This September, Def Comedy Jam will be coming to the U.K. for the very first time.
The extremely successful comedy show premiered on HBO in 1991. It was a phenomenon that changed the face of American comedy.
Produced by partners Russell Simmons and Stan Lathan, the Jam’s helped launch the careers of Dave Chappelle, Chris Tucker, the late Bernie Mac, Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Mike Epps, Cedric the Entertainer, Martin Lawrence and many more.
Now Patrice O’Neal, Capone, Tony Roberts, Dominique and British comic Kojo have their chance to shine.
The Hip Hop Chronicle spoke exclusively to Def Jam founder and Hip Hop pioneer Russell Simmons about why he set up Def Comedy Jam, his thoughts on British comic Kojo as well as his memories of the late Bernie Mac.
Simmons also tells me why he likes Barack Obama and he tells me what he really thinks of 50 Cent.
The Hip Hop Chronicle Interviews Russell Simmons
FULL TRANSCRIPT
On Setting Up Def Comedy Jam?
‘Well I was in a position to do it. You get what you get. I was surrounded by so much talent, it was such an obvious thing to do, nobody didnt want to do it. I always end up doing things that noone … Its pretty clear it should get done but noone else wants to do it, so we found a platform for it. It was exploding all over the country - Martin Lawrence, Jamie Foxx, Cedric The Entertainer and Chris Tucker, these guys were waiting, they were waiting to get exposed, so that was our job’.
‘Martin Lawrence, Jamie Foxx, Cedric The Entertainer and Chris Tucker, these guys were waiting, they were waiting to get exposed’
- Russell Simmons On Why He Set Up Def Jam
What Can The U.K. Expect From Def Comedy Jam’s?
‘Well, theres an exictement, Kid Capri is kinda special, thats good but for me these (comics), they dont get to perform together, these are the best, the best that America has to offer. If we were to do a Def Comedy Jam, one show instead of 12 shows, we’d pick these people to be on this one show, these are the ones that are available, that are developing, that need a platform and so hot. You think about Tony Roberts, Patrice O’Neal, erm think about my man Capone, he’s … he’s so ready for the world to see’
On British Comic Kojo, why choose him?
‘Cause he’s the hottest one as far as we can tell, we love him. You know talent, we dont decide on who’s politically or socially. We dont decide on what they wear, what kind of style, you know its all hood, its all inspired by struggle and comes from experience, people coming out of poverty, its all the same.
‘We love him … he’s the hottest one … he’s the one’
- Russell Simmons On Kojo Is The First Overseas Comic On Def Comedy Jam
Whatever differences, we dont decide by subtle detail, we decide by our gut, you know, what makes you laugh and Kojo is funny as hell, he’s very very funny. He deserves his shot and we are exicted to partner with him, you know, bringing him on stage, Kid Capri is talking about him. Everyday I speak to Kid Capri about the show, he’s exicted to come to these three shows in England and so … (on Kojo), he’s the one, he’s the one’
On Bernie Mac
‘The thing I remember most about Bernie is that he his first performance on Def Comedy Jam, it (wasn’t) going well, and this comedian got blown off the stage and I just remember him coming out after this guy got booed off stage and saying ‘I aint scared of you motherfuckers’.
‘He was just a very sweet person who cared about other people’
- Russell Simmons On Bernie Mac
‘That was a moment that really blew him out, that was his calling card for many years after that, people would say him and thats what they would say and thats what they wanted him to say. That was an honest response to a scary audience you know (laughs), that sticks in my head as my moment of him that is most inspiring, his courage … his creativity. He was a very sweet man, very giving, if you asked him, he’d drop in a charitable donation. He was just a very sweet person who cared about other people and was a good giver, which is why people liked him so much, he gave out so much’
On Obama
‘I like that he’s talking about the enviorment, I like that he’s talking about dialogue. I like he’s talking about poverty in America and around the world. I like that he’s talking about the disconnect that people have had racially, socially, politically. He’s talking about connecting people. Thats the agenda that I think we need to have in the future unless we blow ourselves up.
‘I like he’s talking about poverty in America and around the world … its nice to have a person who knows that struggle directly’
- Russell Simmons On Why He Likes Barack Obama
For me, whatever efforts I can put to the campaign to change. America, they think they are leaders of the free world. I like Senator Obama. Im sure alot of comedians have alot of political commentary with him running for President. He also represents to America, to the world the fact that people of colour are suffering all over the world, thats why Def Comedy Jam needs a separate platform. We can talk about our suffering and maybe bring it to the masses to make them feel it , feel our pain, so its nice to have a person who knows that struggle directly and the suffering of all poor people around the world’
Will Perecptions Of Hip Hop Change If Obama Is Elected?
‘It will bring out the young people and they are a big part of connecting the dots. Young people are not stuggling with race, the way old people are. They arent stuggling with race or religion, I know, Im the chairman of the foundation of Ethnic Understanding, we do research constantly, so this next generation is much more tolerant and loving of each other, accepting of each other. Thats Hip Hop too, its branded, the idea is for these young people, so… so that the reality.
‘You know how hard it was to get a Reverend and 5 children … on MTV?’
- Russell Simmons On Hip Hop & Entertainment
‘You know how hard it was to get a Reverend and 5 children, 5 A students on MTV? You know how hard it is to do anything uplifting in American or World Entertainment? Its a little harder, they just dont always know. They just think people think to laugh at people who are doing poorly, they dont want to be inspired by people who are doing well, thats just the programming mentality in alot of people in this culture and worldwide, so they can blame rap if they wanna but its very difficult. Noone mentions Ludacris’ Foundation or T.I.’s Foundation, Chingy For Change, G-Unity or Shady Foundation, noone talks about the 5 foundations I run, they talk about the entertainment I do. They dont mention that the artist give away probably more money to poverty than all the politicians, not probably… for sure, I shouldnt even say politicians, they dont give us shit!’
Is 50 Cent A Legend?
‘I love 50 Cent, he’s like one of my favourite rappers in the last 15 years’
- Russell Simmons On 50 Cent
‘Yea he’s already a legend, 50 Cent is one of the greatest poets with all those beautiful melodies and songwriters … he’s hot, 50 Cent is hot. I thought you meant like brand new, but 50 Cent is a superstar, he’s made a mark that we cant get pass, aint gonna get pass 50 Cent. When I we not gonna play ‘In Da Club’? … Never! I love 50 Cent, he’s like one of my favourite rappers in the last 15 years’.
*All Rights Reserved By The Hip Hop Chronicle.
*To Use Any Part Of The Interivew, You Must Ask The Hip Hop Chronicle
Russell Simmons presents DEF COMEDY JAM
SEPT 2008
TUESDAY: 16 - MANCHESTER APOLLO
WEDNESDAY: 17 - BIRMINGHAM ALEXANDRA THEATRE
SATURDAY: 20 - LONDON BRIXTON ACADEMY
Tickets available from 0844 576 5483 or buy online at www.livenation.co.uk
Tickets are priced at £33.50 Regional Dates / £34.50 London Dates and are subject to booking fee.
A Live Nation presentation
