Dave Chappelle calls Prince's death 'the black 9/11' as he pays tribute to late musician in four-hour set

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Dave Chappelle has called Prince’s death ‘the black 9/11,’ as he paid tribute to the late pop star in a four-hour stand-up set.

The comedian dedicated his show at the Chapel in San Francisco in the early hours of Saturday to Prince as he shared his memories of the late musician, who died on Thursday at the age of 57.

‘I almost thought about not coming tonight, but my band was like, ‘Yo, Prince would definitely not condone that,’ the 42-year-old told the crowd, reported The San Francisco Chronicle.

‘And now there is no place I’d rather be.’

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Big fan: Comedian Dave Chappelle called Prince’s death ‘the black 9/11’ as he turned his stand-up show into a four-hour tribute to the late pop star in San Francisco in the early hours of Saturday

The comedian’s backup band played Nothing Compares 2 U and Kiss while the stage was lit with purple light as Dave reminisced about his memories of Prince.

He said he learned of the musician’s death after reporters called him for comment.

‘I kept wondering all day, ‘Why are they calling me?,’ he said.

‘I’ll tell you what: I didn’t know him well, but I knew him well.’

Blouses: Dave’s 2004 Prince impression was one of his most iconic sketches from Chappelle’s Show

Pancakes? The skit was based on Charlie Murphy’s story about a time Prince invited him and Eddie Murphy to hang out, then beat them at basketball and served them pancakes

Dave famously impersonated Prince in a 2004 sketch for his Chappelle’s Show. The skit showed the pop star killing it on the basketball court and then serving up pancakes to the losers after the game.

It was based on a story Charlie Murphy told about a time he and brother Eddie Murphy were invited to hang out at Prince’s house in 1985.

Prince was also a big fan of Dave’s impersonation, even using a photo of the skit for the cover of his 2014 single Breakfast Can Wait.

Meta: Prince later used a photo of Dave’s impression of him as the cover of his single Breakfast Can Wait

Purple One: Prince onstage in Inglewood, California in 1985

Dave also released at statement about Prince’s death to WCCO CBS Minnesota on Friday, calling the Little Red Corvette singer ‘a musical giant.’

‘As a city, they exported a musical giant,’ he said of Prince’s home town.

‘His admirers are a community that spans the globe. His legacy is an immense offering of music, love and laughter. And a fight for fairness to artist,’ Dave said in the statement.

‘Nothing of this world will begin to fill the void of his absence except his memory.

And he added: ‘Scientifically a memory is almost neurologically identical to an experience.

‘So remember your loved ones often. Forget their faults and remember the best of what they made you feel. In that way… all of us are immortal gifts to one another that keeps on giving.’