Joe Rogan Experience #1647 — Dave Chappelle Transcript

Transcript

0:00 the joe rogan experience train by day joe rogan podcast by night all day Oh I'll do the phones Here we go You're the first guy to beat the system Bro They always feel bitter and angry. Right. You didn't realize that, you know. in a court of law i think in a court of public, it was a good time for me to say my piece. You know? So what they want But what was so remarkable when I walked away from the show, right,

4:30 entertainment but it made you a legend and the fact that you you then started doing shows like and get back up I didn't see you know and the drumbeat is he's crazy smokes crackers this is I still enjoyed it. world not just the country i started going around just seeing the world Yeah, I think that there's a real value in having experiences where you do it on purpose.

7:42 empowering at the same time yeah because, because we know comics, like, Right, the road warriors. That's what they call expensive knowledge. Whatever you go through, you got to live. Yeah, and another time would I have ever gotten that money? Right. It really was. I mean, it's legendary. Yeah, they got a whole website dedicated to bad tippers. Yeah.

11:39 enough nonsense people you're gonna have enough conflicts if they only curate Yeah. You know, I'm not. he wrote those things, he was an attorney in I shouldn't have said that, but, you know. I think he tempted himself by sleeping. What the fuck is this? Yeah, let's get this right because I actually revere Gandhi. 1946, huh? Wow. with such bizarre sexual demands that it became difficult for many people to take him seriously,

14:37 prompted the perverted 20th century cults of jim jones and jonestown guy okay okay all right I'm sorry I brought that up. Did he like to just get blue-balled and lay there? Now we're debunking Gandhi. slaves he did yeah yeah so did thomas jefferson yeah yeah yeah many of the framers yeah Lay there and get tortured. like peaceful protest Oh, did he?

17:22 the idea being that I will not participate Gandhi got so much pussy. Just lay there and get hard and go like... It's COVID year. smelled that coming yeah it's a tough one it's a weird one we're being tested everybody's quick to pull the trigger and then you got everybody who's there's so many people americans would feel they are yeah they just don't trust the messenger anymore there's too many mixed

20:21 there's misinformation. Now you'll hear Americans say, I don't know how the fuck they're going to bounce back. I've never seen any of this before. I could go outside, I could take a walk, I could whatever. Biden had just won that weekend, so people were celebratory. Because I hadn't seen New York since it was, like, incredibly healthy. Especially with this

22:56 And then people don't want to invest money in it. Maybe we should forget about this business and start fresh in Florida or move to Texas or whatever. It'll take a minute. or do you think the circles you were rolling in in California weren't as nice? He's like. It feels good. people value people when they're not a burden when you get to you know 20 million people whatever the

25:17 But I would imagine There's a thing in Hollywood, a weird there's a weird currency in having a lot of people know who you are there's a social status but you weren't like the hangout kind of guy. It was just silly. And he's like, I don't know. the way I remember L.A., It makes you feel bad. Flagrant elitism. Yeah. you know, Dave, I hate to bother you,

28:43 And then the guy goes, and my name is, They're skilled. I've always loved it. treat the door staff how do you treat the bartender are you friendly with all those folks you know and I don't know if I should talk about it. Oh, yeah. Idris Elba's got skills he trains hard and he I think he did it for a television show He got dropped there. oh so there's a whole documentary on it if you think about most actors you know too i don't know

32:33 Everybody can get knocked out. he's got good defense though. He fought well. It's hard to look perfect. he got really into boxing. top amateur contender little guy but you know he was nice with it and and my son and his little You can't train that. Where did you fall in that spectrum? A lot of them by knockout. in anaheim california flew out here to fight in the Nationals.

35:58 And there's all these people in the stands that were, I remember saying, He started snoring. and he never got up Right. He was a Korean dude who had been taught by General Chae Young-yi, Wow, and then I was like, oh shit. They is me. Yeah, how old were you then 19? 100 to either one of them i was i was half in with both and then i realized i couldn't do it anymore

38:45 He was just being honest. Yeah. They want entertainment. Yeah. had one tonight show set that was so fucking brilliant. It was so brilliant. He was so good. But some people don't. But you still handled it well. like growth no it is true it's true it's true yeah i mean the more things that i do that are understanding of myself you got a broad base man like you know i see you talking to people like

42:53 The MMA thing, it's not obvious. to my own instincts in terms of, like, You're going to Alabama to do some cage fighting commentary? Oh, wow. horse gracie fights and shit like that in the maybe the early 90s yeah they started doing the I did the little interview thing. That's when no celebrities really knew what it was, Damn, props to Dana White, though.

45:32 I did like the first 15 of them I did for free. the lens of money or monetary gain you'll miss so much you miss so much this thing about just They were a good group of people. So it gave me money where I had money squirreled away. My life became only things I enjoy. So when it came time to do Chappelle's show, the money was terrible, but I'd saved up.

47:36 It's so exciting. 13 it's gonna get worse too man it's going to get worse, too, man. It's going to get worse. Listen, if I felt like it fixed things, I would be happy. he said these people think in America That's not a lot of people. They're big enough, but they're not that big. the lines are getting blurry now though how do you mean you might think someone's american you

51:02 stage and asked you where i was you'd think i was playing san francisco really it was interesting yeah some of the people who came didn't even speak english What's your last name? but not long after, like, 05, 06. And then every once in a while, I get this feeling like I'm the funniest guy. I performed like I was desperate for it. I wiped out in Hartford,

53:00 and and the shows were like every shows like 20,000 seats. They were like all these. That's the one. I had a tour bus with me. you really yeah feel the environment you see things um and i would i'd stop and play one of It was right around closing. and people laugh and they can't it was like doing they should do street comedy best birthday ever had.

55:24 And it just makes me feel like, it's not a midlife crisis. the people that I've met, the friendships that I've had, You know, people where I live hang out in Dayton. I'm sure you got an earful when you got off yeah but i was like you know during the run we would go places and From the south down, the city was evacuated, and levity in me. Yeah. fuck and we were just freaking out about the fact there's no planes like look at this guy there's no

58:39 It becomes a hobby like if you see a window and you've got a rock, Attack. I'll never do that shit again. Don't read the comments. So congratulations, motherfucker. But like you say, and here's the rub, you can just not read them. listening to someone's ass when they take it shouldn't be like ew you farted what the fuck Why do that? Every single generation, if you follow like Steven Pinker's work, from the beginning of time, from recorded history to now, it's the safest time to be alive ever.

1:02:07 It's like things change even though there's more violence now than ever What about all the murders? There'll be ups and downs. People had to do some shit. was when everyone started Right. Comedians are, yeah, in a way. and the world's going on. Yeah, yeah, yeah. a part of what they do. You're not selling that if you're a comic. Nobody. Not me. Fuck that.

1:06:04 he's got Jumanji 5 coming out. Impossible not to like him. He's just a good dude. No, he's just a good dude. Yeah, yeah. the masses will never see because they couldn't navigate the rocks you know what I mean? When he's not working working he's like making shoes he ain't doing I think he quit acting more boring process than the bureaucracy of passing a bill no matter what the bill's about

1:09:35 nailed it yeah he nailed it but that's what people when people think of the I drink your milkshake. Yeah. I should see it. With my Filipino mother-in-law. She sang the national anthem and everything. I was like when he got knocked out, like these moments. Oh, you were there when Marquez knocked him out? Boy, was I. With my Filipino mother-in-law. Now, who do you have on Saturday?

1:11:11 He learned something from Floyd Mayweather. boxed him up it was like watching a Globetrotters game yeah it was that it And that's not indicative of a classic Mexican boxer. When a great fighter fights another great fighter, they learn something. and learn the lessons that the ass whooping taught you, that 76 Olympic gold medalist team not 76 was it Was it 84? 84 team. Where it was like Mark Breland, Riddick Bowe.

1:13:44 Julio Cesar Chavez was relentless julio says chavez was relentless a fight and i'm like man this guy took some shots. Took some shots. and he was talking to a fan Tough to watch. retires undefeated. Thoughtful. Andre Ward was carrying Oakland. That's right. I was really, like, inspired meeting him. Like, I could quit. about coming back, right? Remember that?

1:17:01 it was so, That's incredible. He went to see Cosby. As we speak. used to be filled with shitty cars yeah and now you'll see a guy you never even heard of getting That's a lot to miss. started doing things online. And like Andrew Schultz, the best example, I think he started He's like, the key to this is you've got to hit it fast. is interesting because his stand-up is slower he he holds laughs he holds paws he laughs at shit

1:20:55 But he used that time and innovated. I know what you mean, but for him, he's coming up still. I look fine. like a real legitimate pandemic. Life might be okay. Everyone who bought a ticket got a COVID test, free mask. in there no matter what we said at a certain point we all just we were all happy to be there They really did. yeah your belly gets full you don't feel like going as hard as you used to.

1:24:34 It was fun to watch. was ever present. Everything's gonna be okay with the spirit of comedy love about the genre was ever present. Like if I can't do real comedy, if I can't do comedy the way I've always done comedy, Yep. Would you ever leave the limelight? Yeah, they have to be filled for mental clarity. who's a yeah Ridiculous. But can he write a monologue?

1:27:34 Who knows? no okay i was just curious uh there was uh some people that felt like he dismissed covid's danger and saying that children are essentially immune. By the way, he and she were very incredibly kind. that was a tough one. We hung out on a tour I just thought it was funny And any deviation of that is problematic, Get ready for this cheapskate.

1:30:40 Yeah, I think so. You know what I mean? Because I asked him, I'm like, what's it like to be you? It was just like, he's being honest. more than half the people on earth live on a dollar a day, I don't know who's brimming with happiness. but it also comes with so much pressure, so much responsibility, and so much scrutiny. like I don't get it like why are you upset what do you think's in it for Elon like if I was the

1:33:49 I'm going to watch. Is that fight out here in Texas? It's open. It was wild. and gosh remember we increased the cap so maybe we're up to like 700 people a night on a busy Joe, let me tell you something. oh yeah who beat Conor and then he just Fuck, yeah. I'm such a boxing fan one night at the store. You were like, Dave, I see so much violence I'm starting to worry about myself. You know what I mean? MMA, all that grounded, pounded shit, it's like really intense. I remember talking to you one night at the store.

1:36:17 My wife cut her head. I'm so accustomed to lacerations and concussions arts tournaments and seeing so many people get fucked up there so i've just seen like my whole that have probably ever lived, I'm used to taking animals apart. I remember talking to a doctor once about just that, And not just physically, you know, emotionally. given out online what that would be interesting to see like the emotional impact of like online

1:39:56 They do have a profound acuteness to how awareness of how they make other people feel. because they'll go after somebody just for the laugh. he lost both his legs in the war. I don't know if I should talk about that, his sense of humor was People are dope. ability to write things in text and say mean shit to people and you think it's okay because yeah you

1:42:09 Because ultimately they'll all exist on vinyl. formerly known as Most Def, Talib Kweli, us finding an excuse to be together. Yeah. it's like you'd seen each other just a moment ago, Yeah, that's everything. they're watching it on the video. it's nothing wrong with apologizing. a joke I wrote like it was a stump speech, Well, it's just, especially with stand-ups.

1:46:09 Who's signing up for that shit now? I did. So now there's a thousand guns inside of the Capitol. situation i don't know that people even agree on what the truth is. That's a problem. It's a real problem. It is that. That's a problem. money around of course if they unfettered that yeah it's it's the greed is killing us It's like, who's prioritizing this shit?

1:50:07 But I don't conflate that with their character. And if not just vaccines, but also some form of effective therapy. Do you stay in or do you go out? bad one like a spanish flu like something that kills a large percentage of the people that get But we're talking about just raw numbers. And I think this is also what got Elon in trouble. respirators remember when they were all looking for respirators yeah new york city needs respirators

1:52:59 And, and, and I was, I was incredibly lucky. And you take vitamins? everybody it doesn't and and and that's what's, I guess. but every healthcare professional I talk to, So did Donnell, which is hilarious. Oh, yeah, Will Smith did pose as a dad bod. going to do is take that photograph and then you're going to see him four or five months from It was amazing.

1:55:49 How about Jamie Foxx? And he'll probably look like him somehow. He's so talented as a singer. Is he really? i got i got swole for a minute but then i was like this is stupid you did you got pretty big Like I'm so skinny that this thing is believable. i wouldn't you know i wouldn't do nothing i was like this is fucked up yeah crack so that's a Wasn't that obscure?

1:58:35 Dr. researcher i forget what you know what university is yet i forget but columbia brilliant brilliant Oh wow brilliant guy and like it's tough to argue with him because he knows so much about guy doesn't sound he sounds like any functional drug addict i've ever met and in my line of work And he says it's like having a flu. Because of drugs. like covid and what and why did i feel fine and in 2 000 people a day in new york that mean well

2:01:55 Take bad drugs, bad things happen. He knows it from like, you know, an academic perspective. Elvis is another one. It's a different thing. of that up close would be like eddie yeah one of the guys who's been you know on that level yeah and eddie is You know, this shit ain't no bicycle, man. You know, it's funny. and I still don't think those jokes are transphobic.

2:06:06 But it makes it even more fun to see to hurt anybody. Right, He looks great. Sanford and Son. He looked terrible. No, I have no idea. It's good to see. and ridiculous watches and purses No. It's a peak work thing. Yeah. mean something what do you want to do? trying to hit a homer but sometimes it smile you muster for a person or you Yeah, yeah. That's the one on the red carpet.

2:11:30 journey to your life it which makes it meaningful you know and you know for you this takes some consistency I wasn't famous. Well, because it seemed unattainable. ever saw that walked in with security hilarious i was like wow he's got security at the store and needed it bro D.C. club. Marlon Wayans was there. guy. Great performer. Like the shit he did on that stage that night.

2:14:45 People forgot for some reason. That was you so crazy days. it i mean i haven't seen martin in a long time i haven't seen him in forever i ran into him at the That's true. Boston, like you say, that was one of those cities. Why didn't you fall for that? I mean, I would put those sets up against any comic I've ever seen ever. He was just starting out.

2:17:46 this wonderfully understated deadpan comedian it was that shit was fire boston was a good circuit Rest in peace. and he kept everybody He would pull a Budweiser out of the inside pocket of his jacket these guys were all these big guys they were all like six foot plus Like, Jesus, man. I used to go up there and play college gigs all the time. Even people who aren't front bars.

2:20:45 Early on, me and him didn't get along, And that's interesting, It really would be. on the scene it was it was noticeable it wasn't like they came in quietly. They was doing some shit. I got to tell you, New York City in the 90s, 10 spots in a night you come up with a new joke on the third show you got seven cracks at it by That was part of the problem.

2:23:28 They would give you these crazy development deals. Like, they would give you, like, a half a million dollars or a quarter million dollars, and you would get this development deal, and they'd attach you to a bunch of writers. People go out there, just go out there to showcase. Late 90s. It was like a lot of energy. I feel bad because I just shouted out Chicken, and this nigga's dead for five years.

2:25:31 It didn't work out. And then it didn't work out. I don't know. The good narrative is show business got him, right? and screaming and yelling, and everybody's like, We got him, and they played against each other and got this pilot boy you know I'm in a fucking pilots I did? I was like, fuck this. This is going to be forever. That's hilarious. You know what I mean?

2:27:57 what it is. were here i played yeah i would love to do it i would definitely do it i love what you did in The first night was the night I did the video that was on YouTube, that I started finding out from the production world I had to put a call into the governor's office. I think, really helped heal the community. And because of that, he was like, OK, I'll let you

2:30:38 right right because i was working you stayed active yeah we you know we we might have done That was the game changer. Everything was probably socially distanced. As far as the audience was concerned, And the tests weren't as rapid. Right. Early on in the pandemic, there was, I think, like, you know, remember when Trump said something like, just stop testing everybody?

2:33:34 It's so interesting that that guy's not on social media now. I know. so many of them are people from them neighborhoods. wearing a Buffalo helmet. You guys are fucking the country up. at the Million Man March You got to be strong. You said, let's give him a chance. Right. And you know why I said that? there were four different five four or five different law

2:37:13 someone who can who can inspire everybody that you actually want to do a name like barack hussein obama my god man we we did that you know uh i'm i'm fond of what that You know, It's very difficult for them to disagree with that party and so easy for them to go along with it and then so easy for them to hate the people that are opposed No. But this culture of comedy, this common denominator, makes me feel like we're of the same tribe.

2:40:29 Normally I get up in the morning, and I dread getting on a plane if I have to go do a work thing. Yeah, that's good shit. Now, obviously, is this some cheap shit, Joe? Let's get it. Okay. Thank you, Jamie. but I knew where he lived. Yeah, he's just a fucking cool dude, man. We all just hang out there. Tell me about this club that you're opening. I said, how many seats are you optimal?

2:43:07 That's why I love playing the punchline, you know. This club is for people who want to rock, This was Patton Oswalt and Janine Garofalo and Dave Cross, Bob Odenkirk, these type of people. What was interesting about it to me wasn't what the comedians were trying When a crowd pushes someone, just try some stuff. You know, a guy like Seinfeld, Seinfeld does that, but then he also does that cars, comedians getting cars, in cars getting coffee show.

2:45:48 A French piece of shit. that show reminds me of you a little bit you ever done Jay Leno's Garage? got like hundreds of cars he's got warehouses and makeup on the set. He just wants to talk about cars. The guy's got, like, hundreds of cars. And just he and I just geeking out over lines. other than me one night. And you started doing Oh I know, that's what you were demonstrating me.

2:48:05 well because you weren't expecting it yeah you you were just at the comedy club i ran into you And there's a giant naked picture of Naomi Campbell on the side of the building. This is one of my favorite parts of the night. I don't have, you know, you know, You know, again, Really? And I didn't realize time that Lenny Kravitz mother was on the jefferson's which is how I knew him

2:50:13 I've never been, but I've heard stories. Prince was like that, too. I don't have really – Kanye is like this. He's running the bridge. It's fucking a strange neighborhood in life. begrudge them that. I always hope that none of us wipe. I hope we all of it. I can't begrudge them that. And I always hope that none of us wipe. All of it. That's the inclination.

2:52:50 My kids make me very hopeful for the future. I quote you all the time because of something you said to me in the parking lot of the comedy store. that I was able to muster. I'm so much nicer. I always liked a different person. I'm so much nicer. it's not like you was in the comedy club And that famous quote that I love love most men live lives of silent

2:55:07 there's less social capital in it. But I realized a long time ago I have to do all those things to keep my head right. circumstantial people who have these incredible capacities in them it's harder now that i i got for the abused women or helps women get These people blow my fucking mind. gonna start naming lemons but some of these niggas is lemons lames lames it's so true there's so many

2:57:27 I'm 53 years old. This is real? is when he's preparing for the Roy Jones fight oh wow jacked and he had these big ass muscles There's so much going on. He definitely got Mao and Arthur Ashe. All right, okay. Those motherfuckers was taking over Cuba. That is crazy. When I was doing the second season of Chappelle's show. Those motherfuckers He did. at Fidel Castro.

3:00:29 Cuban doctors I don't know. Jeff Bezos, look at fun a red carpet to take pictures on yes it's like this is so it's very strange solve problems What if somebody had a reputable American star to apply these tricks to? now I just want to try some shit. This is the guy you were telling me about. That was a great story. And he made it back seven fucking times and finally made it across to Spain

3:04:14 So he beat the fuck out of some people. nukes people as joe that's oh oh dear oh exactly he'll get interest album on the phone interest i but he's about 270-something Because he flatlines people. Yeah, watch this. And he can do that to everybody. Watch this one. He doesn't know if that guy's gonna get up on the way down. Okay. the same. But every time I talk to you,

3:07:09 But it's all because of talking to so many people. Yeah. Oh, that looks, I want to talk to that dude. It's all different. dude i you know i gotta say that night when we were all just sitting around talking you know And I'll go, what is interesting about that to you? That was tedious. Yeah, they just made me laugh, like Einstein picking up girls at a bar.

3:10:15 Yeah. You know, he was celebrated... He was just constantly evaluating the very nature of the universe itself, I'm guessing. charles who was there when it happened and he has a famous quote from that very moment he said shut So right here, let's fuck the world up. Oh, yeah. That makes a mean dude, though. I don't know what that, I can't imagine, our universe is thought of and perceived.

3:14:01 Have you been in a Tesla, like a Model S? facetime people it's it's that yeah kirk didn't even have facetime yeah and it's just an amazing It's strange. But we're going to get better. Salute, my brother. Bring it home. Bye, wrap this up. That's a wrap, fingers. That's a wrap. Bring it home.