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BACK ISSUES INTERVIEWS Stand-Up Comedians Jim Norton Robert Kelly Donnell Rawlings Brad Stine Tammy Pescatelli Leighann Lord George Sarris Nick DiPaolo Russ Meneve Shang and more By Tasha A. Harris, NYC Comedy Journalist STAGE TIME The Magazine That Stands Up For Comedy |
| He's Rich Biatch! DONNELL RAWLINGS Chappelle's Show, Payin' Dues and Why Comics Are the Biggest Haters Learn how the super confident comedian created his own breaks and surpassed the haters that tried to keep him down. By Tasha A. Harris, Editor-in-Chief |
Donnell Rawlings is hard at work as he sits in a conference room at his publicist's midtown Manhattan office promoting his biggest television role to date as co-host of the long-anticipated Chappelle's Show: The Lost Episodes.The seasoned comedian, who is best known for his famous Chappelle's Show
sketch characters "Ashy Larry" and "Beautiful," is enjoying a multitude of career opportunities which include touring across the country and waking up New Yorkers every weekday on Power 105's morning show Egypt and Ashy. After wrapping up his final phone interview of the day, he joins me outside on the patio and talks about paying dues in stand up, dealing with fame after Chappelle's Show and overcoming the envy of other comics who refused him stage time.
How did you get started in comedy? And who was it that challenged you to do stand up?
It was a dare. When I working a 9-to-5, I used to go to a comedy club in Greenville, MD like every
Wednesday. I became a heckler. I was an asshole guy and would try to ruin people's careers. I got
so good at it that I started drawing an audience and people wanted to come see me insult people.
The club owner was trying to control the club; he didn't want me to take his club over, so he
challenged me to perform and I passed in two weeks.
The third week of being a punk, I decided to go up there and I blew it up and it's been stand-up
comedy ever since.
Which club and what was the name of the owner?
It was called the Comedy Connection and the guy's name was Raj, an Indian guy, but I don't
remember his last name.
Do you remember the comics that you heckled?
Everybody. I was so good of a heckler at that time, that I don't think the comics that I heckled are
in the business anymore. I think I retired people's careers before mine even started.
What year was that?
That was probably in '95.
Who were some of the comedians that you started out with?
I think Dave Chappelle had two years on me. Tony Woods was a guy I started out with.
Joe Clair and Mike Epps - we were in that crop of guys like when black comedy was blowing up, like
with Def Jam.
How did get the opportunity to perform on Def Comedy Jam six months after you started doing
stand up?
I don't want to sound cocky but I was really a natural and I was passionate about it. I never knew
that I would be a comic but it just happened. One day my mother went, "I don't want to hear any
jokes unless you're going to get some money doing it." So my mother kind of pushed me into for
financial reasons...
How did you get started in comedy? And who was it that challenged you to do stand up?
It was a dare. When I working a 9-to-5, I used to go to a comedy club in Greenville, MD like every
Wednesday. I became a heckler. I was an asshole guy and would try to ruin people's careers. I got
so good at it that I started drawing an audience and people wanted to come see me insult people.
The club owner was trying to control the club; he didn't want me to take his club over, so he
challenged me to perform and I passed in two weeks.
The third week of being a punk, I decided to go up there and I blew it up and it's been stand-up
comedy ever since.
Which club and what was the name of the owner?
It was called the Comedy Connection and the guy's name was Raj, an Indian guy, but I don't
remember his last name.
Do you remember the comics that you heckled?
Everybody. I was so good of a heckler at that time, that I don't think the comics that I heckled are
in the business anymore. I think I retired people's careers before mine even started.
What year was that?
That was probably in '95.
Who were some of the comedians that you started out with?
I think Dave Chappelle had two years on me. Tony Woods was a guy I started out with.
Joe Clair and Mike Epps - we were in that crop of guys like when black comedy was blowing up, like
with Def Jam.
How did get the opportunity to perform on Def Comedy Jam six months after you started doing
stand up?
I don't want to sound cocky but I was really a natural and I was passionate about it. I never knew
that I would be a comic but it just happened. One day my mother went, "I don't want to hear any
jokes unless you're going to get some money doing it." So my mother kind of pushed me into for
financial reasons...
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