Dave Chappelle's Block Party

[johnagrandy]

Anyone seen "Block Party"? Filmed a couple years ago in 2004. As Talib Kweli and Mos Def gradually move more and more into the commercial realm , the film had me wondering if they'd be better off if they'd stayed underground. Who's the Michael Franti of today's rap scene?

[Guest]

i thought this happened more recently-- daves been here in SF quite a bit on and off recently doing standup in the clubs

[Kalo]

I finally saw this last night. A genuine "feel good" movie, rather than the ersatz Hollywood kind. The musical acts were mostly engaging (I'm going to check out more Cody Chestnutt, for one), and Chappelle provides further evidence that he might just be the funniest MF alive. I love that fact that he attributes his crack comic timing to a close and reverent study of Thelonious Monk! Highly recommended.

[blake]

I picked up the CD the other day. After having listened to about half of it I'm pretty disappointed in the quality of the performances. Talib Kweli in particular sounds pretty bad.

[md655321]

Who was the Michael Franti of yesterday's rap scene?

I saw the movie and enjoyed it alot. The performances were a bit weak at time because the show went on for hours. ?uestlove was awesome throughout on drums though. I LOVE the fact that Chapelle is showing an entire generation of people that actual rap music exists, and that Nelly candy wrap stuff is garbage.

[Alexander]

I got the CD too, and I was disappointed to see that the Fugees and Cody Chestnutt material have been left off the disc. That said, I thought it had some good moments (particularly Jill Scott and Erikah Badu).

[johnagrandy]

  md655321 said:

Who was the Michael Franti of yesterday's rap scene?

Michael Franti.

[PHILLYQ]

I went to see it a couple weeks ago because my son wanted to see it. I reluctantly agreed(I'm not a rap fan) to see it, and I enjoyed it very much. Chappelle is very funny just hanging out, and the bit he does with the band and 'Hit me' is hysterical. The thing that really made an impression on me was how much I enjoyed the rapping. It was all done with a live band, so the performers were not at the mercy of prerecorded tracks, allowing the music & the performers to breathe. The rappers also were not gangster rappers, so no diatribes about how many guns, hos, bling, etc. Instead, they embraced positivity and struggle for freedom.

[johnagrandy]

  PHILLYQ said:

I went to see it a couple weeks ago because my son wanted to see it. I reluctantly agreed(I'm not a rap fan) to see it, and I enjoyed it very much. Chappelle is very funny just hanging out, and the bit he does with the band and 'Hit me' is hysterical. The thing that really made an impression on me was how much I enjoyed the rapping. It was all done with a live band, so the performers were not at the mercy of prerecorded tracks, allowing the music & the performers to breathe. The rappers also were not gangster rappers, so no diatribes about how many guns, hos, bling, etc. Instead, they embraced positivity and struggle for freedom.

Exactly ! And Public Enemy and all those other OGs up till NWA were socially conscious rappers as well. And then The Man took the shit over and now it's 99% commercialized BS.

Socially conscious rap lives on in the underground !

[Alexander]

  johnagrandy said:

  PHILLYQ said:

I went to see it a couple weeks ago because my son wanted to see it. I reluctantly agreed(I'm not a rap fan) to see it, and I enjoyed it very much. Chappelle is very funny just hanging out, and the bit he does with the band and 'Hit me' is hysterical. The thing that really made an impression on me was how much I enjoyed the rapping. It was all done with a live band, so the performers were not at the mercy of prerecorded tracks, allowing the music & the performers to breathe. The rappers also were not gangster rappers, so no diatribes about how many guns, hos, bling, etc. Instead, they embraced positivity and struggle for freedom.

Exactly ! And Public Enemy and all those other OGs up till NWA were socially conscious rappers as well. And then The Man took the shit over and now it's 99% commercialized BS.

Socially conscious rap lives on in the underground !

Hell yes! The Roots aren't exactly "underground," but they are an amazing band. I'm always surprised that none of the high schoolers who claim to be into Hip-Hop have never heard of them...As far as I'm concerned, they're one of the best contemporary bands of ANY kind out there...

[johnagrandy]

I'd like to see The Roots live with Randy on trumpet. Sounds crazy I know.

[.:.impossible]

You mean Randissimo?

[johnagrandy]

  .:.impossible said:

You mean Randissimo?

Randroid MC'n da Roots ... ? I'd pay to see that. I might leave abruptly, but I'd pay to get in.

What is hilarious is ?uestlove's tirade about Italy over on his site.

[Kalo]

  blake said:

I picked up the CD the other day. After having listened to about half of it I'm pretty disappointed in the quality of the performances. Talib Kweli in particular sounds pretty bad.

Go see the movie...

[Kalo]

  blake said:

I picked up the CD the other day. After having listened to about half of it I'm pretty disappointed in the quality of the performances. Talib Kweli in particular sounds pretty bad.

Go see the movie...

It's about a lot more than just the music.