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Dave Chappelle, Kanye West, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Common ... see more see more... , Dead Prez , The Fugees , Erykah Badu , Jill Scott , The Roots , Mark Chesnutt , Keyshia Cole , Chairman Fred , Fred Hampton Jr. , Big Daddy Kane , John Legend , Martin Luther , Pharoahe Monch , Bilal , Kool G. Rap , Andre 4000 , Eugenia "China" Black , Keisha Williams , R.C. Williams , Braylon Lacy , Raphael Iglehart , Eric Greene , Burton Smith , DJ Dummy , Stick Man , M-1 , Miamouna Youssef , Lauryn Hill , Wyclef Jean , Prakazrel "Pras" Michel , Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis , Donald Guillame , Leon Higgins , Greg "DJ Chaps" Dendy , Tiffany Phinazee , Carla Duren , Tariq 'Black Thought' Trotter , Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson , Leonard Nelson Hubbard , James Gray , Kirk "Make Your Body Work" Douglas , Frank "Knuckels" Walker , Peter Kuzma , Dave Manly , Valvin Roane , Caroline Lee Johnson , Leonard Harris , Dexter Mills , DJ A Trak , Adam Blackstone , Omar Edwards , Kevin Hanson , Norman Jeff Bradshaw , Matt Cappy , Chris Farr , James Poyser , Don Moore , Rudolph Walker , Isaac Ben Ayala , Craig Bailey , Tyren De'Armond , Jonathan Evans , Nicole Marie Evans , Alice Goguen , Robin Grundy , Mary Hall , Lisa Harbison , Anthony Jackson II , Leann Javins , Jeffrey A. Johnson , Jamon Lewis , Jonathan L. Lofton , Montez Morton , Craig Peterson , Bobby Robbins , David C. Roberts , Elinor Rossi , Jeffrey Tollette , Doris Totty , Jamila C. Totty , Aaron Wallingford , D.J. Wallingford , Alphonso Washington , Brian Milsapp , Central State University Marching Band , The Brooklyn Steppers , Luz Grice , Darren "Mr T." Hymes , Lil' Cease , Andrea Smith , Arthur Wood , Cynthia Wood , Cody Chestnutt , Tiffany Limos , Freeway

In September 2004, comedian Dave Chappelle took a break from his immensely successful Comedy Central show to stage a free, unpublicized, all-star hip-hop concert in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Br... read more read more...ooklyn, NY. Inviting fans over the Internet, on the street, and even in his family's hometown of Yellow Springs, OH, Chappelle asked filmmaker Michel Gondry to document the event from its inception on through to the performances themselves. The result is Dave Chappelle's Block Party, a concert film that provides not only a sampling of the music on display that September, but also an intimate look at the comedian himself. Gondry's cameras tag along with Chappelle as he visits Ohio, recruits a university marching band to play at the show, and surveys the opinions of Clinton Hill on the show that's about to take place. Along the way, we're introduced to some the comedian's favorite acts, in rehearsals and on-stage: Dead Prez, Jill Scott, Mos Def, the Roots, Erykah Badu, Kanye West, and the surprise reuniting of the Fugees. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

Flixster Users

64% liked it

95,084 ratings

Critics

92% liked it

125 critics

R, 1 hr. 45 min.

Directed by: Michel Gondry

Release Date: March 3, 2006

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DVD Release Date: June 13, 2006

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Stats: 2,129 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,129)

  • DrZeek
    February 21, 2008
    DrZeek
    Dave Chappelle: This is the concert I always wanted to see!

    Before the creative differences Dave Chapelle had concerning the future of his show, he decided to fund a large block party in New York, inviting many music artists that he is friends with as well as many people from hi... read mores home town in Ohio, as well as a number of people from the area that could get hold of a ticket. What occurred was a large gathering of people, documented by director Michel Gondry.

    Not just about Chappelle's comedy. Not just about the concert music. Mainly about a lot of people getting together and having a good time together and it shows.

    Towards the end Chappelle says that this was the best day of his career, and you can see that he's sincere. It is such a good movie in terms of having a group of people coming together and performing as friends as well as seeing an audience all standing together, in the rain no less, and having a great time, no fights or problems, just a fun concert with Dave Chappelle as the MC.

    There are some very funny parts in between the acts involving little things Chapelle does to get the audience going. There are very good musical performances from the alternative hip-hop crowds that aren't the terrible pop-rap that is heard at all the parties, instead it's more meaningful and more quality beats.

    The lineup is awesome for the right crowd: The Roots, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Common, Erykah Badu, The Fugees, Jill Scott, Dead Prez and Kanye West. The idea is to have everyone enjoy it regardless of if hip-hop is there preference or not.

    I also can't stress how nice it is just to see Chapelle interacting with various people. He's not turned on, he just acts like a regular guy who is just generally funny. Scenes cut in throughout, showing Dave practice in a studio with the backup band, making them laugh is just as much fun as the rest of the movie.

    Quality film, one of my favorites from 2006.

    Dave Chappelle: Bringing me to my next point, Comedians and Musicians are very much connected. Comedians think that they can sing, while musicians think they're funny. For example, Mos Def - funny guy, Jamie Foxx - talented piano player and singer. I'm mediocre at both and yet have managed to talk my way into a fortune.
  • mjgildea
    November 12, 2006
    mjgildea
    If you're watching it for Chappelle, don't bother. If you're watching it for some great hip hop, proceed.
  • gator681
    May 11, 2007
    gator681
    [font=Century Gothic]"Dave Chappelle's Block Party" is an entertaining concert film directed by Michel Gondry about comedian Dave Chappelle throwing a free block party and concert in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn on September 18, 2004, and inviting old friends a... read morend a college marching band from his hometown of Dayton, Ohio. Performers include Erykah Badu, Kanye West and the Fugees. Chappelle's intention is to give something back to the community while also bringing rap music to a broader audience.(It worked at least for this reviewer, who was also curious about Mos Def's rapping after seeing him act in a few movies. Look at it this way - I was planning on referencing Fleetwood Mac when discussing the marching band.) Throughout, Chappelle's engaging presence keeps things moving but the editing interrupts the flow often with too much time given to preparation and background. And the eccentric couple living in the abandoned building are interesting but not worth spending a great deal of time on and probably not representative of the neighborhood, anyway.[/font]
  • olsonjd85
    June 18, 2007
    olsonjd85
    A nice documentary for hip-hop fans. I, unforuntely, am not one.
  • Dracula787
    September 5, 2008
    Dracula787
    In an act of selfless goodness, Dave Chappelle used some of his Comedy Central paycheck to throw this block party, a concert featuring some of the biggest names in progressive hip-hop. In order to document the event he hired Michel Gondry to film his party. Choosing Michel Gond... read morery to make this was an absolutely inspired idea, his playful direction exactly matches Dave Chappelle?s personality on display here. The event was a great thing for everyone involved, the community was given a fun free event, the musicians were given well deserved attention, and Dave Chappelle was given a chance to show the world just how nice and likable he is. Gondry is filming a concert film, but there?s more going on than music here, he and Chappelle are emerged in the community at large. Here Chappelle seems like an amazingly pleasant person, he?s like a Willy Wonka (which is subtly referenced early on) giving people a fun experience and being a fun person at the same time. Those looking for wall to wall laughs from Chappelle will probably be disappointed but what is here is something just as special.
  • acenate
    August 23, 2006
    acenate
    Couldn't decide if it was a documentary on Dave or a concert film - should've been one of each.
  • KLFilmmaker
    July 19, 2006
    KLFilmmaker
    If you like live rap concerts. House of angels was cool though.
  • reberscott
    May 15, 2012
    reberscott
    Film about a real and Crazy ad hoc "Block Party" in Brooklyn. But this one has some real headliners, The Fuggees, Mos Def and Kanye West. Some rough but catchy tunes to boot, unusual to say the least.
  • draftintrafton
    July 20, 2010
    draftintrafton
    Liking the music in this movie will definitely upgrade your experience. Otherwise, the fleeting scenes of Dave Chappelle being his hilarious self inbetween the performances are captivating but few.
  • kingmob6
    April 27, 2010
    kingmob6
    This flick really holds up well on the re-watch, I'm rather happy to own it for just such a purpose.

    This was a lot of fun, great music and Chappelle doing what he does best, entertaining a crowd.

    The Brooklyn neighborhood that hosted the show was rather trippy, and the behind ... read morethe scenes segments of how the show comes together were fun.

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Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper
March 6, 2006
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

I want to see another hour of Dave Chappelle's Block Party. Full Review

Peter Hartlaub
March 3, 2006
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle

A return to rowdy form. Full Review

David Hiltbrand
March 3, 2006
David Hiltbrand, Philadelphia Inquirer

No one enjoys the free festivities more than Chappelle, who wanders through the film like a kid on Christmas morning. A very funny kid.

Roger Moore
March 3, 2006
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

It's intermittently funny, but it peaks too soon and runs far too long. And for all its length, Block Party doesn't tell us much about Chappelle that we haven't seen before. Full Review

John Anderson
March 3, 2006
John Anderson, Newsday

Block Party makes for a transcendent experience. Full Review

Lisa Rose
March 3, 2006
Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger

The music is angry and the jokes are raw but, ultimately, Block Party conveys a positive message to audiences. Instead of competition, we see collaboration between the artists and unity in the diverse... Full Review

Kyle Smith
March 3, 2006
Kyle Smith, New York Post

Strictly for fans of the musical acts and those who think everything Chappelle does is genius.

Geoff Pevere
March 3, 2006
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

While unlikely to enter the annals of great concert filmmaking, Dave Chappelle's Block Party does capture the moment at hand with a breezy, offhanded and utterly user-friendly charm. Full Review

Jami Bernard
March 3, 2006
Jami Bernard, New York Daily News

Once in a great while there's a movie that's so funny, infectious and welcoming - a movie that makes you feel so good about America and the people in it - you just want to climb inside the screen and ... Full Review

Lana Berkowitz
March 3, 2006
Lana Berkowitz, Houston Chronicle

His racial jokes have an edge, but they are not as deadly as the Chappelle's Show skits. Full Review

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