___ drop

MIC

["Think of what a singer might hold close to their mouth when performing live—it’s not the whole device, just the part that picks up sound."]

This clue plays on the phrase "mic drop," a popular expression where someone dramatically drops a microphone after delivering a powerful line or performance. The blank suggests you're looking for the first part of that phrase, which is simply "MIC." It’s a straightforward fill-in-the-blank with a cultural reference to stage presence or a bold exit.