Fans across the country are lining up to experience IDK’s new mixtape Even the Devil Smiles live. In between tour stops, the “CLOVER” rapper snuck in another massive in-person set.
On March 6, IDK made his debut on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, delivering a striking performance of Even the Devil Smiles tracks “P.O” and “C.O.P.”
With special appearances by Grammy Award winners Black Thought and Kaytranada, IDK crafted a masterclass performance weaving in layered social, economic, and political commentary.
In a statement shared to Instagram, IDK discussed the song’s creative origins. “The piece was inspired by the 13th Amendment,” wrote IDK. “A moment remembered for ending slavery, yet written with a clause that allowed forced labor through incarceration. I worked behind bars as a teenager for less than 3 dollars a day doing things worth at least $7.25 per hour.”
He continued, “During slavery, Negro spirituals became a way to survive. Rhythm and song carried the spirit when freedom was out of reach. The same spirit lived inside prisons. Voices echoing through cell blocks. Hands striking walls to create rhythm. Music turning confinement into expression. We walked onto [The Tonight Show] stage chained together to honor that lineage.”
Watch IDK’s medley performance of “P.O” and “C.O.P” with Black Thought and Kaytranada on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon below.
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IDK’s mixtape Even the Devil Smiles (e.t.d.s) is out now. Click here to order or stream.