NPR Music is celebrating Black Music Month with an array of brand name new Tiny Desk concert events. Collectively, these artists symbolize the previous, current and way forward for Black music. This month of rigorously 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 manner 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 consumer @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 a couple DMs, which led to a couple cellphone 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 phases however because the band was assembled, my expectations have been exceeded. Tiny Desk alumni and New Orleans natives Trombone Shorty and Alvin Ford have 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 Information sound, DJ Mannie Contemporary, grew to become the glue that pieced all of it collectively. The end result was one of the rambunctious experiences on the Desk. The Scorching 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”
• “Gradual Movement”
• “Rodeo (feat. The Amours)”
• “I Want A Scorching Lady (feat. Mannie Contemporary)”
• “Undertaking 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 Group: Suraya Mohamed, Hazel Cills
• Photographer: Catie Uninteresting
• VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
• Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann