If you are looking for contemporary humour with surprising depth then look no further than Chris Rock.

The American actor, screenwriter, television producer, film producer and director; is fundamentally known for his comedy. Drawing on his personal experiences of family, romance, class and race, he enhances this subject matter using intelligent political content as well as his hobbies, which include music.

With an interesting background to use as his muse, Rock certainly earns his place as one of International Life’s favourite comedians. Growing up he was one of the only black teenagers in an all-white high school. His education grew on more levels than an average teenager, race and class became immediately apparent yet he knew his parents’ intentions were to receive a better education in a better neighbourhood. He recalls, “What I actually got was a worse education in a worse neighbourhood. And a whole bunch of ass-whippings.”

However Rock will never take the title of a role model, in truth he admits discomfort that success in stand-up comedy should oblige him to serve as a model for aspiring comedians, he states “nowadays, you’ve got to be an entertainer and a leader. It’s too much.”

Rock began his stand-up comedy in 1985 in New York City’s Catch a Rising Star, but it was Eddie Murphy who gave him his initial break in Beverley Hills Cops II. Following this successful film he tried his hand at various projects including Saturday Night Live, with well-known funny man Adam Sandler, however it was his second HBO comedy special 1996’s Bring the Pain which elevated him up to comedic great status. Winning two Emmys for this routine featuring commentary on the race situation in America, he stirred up great controversy across the states. He continued working on various projects and by the end of the decade had his feet firmly under a table of the word’s preeminent comedians, which is where you can find him today.