The Breakfast Club - INTERVIEW: Lil Rel Howery Talks 'We Grown Now', Comedians Calling Out Comedians, Personal Life + More

Episode Date: April 22, 2024

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The Breakfast Club. Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God. We are The Breakfast Club. We got a special guest in the building. Yes, indeed. We got Lil Rel. What up?

Welcome back. How you feeling, man? I'm good. I'm good. This is the last of my little press run, so I can't wait to go home. You look very slim and trim, bro. Thank you, brother. Thank you.

I'm proud of me. This is consistency. Ozempic or working out? I knew you was going to say that. Because, you know, I'm like sad about that. Ozempic? Yeah, because people, other stars that actually walked up to me and like have said that to me

because they're doing it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I'm like, yo, y'all really doing that to yourself? But his head don't look big though. His head don't look big. Pause. Yeah, you could tell

when people either had surgery or did something crazy. Everything is very real. This is what consistency look like, mentally and physically. What made you get there? Just because you be in front of the camera so much or was it your own personal thing? A lot of stuff

because I stopped drinking and everything. And so like I just wanted to experience this second half of my life and like really be present. And so I've just been very focused. And I'm happy. You know what I mean? Like I'm in a happy relationship. I'm like loving this next part of the game for me. I'm about to direct my first feature and stuff. So I'm happy, you know what I mean? Like, I'm in a happy relationship. I'm, like, loving this next part of the game for me.

I'm about to direct my first feature and stuff. So I'm really excited, yeah. Did you realize, like, when you, I guess the alcohol was more of a coping mechanism that you didn't realize? It was almost not even just coping. It was, like, I almost started just doing it just because. I think one day I was out, and I'm like, am I just doing this because of the access to it? Because I didn't really want to drink one day. And I'm like, it's just free.

And then I'm like, man, I go to these premieres and stuff. Sometimes I don't even remember what the experience is because I'm lit. And so I just wanted to change all that. Well, you look good, brother. Thank you. I appreciate it. Absolutely. Talk to us about We Grown Now, this movie.

Thank you. Because, you know, people don't have nothing to promote. So if you see me, I'm promoting something. People are like, this movie. Thank you. Because, you know, people don't have nothing to promote. So if you see me, I'm promoting something. People are like, I just want to talk. I thought you just came up with a crap-talking comedian.

Yeah, yeah. No, I'm kidding. We Grown Now is a beautiful, beautiful movie. And I'm not even just saying it. Like, this is one of my favorite movies I've done. I mean, I've loved a lot of the stuff

I've done, but since Get Out, this one has been, like, the most powerful one I've done in a long time. And the two young men that starred in this movie are amazing. It's a love letter to the Cabrini-Green residents and just to Chicago in general, and, like, it humanizes all those families, not just at Cabrini-Green,

but just projects in general all over the country. Because you know how they make people, you know, look into projects over the years, you know? And so, man, this movie does a good job by just showing how beautiful community and family is. It's really dope. So it was shot in Chicago. It was shot in Chicago, yeah.

And I love that you're from Chicago, too. So did you get any of that nostalgia? Like, just like... Yeah, I remember 1992 when I was, like, because that's where the movie takes place. You was born in 92? Yeah, man. You feel old, man. Like, yeah, I'm old. Like that's where the movie takes place. You was born in 92? Yeah, man. You feel old, man.

Like, yeah, I'm old. Why you feel bad? Okay. So you was born in 92? The second Bulls championship. That's when you was here. Yeah, it was interesting. Because I've been going to all the screenings, and I'm still watching it.

And it's like, I can remember when when then trail davis got killed that's when chicago got real and we started seeing a lot more of those young people get murdered from the straight bullets and the gang violence and i remember that kind of being the first summer for me when my parents had to be like hey you gotta you can't go here no more you have to be careful because and we had like we had to grow up way too fast just because of that what made you stay away from all that growing my dad you know i mean like me having a father like my dad was like one of it's only maybe like two dads in our neighborhood wow and when everybody's talking this is real talk and that's why i watch this movie it's kind of like eerie a little bit because you can remember like when all of us went from being kids to everybody started to join gangs and stuff.

And we didn't do that because of my dad. And it was tough. When you see this movie, it's about friendship. But I can remember, damn, that was the last time we was just kids. And then it got real for everybody. You lose friends. You lose family members. It's crazy looking at 92 and we're in 2024.

And you remember, like, even that year, it was like, stop the violence. And it was very, and nothing changed. It actually got worse. And that's scary. Like, even when you think about, I think about the kids and young people I went to school with, that's not here no more because of choices we all made. Maybe around that time, to be quite honest with you. What's the biggest misconception about Chicago in particular like those hood and those

projects I just think we forget that his family's in there you know even in a movie they play a clip from an old news story Mayor Daley's talking about Cabrini green and they're talking about it like it's a war zone as if it's not people living in those you know those projects and then you forget how messed up the Chicago Housing Authority was. They the ones that dropped the ball. They wasn't fixing stuff. Because when the projects first was built, and it's actually about to be a national housing authority museum,

my family is one of the featured families because they was in the Jane Addams projects. I actually just did the voiceover for like when you go to their apartment, they redid it. Well, my mom grew up with her sisters and her brother. And, you know, I'm doing the voiceover for like when you go to their apartment they redid it my with my mom grew up with her sisters and her brother and you know i'm doing the voiceover so you walk in it's like me describing it was very emotional doing too but it was they came in there with hope to live in the project the projects were new it was a project yeah yeah which is supposed to be something that is a project that we hope works yes i think we forget that is what that was and then at some point especially when it just became majority you know black families in there they stopped project that we hope works. Yes. I think we forget that is what that was. And then at some point,

especially when it just became majority, you know, black families in there, they stopped caring. They didn't fix anything. Like even seen in the movie where they're getting on the elevators and it's just broke. Like, you know,

there's people now who still live in the price. New York still got their projects up. And some of those elevators still don't work. Yeah. Matt, he would die in those elevators. Yeah. Fall down the shafts

yeah i was gonna ask you know growing up even though it was the projects even though it was the hood it made you who you were right it made you be able to see things a lot different than a lot of other people would now what you having kids of course they're not going to have that lifestyle but not necessarily the project and the hood lifestyle but the being able to see everything does that concern you at all no you know it was funny i was i watch y'all all the time and i i saw aries on here and he was talking about like jordan pill and those guys and it's interesting they're like i you know when you hear like cats be like oh yeah i could tell they're not from the hood whatever whatever but like our kids now uh nothing like that that's right and so i hopefully

we get away from just like what we say what black is because to be honest with you even if we if they grew up in the valley because i mean i live in the valley now and i mean i could say this on here i guess but like my career recently got broken into like twice geez and it's crazy for me because i'm like man nobody broke in nobody's house. They broke in your car. Maybe took a bike from the back, but nobody came in your crib. And like being, you think things are better because you're in this nicer area and you got the gates up and all that.

And I'm like, no, that's burglary. More of a target. And I reacted differently. I'm from the west side of Chicago. So, you know, you still call the police, but like, I like, into like a ninja like i'm like come while i'm here you know i mean like we gonna fight to the death um because it's just something about somebody coming in your your space it's a different and it blew my mind because i'm like damn that's so disrespectful like even though the hood was the hood you just never i it was if somebody broke in somebody's

house everybody knew it and we all jumped on them right Right. You know what I mean? Like somebody woke somebody up, you just broke into the house, get up. And everybody came out there like, let's whoop their ass for breaking into somebody else, somebody's house. Did you catch them broke into your house in the valley? No, that's a thing they're doing. It's a ring, yeah. You know what I'm saying? Even when you look at the footage, which is why

like once again, you know, being not, I don't want to say, you know, but it's like, I'm not nervous. I'm more or less irritated by it. Yeah, yeah. Because I'm seeing how they move, right? Why does it happen so much in California? Y'all should just leave stuff out for them, man.

Well, I mean, they took the idea this time, I guess. Took their watches and stuff. Damn. But, you know, it's interesting because it's like, it feel like they only doing it to the black celebrity. I'm like, man, it is some white people.

I know they got long money. I just got here. I just got this place. Yeah. I ain't even got nothing. I got all big stuff. You can't run out of here with that stuff. And so like,

it was just, I'm like, I was weird. Cause it's like old white people. I know a guy like save some jewels. I was like, brother, I just got out here. You want to leave a note? Yeah. Look, I'm like, I was weird. Cause it's like old white people. I know a guy like safe and jewels. I was like, brother, I just got out here. You want to leave a note? Yeah.

Look, I just got here. I got some waters in the refrigerator. Where were you? Where were you when they did it? Were you away? I was at a screening. Yeah. So they knew you were going to be gone.

I guess, man. I've been trying to, you know, it's, it's, it's trying to figure out what, cause this once it gets the second time, the first time they did it. Same house. Same career. Yeah. Jesus. And it was, it's been to figure out what, because once it gets the second time, the first time they did it. Same house? Same career. And it's been in a four-month span. And the first time they got in because I left the balcony open. But I got like, you know, everything's gated off.

So I didn't think, like, you got to be. But then I look at the footage and watching these young dudes climb over a gate. And I'm like, damn. But the second time they broke the window in one of my rooms. And they always say with the police in California, it takes them a long time to get to a property. Let me tell you what's funny. And I'll give a dad what they think.

It was like 50 cops that showed up and they couldn't catch this one. They flashed a light in the house. He was coming down the stairs. Oh, so they caught him in the house. They didn't catch him. I don't know how. It's 50, y'all.

What? And you don't catch this dude. And then they had a meeting afterwards. Because I was still at the screening for We Grown. Did they see him run out or not? They saw him. They saw him. They flashed a light.

He ran out. The glass he broke. He went back into the media room, ran out. And I got like a big yard and stuff. But like, y'all got a helicopter? I'm like, so ain't nobody seeing him. He's a professional professional. No, they're not. The 50 cops? Because I like, so ain't nobody seeing him. These are professional professionals. No, they're not.

The 50 cops? Because I know somebody who got their house broken into and they said the person came off the roof. They said they literally heard the thump and they looked and the person was just on the balcony so they had to jump off the roof. When you look at the footage, I'm going to tell you something. The pants are sagging. It's like, fam, come on, man.

Okay, all right. You know what I mean? That's what I'm saying. I'm not saying I want to be home. That's what I'm saying. I've looked at this want to be home. That's what I'm saying. I've looked at this stuff. The first time, they only took some Jordans. Just because my assistant showed up right away.

Because I didn't know anybody. I just know my alarm was going off. I just told her to go check at the house. And you know, your hood spotty senses go off because she came in and the refrigerator was open. It wasn't beeping. I was like, why the refrigerator not beeping? If I left it open. So they got food? No, because they was in and refrigerator was open. It wasn't beeping. I was like, why the refrigerator not beeping? If I left it open. So they got food?

No, because they was using it for the light. Oh. And they had, they was in there hiding. And so I told her to get out the house. Like, yo, you got to leave the house because they're still in there. Hold on. When the police asked you to describe the person. They didn't ask me.

They didn't, they didn't, they didn't. I didn't look at all this stuff. So I looked at my own footage and I looked at the cameras and stuff. But they, I mean, it was what they saw when they flashed the light in there. He had an all black, the mask, he was moving kind of fast. Pants sagging. Pants sagging and a book bag. Damn.

I want to ask you about, go back to the Jordan Peele thing, because that was an interesting thing that Aries brought up. What is black? And in Hollywood, what is considered black comedy? That's interesting. I mean, you know, I don't even know how to define what's black. I think now we just want to be human to everybody.

We're not. We're only what they tell us we are, to be quite honest with you. Because everything is different now. Even with like, you know, I love what Aries did because he held himself accountable for like mistakes

he's made and for right now a lot of people don't admit to that everybody just want to like if they don't have

certain stuff they're like well you did something different because it didn't happen for me so that means you did this yeah

you suck the dick yeah it's like it's you know what's interesting let me say this real quick I just want to have a meeting

I want to have a town hall with all the black comics we come in one place no audience there whatever you got to say about anybody ask the question in their face whatever you want to say Ricky, Cat would y'all just all sit down and talk

I'd rather go to the Cabrini Green projects we have to make some I think we just got to figure out what the rules are now Would y'all just all sit down and talk? I'd rather go to the Cabrini Green projects. We have to make some, I think we just got to figure out what the rules are now. Because it's just weird at this point. Because everybody keeps, they just throwing out stuff now. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Like we still, you know, I think the argument about when, you know,

you will address and that means this and that. And it's like, wait, so what Eddie and Martin, if you looked up to Eddie and Martin and you just saw them doing character work or you watched them live in color and you saw them doing character work or David's playing Maya Angelou. So that's character work to me. So if you look up to people doing characters, why you, I just don't understand this narrative of like,

that's what they, they made you do this and do this and do that. I'm like, but I wrote the sketch and I did a stand-up routine based on that. One of my characters, I did my hood rat character. That was one of my hit jokes when I first started. So when I decided to write

sketches, that was one of the characters I played. I just think if you're going to show somebody doing one thing, show all the characters. Absolutely. I played more old men. Maybe that's what we should say. People that play old black men, that's how you make it. But Jordan Peele is interesting because, okay, Key and Peele might not have been your thing, but you can't act like his movies haven't been some of the dopest black films.

But you saw that in Key and Peele, though. That's what's so weird. There's some really beautifullyifully black Written sketches on there I just think Because And you can't You know I think Like Aries is one of the

Most interesting people That's why I said I love that he held Himself accountable Because like He was on Mad TV You did a lot of The mainstream stuff

Yeah yeah And then I guess When that stopped Because everybody Pick and choose When they want to be A hood nigga You know

Like all of us That's really I'm from the west side of Chicago, so I don't need to act like that or try to act hood now that I'm in a certain position. But it's because the athletes do it all the time. Like niggas that went to school the whole time and then they get a little money. Now they want to act like a dope dealer. It's so fucking stupid. It's so stupid. It is.

You went to class every day. I saw you with your book bag. Now that you're in the NFL, you got 15 chains on, you got a crazy crew now. Come on, bro. A lot of that could be the Iverson effect too, though. Because Iverson was just so cool being him that people wanted to be Allen Iverson.

That was Iverson 24-7. That's who he was. But people wanted to be him, so they was imitating him. Imitating him, yeah. You know what's funny? The people that really come from that you know they try to grow out of that they actually try to stay away from that yeah yeah i was talking about i was talking about fiancee didella she laughed because i was like one of

my favorite drug dealers he's like wait what did you say because i was thinking about this drug dealer grew up that you know everybody my i looked up to my dad and my uncles but it was one dope dealer in my neighborhood who i thought was the coolest dude in the world like that's why i like the way the jacket suits with the chain. It's because of him. But then I saw him graduate. I remember, like, I was working in downtown Chicago, and I saw him with a suit on. I'm like, damn.

You know, he's like, nah, I'm done. You know, I cashed out. Wow. You know what I mean? Open a real estate business. That's right. And I was like, wow. But I'm just saying, like, those guys that really lived that life don't necessarily celebrate it.

Is there a difference between being a, well, no, we know there's a difference, but what is the difference between being black famous and white famous? Cause I feel like you've experienced both. Well, well,

not really. I mean, only I say the difference is you, if you white famous, you could just do what you want. Even if you're just a white comedian, I was telling somebody, I saw a clip of will ferrell doing beyonce like literally doing what i'm just thinking like you're crawling and ain't nobody going like see he's so you see what

he's doing because he acted like a woman that's why they don't ever say that they don't bring up mrs doubtfire they don't do none of that stuff they just do what the hell they want to they could just act at anything they want to. And I feel bad for black actors and artists because you almost have to be careful because you just don't want somebody saying, oh, that's why you did that and did this. And I'm like, damn.

But white actors, you know, you can just do whatever you want to. They free. And they don't judge each other either. They don't, like, come at each other. They don't like coming at each other. They're not talking down on each other. We're not in person. A lot of them don't like each other, but they're not like doing. Yeah, but that's what I'm saying.

They don't like go and sit on podcasts or interviews just to say, oh, this person did this back in the day or whatever. Things like that. We had, what's his name? Bill Burr up here. I love Bill Burr. Yeah, I love him too. And I wanted to get into comedy or whatever, because I'm just talking about that.

But Bill Burr, he was up here, and he was saying, you know, he used to bomb, like, all the time. And that shocked me. That shocked me, because I love him. He's one of my favorite, like, people to watch, like, on, like, Netflix or whatever. So he said he used to bomb all the time.

Was that, did you ever? Everybody. I mean, if you. Don't say everybody, yo, because not me. people to watch like on like netflix or whatever so he said he used to bomb all the time was that did you ever everybody i mean if you don't say everybody yo because not me well jess you ain't you you know oh this is interesting i can say it's not it's not a but jess you not it's not a she not what right well here we go it's not a bad thing because it goes back to this point I've been making a lot lately. It's like I grinded the way I did so you wouldn't have to do a lot of the same stuff I do. We had to do those chitlin' circuit holdin' the wall spots. Absolutely.

With the game still being on. And you're going to bum because they don't care that you're doing a comedy show. They came in there to watch the Bulls game. And we happen to be doing a comedy show. I mean, this stuff like where it's literally holding the wall crazy spots you've been able to kind of walk into this where it's like yo you got your audience already you you know you already have a fan base when nobody knows who you are and you start like the person in it don't know who you is it's that's the toughest thing in the world to make those people laugh yeah and it's a different

grind so you don't i believe like i look at at somebody like me and other comics that came up with me, that's one of the doors we open. Which is to my point also, when people are saying, hey, I hate that the veteran comics that talk shit about our group and people under them about what they think they've done. And I'm like, well, your nose and the stuff you went through made it easier for me. Why you don't take that credit?

Yeah. And so for you, yeah, you don't have to experience that because you don't have to do the same extremely tough rooms. It was rooms that other comedians made hard on purpose. Yeah. So you wouldn't do well. Those don't even exist in the boat for real. Like what?

That's like the chocolate sundaes and all that? Oh, you remember Le Duval, the Atlanta romance show? Oh, the shit show, was it? No, not the shit show. No, that's not what it was called. Oh, man.

Man, you kill yourself. Jack, what's his name? Jack Thriller. Thriller was it with the mirror? Trippin' on Tuesdays. No, it wasn't Trippin' on Tuesdays.

I forgot what it was called, but it was one of the hardest rooms in Atlanta, in the country. T.I. was there. Yeah, yeah. And if you killed in there, I remember like, I was sweating profusely, but I worked so hard to get them to laugh.

I'm like, I ain't get booed off. You don't even know if you did good. As long as they didn't boo you off, you was happy. And they made that room tough on purpose. They'll make your intro weird, all types of stuff. But guess what? Those rooms existed all across the country, and it made you a better comic. You know what I'm saying?

So, I mean, those things don't exist like that no more. But knock on wood about not bumming. Don't say that. Yeah, no, I feel you. But no, I still know. But I'm saying those are the things that I want to do, though. I'm going to tell you something, Jess. Put the challenge up.

Do this for yourself. Book a show. Have J.B. No have JB, no no no have Tony Roberts have whoever you think is a beast on stage go up before you. I'm talking about the hottest people and not even in no arena. Go to a club and do it

and I'm going to tell you something that is not easy to follow. That's like, that was one of the things I did to be a stronger comic. Like y'all niggas not even challenging themselves like that no more. Like, I'm like, put me behind the hottest dude, and guess what? I'm going to do my best bit first. I've gone behind Tony Roberts before.

At the bit shows. Nah, but it ain't the same. It ain't the same thing. But look, that's not even what I was trying to get into. I know, don't even argue about it. I'm just saying. No, I'm not. I'm trying to answer your question.

I know, go ahead, ask me the question. But don't do the thing we do thing. I'll tell you what. No, I'm saying. Y'all used to argue a lot when I know go ahead ask me the question but don't do the thing we do thing no I'm saying y'all used to argue a lot when y'all used to do the TV show together every now and then but it was like comedy though

but yeah it was yeah no this is when we was on set and stuff like that but no like like that's what I want to do though I want to go in a room where nobody knows me

because I know like a lot of us comedians that came from social media we definitely we built that and y'all have paved the way for all of us you don't have to but yeah that's what I would like to do because it's impossible for you now you host the breakfast club you're famous but in LA I I before I even got this job I don't know how it is now but that's why I stayed out of LA I never sold great in LA so my agents will put me in rooms where they didn't know how it is now but that's why I stayed out of LA I never sold great in LA so my agents will put me in rooms where they didn't know me and I still would make them laugh but

it's different I can't sell shows it ain't the same no more I mean even the audience is not the same no more because you know what's funny like when I see some of the comics go on the road I don't even know if it's about being funny no more people just like being in a vicinity of people they see online all the time I think it's weird you know and you don't do know if it's about being funny no more people just like being in the vicinity of people they see online all the time I think it's weird and you don't do that a lot which is good I actually like that you don't but like the people that do that weird turn around show like look who all came to see me

I've sold out a bunch of shows I don't do that shit I just do the set get my standing ovation get the fuck out of there but look who saw me and the people just there because they like, oh, I get to see you in person. I think it's good to do that, though, because, I mean, one thing I hear people say sometimes,

they feel like you don't have a base. They think you came out of nowhere. I don't care what they think. Like, you can go on YouTube and just type in Lil Rel and watch every stand-up series from the beginning to now that I've done, from Who Got Jokes to BET Comic View to Last Comic Standing. I really took the long route to this.

So, like, even when people say that, it's actually kind of a compliment because that means I'm such a great actor that you don't even have to see that I did all this other shit to get here. Do you prefer acting or prefer comedy? I think it all is entertainment. So when you look up to Eddie Murphy, Eddie Murphy. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs,

the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast Post Run, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. You know that rush of endorphins you feel after a great workout? Well, that's when the real magic happens. So if you love hearing real, inspiring stories from the people you know, follow and admire, join me every week for post run high. It's where we take the conversation beyond the run and get into the heart of it all. It's lighthearted, pretty crazy and very fun. Listen to post run high on the I heart radio app, Apples, or wherever you get your podcasts. Is your country falling apart?

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Everybody's doing it. I am King Ernest Emmanuel. I am the Queen of Ladonia. I'm Jackson I, King of Kaperburg. I am the Supreme Leader of the Grand Republic of Mentonia. Be part of a great colonial tradition. The Waikana tried my country. My forefathers did that themselves. What could go wrong?

No country willingly gives up their territory. I was making a rocket with a black powder, you know, with explosive warhead. Oh my God. What is that? Bullets. Bullets. We need help!

We still have the off-road portion to go. Listen to Escape from Zakistan. And we're losing daylight fast. That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia Keys opens up about conquering doubt, learning to trust herself, and leaning into her dreams.

I think a lot of times we are built to doubt the possibilities for ourselves. For self-preservation and protection, it was literally that step by step. And so I discovered that that is how we get where we're going. This increment of small, determined moments. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay. Like, grace. Have grace with yourself.

You're trying your best. And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So y'all, this is Questlove, and I'm here to tell you about a new podcast I've been working on with the Story Pirates and John Glickman called Historical Records. It's a family-friendly podcast. Yeah, you heard that right. A podcast for all ages. One you can listen to and enjoy

with your kids starting on September 27th. I'm going to toss it over to the host of Historical Records, Nimany, to tell you all about it. Make sure you check it out. Hey, y'all. Nimany here. I'm the host of a brand new history podcast for kids and families called Historical Records. Historical Records brings history to life through hip-hop.

Flash, slam, another one gone. Bash, bam, another one gone. Historical Records brings history to life through hip-hop. Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history. Like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it. And it began with me. Did you know, did you know? I wouldn't give up my seat. Nine months before Rosa, it was called a woman. Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records.

Because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everyone. This is Courtney Thorne-Smith, Laura Layton, and Daphne Zuniga. On July 8, 1992, apartment buildings with pools were never quite the same

as Melrose Place was introduced to the world. It took drama and mayhem to an entirely new level. We are going to be reliving every hookup, every scandal, every backstab, blackmail and explosion, and every single wig removal together. Secrets are revealed as we rewatch every moment with you. Special guests from back in the day will be dropping by. You know who they are. Sydney, Allison, and Joe are back together on Still the Place with a trip down memory lane and back to Melrose Place.

So listen to Still the Place on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. I did it all. So I was like, I always assumed that you had to know how to like do stand-up, act, write. Like, because I looked up the King and Aubrey Wayans and Robert Townsend too, and they did everything. So that's why I'm an everything person person i've never thought about this in one

category and you brought up bill burr one of the things i love about bill burr bill burr never changed his voice i saw him do some of the blackest rooms as the whitest man in there and had us in fucking tears and that's why i got so much respect for Bill Burr. He never, because you know, we got some comics, especially white comics, that are kind of appeased to us and you know, whatever that is.

Bill Burr, man, him, one of the greatest bits I've ever watched somebody do was at Jamie Foxx's Laugh-A-Palooza was Bill Burr and it was right after that Detroit,

that brawl between the Pistons and Indiana. Just look that up on YouTube. Bill Burns bit on it because it was so fresh. It was the funniest shit. Him from the perspective of a white guy

like, he was going to talk stuff about a big black guy. You know, it's just, and he did that in front of that audience and it just happened.

And motherfuckers was in tears, you know. So like, shout out to Bill Burns. What do you think? It was Trippin' on Tuesday too, bro. Trippin' on Tuesday? No, that was a comedy story. No,. What do you think about that? It was Trippin' on Tuesday, too, bro.

Trippin' on Tuesday? No, that was a comedy story. No, that was the name of Duval's thing, Trippin' on Tuesday. It was? Yep. Damn, I guess everybody

call this shit Trippin' on Tuesday. I was gonna ask you about Gerard Carmichael, right? You know, he was talking about Dave Chappelle's comedy. And we were saying that, you know, comics shouldn't

be talking about other comics' bits or what they like and what they don't like because nine times out of ten, I'm sure they have a bit that people don't like. So I don't think comics should say something is offensive because you can easily offend as a comic, too. Yeah, I mean, I mean, I believe that's why Gerard apologized, too. I mean, like we can all have our own personal takes on, you know, different things that comics. I don't comment on nobody's jokes. Now, sometimes I do want to, you know,

when we start calling people a goat and stuff, or when they call themselves a goat, I think it's categories that make that happen. A lot of people still talk shit about Eddie. I think Eddie's the greatest of all time. But you got some people that's done more specials than him, like, well, he hasn't done enough specials to be called that, which is crazy. He don't need to.

You got raw and delirious. I god damn and he did that under 22 so why would he he don't have to do a bunch of he ain't got to yeah you got to do a bunch of specials he don't have to he's like eddie burphy has been one of the most famous people we've ever like my kids know who he is based off him being donkey yeah yeah to me that's dope when your career has done all these different he's actually showed us how to be a superstar in comedy he was our first real rock star um but what i mean even with that like dave i think me and gerard talked about this a couple times it's just like you just want to see dave go a little more personal i was joking with somebody reason i'm like that he never he never did a bit about how he got swole he just

went from skinny to swole we've never heard Dave Chappelle tell us no reason and because you want to hear his comedic genius zone nigga why did you become skinny to swole why it's not gonna lie I feel like it happened overnight I'm like what no I haven't seen him for a while but I guess when I hear people say that I'm like his last special he talked about seen him for a while but I guess when I hear people say that I'm like his last special he talked about his wife a lot

and he talked about it was the whole script club thing and yeah but he's always been and I love Dave but he's always been

good at like which is so weird when he you know he was at the you know when he had decided to say something about Cat talking shit about people

and I'm like and I saw him out and we both was talking about it like man ass fucked up man you know whatever but i'm like well i mean you started shit too you know like the whole dress conversation really happens because of you starting that shit really yeah i think people forget he's the one that did the interview with everybody like you know something chapelle's right oh that was over with it over yep yep and so that kicked off all that shit and so like i think sometimes we just be reckless with what we say i just think we have to be careful about

it and then that's why it's so funny like all these comics say like black comics are just so interesting to me man like and then we don't do it on stage you know we wait till we do the interviews i have the deep conversations and it's like look you ain't just make a joke about it but that's what i like about comedians though because I have the deep conversations. And it's like, why the fuck you ain't just make a joke about it? But that's what I like about comedians, though. Because some of the best conversations, especially here on Breakfast Club, comedians can be deep. And then they can go on stage and be super funny. I think that's what I like.

Yeah, but you need a balance of both. Because I think if you can't be, if you can't make, I think our job is to make things funny. I mean, that's one of the things I love about Chris Rock. He used to make some of the most political things so funny i mean you can look at his last special like i could always tell when like and i love chris but that was the first time i was like dang he really he's not comfortable like if he would have opened up with the slap i'd have been like he's over it but he didn't yeah and then he started venting and it was like oh shit well probably because it was alive so he got a save to slap the whole dog nah

i think if you smart you do that shit first so you can get back to what you know is the essence of your standard little rel says chris rock is not smart that's gonna be the hell it's like 15 rock brothers don't come Tony and all the niggas waiting on me. Them brothers be waiting for me. It's like 15 Rock Brothers. He's like, don't come to the Bronx, man. Don't come to fucking Brooklyn. You said you should have led with it. I think if he was, I could tell he wasn't,

which is why I wish he would have took his time maybe. He wasn't ready necessarily. I think he felt like he was pushed to talk about it. I don't think he should have been live. Me neither. I like going to see comedians. I want to do it live though. I think I could do it. Most of my specials have been the first show. Cat doing it.

It's going to be so interesting. May 17th. Yeah, it's going to be very... I don't know. I don't know if I'm going to watch. You get tired of hearing him call you ugly he don't talk about me no more what was your problem with Cat

why you call him I didn't have a problem with him at all he had a problem with me I didn't know it was just weird I didn't have no

I don't have any problem with Cat Williams he just had a I think he like I think he hate dark skinned niggas cause he always got some weird shit

to say about dark comedians He don't say nothing about the other motherfuckers He be like The black motherfuckers are ugly Ugly ass niggas You'll never kiss a girl on the rail cause you're ugly Uncle Drew nigga

They made you He was saying shit I was like what Did you laugh when you heard that dude Cause it's fucking funny Nah he's hilarious but you Cat wheels

I always tell people if Kanye sounded like Cat he would have been president explain cause Cat has a good way of he can deliver bullshit so believable

but Kanye does too no but we all just look at him we like oh alright nigga Cat makes it funny got you so it's entertaining

even if you think it's a fact like everybody took even half the stuff that Cat said in their interview and a lot of that stuff was lies but it was still like damn that was but you know regular people at home like see i knew it see because you could put in your contract that if you want somebody you ain't gonna ask a back-end point you're gonna say specifically i won't rick and smiley even on 10th on the call sheet why would you believe that Specifically, I want Rick and Smiley, even though I'm 10th on the call sheet, to work the fuck out of here. Why would you believe that? That's so crazy.

People are like, see, I knew it. You can't do that. You cannot negotiate nothing like that. You can barely ask for, like, stuff in your trailer. You can ask for another nigga. But they don't know, man. They don't know. You see what happened?

Did he have on a dress? Yes, he did. When you did the We Grown Now, when you did We Grown Now, what did it mean to be in Chicago? Was that pressure? Because you got to hire people. I'm sure people want you to hire people from Chicago.

You know what I'm saying? They know you home. They're going to want money. When I shot that, nobody knew I was there shooting it, actually, because I was shooting three other things at the same time. But then Minhal, she did a great job directing and writing. I like the fact that she interviewed Cabrini-Green residents.

talked to other housing projects. She did her real research. It took her like five years to do that. And so that's why I like, because I don't like when I see Chicago movies or any movie that's about a place somebody is from and you don't talk to nobody that's from there and you just start making stuff. You can tell in this movie,

even though she's from Chicago also, but she wasn't from that area. At least she talked to those people. And when you see the movie, like we did a screen in Chicago and all the Chicago people were like people was in tears watching it you know because it could be a tearjerker too it's a beautiful movie but it's

very it's a love it's like so man she did a good job of making it Chicago and I love that and I want to go back to talking about the rail show with you and Jess because I remember giving you props because Jess was doing her thing as a stand-up social media, but to give her that opportunity.

It wasn't that we gave it to her. She earned it. She had the best self-tape I think I've ever fucking seen. And she talked to herself. This was so weird about it. It was nobody reading from the other side. Okay? I didn't hear another voice.

But she was reacting to this ghost voice in a way. Me and Gerard was sitting there like, nigga, this is brilliant. It was so fucking, it was such a good ass self-tape. Like I was, we was almost in shock how good it was. And so it was easy for us to be like, oh, yeah, it has to be Jess. What would you do different about that sitcom?

It was on for the season? The season? I don't know, man. I don't think I would do anything differently about the show i think the way i did things i you know i was talking about this recently because i could be honest about it therapy made me really understand how like um how much i put on myself i was very stressed out doing that show yeah and it's because i was trying to make something impossible in a way where you're trying to please all these black people around the country you want

to make everybody happy in Chicago. You want to make it? I don't like how you said black just now, bro. Harsh. No, because, no.

Well, I'm glad I said it like that because it's like, it's impossible to do that. That is a fact. It's impossible. You just can't please everybody. You have to do whatever

you think is honest about your voice and what that is. And I was all, in my stand-up. I've never geared like, this is towards this audience. I did whatever I thought was funny. I think with that, I was just trying to make sure like, yo, I gotta do this for us and our people and this and that.

And so, I don't know, just some things I could have did better, even just as a leader and things like that. But it was nothing bad. It's just I could do a lot of things better. But I've been doing that. I've been analyzing everything I've done from this point. Like when you become number one on the call sheet it's just a whole different responsibility just even the energy you bring on set is big you know you just don't think about all this but I was thrown into the fire I'm glad you think you was ready I don't think so I thought

I was like I thought I was ready for real I thought I was ready for those movies I started but a lot of that stuff I wasn't it happened so fast and for me i like to kind of sit back and be like okay this is how i should take those steps and that but i didn't it was happening really fast and so like now i got a better understanding while i i'm excited about directing because i'm like oh i could do everything so much differently and you know but i put a lot of pressure on myself and and that was a problem. I feel like there's no pathway to, like, do it right, right? Nah. Because, like, you can either start off red hot, and then you get all these opportunities, and you got to take them,

or you take the slow route. But I don't think I'm going to do it. Well, Charlamagne, it's two things. You know, I think, once again, I don't want to say it, but being a black man, just being black, like, it's just more pressure you put on yourself. Yeah. You don't want to mess up what you're doing as far as entertainment. Craig, but being a black man, just being black, like you just, it's just more pressure you put on yourself. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You don't want to mess up what you're doing as far as entertainment. You don't want to mess, you want to represent your family, right? You want to do right by your ancestors. You're just thinking about everything. You don't want to mess the money up. You want to make sure you create generational wealth. You think about this all like when you just got it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Oh, I got to take care of people. It's just so much, man. And it's like I've learned. And once again, that's why we should go to therapy. Talking to a therapist made me break everything down a little different. And I pace myself different now because I'm like, oh, I don't have to like. There's no rush. Relax. And you engaged now, too.

Congratulations. Yeah, man. I mean, I wear my rings. She wear hers. I wear mine. And you proposed to her at Renaissance. Yeah, man. I mean, I wear my rings. She wear hers, I wear mine. And you proposed to her at Renaissance. Yeah, that was crazy. Amazing.

Was it planned or was it, how did it happen for people that don't know? I feel like I'm going to tell this story 15,000 times. One more, one more. It wasn't planned, planned. I actually, so this is funny. I bought the ring that Saturday. Called her dad, called the kids hit Miss Tina because I want to know which song I should propose to because I was like she got all them house songs like all them songs too fast to do a proposal you can't break my soul yeah yeah love on top man

but that's the way yeah but I didn't know she was singing. I thought she was only doing all the Renaissance stuff. And so, you know, Miss Tina told me love on top. And then I, and it was funny. We went to a wedding that Sunday and she didn't know I was proposing. I bought the ring at the mall. This was so last month. The mall? So we was shopping.

Yeah, I went to Tiffany. It was a Tiffany store. Damn, you thought I went to the kiosk? You thought I went to the kiosk? Let me go to Jared's. I said, whoa. Damn. They'd be ready to sit there.

Hey, buddy, buddy. No, I got, I got it at Tiffany's and company at the mall, but we were shopping

for the wedding we was going to. It was a KJ Smith and, oh yeah, the blacks, the blacks wedding. And,

yeah, we shopping for that. And then I stopped it. I looked at the store like, yeah. And I walked in. I said, let me see your engagement rings. And he showed it to me. I was like, all right, give me that one. And then I stopped it. I looked at the store like, yeah. And I walked in. I said, let me see your engagement rings. And he showed it to me.

I was like, all right, give me that one. He was like, yo, you don't want it? Like, bruh, I got to go. He was like, that was the fastest sale ever. I want to know how much it is. Like, no, I'll just get it. And, um. How much was it?

It's nobody's business. Jesus Christ. I just told you my house got broken into. Which is weird. They took the wedding band. I just bought. Oh, my God into Which is weird They took the wedding band I just bought Oh my god I just bought the wedding band

This motherfucker found it Damn I thought I hid it good I guess I didn't But yeah He took the wedding band Now I gotta get another one I'm like damn

Did I get an The receipt was in the bag He probably just took the bag I'm so stupid I really should have took it out the bag at all times like literally the receipt everything was all there

did you hide it or was it on your nightstand no it was it was hidden in the first of all I don't want these niggas back in my house I'm not going to tell nobody

girl they already know the layout they know the layout they took anything you could take yeah I really can y'all hear me

hey don't take shit else there's nothing else left if you try to take something else. There's nothing else left. If you try to take something else, it's going to be heavy, and I'm going to catch your ass. They cleaned you out that good? Not that good, but they took all the jewelry. The cops was there, so you need a dog, little bro, but go ahead. Yeah, I mean, I do.

Oh, you got to see. That's why I need one of them fucking. I'm scared of dogs. I don't want to have a dog. I'm scared of. My whole family's scared of my dog but me. Go ahead. Go ahead. To Tiffany's scared of my dog but me. But go ahead. Go ahead. To Tiffany's.

You went to Tiffany's. I went to Tiffany's. I got the ring and you know went to the wedding on Sunday so it was tough for me not to say nothing

because people kept bringing it in and it was going to happen. I'm like. And then you know went to the concert for her birthday because it was

her birthday weekend. The kids almost messed it up because they was way too excited about us going to a concert. I'm like yo y'all got to chill.

And she's like I wonder because they was way too excited about us going to a concert. I'm like, yo, y'all gotta chill. And she's like, I wonder why they were so helpful. And yeah, we did it. I almost messed it up because I went to the bathroom and Love on Top came on while I was peeing.

I remember yelling. I was like, ah! They was like, you okay, brother? I'm like, yeah, I'm good.

I'm gonna read. They know why I was yelling. You okay, brother? Ah! No, no, it's not that it was funny and I ran did you wash your hands

yes I washed my hands he didn't wash his hands if he yelled first of all I did wash my hands I promise you I did I'm a hand washer I actually look at people

that don't do I judge the fuck out of people that don't wash their hands that makes me so fucking mad. I was just, ooh, nah,

that's up. You wash your hands. I washed my hands, I ran out, and I couldn't find a seat, which was all fucked up, because, you know,

Beyonce be moving, people are like, did you make people move when I left? I know. And so, I had to step, I had to walk back out,

retrace my steps. I was like, oh, that was sitting over there. Found it, it was a cameraman standing there shaking and sweating

because he wanted to put us on camera. Jay hooked that up. And, oh, they all sitting over there. Found it. It was a cameraman standing there shaking and sweating because he wanted to put us on camera. Jay hooked that up. And, yeah, I proposed. And it was beautiful. And she was ready to go. I was like, no, I bought these fucking tickets. This wasn't free.

I actually bought my tickets. But it was just a beautiful moment. She was so happy. And she did the whole black girl, you know, they walk away, do this thing. You watch any proposal video, they go, mm-mm, mm-mm. They be waving their eyes and shit. And yeah, she said yes, and it was beautiful, and it's fun. And people keep saying, when the date is,

but we really been planning a marriage. Like, the wedding, that's easy. We can do that shit. But I want to make sure everything's in order by the time we get into that fucking new place and all that. That's a great perspective. I'm not planning for the wedding.

I'm planning for the marriage. Yeah. Oof. Yes. Expound on that a little bit, bro. You said what? Just expound on that a little bit. What is the preparing for the marriage look like?

I mean, like, you know, we talking about you combining finances. We have seven kids between us, so we need to make sure it's the right home we have. You know, everything has to be in order. And even just us in communicating. Yeah. I love talking to her every day.

Like, even when I'm on the road, I'm traveling, we stay on the phone until we fall asleep still. And we talk about everything. You know, sometimes we don't agree on a lot of shit, but we talk it out. And I love that shit. I love how deep our conversation is. I just told her the other day, we were having one of our crazy deep-ass conversations. I said, you know something? That's what I fucking love about you.

You're so smart. I love having these deep-ass that I can't have with nobody else. Yeah, so. I'm happy, man. You look happy, you sound happy. That's right. The movie is out right now we grown now

and we appreciate you for joining us y'all congratulations too y'all this is this fucking new studio is roomy it's nice thank you

I heard you shitted on our green room though cause it wasn't first of all the first place they took me to was somebody's office I'm like this ain't

nobody fucking room this nigga ain't here working and then and then y'all took us to a conference room that looked like it was meetings in there until I saw

the bottle of hot sauce. I was like, what the fuck is going on? People eating meetings around. A bottle of hot sauce in a conference room? Yes. You saw all these

black people around here. There's a lot of black people around here, bro. Damn. Who just pulled out some hot sauce in the middle of a meeting? And then I heard

they took you to the green room and you said, this it? No, I did not say that. It was a nigga in that work in his ass. Oh, okay, okay, okay. I'm in the wrong room.

Okay, I'm in the wrong room. Ladies and gentlemen, Lil Rel. It's The Breakfast Club. Good morning. Wake that ass up. In the morning. The Breakfast Club.

Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me The Breakfast Club. going. That's what my podcast Post Run High is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Had enough of this country? Ever dreamt about starting your own? I planted the flag. This is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. 55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete. Or maybe not. No country willingly

gives up their territory. Oh my God. What is that? Bullets. Listen to Escape from Zakistan. That's Escape from Z-A-Q EstA-S-T-A-N on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a kid, I really do remember

having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay. Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best.

And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, y'all. Nimany here. I'm the host of a brand new history podcast for kids and families or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, y'all. Niminy here. I'm the host of a brand-new history podcast for kids and families called Historical Records.

Executive produced by Questlove, the Story Pirates, and John Glickman, Historical Records brings history to life through hip-hop. Flash, slam, another one gone. Bash, bam, another one gone. The crack of the bat and another one gone. The tip of the cap, there's another one gone. Bash, bam, another one gone. The crack of the bat and another one gone. The tip of the cap, there's another one gone. Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history.

Like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it. And it began with me. Did you know, did you know? I wouldn't give up my seat. Nine months before Rosa,

it was called a moment. Get the kids in your life excited about history by tuning in to Historical Records. Because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's up? This is Ramses Jha.

And I go by the name Q Ward. And we'd like you to join us each week for our show Civic Cipher. That's right. We discuss social issues, especially those that affect black and brown people, but in a way that informs and empowers all people. We're going to learn how to become better allies to each other. So join us each Saturday for Civic Cipher on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.