Video: Dave Chappelle Gives Advice For 'Important Times' At Chance The Rapper's Youth Open-Mic Series
By Stephen Gossett in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 31, 2017 4:28PM
Photo: Joshua Roberts
Chicago hip-hop favorite (and best living rapper of 2016, don't you know?) Chance the Rapper brought out a big-gun guest for his bi-monthly open mic series at Harold Washington Library. Dave Chappelle made a surprise appearance on Monday at Chance's excellent high-schoolers-only program, addressing the young crowd about art and politics. Also on Monday's stacked bill: Bulls guard and fan favorite Jimmy Butler.
As Pitchfork noted, Chappelle and Chance were both among the many celebs who attended Obama's farewell party in Washington D.C. earlier this month.
No surprise, the standup-comedy great doesn't shy away from the tumult of the day in a couple of clips that circulated online. Chappelle addresses a young student from Tunisia who expresses anxiety about anti-immigration policies in America. He also urges the young crowd to stay vigilant as artists in the face of political injustice.
"You see who our president is." Chappelle said. "Gotta tell him what it feels like. These are important times."
Dave Chappell is here https://t.co/0FcJ8zt5gF
— €K (@seanck) January 31, 2017
Thank you @DaveChappelle for the wise words and @chancetherapper for creating such an amazing event. Best Monday night ever. #openmike pic.twitter.com/JshOniCFXv
— its dahlia (@SarcasticDahl) January 31, 2017
You never know what to expect @OpenMikeChicago! Thank you to all of our special guests that came out last night. You all are an inspiration. pic.twitter.com/is5WUGRw7s
— SocialWorks, Inc. (@SocialWorks_Chi) January 31, 2017