By Satchel B. Jester
We all know Mike Epps for his gut-busting turns in movies such as Next Friday, Jumping the Broom and The Hangover I and III (and last year’s Twitter beef with Kevin Hart). But the longstanding comedian is switching it up. Building on the promise he showed in Sparkle, the Indianapolis native takes a full-on dramatic turn in the psychological thriller Repentance (out February 28), alongside Oscar winner Forest Whitaker, Anthony Mackie and Sanaa Lathan. We chat with the funnyman—who portrays his idol Richard Pryor in Nina, the controversial Nina Simone biopic starring Zoe Saldana—and discover how he keeps up, gets down and gives back. (And he talks about licking the icing off, too.)
Social media… turns people into celebrities overnight. It’s watereddown comedy, and has almost done away with true talent. I had to add something new to my brand because I’m from a different era. I’ve always been about my natural gift. Now, it’s about talent vs. popularity. If you want to work, you have to get with it.
My favorite joke… is about the inner city and the black folks who live in it. Let’s be real, even if you come from a family of doctors and have generations of highly educated relatives, I guarantee that everyone has some of “those” family members.
I don’t joke about… anything related to hurting kids. I don’t fool with that. But I make general crime funny all the time.
In my eyes… I’m a brand, not just an entertainer. I’m pursuing producing opportunities and looking to market myself to more crossover audiences.
Sensitivity… doesn’t belong onstage. You have to have some tough skin to do what I do. You actually have to have tough skin to survive period. Man up!
People don’t realize that… I’m human, too. I have days when I smile to keep from crying and being angry like everyone else. I make people laugh because that’s my job and my gift. There’s nothing shallow about me.
I have a soft spot for… at-risk youth. I started a foundation with my wife, Mechelle, in 2010 that supports the arts, culture and education globally with youth between the ages of 10 and 21. I give back as much as I can.
Black people… invented everything.
I’m conscious about… the work I do. I don’t care what the label is. I’m looking at the outcome of it.
Reinvention… is the key to having longevity in this business. You can’t keep doing the same stuff. I’ve turned down stuff and lost money. But I’m at a certain age where I don’t feel like tap dancing anymore.
Make sure… whatever you do is rooted in something real. Once you lick the icing off the cake, if it’s not good, it gets thrown away.
Photo credit: Samuel Whitworth