Sean Paul ‘Dutty Rocks’ NPR’s Tiny Desk With Early Hits: Watch

Dancehall superstar Sean Paul, currently on a US tour, has finally visited the NPR offices in Washington, DC, for his long-overdue Tiny Desk concert.

The 20-minute set, released on Friday, was a blast from the early 2000s, packed with Paul’s biggest hits. He kicked things off with Gimme The Light, his first Billboard Hot 100 hit that launched him onto the international scene. Backed by a tight five-piece band and two vocalists, including Nigel Staff on keyboards, he transitioned seamlessly into Get Busy, both tracks from his Grammy-winning, triple platinum album Dutty Rock.

“You are the number one sexy ladies, Tiny Desk,” Paul told the cheering crowd of NPR staff.  “We’ve been on tour, and we just did DC last night, so I thank you for accommodating me and partying on a day like this.”

The energy stayed high as he delivered Infiltrate and Deport Them, two fan favorites from his debut album Stage One (2000).

For the Dutty Rock‘s hit I’m Still In Love With You, vocalist Kerissa Spencer filled in for the song’s featured artist, Sasha.

With a playful comment about the allure of the Tiny Desk crowd, Paul segued into Like Glue. “I walked into the office today, and there’s too much beautiful ladies in here. So, unfortunately for the rest of the world, we’re not leaving Tiny Desk again. The next time, when anybody asks you why we didn’t left, you can tell them we stick to the girl dem like glue,” he said.

Sean Paul

He closed out the set with Temperature, his third song to reach No. 1 on the Hot 100. 

“Big up everybody who love reggae and dancehall music,” Paul said. “Thank you so much for the support.”

The performance was a clear winner, according to NPR staffer Bobby Carter.

“Hearing his voice just a few feet away was an overwhelming experience, and I overheard a few NPR staffers in attendance who agreed,” Carter wrote.  “‘He sounds just like the record!’ they said, moving like nobody was watching.”

NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series is an online platform featuring stripped-down live performances by musicians at an actual desk (originally the desk of former NPR host Bob Boilen). From its niche beginnings showcasing rock and folk artists nearly 15 years ago, it has evolved into a major platform featuring a wide range of genres.

Between 2019 and 2020 alone, the series welcomed several Jamaican artists, including Koffee, BEAM, Lila Ike, Protoje, Black Uhuru, Masego, and Shaggy.

Sean Paul’s “Greatest Tour” continues on the 31st of May and the 1st of June in South San Francisco and San Diego, respectively. He then heads to Los Angeles for a show on June 2nd. After a short break, Sean Paul brings the heat back to the East Coast with a stop in Raleigh, North Carolina on June 14th.

He will join the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival on June 15th in Manchester, Tennessee, before wrapping the tour with a final show in Charlotte, North Carolina on June 16th.

Watch his Tiny Desk performance above.