Brow Beat

Dave Chappelle Does Brilliant, Meandering Stand-Up for Four Whole Hours

Dave Chappelle loves stand-up. He’s had some unfortunate sets—last year’s brouhaha in Hartford, for example—but the comedian’s most biting and brilliant material has always come on stage. That’s amply evident in this 2009 gig, found by Splitsider, that features Chappelle performing for four whole hours at New York’s Comic Strip club.

The set is Chappelle at his best: informal and digressive, but with a crafty and masterful command of his material. It’s also Chappelle at his most casual—there’s a hangout session vibe to the performance, and Chappelle not only riffs with the audience but indulges in entire conversations with them.