sofia Seidel, Michael Zamora
- Audio Assistant: Kwesi Lee
- Manufacturing Assistant: Ashley Pointer
- Tiny Desk Workforce: Suraya Mohamed, Hazel Cills
- Photographer: Catie Boring
- VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
- Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann
