Around 1984 Rock slowly rose up the ranks of the comedy circuit in addition to earning bit roles in films such as New Jack City and I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. Upon seeing his act at a nightclub, Eddie Murphy recommended Rock for Saturday Night Live. He was a cast member of the popular sketch comedy series from 1990–1993. His tenure on the show gave Rock national exposure; but he was rarely used on the show, save for his recurring Nat X character. Rock was fired from SNL in the spring of 1993 as part of a regular cast turnover. Chris took the firing to concentrate on a film career and to lend his talent to the then-fading sketch show In Living Color. Unfortunately, acting jobs were few; so Rock abandoned Hollywood to concentrate on stand-up comedy. In 1991, he released his first comedy album, Born Suspect. He starred in his first HBO comedy special in 1993 titled Big Ass Jokes.
His second 1996 stand-up special Bring the Pain reinvented Chris Rock as one of the hottest comedians in the industry. His routine, which featured commentaries on race in America, stirred up a great deal of controversy. Adding to his popularity was his much-publicized role as a commentator for Comedy Central's coverage of the 1996 Presidential elections.
Rock has since had two more HBO comedy specials: Bigger and Blacker in 1999, and Never Scared in 2004. Articles relating to both specials called Rock "the funniest man in America" in Time and Entertainment Weekly, respectively. HBO also aired his talk show, The Chris Rock Show, which gained critical acclaim for Rock's interviews with celebrities and politicians. His specials and talk show established Rock as one of the preeminent stand-up comedians and comic minds of his generation. His television work has won him 3 Emmy Awards and 15 nominations for his performing and writing. In 2004, Rock was named the 5th Greatest Stand-Up Comedian of All-Time by Comedy Central. During this time, Rock also translated his comedy into print form in the book Rock This! and released two bestselling comedy albums, Roll with the New and Bigger and Blacker.
While Rock has acted in movies since 1986 (beginning with a small role in Beverly Hills Cop II), it was not until the success of his stand-up act in the late 1990s that Rock began receiving major parts in films. These include roles in Dogma, Beverly Hills Ninja, Lethal Weapon 4 and Nurse Betty and a starring role in Down to Earth. Rock has also increasingly worked behind the camera, both as a writer in CB4 and director of Head of State and the upcoming I Think I Love My Wife. In the fall of 2005, the UPN television network premiered a comedy series called Everybody Hates Chris, based on Rock's school days, for which he is the executive producer and narrator.
His comedy typically involves race relations in the United States, music, romance, and class relationships. Though not directly based on it, many of his comedic views are rooted in his teen years; his very strict parents, concerned about the neighborhood schools, had him bused to an almost all-white high school in Bensonhurst (an Italian-ethnic neighborhood of Brooklyn that was known at the time for poor race relations). Rock claims to have been arrested four times: once for vehicular assault on a youth who had robbed him, and three times for traffic violations, including driving without a license and "driving too slow".
Champagne
Chris Rock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I mean there's a couple of people that can flow
But for the most part the genre sucks
Just a bunch of people singin over rap beats
Get a old rap record? Sing over it!
Now everybody talk about their label label this label that hey
Smokey Robinson wasn't singin about Motown!
Listen the Isley Brothers wasn't goin 'Teaneck in the motherfuckin house!'
Because nobody gave a fuck!
Hey, it's time for a record! Here goes!
Ladies and gentlemen, I am the Bluff Daddy
And this is a Black Boy exclusive
Black Boy make you jump for joy, Black Boy make you jump for joy
Sing!
I, like champagne (feels good to my brain baby)
Black
I, like champagne
What you drinkin?
(drink it in the rain)
I, love champagne
Say it
(say it once again)
I, like champagne
Yo baby you got any money?
Nigga I'm broke, and feelin kinda thirsty (too blad)
Just smoked a blunt, and, I, feel, the worst way (Black Boy)
My baby's father, brought me a case of St. Ide's (did you like it?)
I said, 'I don't drink that shit nigga, you better recognize!'
Would you let the lady finish the song?
Now I'm a broke hoe with expensive tastes (you my hoe)
I got six ankle chains around my waist (who bought them for you baby)
Gotta get my sip on (get your sip on) cause that's my missi-on (you gotta get)
Gotta get my champagne on, or I'm gonna get my bitch on (that's right)
I, like champagne (feels good to my brain baby)
I, like champagne
Cristal!
(Drink it in the rai-ai-in)
I, love champagne
Say it again
(Say it once again)
I, like champagne (once again)
Ladies and gentlemen, Freedom Williams
Enter the Dom/e of Perignon, I never been crept upon
I'm on the mike and my word is bond (hoo hoo!)
I'm the top the pinnacle, the echelon
I'm never fallin (c'mon) and beat MC's with a baton
The conniseur, I'm gonna do her over dinner
(Black Boy make you jump for joy, Black Boy make you jump for joy)
I said fine cigars, fresh fish, Alize toast
(Black Boy make you jump for joy, Black Boy make you jump for joy)
My lifestyle's ghost, when you see true enlightened men
To MC's I incite and mend
What? Motherfucker what the fuck?
Fuck who the hell are you? "I'm the king"
I'm only gonna ask one last time
Who the fuck are you? "I'm the king"
Stop hitting me! Stop!
Who da bumba claat?
"Oh shit"
For someone who is a Shaolin Monk
Your Kung-Fu's really lousy!
Boy, I'm three generations deep, in gangsterdom
Three generations!
The song "Champagne" by Chris Rock is a commentary on the state of R&B at the time of its release. In the opening verse, Chris criticizes R&B for being a genre where singers simply sing over rap beats, and talk about their labels. He contrasts this with the music of artists from the past like Smokey Robinson and The Jacksons who did not focus on their labels. Chris then launches into an exclamation, and announces the arrival of the Bluff Daddy, introducing the song he is about to perform.
The song itself seems to be an anthem to the champagne lifestyle, embraced by people who aspire to luxury but may not necessarily have the means to afford it. The first verse has Chris singing in a falsetto about how he likes champagne and asks what the listener is drinking. In the second verse, a woman sings of how she has expensive tastes despite being broke, and how she needs to "get [her] sip on" to keep herself mellow. The song also features a rap verse by Freedom Williams, in which he raps about luxury and his lavish lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo man R&B sucks!
Chris Rock expresses how he dislikes R&B music
I mean there's a couple of people that can flow
Chris Rock acknowledges that there are exceptions to his dislike for R&B music
But for the most part the genre sucks
Chris Rock asserts that his opinion of R&B music is overwhelmingly negative
Just a bunch of people singin over rap beats
Chris Rock criticizes R&B music for its lack of originality and original production
Get a old rap record? Sing over it!
Chris Rock points out the unoriginality of R&B artists who sing over previously-recorded rap beats
Now everybody talk about their label label this label that hey
Chris Rock criticizes R&B artists for often promoting their recording labels excessively
Smokey Robinson wasn't singin about Motown!
Chris Rock compares modern R&B artists' excessive labeling to how Smokey Robinson didn't sing too much about Motown
Listen the Isley Brothers wasn't goin 'Teaneck in the motherfuckin house!'
Chris Rock further illustrates his comparison between modern R&B artists and artists of the past who didn't excessively talk about labels
The Jacksons wasn't singin about Epic
Chris Rock reiterates his point that past artists didn't excessively talk about labels
Because nobody gave a fuck!
Chris Rock speculates that the lack of excessive labeling in past artists suggests there was no need for it
I, like champagne (feels good to my brain baby)
Chris Rock likens his enjoyment of music to the enjoyment of champagne
I, like champagne
Chris Rock restates his fondness for champagne
What you drinkin?
Chris Rock asks what others are drinking
(drink it in the rain)
Chris Rock references drinking champagne in the rain as a pleasurable experience
I, love champagne
Chris Rock asserts his love of champagne
Say it
Chris Rock requests for someone to affirm their love of champagne as well
(say it once again)
Chris Rock reiterates his request for affirmation
Yo baby you got any money?
Chris Rock inquires about someone's money
Nigga I'm broke, and feelin kinda thirsty (too blad)
Someone responds that they are broke and can't afford to satisfy their thirst
Just smoked a blunt, and, I, feel, the worst way (Black Boy)
Someone reveals how they feel after having just smoked marijuana
My baby's father, brought me a case of St. Ide's (did you like it?)
Someone tells Chris that their baby's father bought them St. Ide's beer and asks if they liked it
I said, 'I don't drink that shit nigga, you better recognize!'
Someone tells Chris that they did not enjoy the beer and that the baby's father should know better
Now I'm a broke hoe with expensive tastes (you my hoe)
Someone describes themselves as a person who is financially broke but still desires expensive things
I got six ankle chains around my waist (who bought them for you baby)
Someone boasts about having multiple ankle bracelets and asks who bought them for them
Gotta get my sip on (get your sip on) cause that's my missi-on (you gotta get)
Someone expresses their desire to drink champagne
Gotta get my champagne on, or I'm gonna get my bitch on (that's right)
Someone suggests that if they do not drink champagne, they will become aggressive or angry
Cristal!
Chris Rock speaks the name of a luxury champagne brand
Enter the Dom/e of Perignon, I never been crept upon
Chris Rock references another luxury champagne brand as well as asserts that he has never been caught off guard
I'm on the mike and my word is bond (hoo hoo!)
Chris Rock declares that he is on the microphone and his words should be taken seriously
I'm the top the pinnacle, the echelon
Chris Rock boasts about being at the top of his field
I'm never fallin (c'mon) and beat MC's with a baton
Chris Rock believes he is invincible and can defeat other MCs with ease
The conniseur, I'm gonna do her over dinner
Chris Rock calls himself a champagne expert and suggests he can woo women over dinner
(Black Boy make you jump for joy, Black Boy make you jump for joy)
Chris Rock references his management team called Black Boy
I said fine cigars, fresh fish, Alize toast
Chris Rock describes the luxurious amenities he enjoys
My lifestyle's ghost, when you see true enlightened men
Chris Rock suggests his lifestyle is largely unnoticed by most people
To MC's I incite and mend
Chris Rock suggests he is able to inspire and mend fellow musicians
For someone who is a Shaolin Monk
Chris Rock addresses someone pretending to be a Shaolin Monk
Your Kung-Fu's really lousy!
Chris Rock taunts the alleged Shaolin Monk for not being good at Kung-Fu
Boy, I'm three generations deep, in gangsterdom
Chris Rock brags about his own generational affiliation with gangsters
Three generations!
Chris Rock emphasizes how many generations of his family have had relations to gangsters
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group
Written by: DARRYL MATTHEWS MCDANIELS, LAWRENCE SMITH, JOSEPH WARD SIMMONS, ALI R.T. LE ROI, DONALD K. NEWKIRK, PRINCE PAUL, CHRISTOPHER JULIUS ROCK, FREDERICK BRANDON WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nunmuduru
I know this supposed to be a parody but shit goes hard.
Brian Z 2
Agreed
IGotGrapes09
r.i.p. pimp c...bet he was very proud in '97 that by making this spoof they got to not only take a 💩 all over puffy and missy but at the same time...they really did unexpectedly TOP the roots "what they do video"....great job....💯
Martha Arechiga
@Mike Killagreen is que uy
galaxyii
Damn straight!
Mike Killagreen
Hell yeah
Matty Squizzato
This is pure genius. Never gets old.
Megared82
"I drink champagne when I hustle, I drink champagne wit' Nipsey Russell" So do I!!
IllegalD
@CAM BAM Nipsey RUSSELL. NOT Nipsey Hussle. LMFAO. (though they both dead...)
EweToobUsername
“I’m a broke ho with expensive taste”
Dead.