From February 2009:
"They were saying I smoke crack and using all this innuendo, and I thought a magazine as credible as Newsweek? I was very surprised that this was happening. And then I thought I had to make some real choices. Is that what I want for myself? Did I get TOO big? Because I like people. And I like entertaining. And the higher up I go, for some reason the less happy I am. You know, is it going to get to the point where I'm doing a strip tease on TRL or waving a gun on the street saying they're trying to kill me? No, I'm not going to let it get to that point. I'm going to go to Africa... I'm going to find a way to be myself man, I gotta you know... I'm an artist man, you know I don't need a Sneaker deal. There's only six studios, man. There's only six agencies, man. This is a small controlled thing and I don't... like having to beg for the spotlight, man. You know, the machine is good for us and we're good for the machine and it should be... it should be fair, man. Martin had a stroke, he almost died. And then after that, I saw him and I said oh my God Martin, are you okay? And he said, I got the best sleep I ever got in my life. That's how tough he is. And so the question is, what is happening in Hollywood? That a guy that tough... would be on the street waving a gun screaming 'they are trying to kill me'? What is going on? Why is Dave Chappelle going to Africa? Why is Mariah Carey taking a one hundred million dollar deal and taking her clothes off on TRL? A weak person cannot get to sit here and talk to you. There ain't no weak people talking to you. So what is happening in Hollywood? Nobody knows! The worst thing to call somebody is crazy, it's dismissive. I don't understand this person, so they're crazy. That's bullshit. These people are not crazy, they're strong people. Maybe their environment...... is a little sick."
I've been following Chappelle closely from the jump, and I firmly disagree. I cant really articulate an argument to dissuade you from your opinion, but tldr Dave haa simply travelled the path to Conspiracy Theorist like most of us - but his viewpoint on the matter is highly informed by oldschool Black Radicalism (those who fought this fight during the era when they still allowed a white middle class to exist) and 2nd wave conscious hip-hop. Lets jist say they learned how to neuter conscious hip-hop in the interim between Brand Nubian and the 5%ers and the rising of the Black Star / GOOD Music era. Dave has his shortcomings and I believe they mostly tie into residual indoctrination from the 2nd Wave BS he hasnt shaken off yet. Its a brilliant undermining of the original Black Radical messages by the DS, thats for sure.
As far as being "not funny" - I think he's in Pryor / Carlin territory at this point. A lot of people didn't think they were funnt either. He's basically "Prince performing with Slave written on his face" now. I guess there really isn't anything "traditionally funny" about that...
To quote him (if only text could convey expressed vitriol) "Thank You, Comedy Central... it's been a PLEASURE".