What makes Craps by Richard Pryor notable?

This album is significant for its bold approach to taboo subjects and its impact on the evolution of stand-up comedy. It showcased Pryor's unique ability to blend humor with profound social critique, influencing countless comedians who followed him and earning critical acclaim for its candidness and audacity. Released in 1971, 'Craps' was Richard Pryor's first album following his breakout success with 'That Nigger's Crazy' in 1970. At this point, Pryor had already established himself as a major voice in comedy, using his platform to address racial issues and personal experiences with unprecedented honesty.

How many songs are on Craps?

Craps has 31 tracks, running approximately 36 minutes.

Craps

Richard Pryor · 1971

36 min · 31 tracks

A raw and unfiltered stand-up performance blending social commentary with explicit humor that pushes the boundaries of comedy.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Cops/The Line-Up — This track exemplifies Pryor's sharp observational humor, detailing his encounters with law enforcement in a way that highlights systemic issues while keeping the audience laughing.
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Religion — In this skit, Pryor cleverly critiques organized religion, using humor to question societal norms while making profound points about faith and hypocrisy.
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Black and Proud — This brief but powerful track captures the spirit of Black empowerment during the civil rights era, showcasing Pryor's commitment to addressing racial identity through humor.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

73 /100

Alpine

Higher than 96% of albums we've rated

Pryor's raw delivery and sharp social insights create a distinctive and impactful comedy album.

What we noticed

The album features a continuous flow of stand-up routines, with Pryor transitioning seamlessly between topics without pauses.
Several tracks are structured as extended anecdotes, allowing for deep dives into personal and social commentary.
Pryor frequently breaks the fourth wall, directly engaging with the audience and reacting to their responses in real-time.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 9/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Gettin' High 1:04
2 F**K From Memory 2:34
3 Big Tits 0:55
4 Gettin' Some 0:45
5 President Nixon 0:35
6 Tryin' to Get Some 1:36
7 Cool 1:18
8 Cops/The Line-Up 4:14
9 Masturbating 0:10
10 Religion 2:12
11 Block Preachers 1:47
12 Being Born 0:12
13 Blow Our Image 0:34
14 Blackjack 0:16
15 I Spy Cops 1:25
16 Sugar Ray 1:32
17 White Folks 0:54
18 Indians 0:39
19 Ass Wupin' 0:53
20 Got a Dollar 0:59
21 Pres' Black Baby 0:10
22 Dope/Wino/Panthers 0:30
23 After Hours 0:51
24 280 Pound Ass 0:39
25 Crap Game 5:23
26 Insurance Man 0:28
27 Black and Proud 0:25
28 Gettin' the Nut 1:07
29 Jackin' Off 0:17
30 Snappin' Pussy 0:29
31 Fartin' 1:18

What to play next

Listen next

That Nigger's Crazy

1974

Go back to

Richard Pryor

1968

Full Richard Pryor discography Artists like Richard Pryor

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata