Dave Chappelle 029

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Look closer for references: The Best (Billboard); Comic Genius of America (Esquire)

Dave Chappelle

David Khari Webber Chappelle born August 24, 1973, also known as Dave “The Chad” Chappelle, is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer. Chappelle is the recipient of numerous accolades, including two Emmy Awards and two Grammy Awards. He is most known for his iconic and acclaimed satirical comedy sketch series Chappelle’s Show (2003–2006). The series was co-written by Neal Brennan, which ran until Chappelle’s retirement from the show two years later. After leaving the show, Chappelle returned to performing stand-up comedy across the U.S. By 2006, Chappelle was called the “comic genius of America” by Esquire and, in 2013, “the best” by a Billboard writer. In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked him No. 9 in their “50 Best Stand Up Comics of All Time.”

Chappelle has appeared in several films, including Mel Brooks’s Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993), The Nutty Professor (1996), Con Air (1997), You’ve Got Mail (1998), Blue Streak (1999), Undercover Brother (2002), Chi-Raq (2015), and A Star Is Born (2018). His first lead role was in the 1998 comedy film Half Baked, which he co-wrote with Neal Brennan. Chappelle also starred in the ABC comedy series Buddies (1996). In 2016, he signed a $20 million-per-release comedy-special deal with Netflix and as of 2019, he has released five standup specials.

Chappelle received his first Emmy Award in 2017 for his guest appearance on Saturday Night Live. In 2018, he received a Grammy Award for his Netflix-produced comedy album The Age of Spin & Deep in the Heart of Texas. Equanimity, another Netflix special, was nominated in 2018 for three Emmys and received the award for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded). In 2019, Chappelle was selected to receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, which is presented by the Kennedy Center as America’s highest comedy honor.

-credit wikipedia.com

Dave built a career on pushing boundaries and challenging social conventions. But his greatest act of defiance may have come Sunday night at Washington’s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

At the end of an evening of tributes and testimonials, Chappelle came on stage to accept his Mark Twain prize for lifetime achievement in comedy with a lit cigarette in hand. “I want everyone in America to look at me smoking indoors,” He announced. “I didn’t ask anybody. What are they going to do? Kick me out? This is called leverage!”

A host of comedians and musicians paid tribute to Chappelle, describing him as a uniquely gifted and passionate performer with a sort of pied piper appeal that drew other artists into his circle. Rapper and actor Common praised Dave Chappelle’s bravery and sociological influence.

“He’s a beacon for a lot of different progressive thought,” he said as he entered the Kennedy Center Sunday night.

“He’s always been a leader in thought and culture. He says provocative things and I respect that. He brings uncomfortable things up and now we have to discuss it,” he said. “I think he’s one of the greatest, not just entertainers, but the greatest minds we have in this day and age.”

Michael Che, of Weekend Update from “Saturday Night Live” called Dave “the entertainment equivalent of what they call a five-tool player in baseball. He can perform, he can write, he can do characters. That’s why his fan-base is so wide.”

-credit Ashraf Khalil, Associated Press

Comedian and actor David Khari Webber Chappelle was born in Washington, D.C. Chappelle’s parents were both professors: His father, William, taught at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and his mother, Yvonne, worked as a professor at Howard University and then the University of Maryland, while also serving as a Unitarian minister. Chappelle’s parents separated when Dave was 6 years old, and he subsequently began splitting time between his parents’ homes in Washington and Ohio. Chappelle began pursuing a career in stand-up comedy in high school.

-credit biography.com

The artwork: 

Here is the Oregon District Tragedy Fund link:  www.daytonfoundation.org/dayton_oregon_district_tragedy_fund.html

Digital Print on Archival Matte – Original illustration done in graphite prisma colors: Olive Green for the jacket Mr. Chappelle wore when performing the “Gem City Shines” benefit, Indigo Blue and True Blue for the colors of Yellow Springs High School in Yellow Springs Ohio

Artist: Tobin Bortner of Bastrop, Texas – drawing done in October of 2019 – ©Tobin Signs/Look Closer Illustrations 

DERIVATIVE Work – photo credit: Face from biography.com dave-chappelle_gettyimages-481295252jpg; Jacket is from 2NEWS, wdtn.com Staff – Relive “Gem City Shines” Dayton News video of “Gem Ciy Shines” benefit for the victims.