“In our thoughts, if I follow my heart to save myself; could I run away from 50 mill like Dave Chappelle?” ~ J. Cole [“Runaway,” Born Sinner]
David Chappelle provided me the funniest television moment of my lifetime. It happened during Season 1 of his The Chappelle Show in 2003. Dave and his crew had the genius and the GALL to lampoon R. Kelly’s sexual abuse/child pornography allegations with the parody music video “Pee on You.” Set to the tune of Kelly’s sensual “Feelin on Yo Booty,” “Pee on You” features ridiculous lyrics and visuals about all types of…bathroom activities. The video should NOT have been funny. But, goodness, it was.
And it was just one of the works of genius from Dave during the start of the 2000s. From 2001 through 2005, Dave was unquestionably the best comedian in the business, and was well on his way to becoming the best comedian of all time. Not only did we have the award-winning The Chappelle Show with some of the funniest TV skits of all time. But he was killing it with primetime comedy specials and movie appearances. But without warning, with everything going for him, Dave quit his show and disappeared from the public eye…
Around the same time, duo Outkast, with members Big Boi and Andre 3000, was FINALLY getting the critical and commercial acclaim they deserved. Their 5th album, Speakerboxx/The Love Below had sold TEN million records. The album garnered 5 Grammys, including Album of the Year, at the 2004 award show. The awards were great, but LYRICALLY, Boi and Dre will KILLING it. Andre, especially, had reached a level of lyrical supremacy that only the elite few reach. And just as his group was reaching its peak of influence and popularity, Andre 3000 began to lose interest in recording music…
Over the next decade or so both Dave and Andre would tease us with moments of brilliance. Dave would occasionally pop up on HBO Def Poetry (“F*ck Ashton Kutcher” is INCREDIBLE”) or on Oprah or on Inside the Actors Studio. Andre, though his last credited album would be the 2006 Idlewild soundtrack, would sporadically bless us with a classic feature verse. It has become a BIG deal to score an elusive Andre 3K verse for your album. Ask T.I., Frank Ocean, Jeezy, Devin the Dude, B.O.B., Rick Ross, DJ Unk, or A Tribe Called Quest if 3K still has it. Of course, Andre’s most famous guest verse is his contribution to UGK’s classic “International Players Anthem.”
And we fans would accept what we could get. Dave and Andre weren’t prolifically releasing projects but the little they did do…was guaranteed to be AWESOME. As a result, their legend did not suffer during their breaks. In fact, their legend grew.
Then, surprisingly, in 2017, Dave Chappelle returned. He signed a crazy deal with Netflix to star in multiple stand-up comedy specials. And to be honest…they were just aiight. The timing was still there. He can still tell a story like no other. But, I didn’t find him as funny. He referred to Hollywood #MeToo whistleblowers as women suffering “buyers’ remorse.” It felt too often like he was defending his fellow male superstars who are alleged abusers. He comes off bitter when knocking the success of Key and Peele in his absence. There were way too many transgender jokes. It just felt like he was stuck in 2003. And that’s when I realized Dave Chappelle was no longer Andre 3000. He is Eminem.
Eminem, like Dave and Andre, took a break from the limelight for a while. Eminem’s break, however, was to deal with personal demons related to depression and substance abuse. When Em did return with 2009’s Relapse, most of his hardcore fans (including me) were disappointed with the product. The flow was still there. The lyrical versatility was still potent. But…ehhh. For the first time, Eminem did not sound fresh. The album, and his subsequent releases feel like a lackluster retread of his old stuff. The homie is 45 years old and still spending a LOT of time rapping about his complicated family relationships, growing up white in a black space, his struggle to balance his sanity and celebrity, AND violence against women. Ten years ago, this lyric from Em’s 2013 “Shady CXVPHER” wouldn’t have phased me but now…
“But I may fight for gay rights especially if they dyke
Is more of a knockout than Janay Rice
Play nice, bitch, I’ll punch Lana Del Rey right
In the face twice like Ray Rice in broad daylight”
And too many of his verses are wrapped up in his rap answer to stadium rock–boring, half-hearted semi-inspirational rap songs mixed with pop ballads. His recent album, Revival, was packed with these types of songs. Not one MC was featured on the album. But, hey, we got appearances from Pink, Beyoncé, and Alicia Keyes!
During one scene in his recent specials, Dave brings up R. Kelly (again). He asks the audience “how young is too young to be peed on?” I did not laugh. I didn’t find it funny at all. Maybe I’m the one that has changed.
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