8:46

I'm not sure what the other reviewers who gave this one star were expecting to hear from Dave Chappelle so close to the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent protests around the world, I really have no idea! But personally, I was expecting something powerful and full of passion, and that's what Chappelle gave us.

Anyone expecting comedy from Dave Chappelle right now hasn't been paying attention to who he is!

Dave isn't there to draw cheap laughs or say "the right thing." What he delivers is a half hour of passionate social commentary, a righteous anger filtered through his unique personable, conversational style. He gets through to people as only Dave Chappelle can. To critics, I say: don't ask what Chappelle is missing, ask what society is missing that people are hungry to hear this message from a comedian. Dave is right - it's because he doesn't deal in political spin, virtue signalling, clout-seeking, or wooden ideological agendas. We know he speaks from his soul.

In this brief COVID-lockdown era special Dave dials down the jokes and dials up the anger. It's not a comedian on stage foaming at the mouth, but you can see the anger in his face and hear it in his voice. It comes from a good place though because "8:46" is representative of the eight minutes and forty-six seconds Derek Chauvin kneeled on George Floyd's neck (we now know that the time was above nine minutes). A visibly shaken Dave wanted to address the issue while throwing in a joke or two. Was it as funny as other stuff of his? No, and I'm not mad.

I admit, this was more of a rant than a well-executed stand-up special, but it was necessary! Besides, Dave gave the audience a verbal disclaimer at the onset. There are very few political satirists at the top of the black comedy food chain. I imagine, because it can be a career killer or maker in Hollywood, but David has already shown the world that his personal integrity and truth far outweigh the almighty dollar and what's considered "safe" material. He walked away from $50 million, and everyone thought he had lost his mind! Boy, did he prove them wrong.

The only other black stand-up comedians I can think of that push the subject matter envelope and dare to go where others won't are Chris Rock, DL Hughley, Wanda Sykes and Michael Che. These comedians make us all think about hard-truths, and not just hee and haw when we're done watching. Political satire is an art form all its own that not many comedians possess. I feel you Dave on every level!

This isn't a comedy show, Dave is releasing some pure anger in this special. Even Dave claims it is not well rehearse, just an angry man talking. It is good if you know what you are getting into. This isn't "Killing me Softly," that is pure comedy art. This is just a man who is pissed off and needs to release some steam.

8/10 (DAVE has surpassed Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor, he is now the GOAT)