Kanye West, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Common, Dead Prez, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, the Roots, Cody ChesnuTT, Big Daddy Kane, and the Fugees are all performing on the same day in the same place -- and nobody knows about it. Who could pull off such a feat? None other than comedian Dave Chappelle in the new documentary Dave Chappelle's Block Party.
In September of 2004, Chappelle organized an epic block party on a quiet Brooklyn street near a daycare center where Biggie Smalls had spent his youth. The crowd of 5,000 had been drawn from online fans, Brooklyn residents, and strangers offered lodging and transportation by Chappelle himself.
The first third of the film focuses on Chappelle's efforts to promote the concert and personally invite people from his home town of Dayton, Ohio to attend the event. Chappelle randomly strolls into shops and down city streets, offering "magic tickets" to the show of a lifetime. Fans are shown ecstatically preparing for the concert, repeatedly thanking Chappelle for his unbelievable gift. In one of Block Party's more touching moments, Chappelle asks the small-time marching band of Central State University to come to New York City and perform in the show.
Remarkable performances by all the groups and artists make Block Party a memorable experience. Director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) captures the experience of the concert in a wonderfully edited and photographed film. Having directed and produced many music videos in the past, Gondry displays a masterful use of timing and rhythm, important thematic elements in Block Party.
As a documentary, Block Party is sparse on details relating to the concert's conception and planning. This film, however, succeeds to a greater extent as a concert video, maintaining a versatile flow of music with interspersed scenes of Chappelle, artists and fans.
Chappelle's humor permeates the film, providing original insight into the connection between music and comedy. "I'm mediocre at both but have managed to talk my way into a fortune," Chappelle says half-jokingly. Citing the importance of timing in both music and comedy, Chapelle plays a piano piece by Thelonious Monk, whose timing was "both off and on at the same time." Chappelle also demonstrates the comic effect caused by breaks in natural rhythms. Background music plays as Chappelle begins to tell a joke. As the joke builds, the music stops abruptly, Chappelle drops the punchline and the music resumes. Even though the joke is not particularly funny, Chappelle elicits laughs from the audience again and again.
At the climax of the movie, Chappelle explains that due to complications in Lauryn Hill's contract with Columbia Records, she would not be able to close the show. Hill, however, suggested a surprising alternative by reuniting with Wyclef Jean and Pras of the Fugees for the first time since 1997.
With spirited musical performances, wonderful photography and edgy but insightful humor, Dave Chappelle's Block Party will appeal to any fan of Chappelle or the various featured musicians.
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