Comedy Legend Rodney Perry | I'm Married to Comedy

But I'm sure Eddie Murphy don't give a fuck what Katt Williams got to say at all.

Thing about being the Trailblazer, you gonna smell like smoke.

Going city to city, we turning corners. When you with Trailblazers smelling like smoke, pay attention to the jokes. Success tried to warn us. Motivation conversation captivating the coast. Performing arts, it's the heart, so we gotta watch the boat. All my dreams out of mind, out of sight. They standing on my left 'cause they can't get right. You know what make them wonder every time I turn the corner. Pull up in the hop-out addressing the topic at discussion. Giving culture for the culture, a lot in it and you vote. So many origin stories before the glory, we just not shown. Keeping the balance with independent talents and they don't like that.

All right, listen y'all, we got a guest that I say this a lot, really don't need no introduction. Like for real, like From Monique's— from The Monique Show, from Def Jam, Comic View, Martin Lawrence Presents First Amendment, uh, some— something I can't wait to talk to him about, Coming to America.

Indeed.

Um, cousin, I'm trying to find that name. It just say cousin. I said, okay, now let me just go ahead and start by— let me just introduce my, my brother.

They actually let me call him Cousin Rodney.

No, uh-uh. Yeah, I like that.

Yeah, I like that. They let me call him because they're writing— because they didn't, they didn't give a guy a name.

That's—

he coming to America too.

Yeah, because you're right.

Okay, exactly.

Listen, Rodney, um, I just want to say thank you first of all for doing the show. This guy is an actor, comedian, writer, producer. I didn't see it, but I know he does that too. Director.

I am a director.

Okay, okay.

Um, I had a movie, but then I came out here.

I love it. Okay, promo, promo. Okay, so let me just start off by doing my, um, my, uh, Club Shay Shay. Okay, he's gained national prominence as co-host of BET's The Monique Show, whereas rumor has it, relatable personality made him a standout A prolific performer, he has graced the stage on Def Comedy Jam, Comedy View, Martin Lawrence Presents First Amendment Stand-up, and countless other platforms, becoming a household name in the comedy circuit. His ability to weave humor with heartfelt observations has earned him accolades and a loyal fan base. In addition to his stand-up success, Rodney has showcased his acting talent in numerous films, including Coming to America, Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family— that was hilarious— Johnson's Family Vacation, Who's Watching the Kids?, The Last Laugh, and in case you had never seen this, funny as hell, Christmas in Compton on television.

Wow.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Hey, I did some research. On television, he has appeared on shows such as The Richard Smiley Show, Bounce TV, Off the Chain, and even lent his comedic flair to an improv-based performance on Who's Got Jokes? He is also the host of and creator of a popular podcast, That Comedy Show. Okay, uh, we gonna just get into all of it. Brother, brother, how are you doing? Welcome to—

welcome. What's up, boy?

Man, say, listen, let me say this to you. Um, we met some years ago. And I know probably 20, it was— listen, man, you sat next to me, you say, hey man, can we sit? Can I sit here for a minute? I was on the Tom Joyner Cruise and I would just sit up there eating and I looked, I said, I've seen this brother somewhere before. And we just started talking, we just started talking about nothing. And I kept staring at you. Now I couldn't tell you I didn't know who you were because I didn't know, you know, some people get mad when you do that. No. Oh, you don't recognize?

But I kept looking like I seen this dude somewhere before. Yeah.

And we kept talking. I'm like, it's fucking Rodney Perry.

Yeah, yeah. Sometimes people just feel familiar, you know, like, like family almost. Like, that's the thing about me and who I am and who I—

my career.

People kind of be like, you go to what church?

Yeah, you know.

And so You just, you just— I, I don't assume anybody knows me, but if they don't, I'm willing to tell you, you know, what I know you from. I'll tell you.

Yeah, yeah. And people do that with me too, but normally, nigga, you owe me some money, you know. It's one of those situations where you're like the nigga that jumped on my cousin 20 years ago, you know what I'm saying? But listen, brother, let me, let me just start here. First of all, let me say this. 'Cause people don't know.

Okay.

How you doing, shipmate?

I'm a Navy man.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

I'm a Navy man. I'm a Navy man. Yeah. And, uh, one of the best decisions I ever made, lifelong friends, uh, Harry Ratchford, who currently writes and produces with Kevin Hart. And, um, they were my roommate in the Navy. And, uh, uh, some great, great friends. Uh, Roy Freeman, great friend. Uh, Mitch Jerome, just some great lifelong friends. Uh, Lisa, my girl Lisa, who has still come to see me to this day. And, uh, it's, it's a beautiful thing being in the Navy.

Did, did— because here's the thing that blew my mind, and I did not know this. From Chicago, South Side. Listen, man. It is unfair how many comedians come out of Chicago.

I think the Midwest is the key. I think the Midwest, coming out of the Midwest, it gives you the unique blend of East Coast and South.

Okay.

Because I think some of the best comics come out of the South, but when you come out of the Midwest, you kind of feel South. Because your family probably migrated from the South to end up in Chicago or Cleveland or Detroit. And so that Midwest vibe is, is a part of her comedy. And how about this? Everybody in Chicago is funny. Your uncle, your grandma, your brother. You can get roasted easy in Chicago.

The The thing about Chicago, people got a bad rap, you know. Unfortunately, they're always talking negativity, negativity, negativity. But then you said something that just blew my mind. You said everybody in Chicago is funny.

It's a fact.

I know a couple of cats from Chicago, and I have to admit, they crazy as hell. Not, not, not in a bad way, but, but here goes.

The, the thing that gets, gets the press is, uh, the wild hundreds, or the thing that gets the press is the violence of the city. But the reality is Chicago funny, man.

I've been there a couple of times. I've never seen any problems. I always have fun when I go there. I go and get some pizza, go and get some barbecue.

Soul food.

Uh, went to this one spot, they had one in Dallas but it wasn't the same. JJ's.

JJ's Catfish.

Oh my God. Oh my God, I had some in Dallas.

They got, they got a couple here.

They got here in Atlanta?

In Atlanta, yeah.

Say, man, that was so good.

Yeah, especially we're in Decatur right now, so it definitely is one we can throw a rock at it, hit from I'm writing that right here.

So let me ask this, let's, let's just go here because this show is about encouraging people. It's about giving people their flowers. It's about letting people know that, you know, life hands you sometimes some messed up cards, especially as Black folks, especially.

But no, no, no, life hands you your cards. Okay, so a lot of times as we navigate life, you be like, God, why I get these cards? Well, these your cards. You just gotta play them. You gotta play your cards, good or bad, and be thankful, good or bad. You know, I just came to the realization, and I'm 30 years in comedy, man, and 30 plus, and you gotta find a way to always be thankful. Any situation, good or bad, you know, because what you don't know is God operating for your greater good. So if God is operating for your greater good, there are no bad moves, there are no bad decisions, there are no bad— oh man, I can't believe— I can't— I wish I hadn't done that. If you don't do that, you don't get to do this. My daughter and I had to talk, and my oldest daughter, and you know, I was absentee as a young man because I didn't understand how to be a father, right? And so I tell her sometimes, say, sweetie, if I'm any different, you don't get to be who you are. Like right now she's a homeowner, She's a, um, a great, uh, she's a corporate executive. She runs businesses and she's dope. If I'm anything different, she kind of, she turns out different. So if I'm attentive, if I'm Cliff Huxtable, yeah, maybe she's a serial killer.

Okay, who knows? Okay, what, what Because that's, that's a, that's an extremely positive way of looking at just life.

That's the only way to look at it. The positive way is the only way.

How did you get there though? I mean, was that always your—

I mean, you know what, no, no, it's not, it's not always been the thing. And of course I've had moments where I felt down on myself. I mean, I'm a great comedian and sometimes I'll be like, man, can I do this again? Can I be good at this one more time? And what I've learned is the idea that you just have to trust it. Trust your ability. Trust, you know, you know to hit that button right there. You know it. You know to put a camera there. You need to, you know, to go wide there, you know, to go tight there, you know that. And you know to have a camera on you, you know that, right? So you've already done the work. Trust the work.

You know, you know, it's interesting, I, um, you know, guess still at heart a mama's boy, I guess.

And your mom's still with us? Yes.

God bless you. And I can honestly say on camera, she's gonna jump on me. She was, she was kind of bothering me because she was like, send me your location, do this, do that, do that. I'm like, Mom, I'm good. You don't know what people crazy. And, and I told her, I told her something that you just said to me. I said, Mom, you got to have faith. She said, yeah, faith is one thing, still got fools out here, right? She said, so yes, you, and you still my baby. And that's, that's what she told me. And I had to humble myself because I'm like, if she wasn't caring about me, I would have a problem, right? But she's like, you know, getting up in age because I am, and she was like, Negro, send me your location. And I ain't saying every move, but we need to know you okay.

I just asked my mom— my mom gone now— but what I used to ask my mom, same, same situation, like, what you gonna do? What you gonna do? You gonna run over here and shoot the place up? What you gonna do, little bitty lady? But, but I tell you what, I miss her dearly. The, the, um, most grown-up thing I've been through in my life is the loss of my mom and, and reconciling that. And my sister and I talked this morning. She said, Rodney, how are you? You know, I mean, I mean, you dealing with this, this and that. We lost, we lost mom so many years ago. Have you ever dealt with it? And to be honest, maybe not. Maybe not.

Can I, can I ask you, is, is it fear of not dealing with it? Because there's somebody that might be going through the same situation, you know what I'm saying? Is it fear of facing it, or—

well, it's— I don't know. I don't know. And when I say I haven't dealt with it, I don't— I maybe haven't dealt with it in the conventional sense.

Got you.

You know, in terms of, um You know, like my brother, my brother, upon hearing of my mom passed away, he punched a tree. I never lashed out like that. Matter of fact, I thought he was losing his damn mind. But at the same time, I can tell a story. I can talk about all the stories my mom told me. I can talk about how she was great for us, how she— how the human being she was made me a better human being. How she, she required us to be strong, brave, fearless. She required that. And so, uh, I think I've dealt with that portion of it, but you know, grief is a— grief is a crazy thing.

Yeah, I'm sorry to hear that, brother. For real.

And oh, it's okay.

But it is funny because as soon as we— as soon as we get finished, I'm calling my mama.

Call your mama.

Because she was like, call your mom if you can.

Yes, I'm telling you, man. I mean, I might talk to my mom every day. She was not only my mama, she was my friend. So I, I not only lost my mom, my mommy, I lost my, my best friend.

Wow.

And so Um, but again, if I don't go through that, I don't get to be this guy right now.

Yeah. Uh, even on, bro, even on the ship when we had a chance to just, just chat, I'm like, I had just started doing comedy, just trying to figure this thing out. You, you, you didn't fuss at me, but you told me you need to be on stage more. And I'm like, well, you know, the city I'm in is small or whatever. Make your own room. Like, you need to get on stage more. The more you do it, repetition, repetitions. And I was like, ain't no way around it, none. And it's funny because the same evening— I'm lying, the next day— you know how we go to the, uh, the main dining room?

Yes.

J. Anthony Brown sat right next to me. I'm like, this J. Anthony Brown? Like, I'm tripping out on seeing these people that I've heard on the radio and seen on TV and everything else. And ask him the same thing. He said, I don't write down no damn, you know, Jay crazy. He said, I don't write down no jokes. I just, I talk about my life. That's all you gotta do. And I was like, okay, so I don't have to do one-two punchlines. And I'm sitting up here tripping out because y'all are dropping all these nuggets. But I'm like, there's something behind, I don't like saying celebrity, but behind this person that has a gift of making the room laugh. Like no matter what you going through, Y'all have a gift that I'm hoping I have it at times also as a comedian to make people change what's going on, almost like sorcery. Like you have this magical wand of like, I don't care.

I hope I ain't doing no sorcery.

I feel you though. But I'm sorry, bad metaphor. But as far as being able to move the room and no matter what you're going through, just for a little while, not only are you able to relate to me? But I'm able to make you laugh just for a second, which I think is a gift.

It's an absolute gift. It's an absolute gift. And you know, to anybody that's watching this, you're a budding, you're a young comedian, this is the thing, man, is the thing, you gotta love it. I had this conversation with Talent yesterday, comedian Talent outta New York. And he and I were talking, he said, Rod, he say— I said, Tyler, how can you still be talented after all these years? He said, you gotta love it. You gotta love it. You gotta love it when nobody— when nothing else matters. You gotta love it because comedy will always take care of you. You know, if you can find a way to have a complete love affair, like my wife used to, used to You get up, you see like, you love some comedy. And then what I realized that she was my side chick.

Comedy was my wife.

Wow. Comedy was my wife. Okay. And then that's absurd and probably why we got problems now, but that's true.

Okay. So you're blessing me right now, whether you know it or not, because One of the issues a lot of people that I've talked to have as far as relationships is there's something addictive about the stage. It's not, it's not about the, the lights. It's something about making someone laugh that's addictive. It's something about creating a joke or seeing humor in the smallest of things. Like I've been at funerals and made people laugh. They're like, what's wrong with you? Matter of fact, I heard a story, Mariah J said, and we actually have her tomorrow through the grace of God. And she said, talked about a story.

She live right around the corner from me.

That's crazy. But she told me a story about, well, she was on the show, but she was telling the story, George Wallace and Janeth Brown. I guess George Wallace went to a funeral of Janeth Brown's mother.

Yes, he did.

And he said something crazy. I ain't gonna repeat it 'cause it's not mine to repeat. And me saying it's not going to come out right. But he said something and they were like, what the heck? But as comedians, it's hard for people to understand this, man, you know. But has there ever been a time— and we're going to talk about the health stuff if that's okay— but have there ever been a time where maybe a promoter did you bad, something didn't work out the way you wanted it to, that you was like, this is it, I'm, I'm ready to just give up?

I've only quit once. I was— when I, when I joined the Navy, I, I went through boot camp and I ended up in New Orleans, Louisiana. And I was in New Orleans and I, I had to be on stage somewhere, so I heard about a gong show. And I went to The Gong Show, and I'm on stage 7-8 minutes, and then I got gonged. Somebody picked up a stick and hit a gong and told me to get the hell off the stage. And I was like, you know what, maybe, maybe this is not for me. And I quit. And one day later, I meet Harry Ratchford.

Kevin Hart, the Plastic— I'm saying it right— Plastic Cup Boys?

Yes. Okay. I meet Harry, he and I became roommates, and he was so funny to me, and I was trying to encourage him to be a comedian, and he's like, why don't we do it together? And so he and I became a comedy team for about 6, 7 years. Really? And that got me back in and, uh, still probably my best friend to this day.

That's crazy. Wait a minute, hold on, hold on, because this Turning Corners about times where you wanted to give up, you say, no, I'm not going to give up, I'm gonna keep going. You literally met somebody who's still your friend to this day?

Yeah, for sure.

The next day?

Absolutely.

That's crazy.

Absolutely. And wow. So when you ask me like, why, why do you— how do you find the wherewithal to keep going? I've seen it too many times at this point. Like, I've seen things work out too many times, if that make any sense. Yeah, you know. Whether it's meeting Monique and doing radio with Monique and radio becoming television, or connecting with Cedric the Entertainer. He wants to say, Rodney, I want you to be my woman guy. Or connecting with Steve Harvey and him being like becoming a friend and whooping my butt in dominoes for 2 or 3 weeks before I figured out I could beat him. So it's, um, It's all for a reason, you know.

You told a story, uh, I think it was on Pierre's Panic Room. Yeah, uh, who's hilarious. Shout out to Pierre, he's funny as hell.

Yeah, yeah, wild boy. Um, he's better than Ryan Davis too.

You know what, you know what, I saw that and I wasn't gonna even ask. I was like, I'm not gonna do that because I don't want nobody I don't, you know, I gotta be honest, I was feeling some type of way.

I was like, hey, wait a minute, if Ryan Davis is better than all them, then is he better than me? You know what? Okay, but so what?

Yeah, so what? Listen, first of all, Eric Spears is— he knows how to make people watch. That clickbait is—

he does clickbait.

And I think Ryan Davis is funny, I, I do. But some of the names he said, I said, well, I like Ryan, but I think the one that really got me more than anybody else when he said Ali Siddiq, I'm like, come on, bro.

What's up, independent artists? This is Legacy City, CEO of Street Legend Productions LLC. Radio station, TV network, earn your royalties, UPC code, ISRCs. Come holla at us. Street Legend Productions LLC, home of the independent artist. Resume speak for itself.

Come on, bro, you went too far. Well, because I'm a Texas guy too, so I'm biased.

Ali is my guy and he's a great friend. And what you don't know, what you don't want to do is say to his face, I did a wild boy.

Ali, Ali is the first, and I don't even know if he remembers this, he's the first guy when I first started doing comedy, uh shout out to Time In Productions. Uh, I was able to open up for Ali at this little club or whatever, and he told me, man, he funny as hell. He said, but I did a joke about disabled guy, whatever. He said, you just made him— we felt sorry for him. You, you kept going, you know. He said, you made us feel from being funny to— and I'm like, okay. And that was the first comedian that first told me I was funny, and then actually, you know, then gave me a note, and I was like, thank you, you know. But anyway, Uh, on the Panic Room, you told a story, brother. And I was like, because some people get such bad raps and they seem like they run with the dirt, they run with it. That's why I turn the corner. I'm like, I'm not gonna do all that shit. I'm not— ain't no dirt. We ain't trying to hurt nobody. We ain't trying to— we got enough stuff going on in the world. You said Monique took your wife shopping. Well, her assistant. I'm sorry, her assistant. But just the point of someone doing it, because there's, there's always these bad stories of Mo'Nique. And I'm like, well, I met her once. She was sweet. Like, she was funny as hell. You know, some years ago, but she was still funny. Could you tell us about that experience of, as a man?

I mean, first of all, first of all, I'm very lucky to have Mo'Nique as a friend. Yeah, uh, I've been, I've been blessed comedically to cross paths with some great comedians. Everybody from Dave Chappelle to Kevin Hart to Mo'Nique to Steve and Sid. And men in comedy always have a quiet competition. It just, it just is what it is. And me and Mo'Nique never had that. He just never had the competition thing. And so we became like brother and sister very quickly. So I meet Monique and she said, baby, I don't want to offend you, but can I take your wife on a shopping spree? I said, I mean, at this time, at this time in my career, I'm, I'm living in a 3-bedroom apartment in Inglewood, California. I said, sure. She takes my wife out, spend a few thousand dollars in our home. Oh, well, well received, well needed. $3,000 an hour. Everything from food to furniture, whatever we need.

Yeah.

And I got her on the phone. I said, Mo, how do I pay you back? She said, you don't, sugar. Someday you're gonna be able to pay some young comic the way I paid you. And so that was the— my introduction to her. Yeah, you know, and what solidified our relationship, we're doing a show in Chicago, uh, Mo— the Gay Love Mo— the Gay Love Mo. So I— so we, we working in Chicago. It's, it's a gay event. So I go and do it. I inadvertently say something that offends everybody, you know. I, I said some joke about— it was a blanket statement about gays being something, and it was just unfair, but unbeknownst to me. I didn't even realize it was bad.

Gotcha.

Till after I said it. So the guy came to me, he's like, man, I can't believe you said that.

They—

the first of all, the gays be writing emails. They sat in that audience, they're like, nah, dog.

Wow.

Pissed. They was upset. They sent all these emails and letters out. And so I went to the promoter, I said, hey man, I said, I said, the last thing I want to do is make somebody uncomfortable. I said, if you would allow me, I'll donate my service. I'll come back next year for free. I'll cover my own dime. I'll get here. And he was like, wow. And Monique was like, yo, that's why I fuck with you. You took accountability and you, you went out on a limb on your own. She said, Rodney Perry, I got your back. And that was, that was the beginning of us rocking radio, TV, everything, you know. Mo had other guys. She had Reggie Carroll. She had G-Dang for a period of time, but Rodney Perry stuck because he had some integrity, dude. Not to say those guys don't.

No, right, right, exactly. I do— I gotta tell you, you've been in this business for a while. I'm just now learning, and I'm in San Antonio, so only time I really got to experience business business is when I moved to Dallas for a little while. Okay. And then my parents got sick, I had to move back home. But that's— you are a rare gem along with me because the way— and I don't want to say no names, but I've dealt with some people that was like, man, what's wrong with y'all? And it almost— I'm saying, for me, turned me off for wanting to do comedy because I was like, if I got to do all this just to get on that stage to make somebody laugh. I don't want to do it because I know I'm crazy. Like, the name Can't Get Right, people think it came from the movie Life. No, no, I'm being crazy. You know, in the hood we always got two names, you know. You know, your mama might name you, you know, Shanova, but you call it Coco, you know, right? My mom named Candy. If it's sweet, she probably crazy. I'm gonna put that out there.

Indeed.

And so Can't Get Right came from me wanting to punch people in the face all the time. That's— that was just me, right? And there's been times where I've traveled and people didn't pay me, or the church was one that got me a couple of times in the name of Jesus. And I'm like, I don't think Jesus want to do business like this.

Let me holler at you.

Yeah, that's actually what happened. Clarksville, Tennessee. But, um, matter of fact, I almost went to jail today when I busted into the pastor's office. They don't really— they don't really— they frown on you running into the pastor's office.

They don't like that.

No, they, they were kind of pissed about that. But it seems to me that this is just part of your character. You're not doing it for a show. You're not doing it for— because again, when I met you and every time I've seen you, you have always been a genuine person. And that's why when— this is not my story to tell, but some, some interviews I've heard you say how when you you did have a situation in your life, there were other people that came around you. And you don't know this, but you almost, or you somewhat inspired this show.

Oh wow.

Because the second time I saw you, we was on the ship, and it was after the situation had happened. And I was like, how does this man bounce back from that? How does he do that? And we kept talking. Every time I would see you, we would talk. And I was like, how does he turn a corner? Shameless plug. But how do you, how do you turn a corner like that? Because it seems to me that you just attract good people to you, you know?

Okay.

Kevin Hart gave you a gift. We're not going to talk about it, but Kevin Hart gave you a gift when you was down. Don't worry about your family, my guy. I got you. I'm like, wait a minute. Do you? Do you even see or know what you do and how you inspire people to just be their best self?

Uh, I don't know. I don't know if there's ever been a focus for mine. Um, and to be honest, I can remember, I can remember points in my life where I felt like I was soft, you know what I mean?

Yeah.

You know, when you, when you the guy, you know, that always look for the brighter, brighter side, when you're the guy that always got the, you know, positive spin on everything, somewhere deep inside you want to go, nah, fuck that. Yeah, no, I, no, I'm gonna choke somebody today, right? But the reality is, if you can find a way to, you can find a way to, to, to be kind, if you can find a way to be, you know, special, then you can be okay. And it takes, it takes more, it takes more out of you to turn the other cheek. It takes a lot out of you because it's easy to choke the shit outta somebody.

Yeah.

It's easy. It's easy to go to jail. It's easy to go to jail.

Yeah.

You can get— you be headed to jail any day. But to navigate this life 55 years and not ever been in the— close into that situation, how you do that? Like, I got, I got my cousin, man, Rocky, man. Rocky is that guy. If I ever need somebody hurt, Rocky gonna do it. We are one.

That's the way it is.

We are one. We are one. We are one. We are one. We are one. But I gotta tell Ray Sorrell, don't do that. We don't have to do that, you know, but I respect his ability to go there. It didn't make any sense.

Yeah.

And so, uh, when you're Rodney Perry, people, people want to help you, whether it's Kevin Hart, Monique, Sid Entertainer. You know, uh, so many great people in my life, man. Um, hey man, Rod, if you ever need anything, call me. I got one of my friends, a professional boxer, he said, Rod, you good? Please let me do something to somebody for you. No, please don't do that for me. Because if you trust God, he got you.

You're, you're, you're in this industry, which is one of the, to me, the hardest genres to navigate, and that's, that's comedy. Like, people, people are tough. First of all, everybody think they can do it. They can't. Um, you can't repeat a joke. You can— Frank Beverly and Mays, you know, rest with the ancestors.

You can live off a great song.

You can live off that song forever. You can't live off a great joke. You, you might be able to do a different city, right?

Another one.

Your, your perspective— and even right now I'm sitting up here like, how does this man do this? Because something else I know about you Did a little research. I'm September 18th. September 20th?

No, what is it? 9/15.

15th. Okay, okay. Virgo. Virgos are known for—

Virgos, in my opinion, are easily the funniest sign in the zodiac.

I believe that.

Don't get me wrong, there, there's, there's, you know Cancers and different, but if you start looking at the numbers from Chappelle, really, to Leslie Jones, to J.J. Williamson, to— it's so many Virgos, man. So many Virgos.

I did not know that.

Uh, but that's a fraction. Uh, Basketmouth, uh, from, from, from Africa. So many great, so many great Virgos, man.

So, so I always say we got Michael Jackson, we got Sanaa Lathan, we got Beyoncé, and of course I used to say Can't Get Right, but I got Rodney Perry in front of me, so I can't say that right now. You know what I'm saying? But I, I, I'm just amazed at your— and I don't mean to keep pushing this— but your point of view on life, because again There are so many people who are downtrodden. They have, especially now in the climate we're in, this, this environment of these people don't like us and this right here and all these other political things going on. That's unfortunate, right? Blading into society. Um, to have that positive outlook is, is awesome. Now I, I, I gotta ask you, because reading your bio, did these— did this outlook increase because of the situation that happened with your health, or was that just always who you were anyway? Am I, am I making sense?

Well, uh, first of all, for your audience, I am a stroke survivor. Uh, it's almost 46, 50, and I'm 55, so almost a decade ago, 9 years ago. Um, I'm on the road, Denver, Colorado, and I have what people call a stroke. And I, I don't feel good. I'm on the road and I walked into the hospital and I didn't walk out 45 days. And I, I'm, I'm so lucky and blessed. To have went through that, go through the rehab process and walk outta the hospital. But the wake-up call is this, the wake-up call is you gotta treat yourself better. You gotta eat better. You gotta, you gotta go through, you know, life better. And so, uh, and you find out who's there. Like I got a chance to die in front of the world because I went live on my social during that time. So I'm on, I'm on live and I thought I was saying some fly shit. In my mind I was saying, hey everybody, it's your boy Rodney Perry, feeling good. What I really was saying was ba da da ba da ba da Scooby Dooby Doo.

Really?

Yeah. So that, um, that, that time was very instrumental And it was one of those moments that I'm thankful for because if I don't go through that, I don't get to be here.

Bruh, you, you, you, okay.

Okay.

I, I, cause I, I know people like you in my life.

I do.

I know some people like that in my life. Uh, my Aunt Alice, rest her soul. Matter of fact, today's her birthday. Uh, she, she passed away a couple of years ago, and today is her birthday.

Oh wow.

She would do the same thing. And I remember she was, she was on her deathbed 20 years ago before she passed away. Doctor said she wasn't gonna make it overnight.

Oh wow.

And I never forget, she was Jehovah's Witness. We went and seen her, and she said that day, she said, uh I said, hey, now, let's be in there crying and everything else. What you crying for? She said, I ain't crying. And I was like, hey, now, she said, baby, if Jehovah wants me today, I gotta go.

It's okay.

And I just looked at her like, how do you do that? And then when she— 20 years later, she's still living, and she passed away a couple years ago. But I, I'm hearing her right now through you, because there are, there are some people who are so negative There's some comedians who are so negative. I'm not gonna name any.

Mm-hmm.

Y'all at the audience, y'all already know who they are. How in the— how can you sustain this industry being so positive? Another person is positive like that. He irritates me. Never met the guy. Kevin Hart always seemed like he's in a good mood. I'm not saying he is.

It don't hurt to be rich.

Yeah, and nothing against Mr. Hart, Kevin Hart, whatever. But every time I see him, like, this dude is always happy, you know? But I know some rich people who are miserable. Yeah, you know, I, I don't know. I, I guess I find myself sometimes being pessimistic Uh-huh. And I don't like it because it doesn't make me feel good, but sometimes life just does that. But now listening to you, I'm like, Ray, you need to re— you need to turn some corners.

I mean, you know what, you know what, for me it's just an easier life for me, you know, because you can easily look at life another way. You look at, you know, this bottle is half full or half empty. So how do you look at it? If you look at it half full, then you only need a little bit more water to fill it up. If you look at it as half empty, you're like, oh man, I'm almost done. And so, uh, as you navigate the life, this life, you got to be really, again, thankful and, and, and I don't know, man. I'm looking at— I'm looking at people. I'm looking at the journey, right? I remember when nobody cared. And so from time to time, people— somebody stopped me and go, hey, Mr. Perry, can I get your autograph? Can I get a picture? If, if I get one of those that could push me 6 months.

Wow, 6 months.

Yeah, because there was a time when nobody cared, period. I remember it. I remember vividly. I remember people passed me, bumping me, bump me all night. Hey man, uh, we— you, you come back next week. I remember that vividly. So to be able to walk in the club and go Oh, Rodney Perry here. Oh, you next. You please, can you go with Miss Perry? Can you go?

Absolutely.

How dare I not?

Speaking of that, I, I— Joe Torres— I'm sorry, Guy Torres. Fat Tuesdays in LA.

Uh-huh.

Famous club.

It is.

How did that— you on some historic— I mean, I mean, real talk. I mean, because, you know, I know everybody's into the internet now and stuff like that, but most people don't understand, on that stage, it's you and audience. Ain't no cut, ain't no edit. Nothing against nobody who's doing it, because I do skits too. But on that stage, and I understand, man, get me right, Before Robin Harris— I mean, before Guy Torrey took it over, Robin Harris was—

was—

no, it was a different club.

That's different club. That's, that's the Regency West, uh, in, uh, in LA. That's more in LA. The— you talking about Hollywood? Hollywood, uh, uh, Improv. Okay, that's where Guy Torrey was, inside of there.

Okay, okay.

So, okay, so I apologize, The Comedy Store. Guy Turner was in The Comedy Store, in the main room of The Comedy Store, which was, which was a place where Richard Pryor cut his teeth in there.

Really?

Yeah.

Dang. Could you, if you don't mind, do you have any stories about just them days being in the clubs with all those up-and-coming people, including yourself?

I mean There's, um, there's tons of stories, man. Uh, my bomb story happened there. So, uh, no, I—

comedians never— oh no, no, no, comedians will tell you they never bomb.

No, it was somebody— if somebody's saying they never bomb, they, they, they live long enough. It's coming. So, um, Uh, I was still in the Navy and my aunt lived in Los Angeles, so I came down to LA. I was living on— I was staying on her floor, my wife and I, and her, her boyfriend owned the limo service. And so I got a set at The Comedy Store, Guy Torres, Fat Tuesdays. I'm still in the Navy. I probably look like I'm in the Navy. I'm wearing regular clothes, but I'm kind of military. Yeah, right. I mean, you get it. And, um, so I, I, I show up. Well, her limo driving Dionne said, we going, I got you, Rod. I'm taking you to the club in style. So I, now I'm in a limo with my wife, my aunt, her boyfriend, and about 6 other people I don't know. All give me the, you better be funny tonight. So I'm on stage. Guy Torrey loves this story. I'm on stage, maybe 60 seconds, start getting booed. I can still see the guy. I'm on stage. He's right there. He stands up, a white guy out of all the black people in the audience. The white guy stood up and started booing me. Found out later on he worked for Death Row.

Really?

Yeah, he started booing me. Now a boo is like wildfire. Yes sir. You know, a boo is like you try to, you try to roast this guy and then boo, move over here, didn't move it, and before you know it the whole room is booing. Guy Torrey came out, he's like, yo man, You can't talk about my audience like that, man. Thank you, bro. Get out of here. So he comes out of the sheer curtain. There's a curtain and a sheer curtain so people can see you but not really. I'm back there. My wife is working her way behind backstage to get to me. She gets to me. I'm standing there. She comes to my side.

She's like, you okay?

I said, yeah, I'm all right, but that's not why I'm here. It's not why I came here. And in that moment, Guy Terry goes, well, somebody in the audience goes, well, he didn't get a chance. He's like, would y'all want to see him again? And I'm still there behind the curtain. He opens the curtain, I'm still there. They come on, boy. Bring me on stage, we have a little banter. He's like, yo man, you bombed, man. You want to try it again? I said, yeah bro, I definitely want to try it again. Come on, man. And so I'm on stage post-bomb and I'm like, well, I'm doing a mental edit. I'm going to my closer because if you can't rely on your closer, you can't rely on nothing else.

Exactly.

I start doing my closer. My closer gets maybe a 7 on a scale of 1 to 10. My closer gets maybe a 7. I take that little laugh and I was like, hey y'all, that's my time. I'm gonna get outta here. So Guy Torrey's the host. Joe Torrey told me, he said, Rodney, He said, you know, I start fucking with you. He said, bro, when we open that curtain and you were still there, he said, most people be gone. Yeah. And so that was the foundation I would rest on for many years. But the crazy thing about a bomb is I couldn't get back on that stage for another 3 years, 4 years. 'Cause Terrence was a booker, and Terrence wouldn't even have— wouldn't have nothing to do with me. Now he's one of my closest friends.

First of all, let me say this: I commend you for getting back on stage. I, I— okay, someone told me in comedy you can't have too much pride. You say because People will humble you in a heartbeat. And I'm sitting up there thinking, okay, this man is already in a limo, he got his wife there, he got his family there.

I still had to ride home with them that night. Let me have it in the car. This nigga bomb like a motherfucker. Goddamn, you all right, young fella?

Oh, oh, okay. Listen, I, I gotta ask this before you get out of here. I got it. I got the person who made me want to do comedy, no doubt about it. I'm a Richard Pryor fan, of course. There's one man in a red suit that made me want to do comedy. Okay, Eddie Murphy. Eddie Murphy to me has always been and always, always will be to me Ain't nothing against nobody else. This is, this is— he don't even have a mountain. Now you have like the Mount Rushmore. No, no, no, he had his own mountain. He just have his own mountain. Because as a kid, when I saw that guy, I said, that's what I want to do.

Indeed.

I saw everyone at Mayonnaise's house. There she go again. And I'm watching how— what— I'm like, what are they doing? And they were laughing. He was doing all the skits. He was doing the ice cream and all that stuff. I'm watching Coming to America, okay? And I'm looking at it and I'm like, okay, that's, that's my movie. You know, people forget how— what is that, velvet? Like, people forget how dope of a movie that was, you know what I'm saying? Hey waiter, come here, let me tell you a story. You know, aha! Like, those are all Eddie Murphy, right? And I'm looking, I said, that's Rodney Perry. I literally paused it. 'Cause I'm an old ass, I'm gonna put my glasses on. I said, that's my dude right there, Rodney Perry and— How did that come about, bro?

Okay, let's talk about Eddie Murphy first.

Okay, please, please, please.

So Eddie Murphy is the father of our generation.

Come on now.

If Eddie Murphy is our father, Richard Pryor is our grandfather.

Yes, sir.

So, and that's direct lineage, you know, 'cause after Eddie Murphy, comes my group Def Jam and Comic View, and a bunch of us— floodgates open. But before that, it was only one, the great Eddie Murphy. And so, uh, the same thing happened to me happened to you. When I, I saw Eddie Murphy on Saturday Night Live doing Velvet Jones, and I was like, yeah, what, who the fuck is this guy? I was like, yo. And so that was the beginning, seeing Eddie Murphy. And so I already felt like that about him, and I get to go on an audition, which I do all the time. I do auditions all the time. So I get auditioned. It's for a movie called The Quest, right? It's a quest. The movie is about the, the The working title of the film is The Quest. And so I go and audition for The Quest. Every Black actor in town, Country Wayne, Rodney Perry, everybody Black around 40 years old for The Quest. I go and audition and I just, you know, you learn to do it and go home. Let it go, because the up and down is a lot. The failure of it all is a lot. Yeah. So I go out and audition, I head home. I get home, I get a call from my agency, Rodney, you just booked The Quest. I was like, okay, that's cool, when does it work? She's like, you're not excited? I'm like, you know, I mean, it's a movie. I mean, I, I I'm excited! Yeah, I'll be sad— She's like Ronnie, The Quest Is Coming to America Too!

Wait a minute, wait a bit, wait a minute, wait, wait, hold on, they didn't even tell you it was coming to America too?

I had no idea, I had no idea so now I know and my wife and I stood in our kitchen uh and we looked at each other across the table and we kind of had a mutual cry, like this could be the thing. And so, um, that was it. And then you get on set and you start working. Now Eddie, Eddie who knows me 'Now you get to see me every day,' because we worked for like 4 weeks.

You say Eddie who knows you, what do you mean by that?

Like, he said, I mean, I've met Eddie Murphy before.

Really?

Yeah, I've been to his house for parties and stuff. I've been to Eddie Murphy's house before. But when you're the guy at a party and the guy on the set, totally different. You feel me? Like, your whole cachet is different when you on that set and you working and Tracy Morgan is right there and Leslie Jones is right there. So it's a different animal. Luenell, myself, uh, Nav Green. So, so we all, we all had a new, new, a moment, a new thing. And so I remember Eddie being regal. Like, Eddie Murphy is like being around a real king. Like, he doesn't get dragged into the quagmire of regular niggas' bullshit. Like, I can remember There was moments on the set where people would got to talk about different, different stuff, and Eddie would always have some sage wisdom. And I remember thinking to myself, this motherfucker here is a king for real, you know. And, and, and we had those moments. And, uh, hey, Rodney Perry, how you doing this morning? Now we're gonna go Nigga, Eddie just spoke to you. I was like, what? You know, but I mean, it was a great time, man. And I got lucky enough and blessed enough to work with the great, with the great Eddie Murphy. And that movie don't get the credit for being really good movies. I love it. I mean, the, the, the only thing Coming to America 2 had against it is that Coming to America 1 was so good.

Yes.

And they had, they had to, uh, they, they ran the risk. They had to service so many of the older characters. But man, I think it was a great movie.

Matter of fact, I'm gonna say this: before there was a Black Panther, it was Coming to America.

Indeed.

Because with the costumes, with the— they had Africa. They ain't showing no, no people with flies on their eyes and like that. They showing us opulence. Come on now, come on. Eddie did that. Matter of fact, um, because— and I, I don't want to hold you up, but that movie was so— it was so touching, especially for the time. People forget about the time. I had a customer, I said, bro, you never seen Coming to America? I ain't seen that. Young guy. I said, go back and watch it next time you came to the barbershop. That's my other job. He was like Mr. Ray, man, man, that was fire. I kept laughing. I said, watch it again, watch it again.

Yeah, and this, this was, this was, this was Coming to America 2. They had to cut out some stuff. So Eddie— so we, we know that Eddie and Arsenio played other characters. We know, uh, Randy Watson. We know We know the guys from the barbershop. Yeah, but there were other characters that didn't make it into the movie.

Wait, wait, wait, hold on, hold on. You mean tell me outside of—

Yes, Eddie played probably 3 more characters. So did Arsenio. Absolutely. Arsenio played the pastor again.

Um, Loving the Lord is wrong. I don't— yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

He did all that, all that good stuff. And, and we were the family— myself, Leslie Jones, Nav Green. We were, um, we were the family of the boy, the, the boy that, that went back to Africa. Yeah, for this film. And so it was important that we, we have some sort of synergy. And we did.

If you don't mind me asking, where'd y'all film this at?

Uh, Tyler Perry Studios here in Atlanta. Best craft services—

wait, wait, hold on, hold up, because people don't know that. Tyler Perry Studios? Yes, right here in Atlanta. Yeah, it's where they shot my scenes.

We shot Leslie's house on the soundstage. We shot all those party scenes. We shot those on the soundstage here in Atlanta. It was Rick Ross. Who else was there? Michael Blackson. And, uh, yeah, it was a great time.

Have you ever, have you ever been— because I mean, have you ever just seen somebody and was like, oh my God, you know, that's this person, that, that— because you're just dropping these names and I don't think you understand to us, us small folks, us common folks, us peasants. I'm just playing. Uh, You are dropping names like it ain't nothing. Has there ever been anybody that you saw and you was like, oh my God, oh, oh, I can't believe this is such and such?

I mean, I mean, some people you look at, you can't believe. I mean, Eddie, I couldn't believe I'm— that I was sitting next to— I was in a scene with Eddie Murphy. I couldn't believe it, you know. But at the same time Why not me? Oh man, I love you. I love your attitude.

And I, I, I'm praying that when this is released, people are encouraged by this because your, your attitude is something that needs to be studied, especially not now, especially in a time where, like I said, everyone seems to be so negative. Everyone seems to be—

clickbait is negative. Clickbait is negative. Like, I saw, uh, a, a, a thumbnail that said, uh, Cat Williams, uh, comes out, tells Eddie Murphy what he really got. He really know.

I saw that.

I'm like, what? So what? Why do Eddie Murphy give a fuck about what Cat Williams gonna say?

Why?

Eddie Murphy is still Eddie Murphy.

Yeah.

Why would Eddie, Eddie Murphy care? Like, this is how regal Eddie Murphy is. I'm sure— I don't know this for a fact, but I'm sure Eddie Murphy don't give a fuck what Katt Williams got to say at all.

Yeah. And I don't get it.

And, and, and I think that's funny by himself.

Yeah, he's funny by himself.

Man, I mean, Katt Williams is brilliant. Top 5 comedians I've met in my life. But so what?

I'm with you. I'm with you.

Uh, but whether you Aries Spears or Katt Williams or, or Corey Holcomb negatively gets clicks And clicks and people clicking on your page, what matters as currency nowadays. Yeah.

Yeah. You know, it's funny. I was told, yeah, someone told me, man, I like your podcast, man, but you know, you ain't, y'all ain't got no drama on you. I said, what do you mean? Well, I mean, you know, when I watch, I said, well, there's other shows you can watch, but I don't want to be negative. Because I, I don't want to leave this earth feeling like I hurt our people, you know what I'm saying? Right. Like, most people don't know, I used to be a preacher for 20-plus years.

Oh wow.

When I met you, I was preaching.

Yeah.

Wow. I was supposed to be on that shit.

Yeah, how about that?

I was supposed to be on this shit, sinner, you know. But, uh, thank, thank God for— yeah, anyway. But, uh, so, so encouraging people to just This is part of who I am or whatever. And I said, I want to do something.

So you get, you get everything we talk about.

Everything, everything is crazy. One last question. I'm gonna let you go. Turning Corners. Um, what's a turning corner moment where you can honestly say, uh, because you're so positive in everything that you've been saying, what's the turning corner moment where you can say It was because of that situation, or partly because of that situation, it made me the Rodney Perry that I am.

I mean, there's so many moments, man. So many moments. I mean, careers are made in moments.

So, oh, that's, that's— wait a minute, hold on, don't run past that. Careers are made in moments.

Oh, for sure. Like, people always talk about your greatest set. My greatest set probably happened in the comedy club nobody ever saw. So damn, your career is a series of moments, right? And so, uh, there's a few moments that come to mind. So People know about my stroke, right? But what people don't know is that I went through a bout with COVID I had the real COVID, when you would get sick for like 2 weeks, 3 weeks, and you was like, yo, it was crazy. So I get COVID, I go to the hospital, I'm in the hospital 14 days. During that time, I talked to my cousin and she was talking to me every day. And I talked to my cousin, her name is Phyllis. I said, Phil, how many summers do you want to live?

Hmm.

She said, I don't know. Why you ask me that stupid question? I said, ain't that a stupid question? You gonna die. How many more summers you wanna live? She said, I don't know. I said, you know what? In a perfect world, I like to live about 30 more summers. And she said, boy, you stupid. And so that happened. I get discharged 14 days after I checked in, and I'm at home. I'm on oxygen. They released me home, but they put me on oxygen, so I could not walk. 5 feet without oxygen. Yeah, but it was, it was, it was a hard time. And when I was in the hospital, I felt okay. I was like, I'm good, I'm going home. And when I got home, the COVID was just wreaking havoc on my lungs. So I'm, I'm laying there on the couch one morning, and I get what I feel like is a call, telephone call. I pick up the phone, it's my mom. Tell you, my mom was gone already. It's my mother.

Wait a minute, wait, wait, wait, Oh, you killing me.

Go ahead. I'm sorry. So I'm, I'm, I'm on the— I hear a younger version of my mother's voice. Hey, hey, you all right? Yeah, man, I'm all right, but I don't feel good. Yeah, you gonna be all right. That simple. Calmness came over me. You gonna be all right. And she says, oh, by the way, you gonna get them 30 summers. And since then— wow, bro— I've talked with some friends about the moment, and it's like, that might not have been your mom, that might have been God speaking to you in the only voice you wanted to hear at that moment. I said, whatever it is, I talked to my mom and, and, and there's solace in that. And I think God grants you access to your people when you need the most. And I think he gave me access to my mom before, for a minute, minute or so conversation. And so, um, I love you, Mama.

You know what, listen, no greater way to end this. I, I just, I just think that's— you don't, you don't— that's it. That's it. I want to tell you thank you. I appreciate your time. Appreciate, uh, your people putting up with me texting them trying to— because I was— I know I was getting on her nerves. She was like— she was so kind too now.

We were gonna come out here last week.

Yeah, she told me. I was like— I said no, it's— I'm not there yet. I don't get in town till then. But um, but I just want to tell you thank you sir. I appreciate you.

Uh, what's this? Boy, you ain't got to do that! You gotta do that.

No, no, no, no, no, wow, that's very cool. Wait, wait, we— no, it's not We'll talk about that in a minute. Wow. Thank y'all for tuning in. My boy Rodney Perry, I thank you. I appreciate you. This is Turning Corners. How you put the camera on me? How you put the camera on me? How you put the camera on me? Boy, Ray can't get right. Haha.

Pull up on me. Pull up on me. Pull up on me.