It's Pimpin' Pimpin'

With so much of the magic coming from the comedian's facial expressions and body language, this audio-only version of Katt Williams' It's Pimpin' Pimpin' live show is easily second to the DVD. That said, it's a killer, hilarious show that finds Williams shifting from being the Flavor Flav of standup to being the Sly Stone of standup with all the mania and social commentary evolving as such. His riffing on the transition from President Bush to President Obama seems erratic on the surface — veering off into topics like late-night television commercials and low-grade weed — but it's deceptively well-composed, allowing Williams to voice his "'bout time" opinions on America's first black president while keeping the laugh count high and rapid-fire, just as his audience has grown to expect. The "better yourself" message he communicates through his "find your (inner) star player" routine is Obama's "Yes We Can" brilliantly translated with the strength of street knowledge. The provocative "Scared of Rope" touches upon the slave trade with Williams' Richard Pryor and Lenny Bruce influences brilliantly channeled through a hurricane of jokes. Even the highlight "Poor Little Tink Tink" is heavier than it seems, but this extremely funny bit shouldn't be spoiled by any explanation of the title. It's Pimpin' Pimpin' is on the level of Eddie Murphy's early work, so while it should be seen and not just heard, this audio-only version will be as cherished as all those Raw and Delirious bootleg cassettes the cool kids traded back in the day.