Emmy and Grammy Award-winning Chris Rock has been hailed internationally as one of stand-up comedy’s heavyweights. The release of his forthcoming “best-of” collection, entitled CHEESE AND CRACKERS: THE GREATEST BITS (Geffen Records) only further cements Rock as comedy’s ultimate funnyman. The first ever compilation album from Rock’s infamous comedy repertoire hits stores in the United States on December 18th, and internationally on January 21st, 2008.
CHEESE AND CRACKERS: THE GREATEST BITS is being released on the heels of Rock’s first stand-up tour in over three years – NO APOLOGIES – that will kick off with a New Year’s Eve date at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. Featuring all new material, in January, Rock will head to the United Kingdom where he will perform for his first time ever overseas. Rock immediately sold out his original set of 2008 U.K. tour dates, and to satiate the fervent demand, an additional week-long overseas leg was added.
The NO APOLOGIES tour will resume in the U.S. in February, continuing through May. The tour will include stops in Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, Seattle, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Atlantic City, a trio of shows at Los Angeles’ Gibson Amphitheatre in April, and an additional round of dates at MSG in New York (full tour listing below). Dates are currently being added for Australia and South Africa, where Rock will also play for the first time, after the first leg of the NO APOLOGIES U.S. tour ends in May.
Featuring 19 tracks of Rock’s most notorious moments, CHEESE AND CRACKERS: THE GREATEST BITS showcases the Brooklyn-raised comic’s insight on everything from race relations, politics, sex, and the infamous “N-word.” Most of the material comes from his legendary HBO specials, including the Grammy- and Emmy-winning BRING THE PAIN, Grammy Award-winning BIGGER & BLACKER, and 2004’s NEVER SCARED, which was also awarded a Grammy for Best Comedy Album.
Favorite quote: A man always wins a fight in gods sight - Slick Rick.
Sports: Baseball, Football, Basketball, Boxing. Teams: Mets, Jets, and Knicks.
Favorite music: Prince, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nas, Jay Z, Outcast, Mr Scarface, Metallica, Herb Albert, Miles Davis.
Favorite movies: Man On Fire, Annie Hall, Freddy Got Fingered, 28 Weeks Later, The Nutty Professor, South Park Bigger and Uncut, He Got Game, Pulp Fiction.
Favorite TV shows: The Wire, 24, The Shield, The Larry Sanders Show, The Sports Reporters.
Favorite books: Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, The Belly Of The Beast by Jack Henry Abbott, Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them by Al Franken, Side Effects by Woody Allen, The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin, Nigger by Dick Gregory.
Hero's: My Parents, Oprah, Cornell West, Jason Bourne, Spider-man.
Charities: The Brooklyn Salvation Army.
Favorite artist: Jean Michel Basquiat, Salvador Dali, Micheal Ray Charles, David Lachapelle.
Music
Television
Chris Rock's Favorite Standup Specials:
Richard Pryor Live In Concert 1979 -
This is what every comic is striving for and we all fall very short. The
perfect concert
Paul Mooney: Jesus Is Black- So Was Cleopatra. -
This show has more edge than anything you are ever going to see.
Dave Chappelle: Killin' Them Softly -
I love this show. The whole joke about the baby hanging out at 2 in the
morning is as funny as it gets.
Eddie Murphy: Delirious -
Nobody ever had a better skill set than Eddie. The best dirty jokes you
wanna hear. Ed Norton fucking Ralph Kramden up the ass and the best clean
bits. The ice cream man could have been done by Cosby.
Bill Cosby: Himself -
The genius of this show is that not one joke is topical. Everything is
timeless.
George Carlin: Jammin' in New York -
Look up don't give fuck in the dictionary and a picture of George Carlin
will pop up. I love the global warming bit.
George Lopez: America's Mexican -
George is the Mexican Richard Pryor and Bill Cosby at the same time. His
family stuff is classic, but his political stuff is insane and the
immigration stuff is as good as it gets.
Steve Harvey: One Man -
This is probably the most underrated HBO special of all time.
Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays -
Brilliant, touching and fucking funny. The best thing Billy has ever done.
First time in my life I cried at a comedy show.
Andrew Dice Clay: The Day The Laughter Died -
This is a comedy album only a comedian could love. Dice on stage fucking
around Genius.
Ron White: They Call Me Tater Salad -
Love this special. The best of the Blue Collar comics and right now one of
the best in the country. It's like Andy Griffith with pussy.
Ellen DeGeneres: Here and Now -
Most comics just talk about what they see. This is the first time I heard
somebody talk about what they felt.
Sam Kinison: Louder Than Hell -
Most comics are derivatives of Pryor, Cosby, or Seinfeld. Sam reminded you
of Billy Graham. The last original comic who's jokes and delivery had never
been done before.
Loved you on Oprah! I'm so excited because I'm going this evening to see your new movie "Good Hair". Keep up the good work on your comedies and don't let anyone pull you down!! You're the greatest!!!! Hugs ~ Sue
Hey Chris, Cheers for the add. You should come over to England a bit more, we love you over here. You have been the funniest us comedian for the past 10yrs. Love your stuff, has me in stitches. Keep up the good work.
