Chris Tucker FULL EPISODE | EPISODE 18 | CLUB SHAY SHAY

hello welcome to another edition of club. shay shea i am your host i'm also the. proprietor of club shayche and i. promised you when we started this. podcast. that i would bring you some of the. biggest and brightest stars and athletes. in their particular genres. and today i have one uh he's a comedian. he's an actor he's an executive producer. and he's the fastest actor to make the. elite hollywood club. the 20 million dollar club my dog. chris tucker all my life been grinding. all my life. sacrifice hustle pay the price wanna.

slice. got to roll the dice that's why all my. life i've been grinding all my life. all my life been running all my life. sacrifice. plus will pay the price. [Music]. [Music]. ain't got none of that money no more i. don't want nobody calling me.

how you been doing bro man i'm doing. good man i'm doing great i'm doing great. how are you. bro i'm good i really can't complain i'm. gainfully employed. i'm doing better than a lot of people. you know the 2020 was bad for a lot of. people. a lot of people lost their jobs a lot of. people a lot of family lost loved ones. but i was very fortunate and i'm blessed. so yes. yes man it was it was a year man but. we're going to get through it man i. remember i was in new york for 9 11. and i thought the world was ending.

because it was the night after it was. the morning after michael jackson had. the big concerts. in new york uh the 9th and the 10th. right next day was 9 11. woke up man people call me you know they. we getting attacked and all this stuff. i i said now we're about to end i just. laid back down. and man and then some friends call us to. get up man we getting on the bus we're. going up to jersey. and man you know the world started back. up and we got past that we're gonna get. past this pandemic man and. i've been taking advantage of these last. uh 10 11 months and.

been focusing been organizing been. praying. and it took a phenomenon to get get me. to get organized but uh but. god made it happen so sin. you mentioned the pandemic so what have. you actually been up to. man you know what i've been resting you. know cause i was touring i was touring. and i was going you know get home and. then get back on the plane which i love. to do and you know i started out doing. stand-up comedy but i've been resting. organizing praying uh meditating and. focusing there. i took advantage of this time like i.

said you know i knew i know we're gonna. get out of this. right but you know so i wasn't gonna be. lazy and not do nothing. gotta organize got my rest uh you know. of course worked a lot on you know. stand-up stuff scripts and and producing. stuff. but mainly uh you know prayer life and. resting and just getting that together. man and that's been good for me because. i'm ready to go now. i'm ready to go we get out of this i. don't know how many people know this. about you but i know this about you. because i know you're a little better. than most people. you're an avid golfer how's the golf.

game coming. man it's coming good i finally got a. coach because everybody say get a. teacher you know because you know. we grew up playing basketball and and. baseball and football you teach yourself. you know black people you can't teach. yourself. in golf you got to get a teacher and i. got a coach. and he's helping me tell me to turn the. left hip turn the left heel i'm saying. no i'm gonna swing it no no. it's all about the left hip so i'm. getting better and i'm almost getting. ready to beat my brother them so it's. going good. so my brother always comes to your.

tournament you have it every year i. don't know if you're gonna have it this. year. and he always tells me i'm going to talk. i'm going to tucker's tournament. can you beat him no man i talked to. marcus allen about your brother. yesterday i said marcus i heard you're a. stretch golfer he said that that's good. for y'all to say that but that ain't. true. i said what about what about uh sterling. he said sterling is a stretch call he's. better than a strategy golfer i said i. don't even know what that means. he said he's a plus plus plus plus. something i said what.

and sterling told me i played the only. trophy i got from winning golf is in my. room we played at uh. lake uh uh lake what's the big famous. one here. uh easily here in atlanta georgia tiger. won the big championship right. i played on your brother team on. sterling team and we won. sterling's so cold blood he didn't get. his trophy he just left before they gave. the trophy he said i wanted to thank him. and hug him against him he was gone on. the road drive because you know we. talked about he drive everywhere. i said man it's the only joke i got and. it's a bad trophy. it's beautiful that warren a work done.

tournament man. that's the only trophy i ever won. besides my own golf tournament. they gave me a free honorary trophy so. he's good though man so you say you're. getting better let me ask you this. can you beat charles barkley i could. beat charles brockley now the way he. used to swing he got a little bit better. i could beat y'all barkley my somebody. just asked me that. last night they were laughing when they. were saying can you play better job i. said yeah i could beat y'all. he came to my tournament last year too. but y'all that's my boy but i could be.

and i'm gonna be able to beat him once i. get these lessons done. well i mean it seems to be like the golf. is the new thing because i see a lot of. athletes like when they retire football. players basketball baseball hockey and. forget the. professional sport that golf uh is the. sport that they choose. what is it about golf that you thinks. attract ex-athletes. and even guys like yourself because it's. always a task. man it's it's you never figure it out. it's always another level of the game. once you get the driving right hitting. it off the tee you got to work on your.

irons you got to get that right and then. you when you get close to the green you. got to get the putt the chipping and the. putting right. so it's always a task and it's always. you're trying to figure it out you're. thinking the whole time. and then the fellowship when you're on. the course with your. your brothers or buddies and stuff you. know you get to know somebody in four. hours they're gonna let you know who. they are for real you can be like oh. man ain't even though you talk like that. or you'll be like oh you're pretty smart. oh man that's the last time i'm playing. with you you know so you're gonna know. something about your.

people with after four hours of playing. go and then you knock the ball in the. woods. you get to experience nature and i'm. always in the woods and. one time i was talking to a deer one. time did you see my ball. he said it was over there but you know. i'm a country boy i grew up like creeks. and stuff like that so i love the woods. being out in nature so it's all that. good stuff with golf. who would be your ideal foursome. idea for them i would say uh michael. jordan. michael jordan you your brother.

and tiger woods i'm gonna have a lot of. people out there. who who's the one person you would like. to play with. that you said i beat him. oh well my brother my brother cause he's. been beating me. lately and uh i've been and i'm getting. better because i got my lessons so what. i just want to keep continually. to get him and uh but we have a lot of. fun with it i don't even want to get too. serious that i don't. i don't have fun with it because then. i'll be like you know all on another.

level with that yet. but a lot of people take it real serious. though they take it i mean they take it. seriously. yeah yeah but but my brother honestly i. would like to beat michael jordan. i want to go to his course his own. course and beat him. and then talk about him in front of. everybody just if people work for them. and everybody. i would love to do that because michael. is the type of guy if he beats you. if he's beating you or beats you in. anything he'll never let you forget it. he's literally talking while the event. while it's going on.

we can't get worse michael talked junk. man. i mean i went to his party to honor him. and he told my girlfriend what'd you do. with him. i looked at him i said he said oh that's. okay cause i like him i actually like. him. and i agree with him that's how famous. he is he do like me baby. i saw you i saw a picture the other day. and this gentleman just classed recently. on the golf course you and deebo. talk about your relationship with deebo. and what he meant. in his past what what a great guy man.

i've known devo known me since i was a. little like a young. teenager going to the comedy clubs he. used to come to atlanta and scare. everybody out of the comedy club he'd. come in there just yelling and screaming. skeleton scanned the comedians. you didn't know if he was for real or. not so i've known him for a long time. and then we end up doing fridays. together. and man he just made that movie uh work. man he. him and everybody else man made that. movie a classic that was my one of my. first. co-starring roles and man he's always.

going to be uh etched. in in my story because uh we've done a. lot of movie we did fifth element. together movie called fifth element we. did a jackie brown i did a cameo in that. and and the last year he came to my golf. tournament last year. came to church with us after the. tournament the next morning. just a good christian brother i did. something in los angeles in l.a with him. last year. or the year before last and man it just. seemed like last year the year before. last he was around we were around each. other a lot. and i was uh like man this is cool i. bumped into him at marcus allen's golf.

tournament. and uh i said what's up man and then we. kept you know got it kept in touch and. we just was bumping into each other. everywhere man and uh and then doing. stuff together so i thank god that i had. to. spend some good time with him before he. passed man good brother. he was a great brother he's a great guy. and even take a joke. i remember in 90 with the super bowl in. atlanta the first super bowl in atlanta. i met him in the hotel and he walked up. to me we started talking to carrying on. conversation he's like what you doing. like i don't know i don't know. he's like well hey well let's kick it.

tonight so we you know he and i if he. and i. and we're going although we're going to. different places and i re and he. i didn't really you know i was like okay. you know he has one green eye. and a brown eye yeah yeah i'm gonna see. you know. so we joking and he's backing up i was. like bro. look over the other shoulder because if. you look at that you're going to call us. somebody he like man look here man i. know for your jokes. but he started laughing and we started. we kept a relationship going. but yeah he's just a great guy.

he really he really was man just a good. good good hearted person. good christian brother man and we're. gonna miss him man we're gonna meet some. good guy man. let's let's talk about let's talk about. friday that was. really your first that was your breakout. role i mean you were you know you were a. comedian and a lot of people knew you. but that was the role that put chris. tucker on the map. how much of that did you get to ad-lib. and how much of it was scripted that.

you're like nah i need to do it like. this in order to make it. me yeah a lot of it man a lot of it. because uh you know i knew i had to make. it special i had to. to you know uh spend some time to. develop the character. you know so i can make it you know make. it interesting and uh. make an impact man but when i got the. script it was like 60 pages. uh but they were writing at the writing. at the same time and about time we got. on the set it was it was done. the script was done but but but the. director gave me free range.

and ice cube gave me free range to come. up with stuff on the set because they. knew i came from stand up and you know. i'm in the moment a lot and i come up. with stuff. so man a lot of it was was uh was in the. moment stuff. and it was because you know it was just. a great environment great. great actors man like i said tiny was. just great when he came up on that. screen. we really was scared i was scared i was. like whoa whoa i didn't remember this. part of the script. and i was like uh you know tucking my. stuff in he really that he really made. me act for good and cute.

of course was cube and uh you know all. everybody in that movie made that movie. work man and i'm just happy blessed to. be a part of it have been a part of it. did you know it was gonna be what it. became did you think in the moment when. you're doing that movie you're like. this is it this is gonna be a. blockbuster did you know. no i didn't know but i knew i was. prepared because i got up man i got in. the mirror i said i'm gonna i'm. this is my shot it wasn't about money it. wasn't about it was about the. opportunity. and i try to tap into that uh now you.

know at this point in my career. it was just about the opportunity and i. said this is my shot i got to be ready. when. i got it on my lines and when i'm on. that set whatever comes. for me i'm gonna be ready for i'm not. gonna let not one moment go past me. funny moment. or whatever reaction and i was i know i. was prepared and i said if i'm prepared. and you know i i didn't know i knew good. things could happen. from that you know that's all i knew i. was prepared i was ready. but did you know by playing that role.

so well there could never be another. smokey other than you. that's not a role that someone else. could play that's not a role that. someone else can do no matter how many. fridays. there could never be another smoky did. you know you had put together that type. of performance. i did not know i had no clue i knew that. that uh it was felt good and it was. working and. and i was in the because when you're in. the moment you don't you don't know what. you're doing you just like. it's just work you know you're just. feeling good about it and stuff coming.

out of you it's like god takes over. it and you just going and that's all i. knew that i i was ready. and i was excited about it and uh. because that you know i wanted to i was. auditioning for tv shows because i was. on the road so much i was ready to get. off the road. and get into movies and get a bigger. audience because i was going to see. you have to see the same cities you know. in the same year. you know i was making a living but i was. like i got to move to the next level and. i was back then i was just so sensitive. to that i knew i was like this is the. time to be on tv or movies.

and i always wanted to do movies and i. got it got fridays when i came out of. auditioning for another movie i was up. against d.l hewley. d.l got the part on tv but when i was. walking out my manager's assistant said. but you got fridays uh we just found out. you got fridays we don't know if you got. this yet. but i know uh all i knew was i was. prepared so i try to always be prepared. for stuff. you go back and we look at friday we. look at some of the comedians that were. in friday. bernie mac was the pastor john. witherspoon was pops.

what was it like working with those guys. on the set. oh my god bernie ray was also in that. movie oh yeah ronaldo ray oh man it was. just. one of that was the highlights for me. working with bernie and. and mr witherspoon john was well i told. the director i said i gotta have a scene. with with mr witherspoon john. witherspoon got to have a scene he said. all right we'll write something in all. right. every day i was bugging him like what. what what what scene now cause this is. gonna be forever. and this is this man is a legend he said. i got the scene you're gonna go up to. him and you're gonna tell me you gotta. use the rad bathroom he gonna slam the.

door on you i said. that's all i need i just want that. moment he gave it to me. bernie i was just always a big fan of. his. i never seen somebody tell up a room a. comedy. theater like bernie mac man i went to. the wilton in atlanta and i got a school. i got a schooling. i got a lesson from bernie bernie told. the room up man it was like. the holy ghost was in there man it was. like church it was like a picnic. it was like a family reunion i never. seen anything like that so he's always. been one of my favorite comedians him. robin harris richard fryer.

you know eddie murphy those guys bill. cosby all those guys been some of my. greatest. favorite one of my favorite scenes is. when bernie mac comes up he's the pastor. and uh you and you y'all were smoking on. the porch. and he said he needed a little support. glaucoma and he was talking about at the. church. on oh what was it uh he said somebody's. church is about this [ __ ]. they share and you said about normandy. and west and well. yeah yeah the twitter twin twin. yeah so.

that was all in the moment was that in. the script or did you add live that part. i had live it i have lived it man cause. one thing about when the camera stopped. we still was having fun it was like you. got bernie mac on the set. with me and john witherspoon and. uh ice cube we were still having fun you. know at ice cube you know. i grew up listening to his music so it. was like i was fascinated you know. sitting next to him. so we talking about stories and stuff so. we was we was just having fun man i was.

in a good mood and we was like coming up. with stuff every two seconds. you know even when we went filming it. was a lot of that stuff was great. you do the movie it's a success. beyond success beyond success beyond. successful. did you do such a great job you priced. yourself. out of the sequel or did you not want to. come back or did you want to move on to. say i did that. i'm done with that i want to go to.

something else i wanted to move on. because when i when i did something i. never i never wanted to do it again. i was like uh back then i was all about. going to the next level. i like i said i had a good sense of like. okay now it's time to go do an. action movie uh whatever it is you know. so well when you asked me to do a. fridays i was like. nah nah i want to go through something. else we don't did that you know what cuz. studios think about the money and then. uh. news is like oh we can make some money. with this i was thinking about my career. saying no. i want to go do money talks or something.

let me do my home movie with charlie. sheen. i did that movie instead that was uh. everybody talks oh thank you man thank. you we had some fun. jolly is my boy man he's still my boy. but yeah it was all. it was for me it was about going to the. next level keep keep uh you know going. to the next seven they. couldn't believe i didn't want to do. another one but i was just and i was. right when i think back on it i was like. this is time to do something do we did. that and i did everything i can do when. i was prepared and i'm satisfied with it. let's go to the next one do you believe.

had you done a second. friday that would have people would have. looked at you and said that's the only. type of movies he can do. i think it uh would have would have. probably been managed diminish the first. one because. sometimes you can't get something out of. certain movies you can't get nothing. else out of it. but they were able to do it with. friday's two and three they figured out. a way to do it. but uh i just was where i was and i. think it's the right way. uh to do it was at that time and uh.

not to not to go back on it because you. know then it became a classic and um so. you know i i didn't you know i didn't i. didn't mess with i'm glad i didn't mess. with but something like you know the. rush hour movies. action movies it's a little bit more. easier to do one two. and three and then they offered me 25. million i said you know what let's let's. get off your morals for a minute and go. ahead. no no no it was it made sense because i. knew that we could do something else. with it and it was a. you know it was what it was you know the. rush hours and stuff can you believe.

of all the things that you've. accomplished that people still go back. and they talk about friday and they. quote you from friday. and they do all these things can you. believe the staying power. that you had in that movie no man i. you know i never you know sometimes when. god bless you man you he bless you more. than what you can even dream and that's. one of those things because. it was just a small movie we filmed it. in 20 days and i didn't get. you know about ten thousand dollars. forward or whatever i didn't care i just. was i wanted the opportunity.

uh but i can't believe uh how about i. talk about back up. how much you got i got about ten. thousand dollars because the movie. calls they took well they got different. stories but it was either two million or. three million to do we only i know we. had 20 days because directed and. reminded me every day we got 20 days man. because you better not mess up we only. have two takes we can only take two. takes that mean you know i can only do. my lines. twice if i mess up one time you get one. more time and that's it we're going to. cut your part. so i knew we when we was on the street.

one street the whole time and then we. went some stuff in the studio little. scenes in the studio like bedrooms. things like that. but we it was it was that small of a. movie but. that was the beauty of it because it. allowed me to get into the character it. wasn't no big distractions like big. big movie sets you got like people and. sound people oh everybody want to be a. star but that movie was just a camera. and me and cube on on on the um porch. and you know and then you know magic. came out of it you know. thank god and now with the advent of the. internet you see all the smoky.

impersonations you see all this you got. knocked. out you see the uh you know. you see everybody on you doing this. gabrielle union and d. wade reenacted one of your scenes oh. oh yeah yeah they did they did an. unbelievable job. oh i'm getting that i gotta see that i. gotta see that. so i look at you and when you had the. part with a uh. phase i love big big worm i mean big. purr yeah.

that would i mean that was some some. great. acting i mean it was just like thank you. how did. how were you able to do because you went. from like you smoking extra cue. smoking do it with bernie mac smoking. talking to pop smokey talking to. accused mom to now all of a sudden it's. you and. you leaning in the car and you're trying. to uh uh shy somebody's money. you know how how did you go from this. this because like you said you only had. 20 days to shoot this entire movie yeah.

yeah well the beauty about the scene. with me and big worm with faison love we. were best friends. so we clowned around all day every day. you know going to the comedy clubs at. night every night going to different. kinds of performing. we clown around every day so it was so. easy to work with him but. we were laughing a lot faison would. laugh all the time because he looking at. me like. look at him try to be serious and. because i had to stay in character. i would make him laugh off camera. because he was making me laugh so it was. so easy because we were friends and to.

get that. that stuff good and then bernie mac of. course you know he's one of. my heroes fan i was a fan of him so. everybody. everybody i had a connection with. watching john witherspoon and um. uh you know watching eq growing up with. his music so everybody it was just. every time i was with him i was excited. and it was uh it was just easy to do. it was easy how did you come up with the. line when. the late the girl that cue neil lone's. character you had a crush on her.

and she said she has a friend that she. want to hook you up with. yeah if you said she kind of looked like. janet jackson yeah. okay so how did you come up with that. part was that written in or did you add. lil. janet jackson more like freddie jackson. well that was written in that that part. was written. but on the phone when i got on the phone. with her like yeah you know what debbie. lived right. oh that was just me saying uh okay i'm. on the phone with somebody nobody was on. the other line. and i'm like okay i got control that was. all me.

and uh jackson. jackson that's all me and then and then. i auditioned. on the part of of the girl when i walked. up to the girl. and i found out she wasn't what i. thought she was that's how i got fried. is because i was like. yeah i know you're hungry you know my. mama don't like a lot of people with me. when i pick them up. no oh and then she take the wig off damn. all that was how i got the part i i just. made that up in the room and they wrote. it down when i was auditioning. give me your top five hood classics of.

all time. a new jack city new jack city i like new. jack city. boys in the hood boys in the hood the. mac. mac and i'm going well you took my hood. hood classics ugh because i always say. scarface is aggressive to me. because i love scuffy we grew up we. accidentally saw that in matinee when we. were kids my mom and dad didn't know. what we was watching we was gone they. sent us to the movie and i said. whoa this is acting i thought i was in.

you know. a whole big old drug world with that but. uh the other one. could be off hand maybe minister society. oh. uptown saturday night uptown saturday. night. let's do it again those are in there you. ain't gonna put. you're not gonna put friday in their. house oh yeah yeah you. any of them without friday being in it. thank you man good look at that big bro.

you that's right. that's right you grew up in atlanta what. was it growing up in atlanta. during the time and what did you want to. be what when you were growing up. you know i was blessed man i found out. early you know uh. that i i like entertainment you know. going to the movies seeing uh stir crazy. with richard pryor in it. and gene gene wilder proud walking down. the prison come on we bad. we bad i was just fascinated when when. when richard pryor came on the scene. eddie murphy in 48 hours you know.

he was in the prison like cash case you. know it i was like yeah go eddie you. know. so i and then i when i go when i went to. school. uh you know i'm the youngest of six kids. so. i had a lot i watched a lot i i observed. a lot because. you know you can't say that you're the. youngest and all you got three older. brothers. two sisters they say shut up or just. what you know so i just watched them. i i you know it was and i watched them. make mistakes you know they did. they get a whooping i'll be like what. they do i don't i don't want to get a.

weapon when i get older like that what. happened i ain't take out the guy. because. i'm gonna make sure i take out the. garbage when it's my turn shoot daddy. good god so i learned a lot at a young. age and then i you know that. you know it was just comedy all around. us cause you know a big family. there's always something people trying. to get in the bathroom get out of the. bathroom girl. we trying to go to school mama shut up. what y'all mean i don't know. so it was always something going on a. house and it just i was just around. funny stuff and i didn't even know it. and i was funny i guess too. and went to school and people said man. you're funny and you're like eddie.

murphy or something i'm like what you. talking about then you know i don't. dress up for pee. i will preach to the whole everybody who. didn't dress out in the bleachers. i'm like all right get your books your. bibles out that i would make them laugh. for about 30 minutes. even a teacher come over there and be. like what is going this food. and then they say you need to host the. talent show cause you you got something. i said well how much they paying are. they paying anything. and uh do they you get some good grades. or something no you just go. so i got like 30 to 30 dollars to host a. talent show. y'all told my first joke they laughed i.

said this is. it this is what i'm gonna do because you. know school wasn't easy for me you know. so i said. i ain't going to college i barely got. out of high school i'm gonna finish this. right now. i'm lucky i got out of here so yeah you. went to columbia. which is in decatur right yeah decatur. in georgia yeah all right and decatur. decatur now y'all had some athletes that. was that track uh gwen torrance went to. uh decatur. with the columbia yeah i i don't you. know i know i know a little bit of. they had awesome track uh track program.

off the chain. that's right that's right she graduated. with my brother or sister older sister. so what was sport i mean you went to a. school that was very that that had good. high school athletic program you never. wanted to play sports. i did play sports i wanted to go pro. like you but. i bought both of my wrists and practice. that was it. that was that was god saying you better. go figure something out i jumped up. man to catch a ball or two you know just. to catch if we just throwing.

getting ready for france i jumped up and. instead of coming down on my butt ball. i said oh my brace myself broke both of. my wrists. and even the doctors was laughing like. how did you do this i said man just take. me to the doctor. take the hospital and that's when i quit. i said i said i need to do something. else but. yeah man i love sports and you know. wanted want to be go. pro like everybody else but you realize. at a very young age. so doing the comedic thing when you were. in high school or coming up.

was it to make people laugh or to make. make sure people weren't laughing at you. because i have a funny side but i used. to talk with a lisp. and i what i found at a very young age. that if i made other people laugh at. someone else. they wouldn't notice what i got going on. and so i could keep them up off me. yup yup yeah yeah it was it was uh see i. probably would have talked about you see. i probably not i'll do it. i was one of them guys that i would just. make people laugh because. it was really because i didn't really.

want to do the work some of the work was. hard for me i was like oh. shoot man what y'all doing what hey hey. hey you know i've been messing with. people who. studied that did their homework hey man. come on give me some answers and they'd. be like shut up. i will shut up if you give me the. answers teachers are looking right at. those food. i was one of those and then but i would. make people laugh because they. you know it was easy to do so like i. just started up. they get get the class going so. how old were you or when did you start. doing the eddie murphy and michael.

jackson impressions. man eddie murphy from from high school. you know he was the man. for me and uh and michael too as a kid. oh man i remember my play brother up the. street used to dance just like michael. jackson he had the prettiest girlfriend. i said man i want to be like this man. this dude here and i want to dance like. michael like he danced so we always had. dance michael jackson contests and and. we. and he was he brought down eddie. murphy's delirious that he did on hbo. because he had cable before they put the.

cable down in the street. while we lived down on the street by the. circle he already had cable and he had a. vcr because he's the only child. we want you know we had to wait you know. so he had all that stuff he brought the. lyrics down and it was over we got cable. right when rocky. three became uh we came out on hbo and. we was like watch rocky three. and delirious all day and we just had a. ball. so what's your go-to uh lines when.

you're going to impersonate eddie you're. going to. impersonate mike uh what's your life. what's your go to. well eddie you know i just talk like. like i'll do the laughs. yeah you crazy so what's that what's. that he's a little older now. you talk a little like what's up man how. you doing bro you just talk low and rich. but michael i would go chris what are. you what are you doing chris. what what's chris how are you how are. you but i just talked to he was so cute.

when you a lot of people some people. don't like when they get mimic. or they get made so how was it when they. found that you were doing. it and then you saw them for the first. time. oh michael michael loved it because i. heard from his nephews that he was a big. fan. of mine because they showed him the. movies he's uh. they showed him the movies and michael. was uh was loved it man. because he knew everything i did it had. a little bit of michael in it. right he was from friday's i'm dancing. on the porch in the montage doing. michael dance.

uh money talks rush hour doing uh the. the karaoke thing. and uh uh even um in. um a death jam i talked about michael. what if michael was a pimp so he knew. that if we had kindred experience or. something and i was a big fan. for sure you said some of your early. influences was. eddie murphy richard pryor who are some. of the other comedians when you were. growing up you like okay. i like his style well definitely bernie. mac. like i said bernie mac was just just.

funny naturally funny. um robin harris i didn't get a chance to. meet him but i heard his albums and i. saw him in the movies spike lee movies. and uh different movies like that i just. thought they were. i like naturally funny comedians and uh. and today of course you know uh dave. chappelle. you know a friend of mine people like. that man it's just. just just just make me laugh uh uh. they have to be funny what was it like. performing on the comedy tour in atlanta.

because atlanta had used. i don't know if it's still like it like. uh. like this now but atlanta used to have a. bunch of comedy places uptown comedy. store right there on. on peachtree i used to go there all the. time. yeah yeah it's still man there's so many. funny young brothers out there man. you can't even count them on one hand. man on one hand and it's still strong. and they still doing comedy even during. the pandemic man they. they still out there still open. people ain't stopping man so uh yeah man.

i can't wait to see who else is out. there but it. we definitely got a good uh track record. of a lot of great comedians coming out. of. atlanta what made you decide to move to. la and not new york to do your comedy. because everybody all the comedians was. coming down to the comedy act theater. and they were uh they were coming from. l.a like d.l. hugley and jamie foxx and all those guys. would come down and they would see me. open up with forum or at times and they. were like man you need to go to la you. you you work you're pretty good you can.

get there and i was like okay you really. think so they was like yeah man you need. to go to la. so i knew that la was the place for the. movies and. television and all that stuff and new. york was more theatrical. so that's what made me go out to l.a. so what was it like yo your mom you're. like okay. i'm gonna go i'm been mom and mom dad. i'm gonna i've been to go it alone i've. been. for the deal what were your emotions. like because you know.

you know that's not like i got a job. lined up i'm going out there i'm going. to work. you're going to do comedy you got to get. calls you got to get called back. you got gotta get readings there's no. guarantee any of this is going to happen. yeah yeah they were you know my moms and. daddy was so. so supportive but they probably were so. so happy i found something that i need i. was gonna do because they my mother. thought i was gonna live with her. forever. she right because i built a house and i. stay with iraq. she's right but uh she said i just i.

just thought you go be with me baby. you know i was just going to help you. out but uh i was fortunate enough man to. to uh. have i knew somebody in l.a now in fact. i moved with my girlfriend from high. school. father lived in l.a so i had a place to. stay my mama felt comfortable about. where i was going because she knew i. wouldn't be out there by myself. so it was just it just was just god man. it worked out so in other words you kept. the girlfriend from high school so you. have a place to stay when you came in. here with a father huh. oh no she was fine i would try to leave.

her baby could you just ask your dad. because i didn't think he was going to. agree with him like you crazy gonna be. living up in my house. with my daughter sleeping with my. daughter no but he was cool with it he. was like yeah come on. come on out and it was just things just. fell into place as soon as i graduated. from high school. uh a comedy club opened up comedy act. theater where robin harris and everybody. came from you know. uh and then you know when i was ready to. move to l.a my girlfriend father was. living out there already and uh. i told asked can we go i thought he was. gonna say no and i was gonna have to. get another plan he said yeah it's okay.

they kicked me out two months later. but uh i had i had two months to find a. roommate and i was it did i was out i. was on the road rolling in. when i was they were coming home from. work i was just getting up on the couch. because i was out all night on the. comedy club. and they would come home from work and. i'd be like hey getting up off the couch. and. his his wife at the time his new wife. was like he needed to go. he need to go he ain't paying the rent. and he's just sleeping all day. so then i found me a roommate and that's. the rest is history. what are some of the advice that you.

would give young and up-and-coming. comedians. trust your you know uh trust your dreams. man go after your dreams. i went out the mine and it all happened. even more than i ever could imagine. happen. uh but uh you know every moment was a. surprise and when a door when a door. closed. another one opens up like i was telling. you i was going for a tv show. i didn't get that but i walked out of. that audition i got fridays. so uh don't get frustrated when the door. closed.

just look at find the positive in it and. keep moving. but keep working like marvin gaye said. stay on the floor. and keep dancing because that's the way. somebody's going to see you for the next. part. and when you when you're working even if. it's something small somebody might see. and say oh i got to look for the next. part so you got to just keep doing what. you can do. to to keep going to you know to get to. where you want to go. was death comedy jam the show because i. remember dl ended up. i think dl ended up hosting that and. some of the great comedians have come. through there martin lawrence was the.

host for a while. dave chappelle bernie mac steve harvey i. mean so many. yeah what was it what was it like. auditioning being on death comedy jam. did you know a lot of the brothers. and sisters that you were out there. against were going to turn out to be. what they later became. you know i was on the same show as. bernie mac he was the headliner and i. started my the first def jam and i went. up and i thought i. blew the place away i thought that you. know that was nobody gonna follow me.

and i went upstairs you know to use the. bathroom i think in new york. wherever we were and i saw a guy up. there and i said hey man you're a. comedian somebody said yo. i said who what's your name i'm burning. him up i said okay you're going up he. said yeah i'm gonna. i said i thought to myself all right. good luck you know because comedian. after me bomb. and then bernie went up there towed the. house down. and i said oh man i got to get back to. work i got to get myself together. but that def jam was my platform that.

really got. got me my first agent got me my uh. you know that was the reason why you. know they got me for fridays they saw. you know i was. rising up on depth gm and depth gm tour. and all that stuff so that was my first. big platform. and then fridays were you know was the. um movie stuff. platform give me give me your mount. rushmore comedians. you only get four your four best. comedians of all time. richard pryor robin harris. eddie murphy i gotta say bill cosby.

those guys. you left i'm just saying the guys you. left off not that is right or wrong. uh you left off uh chappelle you left. off uh. seinfeld you left off uh lenny bruce you. left off red fox. yeah yeah well those got now red fox is. up there too but he was. way before i could i well i know all. about him because i do comedy and i. studied it. but and chappelle is in my generation so. he's all that.

that level with me and he's one of the. greatest don't let me don't don't. be mistaken but ain't none of them gonna. touch richard. ain't none of us gonna ever touch. richard ain't none of us gonna ever. touch robin harris. ain't none of us gonna ever touch eddie. murphy. in movies and stand up and and and bill. cosby. he's one of the greatest richard pryor. used to imitate bill cosby. and and then and then i got to say dick. gregory so it's it's so many man. do you believe that had robin and bernie.

live. longer they would have had a greater. place. in the uh uh in the comedic hierarchy. oh for sure robin harris was about to be. out of this world. he would have been like eddie and and. and up there. and probably big just as big as eddie. and bernie. was going it wasn't then he couldn't do. drama comedy he was going he was there. he was already there too because he. stayed here long. so yeah those guys are they on that. mount rushmore for sure man.

so when you you write jokes do you just. sit down. i mean so how did it happen i mean so. you know i've talked to. rappers and entertainers and they says. okay if i'm gonna write a song you know. i might be laying down i wake up and i. start writing. or i might be eating and something come. to my head and i just put it down and. start writing. how do you write jokes how long does it. take to take you to write a set. yeah uh it takes it. you know when it comes to me when it. comes to me i usually don't sit down and. think of stuff.

i let it come to me and then i'll write. it down or i will get in. uh you know get in a mood or something. and then it just all come to me. and it's like whatever wherever it is uh. wherever i am i'm at or if i go to comic. club that night. some come to me but yeah i write jot. down stuff throughout. you know the year or you know and but. but i just let it come to me because so. much stuff. uh just just comes and then i keep you. know some stuff i let go and some stuff. i keep. was it a difficult transition from go.

from stand-up. to acting and is it a natural transition. that a lot of comedians. have gone on to be actors from red fox. to richard pride to eddie murphy. yourself uh bernie mac robin harris i. mean. so many guys uh said the entertainer. bruce i mean so many guys. yeah yeah it's it's a total it's totally. it's totally. different stand up and acting is totally. different. you have to like in stand up you're more. animated and you're more.

wired in the movies you got to tone all. that down. and then you got to come up when you. when you need to come down when you need. to. i noticed that when i started doing. acting i said oh man i got to take this. down you know because they got your bit. your head and 100. you know uh close up and you're moving. all around here i'm like i can't do that. here. i gotta calm down right here and look. you know a certain way. so you got to adapt to that and then. also you got to go deeper because you. you plan a part and then you gotta. you know you got you got to go deeper.

than uh then uh stand up stand up is you. it's your life and it's hard too at. times but. acting it's another level it's another. level but you're using that act when you. got that comedy tool. and take it to acting it's it's good. have you ever forgotten a line while. you're doing stand-up. oh all the time all time but stand up so. good because you got the audience right. there. and something might happen you might ask. a question and boom. that breaks you to a whole nother thing. and then you go back to whatever you. forgot.

and uh you you good again but stand up. ain't nothing like stand up i i love. stan. what are some of the obstacles that you. had to overcome were there doors slammed. in your face. there were the opportunities that you. felt you were deserving of that you. didn't get and you like man. i don't know this might not be for me. because they'd be bulging. you know what that that i've been. blessed man it was like. uh for me uh you know things doors was. just opening. it was just it was just god because like.

i said uh def jam. i lost i was in a competition i lost the. competition because i didn't have enough. time for the second round. but the def jam producer ran backstage. and he saw me say man i want you on the. first step. jam you perfect for what we want for dev. jam all you need to do is seven minutes. five minutes. i was like like like when i got fridays. it was like i was sad and i was happy. again. it was like when the door closed another. door open and then uh. when i went to um the comedy club down. here when it first opened i was too. young to get in they had a liquor.

license. the manager uh he let me in because i. was just kept. hanging around the front door and then. ricky harris another comedian. he was headlining one weekend and he. said he told the manager. let him in and he wasn't coming in to. work so he was late already so. gary the man he said let him in you. better not drink nothing though but so i. went in. and i didn't drink and uh you know he. didn't see me drink. but i wouldn't make sure that. and you know doors was just open it was. always obstacles.

but you know god opened those doors for. me. i'm looking at a house party house party. three in 1994. kid and play teacher camera bernie mac. uh lisa left that lopez wrestler sold. marcus houston eddie griffin. what was that what was that like what. was that set like that that was a great. set man and i was only there for like. two days and that was really my first. movie role when i did that and uh. and um and then at the premiere i told. you that's how i got my agent he came up. to me and said man. you got an agent because he i guess he.

saw my little part that i did in uh. house party three. but uh i played a part johnny boos and. then i just uh. i had to do something real quick cause i. only had like a second to make. make the character do something so it. was a it was it was a lot of fun man it. was just uh. you know animated and you know johnny. boo's character and just came up with. something real quick man and uh. uh and it stayed in the movie so it was. good. dead presidents another hood classic. lorenz. how was that oh man so much fun working.

with the hughes brothers lorenz tape my. buddy. volcano whitby so many other greats man. it was awesome man. the music they had you know in the movie. and playing around the set. and and you know it was a time a period. piece. uh we had so much fun man and it got me. to show another side of me. serious side uh playing that character. skippy and dead president. is bad so i i was happy to do that. soccer show at the same time i had. fridays out. that year and two in 95 with comedy and. then on the other side i had.

you know dead presidents with a serious. side so i was happy to show both sides. of me. did you ever worry about being typecast. not not at that time and uh but i never. worry about it at all because i know. what i could do you know a lot of people. might haven't saw a lot of it yet. uh but i i never worry about it because. i know like uh. once they you know once i do something. different they can play oh okay. i i knew he could do it but i just. wanted to see it like when i did.

civilized playbook. that was you know that was a smaller. part but it was it was different more. dramatic and uh then of course the. president but you know that's always on. the back of our minds as you know you. don't want to be. typecast you know get asked your. question no yeah. do typecast actors cash checks that's. right they do. they they do that's right. jim carrey made a lot of money playing. playing the pet detective. that's right he made a lot.

he sure did that's right you know you do. what you do best. and you know if you could do something. else that's great but hey. that's all you can do and you're doing. good at it that's okay you mentioned. 95 you had the friday the dead president. but 97 might have been one of your best. years. because you have money talk you have. fifth element uh. jackie brown yeah what was 97 like for. you. 97 was fun man it was it was do you know. i was producing money talks with charlie. sheen. my own movie and that was another level.

uh. and it was great you know being around. great actors like charlie sheen. and paul savino who that was in money. talks that movie. and then uh work with quentin tarantino. and samuel jackson and that jackie brown. that was fun. uh because quentin's great great writer. you know he just whatever the words he. write you could just say. right from the page because it sounds. like you're talking so that was you know. fun and a learning experience. and fifth element was great because i. went to europe with working with luke. for sun one of the greatest. french directors ever and you know out.

there man having fun. and on this big set you know playing a. crazy character man that i could go all. the way. you know as far as i want you know in. that character. uh ruby rod you know space character. that was just a gif and i was scared to. do it but once i got in that outfit. and got going i said man this is gonna. be fun and it turned out to be. one of my favorite characters which is. harder um. producing directing the movie acting in. the movie.

and which do you like better i like. acting. in a movie and having some a little bit. of say so a little bit of control. uh and that's what mostly you know if. you get an executive producer. uh uh whatever uh you know um. credit you know that because you want to. have a little bit of like so you can. make the movie better. only because you want to participate you. want to uh make. make the project a movie better so i. would say uh. you know the acting is is the hardest. and it's the for me it's the most. rewarding thing to do because that's.

what i do. best i think you've been on the set with. a lot of great actors charlie sheen. bruce willis samuel l jackson robert de. niro which one of those guys are those. or any of those who brought out the best. chris chris tucker. i would say man um. i would say charlie sheen because he was. just a nice he's just a nice guy he made. sure i got first credit. i never forget that they you know the. studio wanted him to be first credit at. the time because he was you know a big. star. right now he said no you brought this. project you should be uh.

your name should be first you you should. be the man you should be up front. so i was i never forgot that young kid. somebody like on his level. uh so you know telling the studio no. this is his movie i'm just starting i'm. you put me second credit. so i always remember charlie for that. and then of course. uh you know uh jackie chan you know just. having fun with him and. and growing up watching his movies too. and and i knew i could. be man uh be funny and be physical and. all that stuff in rush hour so. i knew that was a great um uh vehicle.

for me man to show. show my um talents i've had some rappers. on here and they say when they collab or. someone has them on a feature. they trying to kill it yeah i know this. is your album this is your song. but i'm trying to kill you on your own. song when you're in a movie or you're in. a scene. with an actor are you trying to like. yeah i notice your movie. but they're gonna remember me you know. what. no i cuz i i gotta get feed i gotta get.

feedback. for people like like when i was in money. talks and um. what's his name savino paul savina. working with a great actor like that. the key is working with other great. actors because they're going to give you. some stuff. and it's going to bring the best out of. you you know. you know great actor uh we if you're. working with great actors bet they gonna. bring it out of you and you're gonna be. like. whoa and you'll be in the moment more. and acting is a little different. because this is teamwork you know like. football team it's teamwork you wanna we. wanna work with the best. and the best directors rush hour.

why and did you know it was going to be. what they became uh. no it was the same thing when i did. fridays i did the first rush hour. i never wanted to do a neck another one. because that was just like. i never even thought like that i was. like just do a great job with this one. and move on and do another great job for. another movie. uh but you know like i said they all i. didn't have nothing on the table at the. time and they offered me another one for. the rush hour too.

and uh then i said all right i'll just. do it i don't have nothing. at that time and we did it and we had. fun with that one. and uh with the the third one uh you. know same thing. that happened but no i didn't know it. was going to be franchi a franchise. and i appreciate it and i'm glad that it. had enough legs to to go you know last. at. last like that but uh yeah i didn't know. so because that was really like the. first time you like you could be. you you could still be funny but you had.

a. more of a drama you was actually like a. detective you're like james carter was. actually trying to catch somebody. yeah yeah and that was like a movie that. i grew up watching eddie murphy beverly. hills cop. 48 hours so little things that i always. dreamed of like man i got to get to. that level you know one day you know. like like like my heroes. childhood heroes richard pryor and his. movies and stuff. so yeah what type of physical shape do. you need to be in to do those type of. movies did you do any of your own stunts. do you like doing your own stunts.

i did all of my stunts in the first rush. hour i made sure i got in shape because. i knew that. you know jackie chan did his own stunts. by watching you know researching him and. and watching that you know him saying i. do my own stunts so i made sure i got in. shape. and for the second one i made sure i got. even more better shape. because work you know action movies it's. a lot. it's a lot it's a lot you go on a set. you might be there all day. because they're gonna need you to fall. or jump off something and this that that. so it takes action movies you need to be. in shape and you're working in the.

middle of the night. sometimes uh early in the morning so you. want to be healthy. enough to be able to have that the. energy that you you know come across on. the screen. and physical uh stuff you need to uh do. you know to make the scene work. how did you get paired with jackie chan. and rush hour and i read what jackie. chan says like when he first met you he. wasn't so sure about you oh. yeah cause it was it was uh well i was. doing movies with new line cinema and. jackie i think they bought a lot of his.

movies uh. new line bought a lot of his movies that. he did overseas in you know in china in. hong kong. and they had a relationship with him and. then they had relationship from fridays. and money talks with me. and we me and my manager at the time he. was looking for something bigger and. seeing what the studio had and they said. well. uh we want to partner up with somebody. else they said we got jackie chan's got. a project. but somebody they're looking at somebody. else i think it was wesley snipes martin. lawrence and. a few other people and they said they're. looking at other people but.

maybe maybe you know he might it might. work so. we uh went after it tried to get this. script the rush hour script and and do. the movie with jackie. and uh it came together uh because uh. the one of the producers. wanted me in the movie they wanted. somebody a fresh face just like in. fridays they wanted a fresh face. somebody who wasn't already established. uh and i got the role i got the part. with uh rush hour because we had a. history with new line. and jackie was working with them and. they put us together.

so that's how that happened did you know. the magic. that you guys would create did you know. it would be this. when you two guys got together i felt it. because. i was comfortable i was comfortable. around jackie because he was humble. you know he still is great great guy. great man. and uh of course i you know he he was a. a a hero of mine because you know jack. chance is cool. but uh i knew that i could say whatever. i want to say around him and. we we had good chemistry and from the.

start. you know uh and he was in a and so i. think out of that. you know great things happen in 2006 you. negotiated contract. 25 million dollars for rush hour you the. first i think if i'm not mistaking the. cred. to crack that threshold. did did it add pressure on being the. highest paid actor at the time. in entertainment what what was going. through your mind here's a. black kid from atlanta georgia.

former stand-up and now i'm the highest. paid. i didn't go to juilliard i didn't go to. one of these prominent acting schools. and go to yale or this or that. but here it is a black a black kid from. atlanta a black man now. and i'm the highest paid in the world. yeah you know i didn't think of it man i. was so you know i was so like back then. i said. after the success of the first rush hour. i said well my movie made over 100 some. million dollars tom cruise movie made. over 100 something. he's getting 20 million i said i need to. get 20 million so i just went in there.

and. told the studio i said well you know if. y'all want to do another one. i want 20 million and they said okay hey. because they knew that it was gonna make. a whole bunch of money. and i and i and i um i felt like i was. worth that. because i knew this i knew the movie was. gonna make some more money too and i. just was. i guess that's the business side of me. that said. go ahead and ask for it this is time to. ask for it and [ __ ]. do you wish you were throwing out a high. number. [Laughter]. no no because uh it worked out.

it worked out uh. did eddie murphy turn this movie down no. eddie was never attached to uh rush. hours you know. it was on i think martin was a con it. was they was considering martin. and wesley but uh yeah that was the only. thing i heard but eddie i don't think he. was ever. involved you've also been had a lot of. uh. cameos and music videos yeah.

i mean anybody that's ever been around. you until it's hard not to like you. you're an easy person to like. because you're like you're exactly what. people would think you would be i mean. when they see you and they see you in. those movies and they're like i wonder. how you. and when people ask me say man you know. i was like yeah i know i know chris. talking. what's he like what you see on tv he's. exactly like that. i'm talking about nothing different he. he's fun. he's that make you laugh he's exactly.

what you thi. whatever you thinking that's what he is. thank you man thank you. i try to be man no i don't and that. that's all you can be. you know just be you yeah as i mentioned. you you have a lot you like in tupac. california love dr dre keep the heads. ringing. mace and uh did it feel so good what is. it about the. why they keep why they keep shouting you. are having you in in their video. yo i guess it's the culture man because. they know i love music and hip hop.

r b you like people have you and. everybody video you dancing to everybody. video you like me. hey i've been in the video if he did it. i like music man i like i like. you know uh country i like gospel i like. everything man. so it's just part of me and that's part. of part of my my spirit man. you know put i put music on and have fun. dance and laugh. and that keeps me happy uh so it's a. part of me and then. you know and the movies and the. soundtracks come together and you know.

with. keep your head ringing with dr dre that. was on fridays uh. michael jackson we were friends and he i. got into rock my world video which you. know was a blessing you know uh because. michael don't put everybody in the. videos only. chosen to be in his videos and i was and. i every time that song come on i got. great memories to come back. you know on that it seems like comedians. are getting discovered a different way. now because now since the advent of. social media. we see a lot of guys on ig you know. doing little stuff doing skits and maybe.

they're doing tick tock or they're doing. ig live. yeah are there some some comedians up. and coming comedians that you look like. okay. your young brother this young this young. female has a chance. you know what i i need to get on more. and and see who's out there because. there's a lot of talented people. out there man and one kid i think you. mentioned one kid. imitates me on tick-tock man i think. that that kid's just talented man. uh but uh and he's gonna go far. uh but it's it's uh definitely a new uh.

platform like we had def jam. and they got into the movies this is a. platform that's getting a lot of people. uh going to the next level you know uh. like justin. uh beaver got discovered uh doing. something on um. on social media and then drake and what. he did a little tv too but. that's a new platform that's a new. format so that's what yeah you uh. the old comedians had def jam had comic. view. comic lost a lot of careers so so what. what's the new media what's the new.

what's the new. uh avenue for comedians. to be what's the next depth jam what's. the next comic view. um i think it's going to continue to be. uh something like tick tock. and social media man and all that stuff. twitter and all that. it's going to continue to be that for a. while and people are going to. be discovered off of that and then go. into uh you know of course. uh screaming uh you know on all those. you know platforms like that netflix and. uh. prime amazon prime and hbo max and.

they're gonna get be selling shows and. they're going to be buying them up. man because it's just uh it's just wide. open right now. which is good you know as you mentioned. earlier uh. the the pandemic has been a blessing and. a curse because now you're getting guys. doing. netflix features for uh uh for comedy. and they're getting a boatload of money. you just perform right there. and and everything's taken care of and. they just run it. yeah yeah it's a blessing man because uh.

you know. back in the day it was only hbo or show. time now you got you got so many. different places you could take uh. a comedy uh special uh a show or. something like that. and so it's it's wide open if you got. the talent. and you're willing to do the work you. you know you could get out there. and make it in this business for sure. how have you been. you look at dave chappelle and he had it. all he was on comedy central he was. doing the sketch comedy. and he was at the apex and he walked all. he walked away from it.

and then gradually he took steps and he. built it back up and now he's back. you know a lot of people believe that. he's he right now he's the gold standard. when it comes to. uh comedians how has his resurgence. reinvigorated you i mean yeah cause you. know he did the right thing. he was uncomfortable with something and. he wanted his freedom. uh to express himself in his art and he. did the right thing and it and it helped. him. come back to where he is today and um. and he everything that he left on the.

table he got that. and and double and more you know uh and. we kind of got like some of the similar. uh walk you know i. kind of took long breaks and got my you. know and lived my life and. uh you know got you know traveled all. over the world and grew up. and uh you know and you know toured and. been touring and stuff but. and and ready to do more you know movies. and all types of stuff. i'm still young and can do that thank. god and um. so we kind of got the same kind of walk.

and we we we uh. encourage each other in that in that in. an aspect aspect. and uh man you got to have time you got. to grow and i think i truly believe. art good art comes from your real life. experiences and you don't have. that balance and real life experiences. like when we grew when i grew up that. was all. the friday stuff that was all the dev. jam stuff now. the stuff that i'll do from this point. on is where i've been. you know these last 20 years you know. growing up i think. if they were to remake friday and cube.

said they might. they're thinking about it he says. they're writing it right now. would you want to come back in it and. would you want to come back as smoky. you know what i i you know it's people. some people say do it. some people say don't but for me. personally. i probably won't because i never i never. want to shortchange my audience and my. fans. because you know they i know they want. it because that's what they know and. they love it and i'm glad they love it. but i don't want to come back in. something that that i probably uh.

can't do what they ex what they want you. know. uh me to do because i've you know i've. grown. uh and not not only grown i'm different. right right that's a that was a 25 that. was a 23. 24 year old chris tucker this is a whole. different chris tucker it's a whole. nother chris tucker and you know you. don't want to shortchange. uh your fans for money and uh you know. you don't try to. and that's one thing i think and it's. best to keep that one you know because i. can't do what i did.

uh when i watch fridays now i'm like i. can't i can't do that i was where i was. and i was acting but now i'm in my 40s. now. uh i could do something even better. because uh if you like that character. imagine what i'm gonna do uh in the. future. you're from atlanta as i mentioned the. sports team. in atlanta haven't had the greatest. success we got the falcons we got the. braves. uh uh hank aaron. hey gary we're going to talk about as a. matter of fact let's talk about hank we. just lost hank early this morning i.

think he was 86 years of age. at lamin icon when you think about. legends of atlanta you think about. obviously dr king. you think about uh hank aaron you think. about andrew young. maynard jackson some some of the greats. and now. 20 years from now we're going to be. thinking about uh keshia bottoms and. we're going to think about our great. mayor. uh abrams. and keisha volumes is the mayor right. now torsion brown. but talk about hey cause i know you had.

a personal relationship with mr aaron. oh man i've been blessed man to meet so. many great. legends and we stand on the shoulders of. so many greats man in in my. profession uh and in others man and i. met i've. had it because i'm from atlanta i had a. chance to meet mrs aaron. several times and you know and i was. surprised he knew my name you know first. like him people like him and bill. russell and jim brown and uh. bill withers i you know i hung out with. all these people because uh. god blessed me to be in the in that. circle in their world.

but you know i i did his party last year. his birthday party. his wife miss aaron invited me to go up. and say some words man and i just. i just get a kick out of being around. him people like ambassador young. and you know i called him on martin. luther king weekend but. he was such a down-to-earth legend an. icon. iconic person but he was so humble and. that's what i would always remember he. was a hey chris. i'm like that's hank aaron he said my. name you know and. some people get me like that and he's.

one of them. that he's just humble he he shows you. that he cares and he don't wear this. i'm hank aaron on my shoulder like a lot. of people we know do. and he never did that with me and always. always just gave me that. uh reinsurance like you're gonna be all. right keep moving young man. another atlanta icon we lost earlier. also john lewis. you you can't have a mount rushmore of. legends in atlanta without putting john. lewis on that. on that plaque yeah man i call i called. him also on uh you know. a couple of weeks before he passed i you.

know i was praying and i got up and. someone called you. and i got him on the phone i was so. surprised i thought i was gonna leave a. message. and he said uh yes and i think i was. just thanking him thanking him for. everything he's done like i called him. bouncing young and he's just. oh no thank you young man thank you and. i was and i thank god i was able to talk. to him before he passed. uh you that [ __ ] you that kobe's final. game. yeah obviously you know kobe 20 years. he wasn't what he once was but did you.

even in your wildest imagination. envisioned. that kobe would go out in his last game. and drop. 60. never man that dude was great for. real. he was great for real and you know he's. he would go down like the legends bruce. lee and so many great stats just mystery. around. their work ethic and and things they did. to prepare to be great. and uh i never thought that uh yeah he. would stole that many points but he just.

showed. you know he had that anointing man and. uh he was one of the greatest. you like basketball i see you at the. all-star game a couple of times. construct give me your give me your. starting five if you can build a team. starting five any player past and. present. who's your starting five well bill. russell. because he know my name uh michael. jordan okay. uh kobe magic and. uh kareem you know what.

hold up how you gonna lead gold james. off the list you got all these. you got you ain't putting lebron. oh man forget you know what that's my. boy too okay put lebron's on that he's. coming in for the guys he's. [Laughter]. if you could do it all over again what. what would you change what would chris. tucker change about anything. maybe you changed nothing but if you.

could change something or you wanted to. change something what would chris tucker. change. about his career to date i wouldn't. change anything. that comes to mind but i tell you what. you know any mistakes. that you make or i might have made their. learning experiences so you don't want. to change learning experiences. right you got to make sure you learn. quick and don't. keep making the same mistakes uh and so. i don't i wouldn't change anything and. i would uh you know take i would i pray. that i never forget.

the mistakes that i might have made and. and learn from them and keep moving. huh we're gonna rap with this one talk. yes sir if. how do i say this. your career has been. you know you you said you know you took. you you've been like chapelle. chappelle walked away you walked away.

you came back. what are we gonna see from tuck in the. next 10 years. are you going to do more acting you're. going to be more behind the camera. what is what what should we expect from. chris tucker. from today moving forward i. you know what a lot of good things man i. want to do it all you know i want to do. it all you know of course more acting. more more of a more whatever whatever. whatever god's. wherever god guides him to be honest. with you and then i want to say the time.

i took off. was so important and i see the fruits of. that now. like i could you know like i told you i. called congressman john lewis because i. was around him and i. and i and i became uh and i know i knew. him because i was available to go. down to the pederman bridge the edmund. petterman bridge. uh when he invited me and you know bill. you know bill withers hang out with uh. with uh bill willis and um and my and my. buddy who. used to take pictures uh for muhammad.

ali i'm gonna think of his name. brown oh no not bonnie deeney. ambassador young and you know i thank. god that he. allowed me to step back so i could be. calm so i can know them and be friends. with them. and and now you know hopefully they stay. down around forever but i was able. i'm able to say i knew them that they. they. uh gave me good advice and and and stuff.

like that i would have never. known these people if i was just good. straight on my career just worried about. me. so i can always have that wisdom to go. forward. uh sidney poitier going to lunch with. him and harry belafonte. these guys knowing these guys and. spending that time so. those things you can't you you can't. imagine it unless you you willing to. say oh you know i'm gonna leave that i'm. gonna step back for a minute let me. let me grow as a man and as a person and. travel the world and stuff. i would have never experienced those.

things if i wouldn't have faith. and faith in god and those things could. never be taken away from me. and i still got you know a great career. you know coming you know ahead of me. but just to say to say that uh. i want to do it all and i'm able to do. it to produce direct and. and write and find discover other great. actors comedians uh um you know. on along along the way so yeah i want to. do it all and i'm looking forward to. doing it all. you know uh uh wherever god takes.

got to get your super bowl pick who you. got getting to and who's winning the. super bowl. well i'm gonna tell you my boy brady i. love brady yeah i met brady at michael. jordan's golf tournament. and i thought he was black at first. because somebody said just like you say. what's up tuck. somebody said what's up tuck i said well. who this brother is i turn around. it's tom brady and ever since then i. love tom brady i say oh that's my dog. for life right here. because he's just down so i'm going with. tom on. on that and i love aaron i never met.

aaron uh rogers so. i'm going with tom all the way on that. you guys keeps i'm going with i'm going. with my boy the chiefs and um. my homeboy i'm home i'm. i'm going home i had a chance to meet. him at the all-star game man i. i slipped on that one i don't miss stuff. like that he was sitting across the way. and i didn't get in the end of the. all-star of chicago i didn't get a. chance to shake his hand but. i'm going with him i know he felt felt. my spirit. and uh i'm going with him the chiefs are. uh uh.

and brady cheats and brady's in the. super bowl and i'm not gonna call them. because both of them are my boys so i'm. gonna see what happens let destiny take. his course. let history nba who wins the. championship this year. nets lakers clippers. celtics sixes but the clippers. have a a a they have a vendetta. they have uh they gotta win this year so. i think the clip is gonna be there. fighting like cats cats and dogs. with my boy lou uh hitting them up and.

uh. and my boy doc downing but you know they. got this they got a special menu coming. at the place though on foresight you. know they got a special meeting of. little pepper wings. chicken chips this chicken will be. fighting that that place. where is that at where is that you don't. eat that magic. oh yes sir yes sir baby swinging. man tucker i appreciate it bro i. appreciate the time today dad.

love you man thank you bro this is. awesome all my life. sacrifice hustle pay the price wanna. slice. got the bowl of dice that's why all my. life i've been grinding all my life look. all my life been running all my life. sacrifice. plus will pay the price wanna slice got. to roll it dice that's why. all my life i've been grinding all my. life. you know what to do hit the subscribe.

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