Black Star and Dave Chappelle have been tapped to tag-team this week’s episode of Saturday Night Live.
SNL announced over the weekend that the legendary comedian will host the late-night variety show on November 12, with the duo of Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) and Talib Kweli appearing as the musical guest.
Long-time friends and collaborators, Chappelle and Black Star are renowned for their sharp cultural criticism and unfiltered political views, a main ingredient of the Midnight Miracle podcast they launched last year.
The timing of the trio’s appearance on SNL is perhaps no coincidence considering the episode will follow the 2022 midterm elections, which take place on Tuesday (November 8).
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Chappelle previously hosted the show following Donald Trump’s upset victory in the 2016 presidential election, delivering a heavy-hearted yet typically humorous speech to the nation.
That episode featured Chappelle and Black Star’s close friends, A Tribe Called Quest, as the musical guest, with Q-Tip and co. delivering a powerful rendition of their protest anthem “We the People.”
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November 12’s episode could feel like a repeat of that night, depending on how the midterms play out. As things stand, the Senate remains a toss-up, while the Republicans are poised to take control of the House, according to Politico. Democrats are, however, projected to secure major victories in the gubernatorial race.
Dave Chappelle’s upcoming SNL hosting gig comes after heavy criticism over what many deemed to be transphobic and homophobic jokes during his string of most recent Netflix specials.
The 49-year-old comic was also attacked on stage by a bisexual man armed with a replica handgun and retractable knife during a show at the Hollywood Bowl in May.
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Black Star, meanwhile, made their long-awaited return in May with the release of No Fear of Time, their first since 1998’s Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star.
The nine-track project was produced entirely by Madlib and boasted guest appearances from Black Thought and Yummy Bingham, as well as a spoken word cameo from the late pioneering music critic Greg Tate.
