This Is How Dave Chappelle Honored Prince's Memory

In 2004, Dave Chappelle donned a purple ruffled blouse, some eyeliner, and became intwined with Prince for the next decade. Even long after Chappelle's beloved show had ended, he revived his version of Prince for the actual Purple One's 2013 single "Breakfast Can Wait." And this week, as the world grieved Prince's tragic death at the age of 57, it was only natural to think back to Chappelle's Prince sketch with Charlie Murphy. "This is black 9/11," Chappelle told an audience Friday during a four-hour Prince tribute show in San Francisco. "I almost thought about not coming tonight, but my band was like, 'Yo, Prince would definitely not condone that." 

Chappelle bathed the room in purple light, and told stories about Prince as his band played the artist's greatest songs. He also revealed that he learned of The Purple One's death via media inquiries. As Rolling Stone reports:

"I kept wondering all day, 'Why are they calling me?,' Chappelle said of the media inquiries. "I'll tell you what: I didn't know him well, but I knew him well." The comedian added of the mood following Prince's death, "This is black 9/11." He noted, however, "It's so much better that we grieve together."

"I kept wondering all day, 'Why are they calling me?,' Chappelle said of the media inquiries. "I'll tell you what: I didn't know him well, but I knew him well." The comedian added of the mood following Prince's death, "This is black 9/11." He noted, however, "It's so much better that we grieve together."

And if it wasn't obvious from Chappelle's 2013 appearance with the "Breakfast Can Wait" single, Prince actually loved the impersonation, as Chappelle show castmember Donnell Rawlings told The Hollywood Reporter. But not quite enough to actually be in the sketch.

"Dave wanted Prince to be in the sketch, and he asked him about it, and Prince told Dave, 'Yeah, nah.'" Rawlings said. "And that's true to Prince's fashion with dialogue. You'll probably never hear of Prince talking more than three sentences."

The second greatest Prince impression is most certainly Fred Armisen's.