Legendary comedian Dave Chappelle gave listeners many behind-the-scenes looks at his “Chappelle Show.” On the latest episode of the popular podcast “Drink Champs,” the revered comedian talked about many aspects of the show’s production. The podcast episode recorded several months ago finally became publicly accessible. The episode’s delay allegedly stemmed from a direct request by Dave Chappelle himself. The famed comedian requested that his interview be delayed following the mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas. According to sources from Page Six, this decision arose because the parties involved did not want to appear tone-deaf.
The Interview
Despite what many think, the episode is not technically a Chappelle interview. The episode was meant to serve as a promotion for the Black Star album “No Fear of Time.” Fans of the hip-hop duo, which consists of Mos Def and Talib Kweli, will know how often the team and Chappelle collaborate. So it should be no surprise they appeared together in this interview.
What Dave Chappelle Discussed
Many topics came up during the interview. Notably, the comedian praised the show itself. In addition, Chappelle insisted that the most recent Kanye West interview achieved greatness. That episode can be viewed here. Eventually, the conversation turned toward musical guests on Dave’s show.
Dave Chappelle revealed that early in the show’s life, he struggled to find artists willing to participate. Many observers may find this revelation shocking, but as Chappelle said in the interview: “No one ever heard of the show.” He also confirmed that many of the artists who declined were popular acts, acts that hip-hop fans were familiar with. While this slow beginning may be surprising in hindsight, it must be remembered that, early on, Chappelle’s style might have been too much for some labels to endorse. Dave Chappelle is no stranger to criticism.
Update
Unfortunately, as of the writing of this article, the podcast appears to have made the episode private, without providing a reason for this. Stay tuned for updates on whether the episode, which featured a great deal of content, will become publicly available again.