Block Party

Dave Chappelle’s Block Party is an intimate look into the musical influences that have shaped who this comedian is today. Filmed over the summer of 2008, Block Party follows Dave from his roots in a rural Ohio town to the streets of Brooklyn, New York for the September 18, 2004 block party event. The film is directed by French director Michel Gondry, known for artistic movies including 2004’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Science of Sleep (2006).
Block Party, released in March of 2006, is not merely a documentary of this concert event though; it is a reflection of the pressure placed on Chappelle following the success of his short-lived Comedy Central television program, Chappelle’s Show. Between the time this movie was filmed, and finally released, Dave Chappelle refused a $50 million contract extension to continue his popular show and disappeared to South Africa. Similarly, at this time in the United States several events took place that altered the way many Americans thought about race and politics. First, George Bush was elected president of the United States of his second term in late 2004 sparking uproars around the country of a continuation of the status quo. Second, Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, Louisiana in August 2005, leading to serious questions about the U.S. government’s reaction to this devastating natural disaster.
On the surface, Block Party is a documentary of a once in a lifetime concert organized by Dave Chappelle, featuring his favorite musical acts. Performers include; Dead Prez, The Roots, Kanye West, Common, Talib Kweli, Jill Scott, Mos Def, Erykah Badu, and The Fugees. Filmed at the corner of Quincy Street and Downing Street in Brooklyn, New York, Chappelle tried to keep the location of this performance a secret as long as possible. You find out later in the documentary that the site of the block party was leaked through the Internet prior to the actual filming and in turn the news spread like wildfire through the masses. My favorite performances were the Dead Prez anthem ‘Hip-Hop,’ and Kanye West’s ‘Jesus Walks,’ accompanied by the full Central State University marching band. Wyclef John’s short backstage performance of ‘If I were President,’ was another powerful piece of music featured in this documentary.
Block Party was filmed behind the backdrop of the ‘Broken Angel House,’ in Brooklyn. This is an extremely unique experience because prior to the actual performances, Chappelle introduces the audience to the owners of this modern day M. C. Escher house. This unfinished mass of architecture provides a haunting backdrop to the concert. The owners are eccentric, claiming to have magical powers, yet are both honored to have their home be the site of this documentary even if they are not fans of hip-hop music. Nearby the site of the block party is the day care center where the Notorious B.I.G. attended. This additional scene shows that the heart of the hip-hop movement occurred nearby and displays the pride of so many African Americans who are aware that the roots of this musical styling all happened in their back yards.
Dave Chappelle is known for his racially charged comedy routines, which often point out stereotype of all creeds in the hope to make light of how ridiculous racism is not only in the United States, but around the world as well. A telling example of this occurs as Chappelle walks throughout his hometown in Ohio, passing out Willy Wonka-esque ‘golden ticket’s for those folks lucky enough to be invited to the block party. While he does give several tickets to ‘African-Americans’ in his town, he also dolls out a few passes to more or less elderly white people in the community. There reaction, and willingness to travel out of their element to the middle of Brooklyn, New York surprised me, but had me smiling after seeing their gratitude towards their hometown celebrity.
During his stint on Chappelle’s Show, Comedy Central realized the popularity the comedian had established using his brash, sometimes offense style of entertainment. Following this success, the network started asking for more, as is usually the case in this situation. For Chappelle though, this meant pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable and appropriate from an artistic standpoint. Comedy Central more or less pigeonholed Chappelle into acting a certain way on his show. Block Party was his attempt to show people there’s more to him than offensive racist humor. After viewing the film, it’s apparent that Chappelle is a laid-back guy, who sometimes seems uncomfortable being the center of attention. He is genuinely humbled throughout this film every time he introduces a famous musician or celebrity because you know these people are his idols.
The grittiness of Block Party comes through due in part to the overcast cloudy skies and rain that blanket the crowd and performers during the concert. Nothing was going to prevent Dave Chappelle from having the concert he always wanted to see come to fruition, even Mother Nature. Throughout the documentary, you get to see a side of Dave Chappelle many people never do apart form his roles in movies like Half-Baked and Undercover Brother, or his appearances on television. At one point in the film, Chappelle is quoted as saying, “Not every part of you is for sale,” in reference to the microscope that most celebrities are put under following success. Block Party was less about Dave Chappelle, and more about bringing something to fans that he could never have done without the mass exposure he received leading up to the film’s development and final release. That’s not to say there are not moments throughout the film that don’t show Chappelle’s comedy genius shining, but this was really about something more than comedy.
Block Party succeeds on many different levels. The incorporation of artistic and powerful cinematography, musical performances, and comedy provide an enjoyable viewing experience. Unfortunately, being a big fan of Dave Chappelle’s comedy, I was hoping to see more of him unleashed behind the camera. This was not the case though, as the last thirty plus minutes barely even contained more than a few segments featuring the comedian. In the end, I would recommend this documentary to anyone. You do not have to be a fan of Dave Chappelle or hip-hop to appreciate what this film brings to the table. A unique view into the lives of artists, but really just ordinary people turned celebrities happy to give back to the community that made them who they are today.