"The Signifyin' Monkey," from 1975's Dolemite (note: NSFW)
Rudy Ray Moore, aka Dolemite, aka the Human Tornado, aka Petey Wheatstraw the Devil's Son-in-Law, has left the world as we know it. Friday, Moore, 81, passed away in an Akron, Ohio, nursing home from complications from diabetes.
The trailer to Dolemite (note: NSFW)
Moore's contributions to the world of entertainment seem endless. In the '70s, he tested the boundaries of censorship and pioneered hip-hop back with his rapping Dolemite the pimp character. The movie Dolemite, which he wrote, is a cult classic and a source of inspiration for almost every rapper to lay lyrics to tape since the '80s.
The title? Eat Out More Often.
After accomplishing himself as comedy mainstay, he’d always work musical arrangements into his albums where he could. He even recorded an album of nothing but soul songs during the high point of his career - and unlike Jim Belushi, he’s pretty damn good at it.
So here’s to Rudy! Even in heaven, I’m sure he’s the same old dirty motherfucker. - Brett Koshkin