Chocolate Droppa says he’s gunning for that No. 1 spot, with a currently-in-progress new album serving as a key part of his takeover strategy. But first, Droppa, who last year advised the immediate burning of his microphone during Kai Cenat’s AMP Freshman Cypher, has been bestowed with the honor of his very own NPR Tiny Desk Concert.
For those unfamiliar, Droppa is the playfully presented rap moniker of comedian Kevin Hart, or as the official NPR description puts it, Hart is actually the alter-ego of Droppa. Within seconds of the NPR performance, which fittingly arrived on April Fools’ Day, Droppa announced to the audience that he was “ready to eat” before briefly launching into a song. After directing his backing band to cut the beat, Droppa offered a mission statement, of sorts, that included the reasoning behind his choice of attire.
“Y’all not ready, man,” he said. “At the end of the day, I’m dressed in all black because it’s a funeral. It ain’t mine, it’s theirs. You know who I’m talking to. At the end of the day, it’s headshots. If the target fits, wear it.”
Later, Droppa asserted that his performance marked “the only time that they had somebody on Tiny Desk with no fucking track,” further stating that he was performing everything fully “off the dome.” A quick dick joke also made its way into some mid-song commentary, as did a tease for that aforementioned album.
The gravity of the moment wasn’t lost on the world, with at least one early viewer pointing out that we got a Kevin Hart Chocolate Droppa Tiny Desk Concert before the long-teased Grand Theft Auto VI.
See the full performance up top via NPR. The four-song set sees Droppa backed by Slim Wav on keys, Sharod Virtuoso on guitar, EJ MoBetta on bass, and Jordan Hemby on drums.
The surprise Droppa appearance comes amid a particularly memorable run of NPR Tiny Desk Concert performances. Among them are recent sets from Third Eye Blind, Megan Moroney, Cordae, and more.