An Open Letter to Dave Chappelle…
GENERAL By LC Weber on April 16, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Dear Dave,
Here’s a little story that must be told…
In the early months of 2005, I was visiting a friend in Manhattan. First day in town, I met with a college buddy for lunch wherein we discussed celebrities we’d like to meet. I said if I just had the chance to speak with Dave Chappelle… to thank him… that would be IT for me. After lunch, I said my “good to see you too,” put De La on the iPod, and began the easterly trek on 29th Street toward my girl’s apartment.
First time in Manhattan. Stakes Is High in my ears. Round about the time I got to Lexington, I was feeling pretty good about my strut. Then… I see a dude down the block, lighting a cigarette. He looks up, pulls his hoodie low and starts walking my way.
“Is… is that…?? Nah…” I think to myself. “Ho. Lee. Shit. It is. It’s Dave Chappelle.”
Over the next 5-10 seconds, I flipped a quick succession of questions on how to react. I was JUST talking about you. This was the IT for me.
“Should I say something? No, I… no. Should I… whoa. He’s looking at me. He’s looking me dead in my eyeballs. Smile, LC. For the love of the Lord in heaven above, smile.”
I smiled and you smiled back.
And you nodded. And I shat myself.
And we passed.
My friends were mad that I didn’t say anything. But what was I going to say that would have made a difference? You weren’t going to remember me and I was pretty confident the only reason you acknowledged me at all was because I didn’t say anything.
Skip ahead and that brings us here. To The Smoking Section – for me, the best forum for good Hip-Hop since Chappelle’s Show. From Dead Prez’s “Hip Hop” at the top of the show, to Kanye and Common murdering “The Food,” your show exposed viewers to music they couldn’t and wouldn’t get elsewhere. Need I even mention the depth and importance of Block Party? And that’s just one of the reasons I want to thank you.
That said, I’m here to ask you for an interview. No, a conversation.
You can rest assured this request comes from an organic place, on account of I stand to gain nothing other than a life goal fulfilled. I’m not going to get paid for it, and the only thing I can offer you is the promise we won’t talk about anything you don’t want to or anything you’ve discussed other places. On some real Loren Michaels to the Beatles type shit… I’m just putting it out there.
Look, I named my damn dog Dylan. Not “dill-en.” DY-lon.
Now you understand where I’m coming from. Outside of God, my family, Outkast and Detroit, you’re at the top of my list. Even over my friends – fuck’em… they probably like you more than me too. And I know I’m not alone when I say you’re missed on the regular.
You know I could go on for hours – quote you or some bullshit – but just like that day on the street, I feel like less is probably more.
Hit me up @ TSSCrew AT gmail.com. Let’s go!
Here’s hoping this finds you,
LC
Posted in GENERAL, SMOKE BREAK — Tags: Dave Chappelle
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63 Comments
LC, i neva knew u place OutKast so highly.
u just earned urself some cool points in my book homie.
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=Ftm1RkN85Bw
dvd live preview, maybe a dvd link someone.
One of my favorite artists
all of his work is great… the worst part of it is when he decided to stop everything. i’m still waiting for a fourth season of his show :)
“Nigga, what the fuck is JUICE?”
Strong Co-Sign on this one…
I’m a huge Dave Chappelle Stan…err, ah…Fan. Not just the show, or the obscure movie appearences, or comedy specials. Whenever I’ve read or heard Dave talk in interviews, Dude is saying some profoundly deep ish. Yeah, He’s a funny ass Cat, but there’s a balance between the absurdly silly (ie. Botoxed nutsacks) & the subversive messages He slips into His comedy (ie. How old is 14 really?). Not even His “alleged” breakdown could sway my admiration & respect for Dude. In defending His decision to quit the Chappelle Show, Dude only became more of a legend in My eyes. Walking away from the money to save His soul. How many of us would have done the same. One of the finest comics of His generation, I’m just hoping He doesn’t completely fade to the background. Great post LC…
i saw this man when he came to toronto last year….possibly the best show of any sort i’ve ever seen…
I want to say “thank you” in advance to whoever the person is who will get this to Dave for us.
“And you nodded. And I shat myself.”
Pampers, LC.
good post LC.
i’m still waiting on Dave to start a blog or some shit….just outta no where. he’d probably call it “chimps and orangatangs” or something off the beaten path like that. hahaha. word to “for what its worth”
Co-sign with Gotty…
@ Amp
Amen.
back in the 97 or 98 i planned a comedy show for Rider U. wit dave chappelle and that dude dave from the real world la (he tore the covers off tammy) tagged along and performed for free. i dont need to tell you hes mad cool n he also reeked of that GOOD tree. but i feel you cuz i wish i had a meaningful conversation but didnt know what to say n he was in that high that looks like he didnt wanna be bothered. so i let him be.
LOL @ Tres
That’s it right there!!!
DRANK BABY!!!!
smoking session with Dave Chappelle would be beyond dope…i hope it happens for you, LC
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=8×9oHaE0edA&NR=1
In defending His decision to quit the Chappelle Show, Dude only became more of a legend in My eyes.
——————————————————————-
NO.DOUBT.
Nice read, LC
Dave is the truth. I was hoping he would bring the Chappelle show to HBO so he could run uncensored and maybe get paid as well. We’ll see though. I think he’s happy just doin stand up. As long as dudes contempt with himself and his family I think thats good enough for true fans like myself. Hopefully I can catch dude doin a show soon.
@dz
Rider U Jersey Stand up Finally Graduating and getting that Degree 5 long yrs. “Welcome to the Broncs Zoo”
I ran into Dave outside of a tobacco shop in Georgetown last summer. He asked me where I got my menthol cloves from.
http://bulletins.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=bulletin.read&messageID=5677353370&MyToken=52169c95-56b7-40ae-8ad7-cf54dc0ed394&hash=MIG3BgorBgEEAYI3WAONoIGoMIGlBgorBgEEAYI3WAMBoIGWMIGTAgMCAAECAmYDAgIAwAQI1BP9uq7sXRsEEGip409O5S4dhROKT8lP9ugEaFB%2bMGur6MiUNuJFxom1OFOVIZndE%2fkN91%2buJ2ypG5gJzEWXFUWNB%2fbhqbmVJrU6UMiMOU1TzcfYT3b2jivdHlKcWGUMgprQ42LonFxzwKuBQOvtc5CqRApqgw0nkK9LpYdCAWLPOv2Z
LC you gets mad props for this.
*props given*
And, ‘08 is the year of OutKast.
Please, believe it.
http://www.zshare.net/audio/106452892e17e28c/
Rakim - After you die
Excellent post, my whole family used to get together and watch Chappelle’s show, lol.
Plies haters have gotta peep this…
http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhNT399KWqJFk3e1ef
LC..if this letter gets to Dave, you betta watch yo’ back, cuz I’m puttin a hit out on you. Then we’ll need a replacement interviewer…
Good shit!
Last year my boy from college, Lakeshow, calls me and tell’s me he’s coming to the Yay (SF) area b/c his artist (Freeway) is doing a show.
I ended up crashing at his hotel, trying to bag one of the chicks that come home w/ us (who am I kidding, Free and us) that night. So the next day I’m on the BART train home and realize I ain’t got my house/car keys. So I jump off the train at Powell Street (think Mini-times square), and call the hotel to see if my keys turned up. they didn’t. So I S.O.L. (shit outta luck).
I have nothing but time at this point so I just start walking up market st (sf), passing the nordstrom mall and up toward the sketchier area where the dopefiends congregate and theorize. It was on a block w/ mostly boarded up stores that I saw DaveChapelle approaching me from a distance. He was dolo, talking on a extra-ass bluetooth headset. I want to say he was carrying his skateboard. A few people that crossed his path ahead of me were just trying to engage him in converstation, and he was politely saying hi, but not stopping his step. some people in cars were yelling this out too.. As I got close enough to pass, I realize it was truly dave, and not a crack/Hop-head, and I just dapped said “yo dave” and dapped him up with a little pound and kept it moving.
come to find out he was in town for an impromptu show (which he apparently does a lot in SF), and was just out mixing amongst the people. Dude is way taller than he looks on tv.
But my first Dave chapelle meeting was at Golden Gate Park in SF, right after Half Baked came out. I was at the free Comedy Day they have every summer (I recall Mark Curry/Mr. cooper was there). I was in the roped off “backstage” area as a guest of family friend Diane Amos (TV’s Pine-Sol lady, who is a comedienne), and there was a bucket of chilled, complimentary beer for the performers and their guests.
Anyway, my cousin and I ( http://youtube.com/user/MichaelMelendy) found ourselves enjoying Blueberry beer w/ dave for a good 15 minutes, talking about nothing. We didn’t know he would blow up so much, and we were both under 21 enjoying a blueberry beer during the summer with “dude from Half Baked”! I don’t think we had any idea he would blow up so much, but he was hella polite.
Thanks for sharing a similar story! I hope he accepts the well put together (minus the “shatting”) invite!
(Okay, I’m done)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2787517403276391321
Dave Chappelle
Season 12, Episode 1206
Original Airdate: February 12, 2006
Anyone else having trouble with the site? It’s not fully loading, even when I refresh…
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/track_review/30419-after-you-die
Nice post. I always feel more respect from a look and smile from someone you see as a celebrity than when you go up to them and act a fool.
off topic, but does anyone have revolutionary vol.1?
That was a good read…I really hope this goes down for you
he chose his own way out, as opposed to falling off which is legendary all by itself.
I recently seen him on “Inside the Actors Studio” and found myself glued to the set.
I can’t imagine him going back to T.V. or sketch comedy
it just won’t be the same anymore, but to see him doing something “real big” would be fly
@ damestatus. see what happens when you let that negro leighton corrupt your soul? u lucky all u lost was your keys due to freeway and groupies.
and negro, i ain’t NEVER seen you post a comment that lon on TSS before. i see dave inspires you, huh? haahhahaha.
anyone got a link to for that episode of ‘inside the actor’s studio’ with dave? i got jacked for my dvd. :( hella insightful interview too.
anyway, good job lc! hope this makes it to dave.
nvm, i think i found a torrent.
The interview will happen.
Peace.
I passed by Dave once in Caesars Palace during the comedy festival, same situation though, nothing I could say without just being another groupie. Didn’t even get the chance to throw a head nod. But I’ve gotta say if I could meet up and chill with anyone it would probably be him.
If you haven’t seen it peep out his inside the actors studio, they’ve got it on youtube its the best one I’ve ever seen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ysoth-DYs78
thats part 1 you can find the other parts in related videos.
I saw him live in NY right when the show started to air. He told not one joke I had ever heard before and he was drunk as shit. It was probably one of the greatest nights of my life. The man is a comic genius.
@ P…
You mind hooking a brotha up with that torrent?
let’s see if he connects! good luc, LC. thanks for representing for all of us. can we submit questions when it happens?
@ Franchise
Yeaaaahhh!! I like your attitude… when, not if! And obviously I’ll let TSS fam chime in!
NVM… I just hit the jackpot.
http://linkshareddl.blogspot.com/2008/04/inside-actors-studio-34-episodes-online.html
^Enjoy.
^GOTDAMN!
thank youuuuuuuu doogie
Man…I ain’t on some “I too cool to recognize a celebrity”…but this sweating shit is a little homoish….
I respect that you kept it cool…but a whaddup…possible pound if he extends and keep it moving!!!
…but an inteview with Dave would be nice :-)
excellent post.
“… and FUCK nick cannon!”
Man…I ain’t on some “I too cool to recognize a celebrity”…but this sweating shit is a little homoish….
I respect that you kept it cool…but a whaddup…possible pound if he extends and keep it moving!!!
===============
Uhh…LC is…
*drumroll*
…well, I don’t think whatever was done qualifies as “homo”…coming from a female.
ELLLLLLL-CEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE, YOU MAKE MY DAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY-YAYYYYYYYYYY
LMAO @ Gotty
All good though, Doug. If I were a dude, I’d have said it the same way, homo or no.
hehe…yeah, i rarely tell you anybody’s race, age, sex, profession or any personal info.
but here, it was justified b/c someone else mentioned it to me as well.
Didn’t want n’s reading LC’s future pieces like “I think that dude is light in the loafers” lol
^ LMAO
I thought it was on TSS awhile back:
Someone had mentioned when Dave came back from Africa and did a show in The Chi or The Natti he was telling the Iceberg Slim anecdote bout how Slim stopped his bottom bitch from leaving and being a “burnout” by faking the death of a trick. And Dave said if you understand that story you’ll understand why I went to Africa. From that point on I was like “Chappelle is a Trill nigga”, that was some of the deepest shit I had heard form a comedian.
Didn’t want n’s reading LC’s future pieces like “I think that dude is light in the loafers”
=======================================
Literally just choked up right there. Gotta watch that Gotty…always got some slick shit to say…
If the real anon says it’ll happen.
I’m convinced, lol.
I hope this reaches the right people.
That Inside the actors studio ep is probably one of the best, Martin was a good one too.
Daaawg. Jay Smooth of Ill Doctrine already did this post man. coooome on man. wow. I swear bloggers straight jack each others ish. wow.
Kind of like we forgot about his bit on celebrities?
@ Chi-Ma
I don’t how else to respond to that other than to say I’m really not checking everybody’s blogs like that. Subject matter is going to be covered multiple places regardless.
Like I said, this is a real organic request based on a long-standing interest in the man. He’s a popular person so other people are going to feel that same way… but my encounter with him in NY was my own and there’s no way I could have bit that off another.
We’re the good guys. Believe that.
Daaawg. Jay Smooth of Ill Doctrine already did this post man. coooome on man. wow. I swear bloggers straight jack each others ish. wow.
============
Enh…
I won’t say much except…
a.) I honestly never heard of anything similar before, but won’t say that it doesn’t exist.
b.) I know L came to me in earnest w/the piece, based off her experience (which is pretty obvious).
Therefore, I can’t really say that this particular post was inspired/swiped/jacked from anywhere except her own brizzle.
And in the literary world, not just the blogsphere, no idea is original. believe that.
didnt he just break a record for longest stand up session or someshit??!!!??? id kill my first born to have been at that joint with dave ranting for 8 hours +
http://rapidshare.com/files/89478855/MC.upby.fabinou84.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/89482499/MC.upby.fabinou84.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/89485741/MC.upby.fabinou84.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/89488943/MC.upby.fabinou84.part4.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/89492408/MC.upby.fabinou84.part5.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/89495817/MC.upby.fabinou84.part6.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/89498473/MC.upby.fabinou84.part7.rar
http://dl.free.fr/nLsxVYKtf/Michael….NCH.DVDRip.rar
Rich I see you. I think I got deleted from the Coon List.
Holla.
does anyone know for sure whether or not he’s making an appearance at the green apple music festival on 4/20 in D.C.????
Nice post - I desperately hope it happens. And LC, I will kill you to do this interview, and I’ll just say it’s LC when I’m speaking with him. In the words of R. Kelly - ‘real talk.’
Oh, and I have never had an encounter with the great one, but I went to the Laugh Factory with my fiancee a month or two ago, and it was the late show, and I know Dave appears there regularly (it’s where he broke that record). And so at the end of the night they were like “We have a special guest for you, a long time Laugh Factory regular” and I was like this is it, this is it, this is it… My knees were shaking, my fists were clenched, and I knew once he took the stage I was going to start screaming and bawling like those hysterical fans at Michael Jackson concerts you used to see on TV. But I was fine with that happening.
And then, to my deepest and most miserable chagrin, Dane Cook comes running on stage to talk about YouPorn for a half hour. I imagine the only comparable emotional episode would be if you’ve been trying to have a kid for years, but it’s just not happening, then one time by miracle it happens, your girl’s pregnant (or you’re pregnant, if you’re the girl), and you get all the shit set up in the crib for the baby to come into the world (painting the room, buying toys, picking out its name), and then when your baby’s born, beautiful and treasured and the pinnacle of your life, the doctor picks it up and drop kicks it out the window.