Flex Alexander & Brian Hooks on Comedy, Culture, & the Hollywood Hustle | We Playin’ Spades
We Playin' Spades
0:00 [music]
0:02 This is kind of like the black people Uno rules.
0:04 Yeah, exactly.
0:05 Exactly.
0:07 Exactly.
0:08 I like your lips.
0:08 Uh, CJ start flirting.
0:10 Stop.
0:11 See, that's cheap.
0:12 Yeah, that's cheap.
0:13 Look how the light hit her.
0:14 And that's what she doing.
0:14 That's [laughter] true, Flex.
0:15 Yeah.
0:16 Oh, he look.
0:17 He got some pretty lips.
0:17 Oh, here we go.
0:18 All that cocoa up in here.
0:21 I didn't get it.
0:21 Then I found out last year why they took me off the show.
0:28 What happened?
0:29 I can't.
0:30 Oh, I got you.
0:33 They playing the card, they talking to my man about the ass.
0:36 We distracted, though.
0:37 [laughter] Yeah, they got to.
0:38 That's what we do here.
0:39 Now, this is before social media.
0:41 Right.
0:41 So, I don't have no preconceived notion,
0:43 no thought that this is going to come back to bite me in the
0:47 [laughter]
0:48 AT ALL.
0:52 [laughter] EXCLUSIVE.
0:56 FROM WONDERY, THIS is We Playing Spades.
1:00 What we doing?
1:01 WHAT WE DOING?
1:02 PLAYING SPADES.
1:03 WHAT WE DOING?
1:03 WHAT WE DOING?
1:04 Playing Spades.
1:05 What we doing?
1:05 What we doing?
1:06 PLAYING SPADES.
1:09 [screaming] HEY, BOW, BOW, BOW, BOW, BOW, PLAYING.
1:10 [laughter] I am your host, Nick Cannon, and you know what it is, aka Dr.
1:14 Don't Pull Out, aka Mr.
1:15 Lot of Kids, aka the inspirator, the instigator,
1:18 the motivator, and the hold the beta.
1:20 You understand me?
1:21 you got an issue with it, then you a hater.
1:22 Hater.
1:23 And to the left of me is the best of me, my bestie,
1:25 the one and only Courtney Bee, and Nick, tell them what the B stands for.
1:29 The B STANDS FOR BEAT YOUR ASS,
1:32 AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN right here in the backyard boogie,
1:35 cuz we playing the card game for the culture, cuz we supposed to.
1:39 Cuz if you don't know how to play spades, you ain't never been laid.
1:42 And uh, I'm excited about this one.
1:43 Oh, I'm so excited, Nick.
1:45 I'm so excited, cuz like these men is like fine.
1:48 And I'm not even talking about like just regular fine.
1:51 I'm talking about like '90s fine.
1:53 You know what I'M SAYING?
1:54 LIKE NOT 2025 FINE.
1:57 NOT 2023 FINE.
1:58 NONE OF THEM 2020[ __] They don't hit.
2:01 ANYTIME SHE TALK ABOUT FINE, WE LOSE.
2:04 But you know what?
2:05 I got to give props due, because they're true icons.
2:09 Cultural cultural legends.
2:11 Hilarious.
2:11 Big screen, TV screen, all the way around, truly talented writers, producers.
2:16 They They do it all.
2:18 Oh, well, and they talk some[ __] too.
2:20 Comedic geniuses.
2:21 So, I wonder if they going to accept this ass whooping.
2:25 Oh, they going to take it.
2:26 They got to.
2:26 They got to.
2:27 If you don't keep calling them fine the whole damn show.
2:30 No, I get distracted when it's chocolatey fine.
2:33 Here we go.
2:33 Please welcome TO THE BACKYARD, FLEX ALEXANDER AND BRIAN HOOKS.
2:42 GENTLEMEN, welcome to the turquoise table.
2:45 It is an honor to have y'all.
2:47 I mean, obviously, we going to talk so much[ __] We going to talk Yeah,
2:52 yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
2:54 [laughter] But we also here to give you your flowers.
2:56 You know what I mean?
2:57 And and and and just it's when I say it's an honor, man,
3:02 cultural icons that that I think what you
3:05 both personify is that you do it yourself.
3:08 You got You don't wait on nobody else.
3:10 You know what I mean?
3:11 And and and from your legacy, from all the different areas of entertainment,
3:17 uh, and from just seeing you like when everybody else is zigging, you zagging.
3:22 And you know what I mean?
3:23 But like man, and but doing it on your own from, you know,
3:26 the classics that you created to even now,
3:28 the new producing and things that you putting together,
3:31 the new projects that we excited about.
3:33 Like man, y'all do it for the culture, and y'all do it the real way.
3:36 So, we going to get into all of that.
3:38 But we got to ask that first question that we
3:41 ask everybody that sit down at the turquoise table.
3:44 When's the last time you got your ass whooped?
3:48 [clears throat] Literally, figuratively.
3:49 I think I would have to go back to when I was a baby,
3:52 cuz I don't lose in spades.
3:53 Oh, you really do that.
3:55 Where where you How where you learn to play?
3:57 I do this at home, Bakersfield, California.
3:59 Okay.
4:00 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
4:02 Yeah, yeah, that's I'm a neophyte, so
4:07 [laughter]
4:07 This is literally This is a an exclusive.
4:09 It's my first time playing spades.
4:12 OKAY.
4:13 ALL RIGHT.
4:13 RIGHT HERE.
4:14 There it is.
4:15 RIGHT HERE.
4:20 [laughter] EXCLUSIVE.
4:22 CUZ LISTEN, I MISSED IT.
4:23 I WAS PLAYING RUN, CATCH, and kiss.
4:26 [laughter] Uh, as you should.
4:29 7-Eleven.
4:32 [laughter] We understand it.
4:33 Well, we going to knock the rules out for you real quick.
4:35 Uh, we homogenized the game, so it goes quicker.
4:38 Everybody understands it.
4:39 We took the jokers out.
4:41 Okay, SO Y'ALL CHEATING.
4:42 YEAH.
4:43 NO, THAT'S NOT IT.
4:44 WE JUST GOT CUZ YOU KNOW,
4:45 some people don't You know, some white people watching.
4:47 You know what I mean?
4:48 They They got to understand, so we take the jokers out, and aces high.
4:52 Ace of spades is the highest card.
4:54 That's real easy.
4:55 The twos is regular twos.
4:57 Twos ain't[ __] you know.
4:59 Yeah, yeah, so Uh, no.
5:01 This is kind of like the black people Uno rules.
5:03 Yeah, exactly.
5:05 Exactly.
5:06 Exactly.
5:07 And uh, we do bid for fun, but you know,
5:10 we ain't really keeping score with a pen,
5:12 so team with the most books wins the game.
5:14 All right.
5:15 So, it's real simple like that, and I'm going to pass out your first card,
5:17 your most important card.
5:19 That is your black card right here.
5:22 You understand that that's your African American Express to the culture.
5:26 Now, we will revoke your black card if you get caught cheating at this table.
5:31 That's how it happens.
5:32 You understand me?
5:33 So, uh, if you talking across the board
5:36 to your partner after the bid, we snatching it.
5:39 And it ain't going to be no cheating.
5:40 I might be struggling, but Yeah.
5:42 Now, and and recognize that I said if you get caught.
5:48 [laughter]
5:47 KEYWORD WAS CAUGHT.
5:49 CUZ WE KNOW WE US.
5:52 If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying.
5:56 [laughter] You understand me?
5:56 Now, also, cuz I know we real spades player.
5:59 Ain't no sandbagging, and ain't no reneging.
6:01 Okay.
6:02 So, if you come back later and So, explain out of suit.
6:05 We want to be real[ __] not reneging.
6:07 You understand me?
6:09 Yeah, yeah, there it is.
6:10 There it is.
6:11 So, just to set the tone and pass y'all your black card,
6:14 let's talk about the black card in general.
6:18 So, is there any black stereotype or black
6:20 experience that you don't participate in that we
6:23 would all be shocked and surprised and really want to revoke your black card,
6:27 cuz is it a black movie you ain't seen,
6:30 a black dance you can't do, a black dish you don't eat?
6:34 [laughter and clears throat] Yeah.
6:37 I ain't turning in, and I'm not That's what I
6:39 mean when I talk about these '90s [laughter] fine ass men.
6:43 And I ain't putting no boots on the ground.
6:46 [laughter] Oh, there it is.
6:46 I understand.
6:47 Understand.
6:49 Is there something in the black culture I would say I'm very ignorant.
6:52 Yeah, right, right.
6:54 Pork.
6:55 All the pork.
6:56 Yeah, yeah.
6:57 I'm going to eat a rib.
6:57 I'm going to have some bacon.
7:00 __] and keep it, you know what I mean?
7:01 But yeah, if I start doing Classic black film for you that you love.
7:06 Classic black film.
7:08 I mean, I'm It's got to go with the Fridays.
7:10 Really?
7:11 Yeah.
7:11 Okay.
7:13 Yeah.
7:13 Y'all went with some contemporary.
7:15 I thought you was going to take it back earlier than that.
7:17 Oh, I'm taking it back.
7:17 I'm taking it back to the Mack.
7:19 Ooh.
7:20 I'm going back to the Mack.
7:21 Bay Area.
7:22 Yeah, yeah.
7:23 Mack Julian.
7:25 Cooley High.
7:26 Cooley High.
7:26 You really Have you ever seen Cooley High?
7:28 You ain't seen it.
7:29 You ain't seen it.
7:31 She's never seen Cooley High.
7:32 She ain't seen the Mack, either.
7:33 I know that.
7:35 I'm not 21, but thank you.
7:38 Yeah, I know.
7:39 Flirting[ __] already STARTING TO THEY DIDN'T THE MOVIES AIN'T COME ON CABLE.
7:44 WE HAD CABLE, EITHER.
7:47 UPN.
7:47 [laughter] NAH, that But those movies are before her time, though.
7:52 But you got to study the culture.
7:54 You got to study the culture.
7:54 I I I bring those up, because I got to when I when I was doing one-on-one,
7:58 I got to reach out and have Max Julien on my show.
8:02 Cuz I said I'm That's just when I was in that position,
8:04 I said I'm going to bring the people who inspired me, who opened the doors.
8:08 I didn't know that he was one of the first
8:10 people to have a million dollar movie deal.
8:12 Wow.
8:13 Yeah.
8:13 Um, and and and uh, Eric um, Monte, I got to meet him a couple of months ago,
8:18 who created Good Times and and The Jeffersons and all those shows
8:23 he didn't get credit for, so I got to show them love.
8:26 Man, absolutely.
8:27 Man, see, that's dope.
8:27 That's what I'm talking about when I say they they y'all are
8:31 figures and fixtures in in the game that besides the work on camera,
8:37 you represent the culture the right way.
8:40 You know what I mean?
8:41 And it's like really just whether it's paying it
8:43 forward or even paying homage like you talking right there,
8:46 but then at the same time, being examples,
8:49 I was a kid looking up to y'all, watching y'all move.
8:53 I remember you started.
8:54 Eric Van Lowe brought me to see you do stand-up.
8:56 Yeah, yeah.
8:57 Yo, Flex, I'll tell you what kind of car THIS [laughter][ __] HAD.
9:00 BIG BODY BENZ.
9:04 600.
9:04 [laughter] PULLED THAT[ __] up in FRONT OF THE EMPIRE.
9:11 [laughter] IT WAS SO CRAZY, CUZ THIS was during
9:13 those days of Y'all know like the holding deal days.
9:17 Yeah.
9:18 And they UPN and WB, they was handing them checks out.
9:23 And so, we was all doing very well.
9:26 As just as as because it was it was a time, uh, which I mean,
9:31 cuz shout out to all the streamers and everybody,
9:33 cuz it's a good time right now, as well, too.
9:36 Yeah, but back then it was like there were
9:38 networks that were geared directly towards us and our content.
9:41 And if you were a black comedian or entertainer at like
9:46 the agencies and in these studios were really paying attention,
9:50 and they was cutting checks, cuz they was developing stuff,
9:52 cuz they were built as they do like they build their network on us.
9:57 And then when they get to a certain point they forget about us.
10:00 They go They always build off us.
10:02 Always build.
10:03 Yeah.
10:03 Always build.
10:04 Get it.
10:04 But as guys who've done it on OGs like and like literally done it your own way.
10:08 Like how does that make you feel and even in the landscape
10:12 today because I know you got you doing it again.
10:15 You producing your own content and and jump and jumping out there.
10:18 Does that like excite you or like Is it frustrating?
10:24 re-engage or is it just like man they the game I I've always had to do
10:28 it on my own cuz the system don't understand what we do for the culture.
10:33 for for me cuz I came in that era is you know back then
10:37 the Disney's is that holding deals
10:39 with deal with everybody and it was different.
10:42 At that time you were I was a stand up.
10:44 You do a showcase.
10:45 You get a show.
10:47 It's different.
10:47 So I relied on that system and it wasn't until 101 is where
10:51 I was like yo I got to think differently and create for myself.
10:55 But it was that was still you know I
10:57 created but I don't have the money to shoot it.
10:59 So I go I pitch it and they pay for it.
11:02 Now in this age I'm watching.
11:04 I mean they say the saying is adapt or get left behind.
11:08 So you know my partner Chris Spencer Shout out to Chris Spencer.
11:11 and Buddy Lewis and Buddy Lewis wrote this amazing show and we went
11:16 to our friends and we raised the money and we shot the pilot and you
11:20 know now we're you know in talks and and and making it move because
11:23 you realize in the landscape that those days of hey let me call this person.
11:29 Hey can you shepherd this in for me?
11:31 Those days are over.
11:32 Those those days are pretty much gone.
11:34 You know what I mean?
11:35 So I what it did for me was it motivated me to just
11:39 to just go harder because this point in my life man I'm 55.
11:42 I'm like I'm like and after you know not
11:44 to take it down but you know after our brother Malcolm
11:47 Jamal Warner I'm like I'm I'm going I'm not going
11:50 to hold nothing back and I'm doing everything that frightens me.
11:53 Yeah yeah that's what's up.
11:54 Yeah yeah.
11:55 I think yeah man.
11:56 I think it's it's just a funny time and they
11:57 always been on some wash rinse repeat with us.
12:00 Right.
12:00 Right.
12:01 I mean?
12:01 And I was luckily sort of the accidentally
12:03 on purpose we did a small movie called Q.
12:07 When we finished it was 90 minutes and horrible.
12:12 [laughter] But it was funny.
12:13 Yeah yeah yeah.
12:14 It was coming off the heels of the success
12:16 of Fat Beach that went crazy on the internet.
12:19 So that little movie we did for $13,000 made
12:22 $800,000 [clears throat] and we was like oh snap.
12:25 This is what we can do.
12:26 Word.
12:26 And so we sort of found this little lane to where
12:29 we can create these smaller independent films that were doing very well.
12:33 And so it was going crazy in Blockbuster.
12:36 So people would go in and get they Blockbuster movie
12:39 and they say oh yo that's the little pill headed you know
12:42 [clears throat] Brian Hooks.
12:43 We'll get that too.
12:44 And so I sort of you know built this foundation to where
12:47 I could do what I want how I want on a certain
12:51 level and never be out there with my tail spinning and that's
12:55 been my foundation so I never had to wait you know.
12:57 And it's dope cuz you guys again
12:59 from inspiring me to even the entertainers of today
13:02 from the the creators the influencers the streamers who
13:06 are owning their content and doing it on their own [clears throat]
13:10 they they look at y'all stuff and like oh we going to do it like Three Strikes.
13:13 We going to do it like Fat Beach.
13:14 We going to do it like One on One.
13:16 We going to you know what I mean?
13:17 Like even all of that just knowing and even shoot
13:21 all and we've talked about this in private but even
13:23 having to give credit like there would be no Wild
13:26 'N Out if it wasn't for you know Uptown Comedy Club.
13:31 And people don't know from Uptown Comedy Club you
13:33 saw everybody from Tracy Morgan from Yeah from Jim Brewer
13:40 Jim Brewer I saw everybody walk through that door man.
13:43 Yeah.
13:45 And then top everybody came there.
13:46 And it would but like even when it used to come on BET
13:48 and if if you don't know it was a show it it
13:51 had the same energy of like Wild 'N Out and Def Jam
13:55 and all but it was like a real club in New York right?
13:59 It was it was right there 125th Street.
14:01 People don't know that's where the the the birth
14:04 of Def Jam came from Uptown Comedy Club.
14:06 They originally wanted the Brown brothers to be part of it
14:09 but they you know chose not to and and Russell and and Bob
14:12 and they went and did the joint but Uptown Comedy Club
14:15 you saw that stage people all around in the in the round.
14:19 They would do sketches.
14:20 People do anything.
14:22 And they on you.
14:22 We had white folks up in Harlem.
14:25 We had the trucks outside shooting.
14:27 Don Wyne and Bob Banner man you know and I and and I appreciated all of that.
14:31 And and and to to be Hooks I reach out to him like I'm a dude I don't hold back.
14:36 I reached out to him several times.
14:37 I said yo dude you inspire me.
14:39 Wow.
14:39 Cuz I seen what you've done and I seen him go I'm going to do it my way.
14:44 You know [clears throat] what I mean?
14:44 It may not be you know the movie of the week
14:47 or whatever but I'm going to make it happen.
14:49 I'm going to make this money and keep doing it.
14:51 So I I I always I rock with D Hooks.
14:53 Yes sir.
14:54 Smart dude.
14:55 Just man we going to get get to this ass whooping.
15:01 Now we can talk some[ __] Okay.
15:03 All right now he just cut the deck.
15:04 I want you to spill the tea.
15:05 Uh-oh.
15:06 She wrote these cards herself.
15:07 So whatever y'all don't get mad at me whatever that[ __] say.
15:11 It's just read your question.
15:13 Spill the tea.
15:13 Oh snap.
15:15 What what it say?
15:16 Uh what 90s trends do you wish would come back?
15:21 Them them deals.
15:24 [laughter] REAL TALK.
15:25 SEE I THOUGHT YOU WAS GOING TO SAY LIKE dancing in the club.
15:28 Cuz you know he was a dancer too.
15:30 YEAH.
15:31 NO THEM DEALS.
15:34 [laughter] WHAT WHAT'S one moment that humbled you in this industry?
15:38 I think every time uh you test and they
15:42 tell you about how much money you going to get
15:44 cuz what's cold with you might not know is they
15:47 do a deal with you Yeah like before you test.
15:49 You going to do this.
15:50 You going to get that.
15:57 [laughter] So whether it's a show or even movies
15:59 what they do when they get they audition everybody.
16:01 Like you know every time somebody come in here I auditioned from Drumline.
16:04 It literally be like thousands of people and then
16:06 they get it down to about two or three.
16:09 And then with those three people that's it's called the test for the executive.
16:14 Out of those three somebody going to get the job so they do the deal first.
16:19 So if they if they like you they ain't got to go and negotiate right?
16:26 [laughter] [laughter] [laughter]
16:36 You do you do just enough to get your ass all tight.
16:41 Get all excited.
16:42 [laughter] And they hit you like you know what Brian They love you.
16:45 You were amazing.
16:47 No you don't understand.
16:48 They love you.
16:50 [laughter]
16:50 And we're going to keep you in mind.
16:52 I ain't heard from them[ __] since.
16:56 [laughter] We're going to put a pin in you.
16:58 And we putting you because you never know what's going to happen.
17:00 Other deals might not make And you got to watch
17:03 the show like I'll see what that[ __] did.
17:07 [laughter]
17:06 I would have did it different.
17:08 You know what you talking about that?
17:10 It hurt it hurts.
17:11 I'm going to tell you what's worse is
17:12 shooting a pilot and then not getting the series.
17:16 They they don't pick up your option.
17:17 I it's never happened to me.
17:19 It happened to me with Blue Bloods.
17:20 All right all right.
17:21 I was the original partner in Blue Bloods.
17:23 Oh wow.
17:24 And I'm I'm like man I'm in New York.
17:26 They telling me yeah you got to talk to locations manager.
17:28 You going to get a place.
17:30 Call my baby.
17:31 [laughter] I'M LIKE WE BACK.
17:33 CUZ YOU KNOW THIS IS AFTER ONE ON ONE.
17:35 IT was after it was AFTER MICHAEL JACKSON.
17:38 [laughter] BUT WE TESTED FOR SOMETHING TOGETHER.
17:44 We did.
17:44 white boy.
17:45 Yes.
17:45 But the Blue Bloods I was like oh pull me in.
17:47 They made me read over and over and over because they knew
17:50 me as a comedian but I was like yo I have dramatic chops.
17:53 I went this is back in the day when you tested in front of 20 people.
17:57 You know at CBS Radford they got a theater and it's it's 25 executives in there.
18:02 So boom I boom get it.
18:03 When I finally get it they call me at 7:00 at night.
18:06 I get it.
18:06 I'm on a plane in the morning to go to Toronto.
18:09 So we shoot the pilot.
18:10 Cut to I'm home.
18:12 Wife you looking like I know they picked it up and then she see something.
18:15 Boom yeah they picked it up and I'm sitting
18:17 there I'm like I didn't get a call yet.
18:19 I said baby they didn't pick it up my option.
18:21 What you mean?
18:21 You just right here.
18:22 I said I would be in New York right now for upfronts.
18:25 Sure enough I didn't get it.
18:26 Then I find out last year why they took me off the show.
18:33 What happened?
18:34 I CAN'T
18:43 [laughter] BUT BUT IT WAS SOME IT WAS IT was
18:45 It's something we might need to protest about.
18:48 Some hate[ __] You know what I mean?
18:50 And and I I'm like yo man you know you don't mess with nobody's livelihood.
18:56 It be some messiness sometimes.
18:57 Yeah yeah.
18:58 I remember Bill Bellamy told me about a story where he was in the airport.
19:03 They called him.
19:04 He's heading to the upfronts.
19:05 They like I mean in the airport like right about to get on it.
19:08 It's like hey.
19:11 [laughter] Hey.
19:12 So it's gangster.
19:13 NO EVEN WORSE.
19:15 I LOVE THESE TYPE OF SHOWS CUZ I GOT I GOT A THOUSAND of them.
19:18 No they flew K out.
19:19 We had the same agent at the time.
19:21 I was going to upfronts for One on One the second year.
19:24 They flew K out to New York.
19:26 [clears throat] And she told me she's like yeah they not picking it up.
19:30 Like it was like they were celebrating.
19:31 I said the big house right?
19:33 Yeah.
19:34 Kevin Hart first I mean he On the plane it was picked up.
19:36 He landed.
19:38 No.
19:40 [laughter]
19:42 Yes.
19:42 That's the industry.
19:42 One of my famous stories as a kid broke my heart but taught me some
19:47 of the coldest lessons is that you know
19:48 I had a six episode commitment on the WB.
19:52 Bentley Kyle Evans good Martin Jamie Fox
19:56 created my literally Niles uncle like for I'm
20:00 a teenager Will Smith my mentors the producer
20:03 Quincy Jones on set I'm I bought Range Rovers
20:09 [laughter]
20:14 I'm a teenager and they that call came hey buddy [laughter]
20:20 You know the network's going in a different direction.
20:23 It wasn't even a show.
20:25 We love they picked it up for six episodes
20:27 coming on after the Jamie Fox show loose cannon.
20:35 [music] It's a treacherous game.
20:41 It's a it's a cold game
20:47 [laughter]
20:45 it's so cold in the D.
20:47 So we going we we going to do the deal with the question of the day.
20:52 In that same lane cuz it's all about the bag it's all
20:54 about getting to the money but what would you do for the money?
20:58 20 million dollars on the line.
21:05 But you got to smoke crack for a whole week.
21:13 [laughter] Every day.
21:13 Do you even realize that you GOT 20 MILLION?
21:26 [laughter] THEY GET YOU ON THE COMEBACK.
21:34 NO CRACK.
21:38 [laughter] [laughter] THAT WAS THERE THERE'S SOME PEOPLE HERE [laughter]
21:51 THAT THEY WOULD TRY IT.
21:53 I WAS LIKE ALL RIGHT.
21:55 IF YOU THINK YOU REALLY WANT THAT PROBLEM.
22:00 [laughter] UNTIL YOU DO YOU GOT SOME CRACKHEADS IN YOUR FAMILY
22:02 when you uncle tell your COUSIN SEGA GENESIS.
22:06 I HAD my skateboard [laughter] was sold 10 speed was sold.
22:13 Thing is cuz you grew up during them times 85 was like right when it
22:18 hit I was in the South Bronx and it hit hard hit my family hard.
22:25 Until you when you see that that's when you know like ah no man.
22:29 When you look and you see somebody in your family
22:31 and they sitting there looking at THE CARPET LIKE [laughter] YOU LIKE MAN.
22:42 [laughter] SO[ __] what her and her buddies talking about.
22:51 [laughter] THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE.
22:54 NOT PRIVILEGED CRACK.
22:58 [laughter] THAT'S WHITE CRACK that's different.
23:02 [laughter] That is different.
23:03 All right so this is what we going to do this is our only time
23:05 we can talk across the board to our partner and we going to make our bid.
23:09 Uh we usually go a blind seven I don't even have to look at my cards.
23:13 But it's it's not it's not looking good.
23:18 [laughter]
23:20 For blind seven.
23:23 Oh it's all good if you know what I ain't scared we
23:25 ain't I mean See he started flirting and stop see that's cheating.
23:31 THAT'S CHEATING.
23:38 ALL THAT COCOA UP IN HERE.
23:41 [laughter]
23:40 WE LOST.
23:50 [laughter] WE DON'T LOST.
23:53 These old suave ass TV movie star[ __] [laughter] We don't lost.
24:12 Oh he say he see me got a good hand.
24:16 He got a good when a newbie talking about I I think I got three.
24:20 They really got three yeah cuz he really DON'T KNOW WHAT HE GOT.
24:24 HE don't know what he got so he know it's a a deliberate three.
24:32 All right well all right let's get to it
24:33 Flex you got to jump out in the water first.
24:35 Yep yep I dealt so you go first.
24:42 All right.
24:44 All right.
24:47 We going to go we going to go right here.
24:50 Hey you ain't supposed to do that but we we let him do that.
24:54 We I thought YOU TOLD HIM.
25:01 I'M TELLING YOU WHAT DID I SAY?
25:03 WOW.
25:03 I be telling him in the beginning I don't got it.
25:05 You don't be believing me.
25:07 Wow.
25:08 I mean you dealt it.
25:10 Wow.
25:11 Wow was right it is very much right.
25:15 Well if you saying damn Go ahead and take it please.
25:22 All right well[ __] Take that take that.
25:24 All right well get them kids out the street.
25:27 Everybody under 21 right there that's that's a badass eight right there.
25:32 Ain't it sound like ain't nobody GOT NOTHING?
25:37 [laughter] THAT'S THAT WAS SOME BIZARRE[ __] ALL RIGHT
25:39 WELL LET'S let's bring the energy back where
25:41 it's supposed to be all right let's get to it as Yeah yeah ace in your face.
25:46 So Flex we got to talk about man you you
25:49 you my OG you know what I mean you've been doing
25:52 this many moons but get can we talk about
25:56 the the days when you you were the dancer where you were
26:00 like um I think I I don't know where this story
26:04 was but it was about how you cuz he he
26:08 don't been in the backyard too where you stole the shine
26:11 as a dancer and they wanted to SEND YOU HOME.
26:16 [laughter] NO WHAT SO WHAT HAPPENED [laughter]
26:27 WAS this it was this cat that was dancing with us who was a hater [laughter]
26:34 who used to dance with Hammer so you know I'm being the comedian I am you
26:37 know sometimes people would be you know come to come to sound check on his time.
26:41 Right so I would get up [laughter] and he the dancer WOULDN'T TOLD HIM.
26:56 SNITCH SO I'M IN MY ROOM WE'RE in Fayetteville.
27:00 And the crazy thing is ties in the A Theon cuz he was at he was there.
27:04 He came down to that to we were at a rehearsal.
27:08 So you know I get a knock on the door
27:11 it's a manager Phil Robinson God rest his soul.
27:15 Phil knocking on the door I'm like yeah man you know get your stuff
27:18 together I'm like yo the show not till 7:30 he was like not for you.
27:24 This back in the day when he had the ticket he handed me
27:26 the ticket and then they took me to the airport and I was fired.
27:30 For making fun of Keith and Keith wasn't even there.
27:36 You know he he particular.
27:39 [laughter] We've had HIM IN THE BACKYARD WE KNOW HIM.
27:41 He brought us some GIFTS THOUGH.
27:44 AND MY [laughter] MY FAMILY GO BACK I THINK it was his mom
27:47 that owned the hair place in Harlem and my grandmother used to go
27:51 get a hair done I was sitting there and they were yeah
27:53 yeah man so we go back back but so yeah I got fired
27:57 but what it did was yeah gave me a ticket but I'm going
28:00 to tell you something it lit a fire under me boy it pushed
28:03 me I said I ain't never ever let nobody going to be be
28:06 at anybody else's whim where they can just fire me when they want.
28:10 And and I just you know it pushed me
28:12 and that's when everything started I got to stand
28:14 up and I just just I was like yo I'm going to go on the yeah kicked it off.
28:17 Yeah kicked it off.
28:20 Yeah well after that I was done yeah after
28:22 that I was cuz I had stopped but they called
28:23 me for this job cuz I was originally danced
28:25 with Salt and Pepper I did I worked with Queen Latifah.
28:29 You was in the Queen Latifah video right?
28:31 Yeah me and Omar Epps.
28:34 He was in that group called Men in Vision he was dancing in that joint.
28:38 And then shout out to Omar and then Crystal Waters
28:41 I did Gypsy Woman the la-di-da-di that I did that joint.
28:45 Yeah yeah I was in that joint so I
28:47 had I had stopped dancing and then somebody called
28:50 me and said I'm going to get this bread
28:51 and it was Keith so I didn't get the bread.
28:56 [laughter] That's such a great story though to know that that's
28:58 the one that just ignited oh yeah diamonds diamonds.
29:02 Okay.
29:03 Yeah yeah yeah that's that's Can I just tell
29:04 them though You should have played a lower diamond.
29:08 Because I'm you can't beat that.
29:10 So that's that's a face card.
29:14 ARE WE TRYING TO HELP YOU PARTNER?
29:18 OKAY.
29:19 SO HE HEY THAT You know that might be his only situation.
29:25 Now be just a little bit of your history cuz I said first time I
29:29 ever saw you and I was I was watch I went to go see Fat Beach.
29:35 How did that happen cuz that was during the times of the Fridays and and all
29:40 of the movies that were we was we was you go to the movies to see our movies.
29:46 I was in school at CSUN, Cal State Northridge.
29:49 Really?
29:49 Yep.
29:50 And I You remember Drama Log back in the day?
29:53 List like stuff.
29:54 You can I submitted myself through Drama Log for the film.
29:57 Really?
29:57 Went, auditioned like six or seven times,
30:01 and then finally they gave me the role.
30:03 And it was Doug Ellin who did Entourage wrote and directed the film.
30:08 Really?
30:09 So, we made White Boy.
30:10 Yeah.
30:12 Oh, wow.
30:12 And then Jermaine Huggy Hopkins end up Yeah.
30:16 Y'all Y'all were together?
30:18 Juice.
30:19 Again, you seen with Queen Latifah.
30:22 You was a whack ass DJ.
30:25 [laughter] Yes.
30:26 Yes.
30:27 So, yeah, man.
30:27 We was running around Venice Beach.
30:29 It was the first thing like my first role was a league.
30:33 I was from Bakersfield.
30:35 So, you know, I was in school.
30:36 So, I you know, I felt Now, that was like one of at least for me
30:39 like you saw a black film with titties in it.
30:42 Yeah.
30:42 Yeah.
30:43 [laughter] Yeah.
30:43 Yeah.
30:43 They had titties.
30:46 I was a young boy like Titties.
30:50 So, I was derailing that showing my ass, man.
30:53 And it you know, it just became this little underground story.
30:56 you said, you created like that was your niche.
30:58 That was your audience.
31:00 space, man.
31:01 how you got to the three strikes and Q and all that.
31:04 All that.
31:04 All that.
31:05 And it was you know, it it's it's just lanes.
31:07 You know what I mean?
31:08 And that's what God put in in my path in my journey.
31:11 And often we trying to look at what other folks is doing and not recognizing,
31:15 you know what I mean?
31:16 But he gave me the tool.
31:17 He gave me a fishing pole.
31:18 Yeah.
31:19 Gave me some bait.
31:20 Yeah.
31:20 Showed me a lake where the fish was biting.
31:22 And you still, you know, over my journey I get pulled that way.
31:25 Well, let me focus on this.
31:26 It's like, but what are you doing, bro?
31:28 Right.
31:28 Right.
31:28 Like I'm giving you this.
31:29 You know what I mean?
31:30 So, with the word.
31:31 you got to set your own goals because a lot of times they'll make you feel like
31:36 you not doing anything or you not successful
31:39 or you you won't have anything to be grateful for.
31:41 Yeah, don't be studying everybody else's.
31:44 You letting them set the standard of what success is versus you
31:47 digging into what's in front of you and making that work for you.
31:51 You know what I mean?
31:51 And it wasn't always comedy for you?
31:53 I mean, cuz you like naturally gifted in the space of just being funny,
31:58 but you had you didn't really do stand up, right?
32:01 No, and not at first.
32:02 I do it now, but I didn't come for that.
32:03 A lot of people thought I did because all my stuff was comedic.
32:06 Yeah.
32:06 Yeah.
32:07 And so, I ultimately now like I just got back from Tommy T's in the Bay.
32:11 Oh, that's classic.
32:12 We all them there in Tommy T's.
32:15 Two story spot.
32:16 The energy in Tommy T's be crazy.
32:18 But you know, recently, you know, because I can sort of, you know, Yeah.
32:23 Get down.
32:24 digging into the drama, been able to do that, man.
32:26 And just, you know, Nah, that's dope.
32:28 Staying moving with it, man.
32:30 And when did you start stand up?
32:32 1989.
32:33 Wow.
32:34 1989.
32:35 They were They were They were uh Right after So,
32:37 this was right after the Keith stuff.
32:39 This Yeah.
32:40 Yeah.
32:40 Right after that.
32:41 Uh so, is is this Is this card okay?
32:44 Good.
32:45 That's dope.
32:46 No.
32:48 [laughter] I put a ACE ON YOU.
32:50 NO, YOU DID NOT.
32:51 THE TWO.
32:51 YOU THREW THE FOUR.
32:52 I threw the eight.
32:53 That cheating is crazy.
32:54 I put a You got my pistol.
32:55 What's happening?
32:56 You know what?
32:57 I got a ace, but you can have it cuz it's a freebie.
33:00 Cuz of the lift.
33:01 You That was that That was YOU WITH THE ACE, RIGHT?
33:03 But I'll take it.
33:05 I won't argue as much cuz he talking about
33:07 my Somebody black card need to be But you know what?
33:09 Just go.
33:10 It's nice, right?
33:10 It's It's good.
33:11 It is.
33:12 Who threw the ace?
33:13 Who threw the Now, Hey, YOU BE TALKING AGAIN.
33:17 [laughter] HEY, TALKING AGAIN.
33:19 MY PARTNER THREW THAT.
33:20 THAT'S WHY I THOUGHT That cheating.
33:22 Stay with your partner.
33:23 Hey, playing a card and talking to my man about Hey,
33:26 we distracting [laughter] them.
33:27 Yeah, damn.
33:28 Yeah.
33:29 That's what That's That's the method.
33:30 That's the strategy.
33:31 [laughter] Took out the joker.
33:33 Yeah.
33:33 Talking about you ain't supposed to put razors in potato salad.
33:37 [laughter] You got to water it down with white folks.
33:39 Go on, man.
33:40 That's That's my It's my turn.
33:41 It's my turn.
33:42 There it is.
33:43 See, cuz she knew what she was doing.
33:44 She had a whole hand.
33:46 Damn, man.
33:47 What y'all got over there?
33:47 Five?
33:48 Yeah, we We be clubbing.
33:57 [laughter] What's that thing y'all call it again?
33:58 I can't What's that thing y'all call Renegade.
34:00 [laughter] Renegade cuz I don't want to Clubs.
34:02 Renegade Renegade I mean, if you you know, I
34:07 [laughter] I just got it cuz I I don't I can't I I don't Oh, thank you.
34:11 And I don't I can't believe you letting your partner ride like this.
34:14 you stole my [laughter] I thought we had a connection.
34:18 You threw the ace though, right?
34:19 I'm talking about it.
34:20 No, I [laughter] did.
34:20 I did.
34:21 Okay.
34:21 All right.
34:22 I threw the ace.
34:22 He was He was really trying to cheat.
34:26 [laughter]
34:28 Hey, if you ain't cheating, you ain't trying, god damn it.
34:30 Cuz he trying.
34:32 [laughter] I understand.
34:32 I respect it.
34:33 Yeah, I started in '89, man.
34:35 And which is it's this spot in 125th called the Uptown Comedy Club.
34:40 Yes.
34:40 I was going and just, you know,
34:42 watching the shows and then they said they had
34:45 a part in the show where you can amateur segment.
34:48 You had three minutes.
34:49 And I was like, damn.
34:50 Three minutes a long time.
34:52 And at that time I All I did was impressions.
34:54 I would do Bullwinkle and Jesse Jackson and Edith Bunker Archie Bunker.
34:58 I went up there and that's all I did.
35:00 I just talked about Bullwinkle selling crack.
35:03 And I was like, oh[ __] This is what I want to do.
35:06 Yeah.
35:06 This is it right here.
35:07 Even though when I I saw Eddie Murphy Delirious and I told my mom I said,
35:11 that's what I'm going to do.
35:12 I didn't think It ain't You could actually do it until you
35:15 do it on stage and you felt that feeling.
35:16 And that was that was it.
35:18 And I And at the time I was still kind of doing a few gigs with Salt-N-Pepa.
35:22 Um and then they were so supportive.
35:26 They would come to Uptown Comedy Club, watch me.
35:28 And they said, "Yo, when we go do shows,
35:29 why don't you come out and open?" So, I would I would do 30 minutes of comedy.
35:33 There was my partner.
35:34 30 minutes of comedy then go back and then
35:37 I would get dressed and come out and dance.
35:39 Oh, wow.
35:40 But that just started my my my journey in stand up.
35:43 I can just put whatever in.
35:45 Yeah, your partner got it.
35:46 Cuz you You got But if you got You got dying Okay.
35:49 Okay.
35:50 All right.
35:51 Hey, let me get out of bounds.
35:52 I learned that part.
35:53 I will steal it, [laughter] partner.
35:54 Aw, here you go.
35:56 Hey, y'all got to run that tape back.
35:58 Yeah, run that.
35:59 You got to slow mode.
36:00 Her hand like this.
36:01 Cuz she pretty.
36:02 She just say, "I played [laughter] I played the ace.
36:05 Everybody don't listen to that.
36:07 Don't listen to that.
36:08 We We on the We We We getting in their ass.
36:11 Yeah, this is If you you want to give him some ass, do that later.
36:14 [laughter] You ain't supposed to be doing that.
36:17 I just started.
36:18 Everybody say I just started [laughter] this game.
36:21 Y'all ain't supposed to be doing that to us.
36:22 Oh, let's go.
36:24 Yes.
36:27 A heart is a [laughter] heart.
36:31 AND I LEARN.
36:33 OH.
36:35 WOW.
36:35 YOU LEARN.
36:39 [cheering] [laughter]
36:42 AND YOU MAKE SURE THEY DON'T STEAL YOUR ACE.
36:46 ACES GO MISSING.
36:47 It's the same partner.
36:50 [laughter]
36:49 Aces go missing.
36:50 No, that was good.
36:51 Get a partner.
36:52 Get a partner.
36:54 We weren't ready.
36:55 So, tell me about what it was like working with Tupac.
36:59 Oh, man.
37:00 That whole experience was was was amazing.
37:03 Um the audition process I was did Uptown Comedy Club.
37:07 Ernest Dickerson, Gerald Brown the producer, Jackie Brown Carmen the casting.
37:11 They saw me.
37:12 Said, "Hey, we doing this little movie called Juice.
37:14 You know, why don't you come audition?" Hey.
37:15 So, I was in the audition for the role of Q.
37:17 It was down to me and Omar for that role.
37:20 So, we I mean, met Tupac.
37:22 Tupac originally came with Treach.
37:25 Yeah, cuz Treach was auditioning.
37:27 Pac was just his homie.
37:29 He wasn't Tupac.
37:30 Yeah, and they were like, "Yo,
37:31 can you You can ask?" He was like, "Yeah." Took the joint.
37:34 Boom.
37:35 So, it narrowed it down.
37:36 So, they had two people for each role reading.
37:39 Right.
37:39 Right.
37:42 [laughter] So, we spending days together.
37:43 They mixing and matching, mixing and matching.
37:45 We got cool.
37:45 Pac, man, he was the coolest coolest dude.
37:48 You know, Jermaine Hop.
37:50 Uh so, then we And this is when I knew.
37:53 I was like, okay, he's at a different level.
37:56 We in the in the room and we doing a locker room scene where,
38:00 you know, Q closes the locker.
38:02 He right He's like, "What's up, man?
38:03 Where you been?" Blah blah blah.
38:04 So, we in the room.
38:06 There's no locker there.
38:07 So, I'm facing this way.
38:08 And And Pac rolls up and he smacks me in the ass.
38:10 He said, "Boom.
38:10 What's up, partner?" And I turn around
38:12 I start laughing and I broke in character.
38:16 And he was in it.
38:17 And I think back now I'm like, okay, yeah.
38:19 I wasn't I was not ready at that time.
38:22 And he was locked in.
38:23 Locked in.
38:24 So, we did the joint.
38:25 Then they took us all to dinner just to kind of get a last feel.
38:28 And I remember getting that call that, you know, I was going to get it.
38:31 I was sick.
38:32 Yeah.
38:34 It was the first time I had gotten that far in anything.
38:37 But then they called back and they said, "Man, we like this kid so much.
38:40 We going to find something for him." Oh, that's dope.
38:42 Yeah, and then that role right there and then Latifah was like, "Oh, no.
38:45 You ain't going to be bagging on me cuz I know you a comedian." I'm like,
38:48 "No, you know, I might I might got you.
38:49 I got you." [laughter] So, you know, we talked, figured out.
38:52 Said, "Okay, we going to say this, do this." Boom boom boom.
38:54 And then, you know, that's that was that classic scene.
38:58 Nah, that's what's up.
38:59 You want You want that card?
39:01 Oh, yeah.
39:01 You had the ace.
39:02 You jumped out there.
39:03 We won, right?
39:04 When we start snatching black cards.
39:06 She stole the ace.
39:07 He trying to cheat.
39:08 I'm trying to give YOU THE GAME.
39:09 IT SHOULD BE THREE over there because cuz you
39:12 had She stole your I did not steal the ace.
39:15 Give it to her cuz she got the I might
39:17 stab somebody over here CUZ THEY UP IN here playing.
39:21 [laughter]
39:20 Right here, we going to go here.
39:22 Boom.
39:22 There it is.
39:25 Man, y'all got so many amazing stories.
39:28 Oh, man.
39:29 Uh But a[ __] ain't got no heart.
39:31 SO, UH [screaming] SO, UH YOU YOU BUT I MEAN,
39:36 what is your your favorite Hollywood story
39:40 that that you feel like, "You know what?
39:42 this is this is a moment that happened for me
39:45 is one of my favorite moments out here in the game.
39:47 Oh[ __] [clears throat] for me obviously the ultimate
39:51 is creating my own show and that that's the ultimate
39:54 but the feeling of being on television is when I
39:58 was on a show called Where I Live with Douggy Doug.
40:01 Shout out to my brother Doug.
40:02 No ABC.
40:02 ABC yeah.
40:03 ABC and we had a amazing cast
40:05 Solomon Walker from August Wilson's two trains running
40:08 Lorraine Toussaint Yennenga Joel Jason Bose Smith
40:11 we had a Sean Baker I mean amazing
40:13 cast so I'm auditioning in New York because Doug had a deal so our managers
40:19 at the time did a big showcase like at City College for all the comedians.
40:24 So they said we like that kid Flex man he
40:25 should read for his best friend and we were actually friends.
40:28 Got me the material read it boom we want to fly him to LA.
40:32 Flew me to LA I mean I'm seeing cats that was
40:35 on the Cosby show on this show and I'm just looking
40:38 but I still had that New York I don't care I'm like
40:41 I'm And the setting was the show was in Brooklyn yeah yeah.
40:44 I was like I'm getting this.
40:45 Yeah.
40:46 I tested boom so a couple of days later I go my agent
40:50 at the time I have a this is a general at CBS.
40:53 Yeah.
40:53 So I'm sitting in there and I'm waiting
40:54 I'm waiting I'm like man it's like 40 minutes.
40:56 Yeah.
40:56 Phone rings reception is like oh it's your agent.
40:59 He said hey man how's the meeting going?
41:01 I said well I haven't gone in there
41:02 yet he said well you can't take that meeting.
41:04 I'm like why?
41:05 He said cuz you got the show on ABC.
41:07 I'll never forget that feeling.
41:09 Yeah.
41:09 I'm sitting there like yo I'm going to be
41:11 on television like ABC the the network that I watched
41:15 Yeah.
41:15 you know from all the shows you know and I remember I
41:18 didn't have a car and it was a company called Valley Cab.
41:21 I jumped in the cab all the way from TV City CBS and took it all the way back
41:27 to the hotel to Universal Sheraton and I just remember
41:32 I said your mom Nana I'm going to be on TV.
41:35 That's the best moment.
41:36 That's so dope that's that's a good one.
41:38 That's dope.
41:39 What about you?
41:40 I I think for me it was you know it's been a lot
41:42 of moments but I played young Paul D as young Danny Glover on Beloved.
41:48 And this was just more of a you know what I mean and so they flew me to Philly.
41:52 I get in they need to see me in you know wardrobe hair and all that and I walk
41:57 in the trailer and there's nobody in there just person
41:59 seeing me and one other person and Oprah walks in.
42:03 So mind you that's that's Oprah.
42:05 You know what I mean and then so I'm tripping and and it's
42:08 crazy cuz so I look there and I see her feet.
42:12 I'm crying.
42:14 In Beloved that's crazy.
42:20 WHO TURN IT?
42:21 Who turn it?
42:22 It's yours.
42:22 [laughter] It's a cheat turn.
42:23 My turn?
42:24 Is it my turn?
42:25 Oh my feet her feet.
42:29 [laughter] So so crazy that it it threw me off and so I'm like SHE HAD
42:37 [laughter] HERE WE GO.
42:37 too much money That's horrible.
42:40 for her feet to LOOK LIKE THAT THOUGH.
42:42 And it messed with me you know what I'm saying?
42:44 And so but no but let me tell you let ME TELL YOU.
42:48 [screaming] AND SO it bothered ME.
42:49 YOU THINK CLAUDIA JORDAN FEET[ __] UP?
42:53 [laughter]
42:52 NO BUT IT WAS it was it was okay
42:54 because what happened was I was thinking to myself like [laughter]
43:00 somebody she has enough money somebody should do something.
43:05 But what it was was Yes.
43:08 Yes.
43:08 Yes but I didn't know that.
43:10 And so I don't know if she has beautiful feet I think
43:13 She has she has beautiful but But they you never seen Beloved?
43:17 I LOVE I LOVE [laughter] BELOVED.
43:19 HER Beloved but I didn't I didn't know
43:21 that and it was bothering me and I wanted to help.
43:25 [laughter] She was like a slave LIKE SHE HAD BUT I'M JUST COMING FROM THE plane
43:31 to the hotel to the thing and I'm just
43:34 like we getting ready and her feet was already ready.
43:39 And it turns out it was makeup.
43:41 They made it for the foot but for me in real life
43:45 I went back to the room and I was stressed about it.
43:48 [cough and clears throat] And she got all that money.
43:50 And so I was like it got to be something I didn't even sleep well that night.
43:54 That's [laughter] crazy.
44:00 Yeah baby.
44:01 [laughter] That's right let's go.
44:02 BUT BECAUSE I KNEW IT WAS THE I knew the story I
44:05 knew where he was going but it was Yo it messed me up.
44:08 The build up was crazy.
44:09 The car dealer the car dealer We waiting on you.
44:12 The car dealer go ahead.
44:14 No not cars [laughter] What is going on?
44:19 __] I this is my reality this is where I am.
44:23 She need to cut it.
44:25 This is where I am in life.
44:28 Yo if we mess around who started this?
44:31 I started Oh.
44:32 But then you can't take it back I mean Oh damn damn damn.
44:39 No.
44:41 I know.
44:42 No.
44:44 Oh[ __] There you go.
44:47 Yeah it's bad out here.
44:49 And he started it off he should take that.
44:51 It's bad out here.
44:53 It's bad out here.
44:57 I know.
44:58 No You still talking to A C.
45:00 No You playing out of turn.
45:03 We ain't even got no more questions for these[ __] we just
45:07 [laughter]
45:06 This is You all sprayed partner.
45:08 Well this is a OG game.
45:10 They ain't got nothing.
45:11 This is a OG game.
45:12 I need to cut it.
45:13 Yeah I mean yeah yeah.
45:16 So we got we need some OG game from y'all
45:18 some wisdom some advice that a OG taught you.
45:25 [music] Who is that OG and what did they teach you?
45:29 That's [music] good that's a good one.
45:31 I've had I've had I've had OGs teach me stuff in acting and just
45:35 overall Danny Glover I worked with him okay who who was who do I first?
45:41 Is you there?
45:44 [laughter] This is the most talkative They about to work.
45:47 Ain't nobody said nothing.
45:49 Um I was doing a movie with him called Poor Boy's Game it's boxing movie.
45:53 I was nervous.
45:54 Yeah yeah.
45:54 It was Danny Glover.
45:55 Yeah yeah.
45:56 And in his cool way he just leaned over he was like Cool good partner.
46:01 Take your time.
46:01 Good partner.
46:02 Take your time.
46:03 Take your time.
46:04 Yeah.
46:05 I was like okay.
46:06 Breathe got myself together and it just changed everything
46:11 cuz I'm like Especially as hyperactive dudes we get excited.
46:17 excited and him and then also you know going
46:20 going to you know film you know coming from TV TV is different energy.
46:27 Nah nah bring it down.
46:28 Yeah.
46:28 And that was a valuable lesson and then um
46:32 uh Eric La Salle the thing I said earlier Yeah.
46:35 he told me he said man do what scares you the most.
46:38 So I I appreciate him for that those those are
46:41 really really really That's wisdom that's OG game.
46:44 What about you?
46:45 Some game that a OG taught you.
46:47 Lou Lou Myers we were on Bulworth.
46:49 And and and I was you know I guess just young in the mind
46:53 he said something to me he said you know we were all
46:55 there and we were working he said son you want to get
46:57 to a place to where you work you can work as little as you want.
47:07 And I was thinking I didn't get it you know what I mean
47:09 and I was like oh Lou is Lou is losing his mind this is
47:13 [laughter]
47:13 He getting crazy.
47:15 It took me years to understand that cuz now I'm to a place to where I would want
47:20 to be working as little as I can meaning you
47:22 in a place where you can afford to do right?
47:26 And so now being in that place to where I'm not
47:30 there to where I do have to go and spend it
47:32 like I understand and appreciate that jewel he gave me back
47:35 then when I literally was like and then take his medicine.
47:42 [laughter] But it was me.
47:42 Oh yeah.
47:43 needed the medicine you know what I'm saying?
47:45 So things like that That's wisdom that's OG game.
47:49 That that Yeah get the partner.
47:51 Get him.
47:52 Get him.
47:52 I I I'm going to have to cut You going to have to?
47:56 Going to have to.
47:57 Cut him.
47:58 It said it's nothing I have in this one.
48:01 But if I go this one Come on.
48:03 Do what do what scares you.
48:05 Bam let's go.
48:06 Let's go.
48:07 Now [laughter] now that now the bet was that go partner.
48:15 The bet was is that So I want to make sure we say it on camera.
48:19 Cuz it's tied up right now.
48:21 Nick Nick was going to put together a stand up tour
48:26 branded and be the host for me and FLEX HOLD ON.
48:33 WE AIN'T THE WHOLE EPISODE WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT?
48:36 [laughter] I HEARD IT.
48:37 IT SOUND LIKE YOU WAS LYING.
48:39 IT SOUND LIKE WE COULD MAKE SOME MONEY.
48:40 YEAH.
48:43 [laughter] I I I heard I like I like what you picking up what YOU PUTTING DOWN.
48:48 [laughter] I LIKE THAT.
48:48 PUT together stand up tour you know All right.
48:51 And he said the Gen X Millennium tour.
48:55 Okay.
48:56 Like like so with Omarion and Bow Wow Unless [laughter] y'all going
49:00 to be comedy unless y'all going to be some real[ __] Okay.
49:04 Cuz I think they came here and WHOOPED OUR ASS I THINK THEY DID.
49:08 IT'S IT'S UP TO IT'S UP TO YOU.
49:11 But I got to pull his card first Nick.
49:12 Okay before you play your last card he going to pull your card.
49:15 I'm going to pull your card I'm going to pull your card.
49:17 What I got to do with Now you look
49:18 at this card and you tell us what the[ __] that was.
49:22 What what's going on with him?
49:24 [laughter] LIKE I WANTED TO KNOW LIKE WHY LIKE WAS YOU
49:28 like oh it's Michael Jackson I'm going to take the role?
49:30 Did you like did you look at her makeup like
49:33 what the[ __] Yo let me tell you what happened.
49:35 Let me tell you [laughter] what happened.
49:36 I said what the hell is he?" No, let me tell you what happened.
49:39 So, I get this call.
49:42 My my manager hits me up.
49:43 He said, "Hey, man, you know,
49:45 doing this Michael Jackson movie." And I was like, "Stop.
49:47 You know I You know I'm 6'4", right?" [laughter]
49:50 He said, "You know I'm chocolate." Yeah.
49:52 Yeah, but just go just go meet him.
49:53 I'm like, "All right." So, I go out to to What was it?
49:56 Santa Monica to VH1 and build out there.
49:58 So, I go I meet with the producers.
49:59 Nice guy.
50:00 We just talking.
50:01 I didn't read anything.
50:02 Didn't know I did nothing.
50:03 He just talking.
50:04 I'm talking about my love for Michael, you know, I I got to meet Michael,
50:07 you know, my wife, you know, was close with the family.
50:10 So, of course, I'm excited.
50:12 Uh we meet and I leave.
50:14 That's it.
50:15 I leave.
50:15 Don't hear nothing.
50:17 4 days later, get a call.
50:18 Hey, they they want you to do this movie.
50:21 I'm like, "Come on, man.
50:24 [laughter] You can't be serious." Like, all right, cool.
50:26 I'm like, all right, well, you know, what they talking?
50:28 I was like, "OH, THEY SERIOUS." [laughter] THEY SERIOUS.
50:33 I SAID, "THEY SERIOUS." SERIOUS, OKAY.
50:36 SO, I'm like, "All right, cool." And but in the thing was that they sold
50:40 to me man we got we got you the authentic music.
50:43 You going to we going to use all of this stuff.
50:45 We got this person.
50:46 I'm like, "All right, bet." Then we go and we go to Canada.
50:49 And I'm like, "Okay.
50:50 All right." So, I I walk into the trailer the first day.
50:54 And I look.
50:54 I'm like, "Oh, I'm in trouble." [laughter]
50:57 They had originally had a prosthetic nose sitting there.
51:00 I was like, "I'm not wearing that." And then I said,
51:03 "What y'all going to do with the skin?" And then
51:05 because cuz [clears throat] I wanted to get my makeup artist,
51:07 Merrell Arsenal, who's amazing.
51:09 And yeah, cuz we did an episode on One on One,
51:13 the Michael Jackson episode with me and Dwayne Martin.
51:16 And she killed it.
51:17 So, I'm like, "Man, I'mma get her." They said, "No, per Canadian rules,
51:21 you got to have so many So, she sprayed this little ashy donut powder on me.
51:27 [laughter] I'm like, "Holy shit." So, I'm like,
51:29 "All right, whatever." Now, this is before social media.
51:31 So, I don't have no preconceived notion,
51:34 no thought that this is going to come back to bite me in the ass at [laughter]
51:38 AT ALL.
51:39 AT ALL.
51:40 I got a future premonition.
51:42 I'm like, "Listen,[ __] going to be making
51:44 fun [laughter] of me in ABOUT 15 YEARS." [laughter]
51:51 SO, I I GUESS I'MMA GO get this money.
51:53 I go I do it.
51:54 I come back, you know, I do it to the best of my ability.
51:58 Whatever.
51:58 We do a screening and everything.
52:00 Nobody's tripping cuz again, it's no social media.
52:04 production.
52:05 Even talking to I got to talk to LaToya.
52:07 We my wife and I we sat with her for like 3 or 4 hours.
52:09 And she was like cuz some of the family saw it and they said, "No, what you did,
52:13 you personally was not a problem." They was like,
52:15 "Just overall." I was like, "Look, I get it." [laughter] I get it.
52:20 So, that that's the story how it happened.
52:22 And you know who else they were considering?
52:24 Uh uh what's his name?
52:26 He went into politics.
52:28 Uh Oh, Hill Harper.
52:30 Hill Harper, yeah.
52:31 He [laughter] might not have known that, but they
52:33 told me he was the other choice.
52:35 Oh, wow.
52:39 [laughter] So, I took the bullet.
52:42 But you know, is it is it true that is
52:44 that a lesson of like all money ain't good money?
52:46 You know what?
52:47 I didn't even look at it like that.
52:48 But I I did I I did it because I mean,
52:52 in different circumstances, if they could,
52:53 you know, promise that things would be different.
52:56 I would like they Cuz it as an actor, you want to take every role.
52:59 You got to do what scares you.
53:00 Listen, like they doing now with the one that Jaafar played,
53:03 they you got that behind it.
53:04 That's a different story.
53:05 And I'm going in thinking that's what I'm getting.
53:08 Right, right, right.
53:10 But I I would I would But you a comedian, so you you laugh at the all the memes.
53:15 Initially, I was hurt.
53:18 Really?
53:18 I DID [laughter] I TRIED MY HARDEST.
53:21 I'm like, "You guys ARE HORRIBLE." YOU KNOW WE JUST TALKING[ __] ABOUT YOU.
53:24 I was so hurt by you and social media.
53:26 I was like, "YOU GUYS ARE HORRIBLE." [laughter]
53:33 BUT THEN I JUST STARTED BEING LIKE, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
53:35 You got to laugh at yourself." So,
53:37 now people hit me up and I'm like, "Yeah, it was terrible." [laughter]
53:40 And they laughing.
53:41 I just But that's how we got to do cuz
53:42 even as a culture cuz you know we love you, and and every aspect.
53:47 And we appreciate that.
53:47 And we all do we all done did some[ __] You ain't always going to get it right.
53:51 We all got a job that we going to like,
53:53 There's some[ __] out there with me in high heels on in A MINI SKIRT.
53:58 [laughter] WITH ME AND KEENAN on Nickelodeon.
54:02 [laughter] Yeah, I was like, "Hey, it is what it is." We did that.
54:07 Yeah.
54:08 And that's the thing about that's the thing about, you know,
54:10 what we do and with the that that that line of of the public and us,
54:17 they get to see our job failure or success.
54:22 And we don't get to see theirs.
54:24 We don't know how you did at McDonald's.
54:29 [laughter] We don't know if you slow on the grill I don't know.
54:33 Uh which is nothing wrong with that.
54:35 Get your money.
54:35 I worked at all the fast food.
54:42 [laughter] Burger King was Listen, boy.
54:43 Back then the suits was corduroy.
54:46 Damn.
54:47 Yeah.
54:47 Yeah.
54:47 Yeah, I was hot by the fries.
54:48 [laughter] All right, she pulling your card before the last What is it?
54:52 This is simple.
54:53 I was I was just saying what it is.
54:55 Listen, this is this is very simple.
54:58 Why you got all your clothes on in the bed?
55:01 I was attempting to be sex.
55:05 Is that what that is?
55:07 BUT YOUR SHIRT ain't on.
55:08 Yeah, listen.
55:09 What are you Why you so focused?
55:10 He got on like a thing sexy in a turtleneck.
55:12 You got sexy people look Either that or I
55:16 just learned that I didn't get the test.
55:20 [laughter] One of the two.
55:20 One of the two.
55:21 And what what what magazine is that?
55:23 Listen, man.
55:25 I didn't know that [laughter] y'all was going to pull that word up
55:28 at the time and I was ever going to have to explain that.
55:31 I can't explain that.
55:34 [laughter] I only look at it and think What was that?
55:35 Okay, now first of all, GET IN THE BED.
55:38 NO, NO, DON'T WORRY ABOUT TAKING NOTHING OFF.
55:40 GET IN THE BED.
55:42 WE GOING TO PUT THIS MAGAZINE [laughter] AND NONSENSE.
55:48 AND I WANT YOU TO LOOK REAL PENSIVE.
55:49 Turn turn the mag Turn [laughter] the magazine a little bit KIND OF CLOCKWISE.
55:53 IT LOOK LIKE YOU REALLY GOT YOU GOT THE WORST TEXT message of your life.
55:58 I cannot explain this.
56:00 I cannot Oh, what did the tweet say?
56:02 They they making it worse.
56:04 Like Yeah, but read the tweet.
56:05 It gets worse.
56:06 EASY LIKE SUNDAY MORNING.
56:09 [laughter]
56:11 I FEEL LIKE Y'ALL LAUGHED ABOUT this long before we got [laughter] here.
56:16 And y'all ain't going to BELIEVE THIS[ __] [screaming] [laughter]
56:20 EASY LIKE SUNDAY MORNING.
56:22 I can't explain that.
56:24 Yeah, this is this is I can't explain it.
56:26 But I can't explain THIS ASS WHOOPING.
56:29 WHO'S WHO'S IS IT ON ME?
56:31 IT'S ON YOU.
56:31 IS it on me?
56:32 It's on you.
56:35 Do we got the big[ __] Then he he got the big[ __] Is it on me?
56:38 He got it.
56:39 I know I ain't got it.
56:40 I just want to know is IT ON ME?
56:42 I JUST I JUST WANT TO KNOW IS IT ON ME?
56:48 IT WAS on you.
56:51 HOW WE [laughter] LET A when we going on tour?
56:55 exclusive.
56:56 Yeah, we need this tour now.
56:58 Come back now.
56:59 You got to understand this ain't no any newbie.
57:03 This is Flex Alexander.
57:05 Hey, listen.
57:06 Don't call it a comeback.
57:07 I've been here for years.
57:12 For Flex Alexander and Brian Hook.
57:16 What we doing?
57:17 What we doing?
57:17 WE PLAYING SPADES.
57:18 WHAT WE DOING?
57:19 What we doing?
57:20 WE PLAYING SPADES.
57:21 WHAT WE DOING?
57:22 What we doing?
57:22 WE PLAYING SPADES.
57:25 AND I JUST LEARNED TODAY SPADES.