Chappelle on 30 years in showbiz and being a comedian
As Dave Chappelle reflects on spending 30 years in comedy, he says he’s grateful and humble to still be living his dreams onstage.
“In all honesty, I mostly feel grateful that I survived it, and that I’m able to still do it, and that I have the respect of my peers,” the 43-year-old said in an interview Friday night following a show at Radio City Music Hall, where he was joined by The Roots, Dead Prez and T.I. Chappelle’s residency at the venue in New York includes guest performers such as Lil Wayne, Usher, Ice Cube and others.
Darren Pfeffer, the executive vice president of MSG Live, called the 16 shows “unique” and said the company “is thrilled to have him at Radio City for the month of August.”
AP: How does it feel to celebrate 30 years in comedy?
Chappelle: What’s funny about it is my son, my youngest son, is as old now as I was when I started (at 14), and looking at him makes me understand how crazy that was to start at that age, even though at the time it felt very natural . ... People general like me — they’re always going to be people that don’t like me — but it doesn’t matter, enough people like me that I can make a living this way. After I left my television show, I didn’t know that I would ever, I didn’t think anything, that was a real tough lump I took. I can’t explain to people what the emotional content of those decisions were like.
And what’s beautiful about it is, a guy will go through something sometimes in show business and the people will get away from him. Certain people, especially people like Ahmir (Questlove) and The Roots and all these other guys, they’re always still included and it was always a little more familiar, and it meant a lot to me. Even a guy like Usher, I remember Usher one time, I was at a bar and he brought me out to a birthday party another celebrity was having; it was just nice to be included without having to be hot. It was just warm.
These types of memories I’m grateful for and I’m old enough to understand to be grateful for (it). I don’t take any of this (stuff) for granted, none of it. So there’s a lot of, being a public person, that I personally find terrifying, and I don’t really get locked into an existence of being hot or not, but nights like tonight, it’s a breath of fresh air. Just to see that everyone’s OK; Jay-Z’s making a record and he’s damn near 50 and it’s relevant. And we’re all working.
AP: I haven’t been to a show before where they’ve locked up your phone.
Chappelle: There’s no phones or anything. If there were phones and people were posting stuff, you could get likes and maybe get followers, but if no one has a phone, that’s how you become a legend . ... Comedy relies on the element of surprise and any part of a show taken out of the context of the show could sound — well it all sounds crazy anyway — it would sound way crazier. And it empowers me to be more courageous with the audience ... which is all I’m really concerned with ’cause they came out.
AP: You don’t do lots of interviews, so what is it that you want to say to people out there?
Chappelle: I always get nervous addressing people outside the context of jokes, but I do feel grateful. Not just because people come out (to see my shows), but there’s a certain way people engage with me, it makes me feel like there’s an acknowledgment that I’m a person. And they don’t expect me to be perfect, which is a relief because I am not. It’s a real valuable relationship ... and I know everything I say is not for everybody. When I’m right, I’m right, and when I’m wrong, forgive me. And again, it’s not church — if you want to hear somebody be right all the time go to church, if you want to laugh at (stuff) that terrifies you, go to a comedy club. And that’s how I feel.