I’m a dumbshit or something. My head has been up my ass, I guess. I think I know so much about stand-up—an insider. A stand-up loving, know it all! Been in and out of the game for over forty years. I'm an INSIDER! I can name-drop so good I need to hire someone to pick them up after me some nights and throw them into a follow van.
Yet I knew practically nothing about Earthquake until Chapelle produced and released this special ‘Legend’ this week, which made me truly laugh my ass off.
I mean, yeah, I was gone for a long time, making movies, but I was still in the world, and I’ve been back long enough, and yes, I’m a little Comedy Store-centric, but this is a fucking legend. This is a fucking powerhouse balls to the wall force of nature, funny as shit, one of a kind, fully formed, finely honed, undeniable master of the craft.
‘Legend’ is the word. Yes, he’s that good. Better.
He’s everybody you love. He’s so unique at the same time he’s so familiar. He’s Dave, and he’s Rodney, he’s Pryor, Carlin, Cosby, Mom’s Mably, Joan Rivers, Paul Mooney, Sam Kinison, Eddie Murphy, Bernie Mac, and Robin Harris all rolled into one and then rebuilt to be someone you’ve never seen. Old school and new wave. Stop everything, change your plans, go to Netflix and watch this special.
Yeah, I somehow missed him. I’ve heard of him, yeah, sure. He was down at the Improv a lot. I know a few guys that were friends of his, but I’ve never seen him work, and I’ve never seen him on YouTube or anywhere. I don’t know why.
I just, I must be racist. There. I said it.
The truth is I’m damn glad in a way because this Stan Latham directed special that Chapelle presents is a Jewell that I may be embarrassed and feel like a dumb white-boy rube for not knowing this comic icon, but I’m blessed for how fresh it was to have it wash over me. It was like finding a classic Jazz album from some genius you never knew existed. Like first finding out about Monk through ‘Monk’s Dream’, bringing it home, playing it and having an out-of-body experience.
First off, I love how grounded he is. There’s a spiritual element to this set that got me. This guy is so masculine. Such a proud version of a man in a time where that alone sets you back three steps. Plus, he’s a centered fucker with where he comes from, what he believes, and what’s important to him. He’s so confident in his ability to be funny at all times that he’s not afraid to just wear his admonitions on life and health, and parenthood and respect and politics right out on his sleeve, and for that alone he had me howling. I had to watch it again a second time right away.
There isn’t a joke or a one-liner in the whole set. It’s just real talk, fast with a zip. It’s the best version of stand-up as I say, an old-fashioned style with a very current speed and spit. A master class in the art form. He’s a pacer and a prowler. He owns you and the stage and the planet for the time he’s on stage, and there’s no doubt about it. Like the best there is, for that moment in the world, he’s the epicenter of the universe.
Yeah, I feel stupid for not knowing more about, Earthquake. White, old, and stupid. But that’s normal for me. What’s your excuse? Watch this thing, quick! Then do what I did. Dig into the old stuff and find out where he’s playing live and go see him.
This is your new favorite comedian.
Thanks, Dave!