Too $hort: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

NPR Music's Tiny Desk series will celebrate Black History Month with Tiny Desk (home) concerts featuring legends in the world of R&B, jazz, gospel, and hip-hop. Each artist in this legacy lineup has helped to define Black music as we know it and will be performing a Tiny Desk concert for the first time.
LaTesha Harris | February 17, 2022
In his Tiny Desk (home) concert, Too $hort asks: "How many artists you know that got relevant records in five decades?" The Oakland rapper answers by performing seven songs from his own discography, showcasing his extensive (yet still underrated) contributions to the growth of hip-hop on the West Coast. The expedition opens on a quiet, reflective note with a performance of $hort's influential 1990 single "The Ghetto" before roaring to life with 1988's "Life Is... Too $hort." From his spot in downtown LA, BoomBox Studios, $hort delivers a dynamic, funk-laden performance, seamlessly cycling through scenes of women-chasing debauchery and politically-minded meditation.
Of course, Too $hort's set list shows off the development of his sound, but it also underscores hip-hop's evolution from a socially polarizing genre to a touchstone of cultural capital. Combined with an enthralling presence of persona, $hort's jaw-dropping lyrics and minimal delivery influenced West Coast peers, like Snoop Dogg and Lil B, and beyond, like Lil Jon and UGK; his career, one of moving cassettes with local independent success to moving multiple platinum albums with national acclaim, established the Bay Area as a credible rapping hotspot, pushing the boundaries of hip-hop. Too $hort honors this history by shouting out his many collaborators over the years and sharing his legacy as a hip-hop titan with a spirited group of musicians - notably Curtis Crump Jr. and Techdizzle who steal the show with, respectively, their sax and drum work on "Gettin' It" and "Blow The Whistle." It's a monumental moment for the Tiny Desk, and for those wondering, there's more than enough of Too $hort's favorite word to celebrate with.
SET LIST
"The Ghetto"
"Life Is ...Too $hort"
"Gettin' It"
"Blow the Whistle"
"Ain't My Girlfriend"
"Big Sexy Thang"
"Big Subwoofer"
MUSICIANS
Too $hort: vocals
Robert L. Mitchell "Techdizzle": music director / drums
Curtis Crump Jr.: keys
Frank Abraham: bass
Ash Jangda: guitar
Maurice Smith: vocals
CREDITS
Recording Engineer: Migui Maloles
Monitor Engineer: Mateo Rodriguez
Mixing Engineer: Zach "Ekzakt" Perry
Directed By: Patrick "Embryo" Tapu
Camera Operator: Bryan Ramos and Robert Teegarden
Editor: Bryan Ramos
Coloring: Bryan Ramos
Gaffer: Mike Nelli
Grip: Jeremy Kemp
TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Abby O'Neill
Video Producer: Joshua Bryant
Audio Mastering: Josh Rogosin
Tiny Production Team: Bobby Carter, Kara Frame, Maia Stern, Ashley Pointer, Sofie Hernandez-Simeonidis
Executive Producer: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann
#too$hort #tooshort #nprmusic #tinydesk #bhmxnprmusic

[@nprmusic]

Hey Tiny Desk Fans, Check out NPR’s Black Stories, Black Truths - a collection of podcasts hosted by journalists who speak truth to power. Our voices are as varied, nuanced, and dynamic as the Black experience. And stories should never be about us without us. Listen now: www.npr.org/podcasts/510372/black-stories-black-truths

[@TopKnoxMedia]

Love you Mr. Too Short Sir!!!

[@SHAREEFAHG]

Need to get ELZHI FROM THE SLUM .anyone that dilla rocked with should be allowed..I'm just saying.

[@redowlowl1375]

I Totally Agree One Love ❤

[@theinfamouspokeinrichmondc3543]

Whoever locked in this ICON and Legend needs a raise. NPR yall out did yallselves with this one. Now lets get DJ Quik on here!!!!

[@datnippadaz]

Dj Quik next please!

[@jamesbronz]

Quik would break the NPR internet.

[@manyplanets]

Yessss

[@dantedivitto1113]

We on the same page! I love me some DJ Quik.

[@bokardithetaomicron4932]

Yes I have asked for Quik as well!!!!!!!

[@texasgirlmomx2342]

Those of us over 40 ARE JAMMING!!! THIS MAN survived hip hop's wildest era. All due respect to a LIVING LEGEND 💯. Tiny desk ALWAYS comes through. 😍❤😍

[@genog5791]

Super Facts!

[@philliphuigen1282]

Been bumping Short since 1986. It was tapes back then, remember that?

[@texasgirlmomx2342]

@@philliphuigen1282 yep and having to dub your friend's tape using 2 boom boxes bc your parent wouldn't let u buy it🥰😂

[@philliphuigen1282]

@@texasgirlmomx2342 Yes they didn't play alot of the music on the radio then, so the only way you got to hear it was if some one gave you a dubbed/mixtape or a bootleg copy. Under 40 probably don't even know what a bootleg is anymore.

[@camshaflober3691]

Hey now some of us 31 or 32 aren’t lost like the rest and hung out with older folks lol

[@dorotibse]

The Tiny Desk we didn’t know we needed.

[@kelleyrogers8107]

Truth✌🏼👊🏻

[@mztremias]

Facts

[@latariusross4593]

Right!!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@kudabigshot4768]

Hating is a disease

[@TCSTL378]

💯 Absolutely

[@samuelmackey7081]

Too Short had homie up front working. Two keyboards, a sax, AND a whistle.

[@pdyoung7835]

😆😆😅😅😊😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣

[@genielove9067]

And a bassist and guitarist - top notch performance 👌🏽 representing the bay nonstop

[@jeffreyhyder2429]

Plenty of rappers have copied his style, but there is only one Too $hort. 🐐🐐🐐

[@e2dwf976]

This performance was clean and amazing 👏👏🤙🤙🙂🙂🙂

[@teamjack69]

I have been here all five decades bumping Too Short! Dude is a living legend! 💿💯🏆

[@milesjohnson5487]

Remember when his teeth were rotting out of his mouth ?

[@randolphstephenson8026]

Yes sirrrr🙏 Real Hip Hop

[@MARS-qm9qt]

@@milesjohnson5487they call you yuckmouth , you refuse to brush 😂

[@JungleMotoTours]

Nancy knows about teeth

[@silascrawford6377]

First El DeBarge, now Too Short. That Tiny Desk don't miss!

[@trladams78]

YESSSS🙋🏽💐💐💐💐💜

[@sheshe30341]

Ikr!

[@cohneh104fifita7]

cuz they understand music🔥🔥

[@QueenBthatsMe777]

At. ALL!

[@genog5791]

Facts!!!

[@christophersmith3005]

You _know_ that a rap lyric is old (classic) when it mentions a beeper!!

[@marcusmiles5145]

Now if they get DJ Quik on Tiny Desk....🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@miaajamuzic]

Yep!❤❤❤❤

[@dawnchanetcollins]

🤯❤❤❤❤❤

[@PHONICIANFIRE]

Let's do that

[@FolkenXD]

oh yes oh yes !

[@tlwalker8751]

That would be incredible 🔥🔥🔥

[@KrysKrys34]

I was born in ‘85, and I’m just now realizing this man was part of the soundtrack to my life 🔥🔥🔥🔥💜💜💜💜💜

[@shawndouglas843]

2 $hort is 2 Real!!!

[@SlickDanger]

Same year...but I knew!!! lol

[@EatDrinkBeMerry]

‘79 here - Too Short was my male role model growing up. He’s the reason I had game with the ladies. Kids these days can’t talk/hook up with girls. They need someone guiding them like I had.

[@abepost-hyatt5850]

Homie playing keys AND blowing the whistle is a legend for this

[@fivepointeightnate]

The whistle was a stage, keyboard was doing the work if you watch closely.

[@Betrayer-iv6fc]

Exactly

[@boogiemanjoe4905]

And sax!

[@rissa0604]

Along with short he's the star!

[@solodome1802]

Too short has always been fan of live instrumental music like funkadelic/parliament, James Brown George Clinton etc. He always fought for these older bands to get paid from rappers using their samples.

[@Moezilla75]

The saxophone on Gettin' It was so COLD!!! Band sounds great.

[@SoloMartes]

Yasssssssss

[@JonathanThompson1320]

Around 7 minutes!

[@anthonyherrera3878]

Ice cold ❄❄

[@naomifolkerts4999]

So cold it gave me goosebumps!

[@chuckque6234]

Yes, Ole boy went to the keys after that!

[@natashadurham43]

Too Short and his padres are on point . Definitely in my top 5 . Maybe E-40 next ? 🤔 Suga Free...would be dope.

[@Ricoknows]

D.J. Quik is the only answer…need an icon from the CPT.

[@cesheph]

Loving rap music with live instruments 🔥🔥🔥

[@RobynonYouTube]

It’s The way!

[@darlenemeans7896]

Me tooooooooo!!! Yessss!

[@bartobuilt2601]

SO GOOD!!!

[@jfc4798]

Hip hop not rap.

[@PlaAwa]

@@jfc4798 not really

[@dallascorpio]

Great session brothers. Great choice tonight. Oakland, CA talent on Huey P Newtons birthday.

[@mustafahajj]

Rip to the late Comrade Huey P. Newton. Chitown Hampton Town love and respect to all the soldiers and freedom fighters✊🏽

[@kenyanoxygen5801]

That 18 minutes was too short!!!

[@YahsLoveisEnough]

He's outlasted them all. Dope house band and vocals

[@StraitTalkMedia]

Only Too Short can sit down while rapping and still be banging

[@brandonlfob]

Good point…well and 2Chainz whole tour when he was injured…think of any others?

[@MALCOLMxDAILY]

Just like Scarface

[@necihines8042]

NPR has been booking PURE LEGENDS these past few weeks!! I'm here for it!!

[@kevinbauckman1648]

Crazy! His voice hasn't changed in years. Still great!

[@DefSquadFan]

It's completely changed.

[@raycashmilwaukee]

@@DefSquadFan not at all

[@DefSquadFan]

@@raycashmilwaukee He sounds hoarse and he rapping in a different pitch.

[@CASADELSOULVIDMIXTV]

My parents were appalled I was listening to stuff like this growing up and now it's all the way live on NPR. Generational youth culture is wild lol 🙏💜

[@datricepowell]

Man I came for Short Dawg and stayed for the Band them guys was on point 😊

[@kade_kam_dad]

Legend in the game. I've been a fan since 1986. Been buying every single album. This dude just cant stop rappin. One in a million.

[@stevena.simmons3203]

Whoever books the rap acts @ tiny desk is like, the one cool person at NPR 😂

[@bartobuilt2601]

NO JOKE!!!

[@j.r.stringer5852]

Agree!!

[@crieverytim]

Dude so many cool acts go through NPR that aren't rap.

[@stevena.simmons3203]

@@crieverytim please share examples?

[@bonniea8189]

@@stevena.simmons3203 Full concert of The Arcs

[@ericrrdz]

Even after all these years, he's still not phoning it in. One of the best Tiny Desks I've seen in a while if only because he did more than 2-3 songs...he don't stop rappin'

[@chappahx]

That bass is heavy, sitting there in the pocket! Great musicians.

[@CrappyProducts]

Such good tone

[@chappahx]

@Rap Fan Businessman you'd do well!

[@itsjustmeweiss]

That's what I'm hearing first too

[@TheLoveday51]

The bass kept nudging at my soul all through.

[@biggieshorty]

Nah he didn't quite get that bassline in The Ghetto... The way it was enhanced in the sample is what made that song a hit. He did all that jazz mess instead of just doing what was supposed to be done...

[@kevinbrown8497]

OMG this is exactly what I was looking for. Listening to Too Short for over 2 decades. “Break out the instruments and stay away from the samples”! Brother is living by his words.

[@jeramietate8345]

He is 4 decades in

[@jeramietate8345]

He said it. I been down for all 5 decades

[@ExTriv]

I didn't know that I needed this in my life this morning. 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@apr3126]

Born to Mack!!!! Go way back with this legend, much love Too $hort

[@amandafeliciano542]

Backup vocals Maurice Killin it!!!

[@MotownTrucker]

LOVE when hip hop artist use live instruments it takes the records to another level!!!

[@MargaretEllen]

If I had hit the button harder I would have broke the screen. 🙌🏾

[@juanzamarripa3133]

And I would’ve bought you a new 📱!

[@MissCalLowe]

I agree 100%😂🤎

[@MissCalLowe]

@@juanzamarripa3133 👍🏽😆

[@leroythomas4967]

Live band takes the rap game to a entirely different level. With an Icon like Too Short, live music takes it over the top, for sure. Nice!

[@marcussimmons6944]

Yes Indeed

[@theoriginalpip9493]

The lead guitar...

[@apollian4003]

Rap Music Forever!!!

[@jaredgarrison333]

Yes

[@awrebyawe]

If you aren't using headphones or a banging system for tiny desk what you even doing here??? Bass killing it in this one

[@theoriginalpip9493]

That bass though!!!

[@Ssmustang302]

Too Short needs to do a tour with a live Band!

[@Monsoon888]

This is is so fantastic. Love live band Hip-hop...

[@awrebyawe]

It's so dope right? Wish hip hop artists did more stuff in this format, concerts and gigs. I guess it doesn't really lend itself to getting hype and jumping around though

[@AVG336]

Shout out to the musicians. Especially the guy playing keys, saxophone AND blowing the whistle! Amazing!

[@MikaeIe90]

No they did not 😂 WHAT’S MY FAVORITE WOORD?!!

[@yungdelcastro]

Ok! Short do the thang main!!! Going in on every song!’ The band is definitely on point, background singer dope, fell in with everything! Thanks 🙏🏿 NPR! That ain’t mi girlfriend that’s just my B!tch!!!

[@douglasmanito22]

We luv Too Short. A Hip Hop Legend! Greetings from Brazil to Oaktown!

[@jamesbronz]

Beautiful band along with one of our greatest hip-hop legends (Too Short). Thanks NPR for holding us down during Covid.....and now this. We will always love you for that. 💯

[@marksaguindel1903]

Liking the band with Short! The concept of a group creating live music live still lives on. (Leave your machines at home)

[@marlonwilson9861]

Dude on the vocals is killing it!

[@The_One_Cosmos]

Dude on the vocals bro? Thats Sir Too Short comin straight from Oakland!

[@KLartrandM]

​@@The_One_Cosmos lol i think he is referring to the dude singing. Not Short dawg 🤦🏿‍♂️

[@vusumuzij.shabangu5655]

Same feeling here 🙏🏽👊🏽🙌🏽🎤🎤🎤

[@FreeKey14you]

Dude can't sing to me

[@RonBluu]

I clicked on it so fast lol

[@anitabullard6939]

I exactly did the same thing!!!🤗

[@cesheph]

Factz came right here

[@sparklelee5948]

Me tooooo!!!!

[@CC-cu1nm]

Me too and literally SCREAMED.

[@ExTriv]

Me too!

[@jazzymoni7750]

Thank you for representing the Yay Area! Oakland, San Francisco, Richmond, Vallejo love our Too Short! The live music set is everything. YESSIR! Hella dope! 🔥🔥🔥

[@Wakeup2CakeUpat8am]

Daly City East Palo Alto San Jose

[@miaajamuzic]

TOO $HORT!!!! Yesss$s The band went CRAZY🔥🔥🔥🔥 Loved it!!!

[@QueenBthatsMe777]

Yes, they did🔥🔥🔥

[@m.l.7367]

Give the drummer some!

[@abdelmoures4258]

J'ecoute Too short depuis mes 20 ans...jen ai bientot 50!! Toujours ce son dans ma BMW e30 avec ma poupée en virée 😉

[@twaniaparker8092]

One of my favorite artists he reinvents his self every single decade and make HITS 💯❤❤❤❤

[@vbbb808]

I was in high school jamming too short on cassette ... Am almost 50 and still jamming too short. .. kudos to this legend

[@kaydeedavis3371]

Me too went to his Concert in Kansas City (my first concert) and was was up close and personal me and about 3 of my homegirls such good memories!

[@diggabledork]

This was extremely dope. Thanks to the band for making this sound so live.

[@alexusrhone]

The production quality on this set is a BEAST!!!🔥🔥🔥

[@patmando1]

NPR always amazes me. This is fire 🔥

[@coolreem]

Im east coast, but for real.... Too Short was holding down the west coast and many east coast dudes including myself likes him. He needs his props. This guy was hammering the rap game back in the day!

[@marcusmiles5145]

Come on!!! Uncle Todd from the Town is on NPR Tiny Desk!!!! Yes lawd

[@Camille4Real]

Okay NPR, let's get DJ Quik and Sugafree next pleeeaaaasssseee!

[@aperez5360]

Well, this wasn't something I expected to see in my subs today. Nice!

[@tctc1500]

The vocalist! Too Short! The band!! Amazing

[@JerJam]

NO FREAKY TAILS?? Blasphemy!! (joking) "These are the tales, the freaky tales, These are the tales that I tell so welllllll!!" (mic reverb MAXED!!) 🔥🔥🔥

[@moniquenichols7124]

That woulda been too much for some of these folks 😫🤣🙌🏾

[@jaymonster125]

NPR was not ready...

[@Dragostrange]

Foothill Bus number 43

[@moniquenichols7124]

@@Dragostrange all the way in the back she was workin' me. Had my big beatbox and I was jammin' the beat🙌🏾

[@lilpsee13]

He was one of the Rap artist that I wasn't allowed to listen to. In the 80s my music was censured by my mother. 🤔 So I became an instant fan! For life ❤️💕🌹

[@IshieBooBoo]

Too Short is one of the first rappers i remember from my childhood. This mane a pioneer MC!!!

[@KrAOLo]

I still have all the tapes, of the albums pre 1995. Too $hort will always be one of my GOATs.

[@mustafahajj]

Speak on it👏🏽👏🏽👏🏼 I'm with you!

[@jblaze600]

Legendary story telling

[@TheAtjackson]

It’s a groovy, p-poppin, singing every word type of Thursday morning! Thanks NPR!!!!! Ayyyyeeee 🔥 💃🏾

[@gls0076]

Thank you for showing up unapologetically, $HORT! This was too smooth! Nothing but straight musicianship, no auto tune!

[@Rsuma84]

The background singer on fireeee!!🔥🔥 who is this ?

[@Jamilah1117]

Listed in description box.

[@minicoop605]

I'm sitting here getting my pedicure and forgot where I was at watching this just boppin in the chair🤣 💜

[@CioraDinky]

🤣🤣🤣🙈

[@jammie6870]

Didn't know I needed this so bad today. Thank you, Too $hort!! 🔥🔥🔥

[@kimberlykilpatrick4352]

Just one question. What human is responsible for this? They make great decisions. Just need to know who to vote for in the next election!!!

[@supune]

Rap music with full complete sentences is dope! And the musicians got in tune with the funk. I think the old heads like Short still need to have conversations about misogyny in the industry. I'm glad they can't just try to hide it like in other in other parts of the entertainment industry. The set design with the speakers was cool. I like that he started with the Ghetto and Life is... I wish he did Paystyle off of Cocktails but figured he'd go with Gettin' It

[@aarontatham5533]

Never knew of him before this but mate does it hit different! Instant fan... Greetings from the UK 🇬🇧

[@marvinbennett8384]

Bro you've been deprived lol

[@TheeJoieDeVivreGarden]

@@marvinbennett8384 Facts! 😂💜💯

[@a11drewp]

No way!! Could you imagine growing up never knowing Too $hort!

[@lajuanajacko4237]

Child abuse!! 😂😂

[@aarontatham5533]

@@lajuanajacko4237 "Child?" Fam I'm an adult what you on about 😂😂😂😂

[@HoodWiki]

This is the first time I wished I could like a video more than once. Short is in his element

[@henrytawnn8694]

Make more accounts.

[@Anttweezy]

Was never the biggest short dog fan but respect must be given as well as credit when it’s due. Homie is still as sharp as ever in my personal opinion and he is certainly cemented in the game. Much love to the brother too short and that freaky tales joint still goes nuts

[@brendaljackson2020]

Love the live music with Too $hort.🔥 this is classic. Love it.

[@Numbahz]

This was unexpected on tiny desk and I think we couldn't be any happier.

[@bayareaknight4814]

Too $hort with the Bay Area musical classics.

[@dancers10]

I don’t know if he realizes how fast life is moving... These songs seems like they were released yesterday!

[@Xxballin17xX]

Short looks like a thick Dave Chappelle 😂

[@BossQueen]

Lol nice try dave couldnt compare💯

[@amandafeliciano542]

He do tho 🤣🤣🤣

[@WiiNV]

​@@BossQueen Pity Dave got on Tiny Desk before $hort 🤣

[@wowthatscrazypodcast5095]

Too short killed it! The band killed it! The dude on vocals was incredible!

[@やまだたるる]

2022年にThe Ghettoをこんなにカッコいいアレンジと演奏で聴けるなんて！いつ聴いても名曲(クラシック)！

[@nprmusic]

How do you love rap when rap doesn’t love you back? From Rico Nasty’s harassment from toxic Carti fans, to Saucy Santana's unapologetically femme aesthetics in a queerphobic industry, to the assault case that put Megan Thee Stallion’s entire image on trial, each episode of Louder Than A Riot - the second season of our investigative hip-hop podcast - unpacks the unspoken rules of rap that hold the entire culture back. Tap in to our first episode at n.pr/louder-season-2.

[@ChargersCity]

🙏🙏Blessings forever GOD loves y'all too forever tell everyone you know and don't know. Jesus loves y'all too forever. Teach everyone how to see and enjoy their blessings too forever

[@stevendowdell4684]

Npr should get LL. Cool J and Run-Dmc. Mc,Shan,Master Ace,Dela Soul,Canibus,Ice Cube,Snoop,Royce,Eminem ,Melle Mel

[@iraazela]

This is a beautiful piece of live art. Much appreciation

[@ogtothe3rddegree290]

Why am I just finding this in 2024? 🔥

[@HONEYBANKS]

Wish I had a mufu whistle righhhhtttt now at 10AM on a Thursday ‼️😌

[@willnzsurf]

👌😹

[@tlwalker8751]

Wholly Cow! Too Short is a complete Legend!! This performance is classic…thank you, NPR!

[@more2it85]

Legendary! NPR, now yall on another level. Ageless music and he's still relevant!

[@mustafaa965]

We NEED Mary J Blidge here at the Tiny Desk....Just a suggestion.

[@lifeofsabinadiane4339]

This one my favorite NPR concert, I have watched dozens of times!!!

[@Nay2324]

Gettin’ it! ✨ classic!

[@cynthiajohnson9311]

My FAVORITE Too Short song!

[@AragornAndy]

How does he rock so hard without getting off the desk

[@sbc_4738]

That guitar though!! So fine

[@khrissi17]

This was PERFECT!!!! The singer and band did their thing as well. ❤️ Reminds me of my childhood..well the first 2 songs did 😆

[@sharonallison9273]

Congratulations SHORT on staying Too Black and Too Strong! Thank you for the times you would roll thru the Crest and come to the house and make us so proud! Thank you for being that "friend" to my family! I am always gonna love you!❤🖤💚💋

[@waynechapman9029]

I WAS LIVING IN OAKLAND WHEN HE GOT STARTED.SHOUT OUT TO THE 707💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@BossQueen]

Lololol I just said to my fiance "too short is not at tiny desk!!!" This is so cool, the band ans everything welcome to D.C.!😎🎶🎵🎧🎹🎤💞

[@TheLoveday51]

The basist stayed 100. Deep grooves. Fantastic performance.

[@RCPlaneReviewer]

@ 10:35 that gets nice and grungy lol love it!!! THATS THAT TOO $HORT ISHT!!!! Ayeeeeee

[@bernadettemack1036]

Please don’t sleep on what he is rapping about

[@lynwilson9259]

Great job Tiny Desk!!!

[@bdat]

Tiny Desk never ceases to amaze me with their hand on the pulse of the culture🤟🏾This a Bay Area legend right here, even my Pops was bumpin this

[@PrinceAmir206]

💯💯💯💯💯💯