"They just simply don't understand."

Dave Chappelle is a fan of hip hop music and the documentary Dave Chappelle’s Block Party he says something on the lines of this, “I have been a fan of these performers for a long time and I’m happy that they are taking part in this film.” He sits down at a piano in the Salvation Army in Brooklyn and plays a tune later saying that, “Comedians want to be musicians and musicians try to be comedians.” He appreciates the genre of hip-hop.

Michael Dyson’s article was interesting. Hip-hop has definitely manifested from other genres of music to become their own and the way he broke it down and explained it all was enlightening. Lyrics are powerful and hip-hop lyrics can insult many people but still it is at the top of the chart and still its influence on society is prevalent. All ages, races, faiths, and cultures all over the world either enjoy or hate hip-hop and that is why this film was so popular and well liked. Dave did call on all of the hip-hop world he called on those hip-hop artist who are positive. Yes I see that some of the lyrics are somewhat touchy for some like the lyrics of Dead Prez. But I see it differently, I don’t see those lyrics as offensive, they are opinions, freedom of speech and I like how Dead Prez utilizes that freedom. Dyson concurs with Chappelle’s choice of executing this film this way. Choosing the best artists, choosing a great location, going about getting guest to come buy giving them golden tickets, going to the Salvation Army, talking to the people in the “angel house” were all good ways to make this film work. It could have been something totally different if there were different artists like Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, and DMX, all artists that like, but the feel of the film would have totally changed and I’m not sure if it would have worked as well as it did. The artist chosen I feel were all very poetic and were all positive people.

On Rotten Tomatoes Dave Chappelle's Block Party had a 92% rating, one of the highest I’ve seen on there, it was well liked. Phil Villarreal from the Arizona Daily Star newspaper however didn’t think highly of it saying, “What should be a breezy, hand-waving romp turns out to be a misshapen, lazy flop. One moment it soothes the heart with sweet music, and the next it fries your ears with feedback.” I have to disagree with what Phil says and in the name of Will Smith “he just doesn’t understand.” Wesley Morris of the Boston Globe praises it saying, “Chappelle throws a jubilant 'Block Party'.” “Jubilant” perfect word, it sure was thrilling to see all of these artists together in Brooklyn, I wasn’t there but watching this documentary was entertaining enough for me.

For me to already like Dave Chappelle and have liked him from the beginning of his work I don’t know if seeing this film shaped any further opinion of him, I think he is a great comedian. He is smart, reading up on him and keeping up with him in the news, especially over the passed year where he was battling with the producers of his show on skits that were being written and also how he addressed the fact that his audience doesn't really get his comedy. Dave doesn’t want people to change his art he wants to create it and he knows that he has loyal fans so for the producers not to do what he wants or have him do something that he doesn’t want he disagrees with, as do many artists. He got out when he felt he was being held back.

I love how he brought all of these fabulous artists together on one stage, in Brooklyn and gave others the opportunity to go see this once in a life time show. There were all different kinds of hip-hop artists, ones that produce music for the club [Kanye West], ones who are poetic [Jill Scott] and the legendary [The Fugees] and I’m sure if you didn’t like all the performances you at least enjoyed one and that is why he wanted a variety, so it could speak to all ages, races, faiths, etc.