Written By TheFanNJ (7/26/2022)
For the first time in human history, in comedy history — yet, let us not take the stands in black comedy history; we are witnessing a comedy versus battle. Comedians like David Gergory, Redd Foxx, Richard Prayor, Eddie Murphy all talked about what we are witnessing. An epic comedy versus battle. During the Covid-19 pandemic, which until this day, on 7/26/2022 we are still hurting from the damage. People were forced to go home, and what evolved was magic. It all started with an internet comedian / hiphop artist got into a rivalry with Timberland over who can make beats. So, Timberland call up an artist known as Swizz Beats; and they had a 3-hour long session on who can make better beats. Then the two-artist put their resources together and created a Hiphop Verzus.
Mad Comedian, who this blog is about — argued to be on Verzus, went on a media online campaign to get him on Verzus. And this was to bring out the standup and musical performance called: Celebrity vs Charcter’s War. Which comes from a popular Facebook meme show: Real Comedians From Da Hood. The standup and musical performance has been held up due to politics in mainstream film making. Verzus by Swizz Beats went on to become a sucess, and Mad Comedian didn’t appear due to his non-representative catalog.
Mad Comedian who is in the Chris Rock umbrella, as a comic at the Comedy Celler in New York, convinced Chris Rock to take his act to the next level. Why? Cancel Culture. Celebrity vs Character’s War is all about Cancel Culture, which is why the producers and writers of the comedy special joined Monique Hicks in her boycott of Netflix.
Chris Rock with Live Nation hosted 4 staged events in New York and New Jersey: The PNC Center, Prudential Center, an anonymous venue; and then Madison Square Garden. For the first time in a decade, MSG was lite up, it was more about who was who and the media spectrum on MSG was insane. The place hasn’t been this electric since Michael Jackson, shutdown MSG. Kevin Hart, who earned his role as a comic rockster (self-proclaimed) “We can’t take it away from him, he went out there and earned it, and that’s why we respect him.” Hart was in a fanatic war Chris Rock.
Chris Rock, has pulled off amazing venues before, but nothing like this, and it’s all over the enigma of an internet comedian. As this moment goes on and the people enter a highly promoted venue, with 360 media coverage. People were shocked with an opening set from David Chappelle. And he didn’t disappoint, as he talked about cancel culture, and today’s politics. After Chappelle, had his moment: Chris Rock put on a performance that ascended him into a new level. From Gegory, Flip Wilson and Cosby to Pryor, Redd Foxx and Murphy — now Hart, Chappelle and Rock; we are watching black comedy transcend.
The Headliner’s only tour is a Versus, and the theme of the tour talked about everything that was mentioned in the comedy special. And just like in hip-hop, the glory and life’s work of an accredited artist, is being brought to the stage, not by him but by the peers with the money and finances to pull it off.
Chris Rock won the second Comedy Versus Battle and based on the media attention the fanfare and Kevin Hart with David Chappelle presenting him an actual GOAT. That lead to everyone getting a standing ovation, speaks volumes. We have to honor generational greats in order to pass the torch. And Mad Comedian’s brilliant Versus Battle, that has been brought to the stage; without him shows that the next generation of legends are coming up, even if it took them a lifetime to get there.
Next Up: Chris Rock versus David Chappelle (London at the 02) in September.
Hoodville News 