Chris Rock has been called many things, but few people would add lazy to that list. Lauded by critics, showered with awards, Rock is determined to remain one of this generation's strongest comedic voices. The Brooklyn-raised comedian has garnered two Emmys and a Grammy Award, been featured on the covers of countless national publications, and has seen his weekly HBO talk show become one of the network's highest-rated and most-discussed programs. Moreover, the summer of 1998 saw Rock co-star in two $100 million-grossing (and counting) films, "Lethal Weapon 4" and "Dr. Dolittle."

Rock began his path to fame in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. He had two idols: boxer Sugar Ray Leonard and comedian Eddie Murphy. Realizing early on which of the two would provide the better career model, he reasoned, "I can't fight, so... " He thus began honing his skills on the comedy club circuit. His long-held dreams came true when he joined "Saturday Night Live" in 1989. During his three-year tenure on the show, Rock created several indelible characters, including Nat X of "The Nat X Show" and Onski from "I'm Chillin'." The 1993-94 television season also saw Rock make several guest appearances on Fox's "In Living Color."

Rock began his triumphant run on HBO with 1994's "Chris Rock: Big Ass Jokes." Deemed "utterly anti-PC and utterly fearless" by the New York Post, it was awarded a CableACE Award. In 1996, he unveiled "Bring the Pain." It addressed such hot-button topics as race - perhaps most pointedly, the African-American community's divided response to O.J. Simpson - and struck a chord with viewers nationwide. The special was distinguished in 1997 with two Emmy Awards, one each for Best Writing and Outstanding Special.

With this sort of acclaim, it's not surprising that "Bring the Pain" has seen life beyond HBO. DreamWorks Records released a home video (with additional footage), as well as a Grammy Award-winning CD called Roll With the New that presented musical bits and comedy sketches, some of which had first seen the light of day on "Bring the Pain." "Champagne," the single and video spawned by the disc, became playlist staples at radio and video outlets across the country, including MTV.

HBO's "The Chris Rock Show," meanwhile, will enjoy a fourth season. It was honored with a 1998 Emmy nomination for writing, and Washington Post television critic Tom Shales dubbed it "unfailingly funny." The program features interviews (with such disparate guests as the Reverend Al Sharpton, Puff Daddy, Johnnie Cochran, Jesse Jackson and Ed Bradley) interspersed with comedy bits and live music (The Artist, The Beastie Boys and Lenny Kravitz, to name a few).