Following months on hiatus, word is Chappelle's Show is calling it quits after only two seasons on Comedy Central.
The show came to a halt when Dave Chappelle abruptly left the U.S. for a "spiritual retreat" in Africa this past April. Now Charlie Murphy, one of the lead comedians in the show's sketches, has told The New York Post that the show won't return for a third season.
"I don't think Dave is going to do anymore," Murphy, who also writes for the show told The New York Post. "We shot about eight shows for the third season and they're hilarious. They'll be released on DVD, I'm sure. But that's it."
Murphy became a show favorite after the premier of "Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories." The two-part series spoofed funk legend Rick James and pop veteran Prince. Murphy is presently keeping busy by headlining Caroline's comedy club in Manhattan, New York from August 11th to August 14th. Word is Chappelle has also been working on some stand-up comedy routines.
"He probably wants to put a big show together, then put it on the road," Murphy revealed to The Post.
Murphy also claims that he still doesn't know why Chappelle disappeared last April. According to the comedian, he, Chappelle and Donnell "Ashy Larry" Rawlings filmed a skit for the third season entitled "Monsters Inc." a day before Chappelle left for Africa.
"It was hilarious," Murphy shared with The Post. "I was Frankenstein. Dave was The Wolfman. Donnell was The Mummy. We were living together and experiencing problems because we're monsters. But I thought it was because I was black that all these things were happening, not because I was Frankenstein. It was all fun, very normal."
Apparently, Murphy came to work the next day and Chappelle was nowhere to be seen.
"The ball's in Dave's court," Comedy Central president, Doug Herzog, recently told the press. "If you see him, tell him to phone home."
The second season's DVD was first scheduled to hit stores February 8th, but was postponed to May 24th. Meanwhile, the show's third season was first slated to premiere in February to coincide with the second season's DVD release. The season premiere later got pushed back to May 31st.
Weeks prior to the expected third season premiere, billboards advertising the series were plastered all over various cities across the country. The third season was then pushed back for the third time when Chappelle suddenly went to Africa. Reports say Chappelle flew out to Los Angeles to meet with Herzog this past June. Word is the two parties were meeting to finally get the third season off the ground. Chappelle Show heads have been on stand by ever since.
Since premiering in early 2003, the Emmy-nominated sketch comedy has routinely featured performances from Hip-Hop and R&B's finest, including Ludacris, Erykah Badu, Anthony Hamilton, DMX, Kanye West, Common, Talib Kweli and many more. Mos Def, Snoop Dogg, and Lil Jon have performed as well as appeared in skits.
In September, Chappelle managed to reunite disbanded super group The Fugees for his Brooklyn block party. The show marked the group's first collective performance in over 7 years and is now in preparation to hit the streets as a DVD music documentary. The concert also featured performances from the aforementioned Badu and The Roots with surprise guests Big Daddy Kane and Kool G Rap among others.
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Up and coming NYC rapper and Just Blaze protégé, Saigon is set to appear on the HBO hit series "Entourage."
The Yardfather will be featured in three episodes of the network's series. "Entourage" is centered on the lives of newly successful Hollywood actor "Vince" and his three friends from his Queens, NY hometown that come along for the ride.
The emcee-turned-actor will also be performing his remix to Nas' "War" for the season finale on September 4th. Additionally Blaze's "Letter P" remix, "Come Again" and two other songs will be used in the making of the show.
Meanwhile, Saigon is putting the finishing touches to his highly anticipated debut album The Greatest Story Never Told. The LP is set to be released on Atlantic/Fort Knocks Records and will be executive produced by Just Blaze. As of press time no release date has been scheduled.
Look for Saigon to be featured on upcoming episodes of HBO's "Entourage" airing on Sundays at 10pm EST.
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Atlantic Records recently previewed tracks from Lil' Kim's The Naked Truth, which featured disses aimed at 50 Cent, Junior M.A.F.I.A and Foxy Brown among others.
Star Jones of "The View" is also targeted in one of Kim's fiery disses. On "Spell Check," which reportedly may be a single, Queen Bee borrows K-Solo's "Spellbound" concept and turns the track into a spelling bee. Kim also takes jabs at 50 on the cut when she offers, "Your man five-o, I don't see him in the club/ 'Cause he's out in CT with a dick in his butt." Kim then takes on Junior M.A.F.I.A. on "My ni99as" when she spits, "Fuck Junior M.A.F.I.A and anyone who rides with them."
On another track, Kim goes at her longtime nemesis, Foxy Brown. Though she doesn't actually name Fox, she refers to the rapper's recent brawl with Miami rapper Jacki-O. "Jacki-O proved you far from a fighter/... I'm not gonna come at you, I'm gonna come at your ghost writer," Kim warns.
Yet, the album isn't solely focused on disses. Scott Storch, Kim's ex, provides the Queen Bee with stand out production on "Brooklyn," a BK anthem on which Kim jacks Damion Marley's "Welcome To Jamrock" flow.
Lil' Kim's The Naked Truth is scheduled to hit stores September 13th.
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After a four year absence, Kurupt is slated to release his highly anticipated fourth solo album, Against Tha Grain on Death Row Records this month.
The LP will mark Kurupt's first release on Marion "Suge" Knight's Death Row Records since rejoining the label back in 2002. The CD features collaborations with the late Tupac Shakur, M.O.P and R&B singer Dave Hollister among others. To date, Kurupt has released three albums: 1998's Kuruption!, 1999's Streetz Is A Mutha, and 2001's Space Boogie: Smoke Oddyssey.
Kurupt's Against Tha Grain featuring guest appearances by Tupac and M.O.P is scheduled to hit stores August 23rd on Death Row Records.
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