Dave Chappelle Is Back, And His Return Is Giving Me Life

On Wednesday nights from 2003-2005, I remember barging into my sister's room sometimes unannounced and sometimes invited; but either way I was going to watch the coolest and funniest show on television. Though I was too young at the time to realize the impact that David Khari Webber Chappelle would have on my life, every Wednesday night at 10:30, which was well past the time I should have been awake as a budding 10-11 year old, I stayed up and watched Chappelle's Show with a piqued interest. The hip (hop) music, the brain of a scholar (though he didn't attend college), and an unmatched comedic energy kept me zoned in every week to see what crazy antics Dave and friends were up to.

Then abruptly, and viciously, it stopped.

I tuned in to 3 more Dave-less episodes (during the monologues, at least) that became known as "The Lost Episodes" and it felt like there was a void in my life. With all 3 episodes airing a week apart, after each airing, I felt the countdown to oblivion piercing my heart like a dagger. The man who subconsciously taught me about racial equality, schooled me on real hip hop, introducing me to legendary hip hop acts like Black Star, Common, DMX, Erykah Badu and COUNTLESS others, and made me think more than any television show I've seen while touching on issues of the world and making me laugh at the same time... was gone. And I didn't understand why.



Fast forward to 2014; Dave's hiatus is painfully reminded by sprinkles and samples of appearances on late night television and the occasional music festival (though it's better to have a little bit of Dave than none at all), but then it's reported that one of the most thought provoking and lyrical emcees to ever touch a mic, Nas is headlining NYC's Radio City Music Hall music festival hosted by... Dave Chappelle?!?! It was not a dream. The wishes of Dave's return were still not entirely fulfilled, but an event of this magnitude gave the people, me especially, hope.

And then it came. In late 2016 rumors hit of 3 (!) brand new comedy specials coming exclusively to Netflix towards the end of the year, and not seeing them drop before the close of 2016 almost made my heart sink. Why was he toying with our emotions?  Does he not know what he means to us, and comedy as a whole?!  Oh he definitely does.

Regardless on if he knows or not, I wanted to use this platform as a way of thanking Dave for coming back and giving me, and a very large number of other people, life again. Thank you for (partly) introducing me to this beautiful mess we call hip hop, and thank you for being the most brilliant, hilarious, and thought provoking mind I've ever seen. In a world where everything seems to be a mess and there's never an end to the negativity, you make fun of how ridiculous everyone acts and it makes me smile almost more than anything else can. Even though I've made that little message clear in writing before on here, I couldn't say it enough times. Now while I'm off to go cry laughing at Dave's Netflix specials again, you can enjoy a recent interview (March 21st) Dave had with Jimmy Kimmel below.


      
(*I do not own any of these videos, or the rights to them*)










 

             

Best Chappelle's Show Hip Hop Performances (Also, PSA For Dave Chappelle)

Arguably one of the most talked about and hilarious television shows of the last century, "Chappelle's Show" is still giving new comedians and actors inspiration even today (although the last episode premiered more than 10 years ago, give or take a few months). The show tackled many social issues which at the time were scary and so new to people that they were afraid to talk about some of them; except Dave Chappelle wasn't (he actually had a goal of getting canceled which is pretty funny, if you watch the first season he talks about it). But Chappelle was also a huge fan of "the hip hop music" as he says, his interest spanning from the Roots, Mos Def and Talib Kweli, and many more. So to celebrate one of my favorite shows of all time, allow me to introduce to you 5 of the best hip hop performances from "Chappelle's Show".

Snoop Dogg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0XobLIVndk

I apologize for the link to the video instead of the video itself, but Snoop Dogg's appearance on "Chappelle's Show" was nothing short of spectacular. Snoop performs "187" with Tyrone Biggums as his hype man... who better to help you with back up vocals?  He wouldn't ask for money for the help either, probably just asked for some crack (or money, to go towards crack of course). This doesn't have anything to do with the performance, but an interesting factoid about Dave and Snoop is that Snoop has came out and said that Dave actually smokes weed better than Dr. Dre. Seriously, ask Snoop. How does one smoke BETTER?  I couldn't tell you, but apparently Dave's a champ with his weed.

Big Boi

Half of Outkast also made a pretty funky appearance on "Chappelle's Show" as well. I don't know much about Big Boi besides his hits with 3 Stacks, but the song he performed on this show was exceptionally dope (song is called "The Rooster" off of Outkast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below album), and it definitely has that real musical and funk influence that Outkast was known for around this era. It's too bad they both don't see eye to eye now...

Kanye West + Common

This performance is nothing short of dope just like all the other ones, especially considering the fact that this is before Kanye West really blew up. This isn't the last time that Common and Kanye link up though, because Kanye also brings Common on stage in the movie Dave Chappelle's Block Party (ironically enough, which J. Cole made a very brief appearance in as a fan in the crowd, seriously you can find it online). In an interview last year with Jimmy Fallon, Dave had a funny story about why he knew Kanye was going to be one of the greats as well, and you can peep that here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4SYIfhzMmU.

Chappelle also had countless other hip hop performances on the show that you really don't think about how dope they were until you look back and actually realize... "damn, that was pretty dope" (not the most clever line I've thought up, bear with me). But the rest of this post I'm going to use to get my message out to Dave Chappelle; please come back to comedy. The games needs you. I NEED YOU. Your influence remains on the stand up and acting world still, and the world DEFINITELY still needs it now. Some comedians and entertainers are great, but none compare to you. Many today are afraid to say what you aren't afraid to say, and there is nobody that has the pull and the comedic ability to make even events like Ferguson somewhat laughable and enjoyable for people (which I saw you did in your stand up somebody taped on their phone and put on YouTube, go find it if you're curious, it's from 2014). Dave, you have the ability and the comedic timing the be one of the most well known and funny people who ever lived, and also make people smile in a world so full of negative, bleak world war and violence. Please consider how you make people feel. Thank you,
Geff          




















   

Hopsin Retiring From Rap?

News hit very early this morning that Hopsin has decided to quit the rap game for good and move to Australia. Now I don't know how many Hopsin fans there are out there, or how many rap fans are particularly disappointed about this, but this struck me as odd; why would a rapper in the prime of their career at only 29 years old (which may seem old in rap, but really it's practically the prime age) decide to just pull a Dave Chappelle and bounce? 

Hopsin's open letter read as follows: "I just wanted to take time out to say that I appreciate all of u who have supported my music for these past few years. A lot of u have told me stories about how I have changed your life. You too have changed mine in ways that u could never imagine. Unfortunately, tonight is the night that I am actually moving away to Australia. Over the past couple of years I have come to the conclusion that this profession just isn't for me, so I'm going to venture out into new areas of life. I will always be an MC at heart, but this rap stuff just isn't for me. I hope you guys can respect it. I've signed over my half of the funk volume label to my business partner, Dame. I also wished Swizzz, Dizzy Wright, and Jarren Benton good luck in their careers. Thank u all!  I'm out."

You have to respect his humble mindset he displays in this letter even if you don't know much about Hopsin or listen to his music, but is there more to this quick and seemingly out of the blue decision to quit?  There absolutely is. Hopsin has battled issues with the label for as long as anyone can remember, and proof of it shows in his tweets. The past couple of years he has tweeted about them a lot, saying things about the label holding back his album, not being able to put out a single, messing with his creative process, and much more.

So is Hopsin crazy for quitting?  To die hard fans, a rapper will never be able to justify quitting or retiring because they want your music, but I believe Hopsin is taking a proper stand and making a good decision. Why Hopsin doesn't just leave the label and look for a new one we'll never know, but I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of Hopsin, I see this just as a break for now. This is a prime example of the toll that the industry takes on artists physically and mentally, and whether you think Hopsin is the hero or the villain for it, this shows a truly human aspect of Hopsin that you really don't get with many other artists. Besides, even Chappelle made a return (not nearly soon enough if you ask me, but better late than never).