Dave Chappelle vs. Chris Rock

In our anaesthesized, heavily PC climate, stand-up comedy is one of the few platforms that allows for honest social commentary. And the biggest pantheons of comedy today are two skinny black guys - Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle.



I had a debate with a buddy about who's better. I'm firmly in the Chris Rock camp; he's a fan of Chappelle. He says he doesn't like Rock's delivery, that his ranting and pacing detracts from the humour. I say that's what makes him all the more funny. He's a little guy with an incredible stage presence that absolutely sucks you in.

Chris Rock is IMO the best comedian in the business. His comedy is just as much social commentary; call him the Andy Rooney of comedy. The genius underlying his comedy is his incredible ability to articulate poignant - yet funny - observations and brilliant - yet funny - explanations for what we accept in day-to-day life. The breadth of his material is voluminous; he's more than rants about black people's struggles - there's meaningful insight in all his comedy - politics, family, work, the differences between men and women, relationships.



This clip encapsulates everything I like about Chris Rock. In a spate of 10 minutes he launches a sermon on the lack of appreciation for fathers in our society, highlights the hypocrisy of the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, and nails the fundamental power dynamic underlying male-female relations. Among the smartest, funniest 10 minutes of comedy I've ever seen.

I've heard some guys say "Yo I like Chris Rock but Russell Peters is the best." Russell's still in the bush leagues. Beyond miming accents, there isn't much there. He's great at what he does, but he'll never get a sitcom, he'll never get a movie deal - hell please call me when he gets an HBO Special.

Now, Dave Chappelle on American Indians (feathers, not dots.)



Chappelle's delivery is more chilled. His style is more funny stories masked with smart social commentary than angry rants with overt social commentary. And I'll give it to Chappelle - he's brilliant at sketch comedies (Chris Rock had a sketch comedy show in the 90s, didn't get anywhere. Chappelle's a better actor.) But DC needs more material than crack and weed and stereotypes to have me sold.

And am I the only one that gets phony vibes from this guy? Chappelle grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland. His parents were university profs. I get the impression that this guy is exploiting the black American condition and milking it for what it's worth. Chappelle's biggest fans are white suburban college kids who think yelling "I'm Rick James, bitch!" makes them street. Dave Chappelle's a poser. Chris Rock's from Bed-Stuy, he's a real brother. Hell I got more street cred than Dave Chappelle!

CR for the win.