I’m not slighting Dave Chappelle, you obviously don’t like Eminem and that’s more than fine. I’m not really into defending the guy in 2008, but here’s a little more. I’m not a fan of Eminem’s music per se, but I respect his writing ability and talent. I don’t feel he relied solely on shock humor to get where he’s at, same with Chappelle - I’d much rather attend the latter’s stand-up (and have) than an Eminem concert though. Eminem’s manipulation of media coverage and fans’ expectations, and knowing exactly where his career should go at any given moment to get the most press/buzz during his popularity’s peak was nearly an art in itself. He knows what he’s doing, and you can’t chalk his success off to a Tiger Beat explosion. The guy is not the Insane Clown Posse as you imply (nor Korn, blech), and 8 Mile was good for what it was. The vitriolic music video he made right before the last presidential election, taking Bush to task for Iraq and general hypocrisy was also intelligent and great sans any fart jokes, and it shared a feeling of genuine outrage that was similar to the heated political commentary in Chappelle’s Show.

Like I said, I think the comparison is adequate. They shared similar levels of massive success/press in a similar time period, they share similar humor, similar fan bases, similar stances on politics/race, similar overblown/self-made controversy, similar popularity, similar self-imposed exits from the spotlight, similar speculation about their mental states. I’m not insulting anyone. Blah blah. If you feel Eminem is a “circus clown,” it’s okay with me Captain Awesome.

But the difference between when Chappelle does it compared to Eminem. Chappelle has a great underlying social design to his racial and even crude humor. It’s not just for being “edgy’s” sake or to ruffle feathers for that weeks “flavor of the month” like low-hanging fruit-pickers Carlos Mencia or Dane Cook.

If you listen to Chappelle’s stand-up from his first 30 minute aired act from SF to “For What’s It’s Worth” to even his shows material. It’s not just slap-sticky dumb shit, there’s an actual great genius behind it. At the very least he’s got a knack for showing the social aspects of what his humor does and represents. You seem to be faulting Chapelle for his popularity due to the ran-into-the-ground catchphrases his show produced. Which isn’t fair to him, since people are single-minded that way. I got tired of hearing every lil’ Jon line and other one-liners he did create.

But to corner him into such a small description like that and compare him to that circus clown Eminem? You’re not only insulting the guy, you’re cutting him severely short.

You might as well say Black Sabbath and Korn are a lot alike.

Eminem and Dave Chappelle hit huge creative peaks in their respective fields incredibly fast, the likes of which we hadn’t seen in quite a while (or since). They pissed off many of the same PC pundits while gaining many of the same fans (college kids, teens, hip hop fans, stoners, Entertainment Weekly writers). They’re both outsiders, and while they often collaborate with a handpicked group of people/artists, they tend to crave/eat up the spotlight alone.

Both are fond of juvenile/crude humor, but put a new irreverent spin on it involving race, stereotypes and celebrity that tends to rapidly catch on in the popular consciousness (smart/annoying catchphrases, imagery, et al) and both are praised by critics, though a little too late and perhaps a little too eagerly.

And now, curiously both are hermits. Both have their sanity/problems dissected constantly, but less so as time passes and we see/hear so little from them. Both seem to dislike their celebrity. And most likely, neither will reach those peak levels of ubiquity/media exposure again. Obviously, Eminem is plotting a full force return, but who knows what Chappelle has planned.

;)

Oh, you know I am. But it popped in my head and I thought it was worth posting. The comparison is actually as valid/fitting as it is odd and random.

Hunter you’re better than that aren’t you?

:D

He’s been working on his new material this past year. My friends got to see him last night in NY and I hate them >:(

*Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden 2: Aluminum Man comes out in a selective theater near you Spring 2010.