DVD Review #1

Chappelle's Show, Chappelle's Show.....

Yes. Mr David Archibald Chappelle.

You dont know him?

WHUT????

Well Dave is probably the funniest comedian to come out of the U.S. since....... Chris Rock!

I first saw his sketch show about 2 years ago!

One night, I was at home smoking on some of dat sticky-icky-icky, just wondering what this bootleg DVD I had been given to look at was all about! I flicked it on and started to watch.

Within Minutes I was in stitches, laid back links and laugh out loud skits. Chappelle had created a masterpeice.... Or so I thought. I admit to a concern..... Was the weed making me laugh more than the show!!!!??????

I decided to put a stop to the DVD, already over two hours into it. I would watch the same DVD the next day with a discerning group of individuals, if it still made me laugh AND my co-horts, then DC had hit me for six!!!!!

I put the DVD on and laughed ALL over again, along with my team!

DC... I SALUTE you!!!

After watching the bulk of series two I was desperate to see series one and any stand up DC had done. But, in the UK it is nigh on impossible to find much of DC's Material, in fact at the time, I went to HMV and could not find ANY of his work!

Not disuaded I went to the surest source of all DVD's... not the Chinaman, no, THE BARBER!!! Yes I did! Anyway I managed to get hold of "killing 'em Softly". DC in DC.... Classic!

I like Dave's style, relaxed, observational comedy, with a real splash of immagination! His styling of The Count as a pimp is a killer, or Mr Snuffleupacus as a smack head.... fantastic!!!!

Anyway, I wanted to give you a flavour of Chappeezey. The DVD I am going to review today is called BLOCK PARTY!!! On this fine DVD Dave gets together some of the most talented musicians and perforemers in America and throughs a block party smack in the middle of Bed Stuy, New York, New York!

The line up included Talib Kweli, Kanye West, Common, The Roots crew, Erykah Badu, Dead Prez(outstanding show) and the two stand out performers for me, Jill Scott and Mos Def!

One of the great things about this show was that it was ALL live. Rappers, LIVE. Singers, LIVE. Chappeeezy, LIVE. Band, LIVE. The atmosphere, too, is fantastic.

To begin with Dave was going round giving out the invitations to his block party. Its funny, I am not black but it was good to see so many black people enjoying themselves in a positive atmosphere! Mostly a black audience there was space for a few white folks, and the odd Mexican, but it was a day for Blakc America to see itself in all its musical glory! Positive Hip-Hop, talented musicians and, of course, the host with the most!

The DVD itself is excellent, the story of the show's creation is told in a nice easy fashion, the build up, the characters involved in it, and the folk who attended, all get a mention and some camera time. Naturally Dave goes through some of his catch phrases. "Yes, they deserved to die....." & "Whut" etc and provides a great moment while trying on some suits and hats....

All in all the music is great and the story of the show is great! Its aDVD I thoroughly recommend!

Anyway, go out and buy it, then let me know what you thinkS.

Peace

BLAM.......x32

A title in poor taste, no doubt!

After yet another shooting in an educational establishment in the US, the question of the right to bare arms is at the forefront of minds. Why are Americans SO enamoured with guns?? The function of a gun is quite straight forward, to KILL.

Simple.

So why do they feel so very strongly about mantaining the right to own something that can only kill?! I know their constitution gives them that right, but surely the time has come to move on from that un-civilised past and dispose of these things so that the children of America can go to school without fear of being gunned down by someone.

Just for a moment I want to talk about the gunman. Strange it might be to say.... But I feel sorry for him. Clearly mentally ill, a poor fellow suffering from depression, maybe scizophrenia, who knows. But I cant help but wonder if some understanding human contact would have cut this off before it crossed his mind!? Loneliness is a terrible, terrible feeling. The testimony of his fellow pupils gave the image of a guy who was barely on the fringes of the student life. A loner who spent little, if any, time in the company of others! He was also very, VERY angry, at everyone and everything...... It must be HARD to live like that! Just being awake must be a struggle...

Lonely AND angry..... Honestly, he must have been living in hell..

Sympathy for the devil some might say.

But, in these instances where a little love toward him, maybe just a little positive attention, may have made all the difference. I know its speculation.

But back to the guns.

What will it take for the Mericans to realise that having a country awash with guns has not made them any safer? A slaughter of nursery kids? Thousands are injured or die each year in accidental shootings. Yet they cling on.

There is a growing gun culture in the UK but being that guns are illegal, in general, they are not so readily available, I am quite sure this has already saved many, many lives!

I think the US has a lot of work to do to make its kids safe. Putting gates and fences and metal detectors around schools and uni's is one method, but getting rid of them altogether is the way forward!

Anyway all keep safe out there!

* I havent really spoken of the dead, that is something for their friends and family. My heart goes out to all those who have lost friends and family.... or have seen another human shot down for no reason!!!!