Comedian Mike Epps wants you to know
http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/articlelive/articles/36374/1/Comedian-Mike-Epps-wants-you-to-know/Page1.html
Ashley G. Woodson
By Ashley G. Woodson
Published on 11/2/2006
Groove Productions is bringing Actor and Comedian Mike Epps to Pittsburgh Nov. 3 at the Benedum Center. Epps is currently the host of “Def Comedy Jam” on HBO, and has a couple of movies coming out—“Talk to Me” with Don Cheadle and “Resident Evil 3: Extinction.”
Exclusive interview with 'Def Comedy Jam' star
Groove Productions is bringing Actor and Comedian Mike Epps to Pittsburgh Nov. 3 at the Benedum Center. Epps is currently the host of “Def Comedy Jam” on HBO, and has a couple of movies coming out—“Talk to Me,” with Don Cheadle and “Resident Evil 3: Extinction.”
Check out my exclusive interview with Mike Epps.
Q: How did you become a comedian and actor?
Mike Epps: I started out in Indianapolis. I’m from Gary, Ind. I started off there years ago, about 1992 or 1993. I moved to New York and stayed there for about seven or eight years. I moved from New York to LA and I’ve been here ever since. I started off doing open mike and stuff like that and I wanted to go to the big city and see if it worked.
Q: Who discovered you?
Epps: I’m going to say Ice Cube. You know, Ice Cube gave me an opportunity in a big franchise movie called “Fridays.” They were doing the sequel of it and a mutual friend of ours knew each other and said, “Hey man you know if you can act, I’ll be nice to you. You can do some stand-up and if he (Cube) likes you, he can put you in a movie. So Cube came out to see me and he liked me. I went in and read for it and I read like a whole bunch of times before he told me yes. Cube finally said yes and I did “Next Friday.” From there, I’ve been doing movies ever since.
Q: Who are your influences and who are favorite comedians now?
Epps: I would have to say Richard Pryor of course, and my father. My favorite comedian now is me. I love my comedy.
Q: How has your experience being incarcerated as a juvenile helped you as a comedian?
Epps: At the time it wasn’t so cute to me doing it, but I think it was me lashing out as a young person who had a lot of energy to do a whole lot of different crazy stuff, know what I mean? That was edgy and it showed people that I had an edgy part to me and edgy fire that a lot of people liked.
Q: Are you into hip-hop culture and music? Which artist is your favorite?
Epps: My favorite hip-hop artist would be Life Jennings right now.
Q: What is it like working with Ice Cube and Russell Simmons?
Epps: It’s great, man, because those are the guys who are pioneers, especially Russell Simmons. He’s always been a pioneer to the young brothers in the business. It’s great working with him because you get to learn a lot. He doesn’t talk a lot, so you have to just learn by watching and listening to him. Ice Cube, of course I’ve learned a lot from him and it’s great working with him. Like I said, you get to learn a lot and it boost your confidence up to do the things you are supposed to do.
Q: Is there a project that you, Chris Tucker and Ice Cube are working on?
Epps: They’re talking about doing another installment of “Fridays.” It’s totally up to Ice Cube. I don’t know what his plans are, but if we come together and put that down—It’s history, you know what I’m saying?
Q: What do you want everyone to know about Mike Epps?
Epps: I’d like everybody to know that it starts with the people. I’m down with the people. I do live in Hollywood, but my career lies in the people’s hands. You know what I’m saying? I’m always worried about what the people think and how the people think about me. I make sure that a lot of the sacrifices I do, that it be funny and I do it for the people; without my fans, I would be nothing.
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| MIKE EPPS |
Check out my exclusive interview with Mike Epps.
Q: How did you become a comedian and actor?
Mike Epps: I started out in Indianapolis. I’m from Gary, Ind. I started off there years ago, about 1992 or 1993. I moved to New York and stayed there for about seven or eight years. I moved from New York to LA and I’ve been here ever since. I started off doing open mike and stuff like that and I wanted to go to the big city and see if it worked.
Q: Who discovered you?
Epps: I’m going to say Ice Cube. You know, Ice Cube gave me an opportunity in a big franchise movie called “Fridays.” They were doing the sequel of it and a mutual friend of ours knew each other and said, “Hey man you know if you can act, I’ll be nice to you. You can do some stand-up and if he (Cube) likes you, he can put you in a movie. So Cube came out to see me and he liked me. I went in and read for it and I read like a whole bunch of times before he told me yes. Cube finally said yes and I did “Next Friday.” From there, I’ve been doing movies ever since.
Q: Who are your influences and who are favorite comedians now?
Epps: I would have to say Richard Pryor of course, and my father. My favorite comedian now is me. I love my comedy.
Q: How has your experience being incarcerated as a juvenile helped you as a comedian?
Epps: At the time it wasn’t so cute to me doing it, but I think it was me lashing out as a young person who had a lot of energy to do a whole lot of different crazy stuff, know what I mean? That was edgy and it showed people that I had an edgy part to me and edgy fire that a lot of people liked.
Q: Are you into hip-hop culture and music? Which artist is your favorite?
Epps: My favorite hip-hop artist would be Life Jennings right now.
Q: What is it like working with Ice Cube and Russell Simmons?
Epps: It’s great, man, because those are the guys who are pioneers, especially Russell Simmons. He’s always been a pioneer to the young brothers in the business. It’s great working with him because you get to learn a lot. He doesn’t talk a lot, so you have to just learn by watching and listening to him. Ice Cube, of course I’ve learned a lot from him and it’s great working with him. Like I said, you get to learn a lot and it boost your confidence up to do the things you are supposed to do.
Q: Is there a project that you, Chris Tucker and Ice Cube are working on?
Epps: They’re talking about doing another installment of “Fridays.” It’s totally up to Ice Cube. I don’t know what his plans are, but if we come together and put that down—It’s history, you know what I’m saying?
Q: What do you want everyone to know about Mike Epps?
Epps: I’d like everybody to know that it starts with the people. I’m down with the people. I do live in Hollywood, but my career lies in the people’s hands. You know what I’m saying? I’m always worried about what the people think and how the people think about me. I make sure that a lot of the sacrifices I do, that it be funny and I do it for the people; without my fans, I would be nothing.