By now you’ve probably heard about (if not seen clips of) Joaquin Phoenix’s rap performance in Las Vegas over the weekend. The would-be rapper performed three songs from his upcoming album (said to be produced by Diddy), spitting a series of stilted, robotic rhymes while rocking a beard thick enough to shelter a family of opossum. When Phoenix first announced he was giving up acting for a life in hip-hop, we all thought he was nuts. Then, when videos of him actually rapping first circulated some weeks back, we started to think it had to be a put-on . And now, after this latest performance, coupled with the announcement that Casey Affleck is shooting a documentary about the entire experience, we’re starting to wonder this whole thing is just a rather unfunny Andy Kaufman-esque stunt that will end with the release of an Affleck mockumentary. Phoenix has shown a penchant for messing with people before, like the time he told a reporter on the red carpet that he felt like there was a frog coming out of his head. And why would Affleck make a documentary about Phoenix’s transition to rapping, seeing as he only just announced that he is now a rapper, so there’s little story to document? Here at EW, we’re as puzzled as you are about this whole thing. But if that spectacle on display over the weekend, which at one point included a disheveled Phoenix falling off the stage, is a serious attempt at a new career, then the one-time Oscar nominee has us seriously puzzled.
What do you think, PopWatchers? Can this be real? Do you see any redeeming value in it as a hip-hop performance? Would you be into an Affleck mockumentary about this insanity, should that be what it’s actually about?
More on Joaquin Phoenix:
Joaquin Phoenix’s rap career the subject of debate (and a Casey Affleck-directed documentary)
Joaquin Phoenix wants to be a singer? We’ve got the perfect lead single for him!
Joaquin Phoenix: His most memorable roles
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It’s got to be a hoax. And if not…I’m afraid.
I think this is all so sad. Joaquin doesn’t seem to be in the right state of mind lately. He is so talented and I just hope he isn’t following the footsteps of his brother.
Ugh. I hate it when movie stars release albums, even if they’re good musicians. It’s like, don’t they have enough already?
whaaaaaaa?? what just happened?
I really hope this is a hoax.
wow. I sure hope it’s a hoax. I adore him, this is painful to watch.
He needs to stick with acting. How dumb can you be???
don’t quit your day job…
They should book these guys for the Oscars
When watching the video of Joaquin annoucing his retirement from acting, I am always thinking he is about to say “You just got punk’d!”. So I hope this is all a hoax. I really do.
Maaaaaaaaaan… I had to stop that 45 seconds into it.
If this is real then there must be A LOT of drugs involved.
Someone needs to set up an intervention for this guy. He’s either on something or has totally lost it. I am almost hoping the whole thing is just a lame publicity stunt. If it’s for real, I am seriously scared for the guy.
This performance is horrifying; why has no one told him that he’s embarrassing himself? Also, what is going on with his hygiene/wardrobe!?!?! I’ve seen bums downtown that look better than him. This had better be some sort of a joke.
Joaquin Pheonix was crazy-good in The Village, Signs and especially in Walk The Line. What the hell is he doing?! He’s such a class A actor…but now he just seems like a class A hole. I mean, it would be one thing if he was singing…but rapping? Please get back to acting. You are awesome at that. This is just…embarrassing. Like Britney-no-underwear-embarrassing. It’s awkward for everyone, Joaquin.
Methinks Joaquin has finally gone off the deep end. Maybe it’s time for a long, relaxing ‘vacation’.
Of course it’s a joke.
I remember that clip from a red carpet where he asked the reporter if a frog was on his head – he was not joking. He was STONED out of his mind. I do not like him as an actor at all – so if he wants to go into “music” – fine. But I think it is pathetic that it seems like he is a drug addict – especially since he watched his brother die from a drug overdose.
You know, if I was robbed like Joaquin was when he didn’t get the Oscar for Gladiator, I’d probably eventually go off the deep end, too.
As bad as it sounds, *I stopped it at 32 seconds in* it can’t be any worse than that Scarlett Johansson album debacle.
I’m really hoping that this is a hoax. I’ve been a fan for a long time. If this isn’t a hoax, then someone needs to help him NOW, before he ends up like his brother.
I’m leaning towards “it’s a hoax.” I mean, his brother and law (& best friend) is making a movie about it. So, I have to think that he wouldn’t let him spiral out of control just to exploit him. At least I hope not. I really hope it’s a hoax–otherwise I’m very worried about him.
lame
SUPA WHITE!!!!!
his rapper name is Joke P. ya think he’s serious?
Nothing about this is as funny as CT thinking Joaquin actually deserved an Oscar for Gladiator.
He’s an actor/famous person. Who cares? Don’t worry about him, he’s rich and completely indulged in every whim. Don’t feel sorry for him even if this is somehow… bizarrely… real. Famous people do not deserve sympathy for trying to get attention, no matter how ill advised.
I will put good money on this being a joke. A dumb joke and 30 seconds I’ll never get back. But a joke all the same.
This is your brain on drugs.
Hoax or not it’s still pretty hilarious.
I don’t know Jason I actually agree that Phoenix was deserving of an Oscar for gladiator, much more than Benicio Del Toro that year for mumbling his way through “traffic”. But this whole thing is just pathetic and hilarious.
WTF ? It looks like a drunk homeless man trying to sing karaoke, and failing, badly. If it’s a hoax, time to give it up. If it’s serious, that guy’s a douchebag…