What Ed Sheeran, De La Soul & Naomi Campbell Did Last Night

As well as a comedian, Chappelle is a screenwriter, producer, and actor who has been in London this month playing a series of sold out date’s at Hammersmith Apollo.

He ‘likes to engage in marijuana use, but does not drink alcohol’. He even chain smoked all the way through his London shows having acquired a special licence from Hammersmith Council to be allowed to smoke onstage each night!

Just over a decade ago, Chappelle was also the star and a producer of the Michel Gondry-directed documentary Dave Chappelle’s Block Party, which chronicles him hosting a free concert in Brooklyn on September 18, 2004.

Several musical artists, including Kanye, The Roots, Erykah Badu, Mos Def, Dead Prez, and Jill Scott are featured in the movie, both performing in the concert and in conversation off-stage. He even brought Yellow Springs residents from his home town to Brooklyn at his own expense. Even to this day, people rave about and debate this film on social media.

This outing, which merged his world’s of comedy entertainment, throwing parties and music, had such a big impact on him that he started another brand called ”Juke Joint”, which merges live musicians with a party crowd in a very unique old skool jazz club vibe, bringing back real live music to the masses.

Dave threw the first Juke Joint last April in Ohio and was convinced he had witnessed the capturing of lightening in a bottle. This weekend he brought this concept to a west-London warehouse.

After his seven night sell out show in the capital, he brought members of Stevie Wonder’s touring band, and Prince’s band, (The band with no name!), as well as world renowned harp player Frederic Yonnet and legendary Hip Hop DJ D-Nice,to put on a sweaty exuberant party akin to a live musicians jamming session from yesteryear.

Hilariously, one of the first things he did as he took to the stage with the live band was to say ”now I’m going to do my favourite white people shit”, ran and leapt into the crowd and moshed just centimetres from us.

I was in shock, relieved that he hadn’t vaulted into my group of girl friend’s. Our hair bun’s, outfit’s and phone’s would have gone tit’s up, with a huge insurance claim for personal injury the next day.

Inspired by the birthplace of modern music, the deep American South’s Juke Joint, the music was a heavy mix of jazz, fusion and sprinkles of R&B.

Dave played both dj record’s and joint’s by the live band of his favourite playlist tracks from Coltrane to Nirvana as his ” Band With No Name” battled DJ D-Nice into the small hours.

Photo credit: Derrick Jones

An hour into the fun, I noticed another mosh pit and spotted little ginger Ed Sheeran in the centre of it, having come straight from his Wembley Stadium show. Next thing, Ed is pulled onstage by Dave, and proceeds to blow the crowds minds by taking us on a 20-minute journey of karaoke, skitting with the live band.

Ed had the party guests join him on call and response hit songs from a wide array of acts from Bob Marley, Snoop Dogg, Pharrell and even our very own Krept and Konan and Tinie Tempah which had the crowd baying in hysteria! (I was most impressed by his Caribbean accent and version of many bashment and reggae songs). Its official. Ed is down.

Ed Sheeran jams with Frederic Yonnet and The Band with No Name in London
Photo credit Jasmine Dotiwala

Dave’s night always attracts his peers like Naomi Campbell and Venus Williams, who were also in the house.

At one point he asked his DJ D Nice ”what’s that British shit that had the crowd at the show lit?” D Nice proceeded to throw down Lethal Bizzles POW, and the party jumped harder than before with us all singing and rewinding POW to sing it again, and again, about 16 times in all!

The roof was jumping and the floor was definitely shaking.

The following night saw much of the same but with legends De La Soul take the mic for impromptu sing-offs. What a concept!

Dave told me later ”In regards to Juke Joint: it was the idea of taking it out of the traditional venues and putting it somewhere else where it’s alive and kinetic and not so much a show but a celebration lead by virtuosos.”

The nights were HOT not just socially, but akin to a bikram studio. Clearly Dave is clued up and his ryder includes a big metal fan onstage all night, pointing upwards, to keep him cool. At one point he even picked it up and fanned us. Beyonce take note!

I’ve always admired Dave for speaking up when all around him would simply shut up and take the cheque.

Look up his 2003 / 2005 drama around his television series, Chappelle’s Show, he said that he was unhappy with the direction the show had taken and left. The ensueing drama in the media was wild.

Dave’s clearly a leader, not a follower, speaking up about discrepancies as they happen and unlike many, wont just ‘take the cheque and sell out” if it doesn’t sit well within his psyche.

Dave – Your fans globally salute you!

Written by Jasmine Dotiwala
Reprinted from Huffingtonpost.com,