has an unassuming quality about him, like a big, goofy neighbor. But his banter is woven through with complex, absurd, and heavy humor.
He's no simpleton, no matter what his character Tracy Jordan on 30 Rock might suggest. The final episode of the show -- which could give a corpse a belly chuckle -- airs this week. Tracy Jordan, may be a veiled take on the comedian himself, but unlike his role on TV, Tracy Morgan isn't a creation made of only hilarious exaggerations. He's a guy who grew up in Harlem, acted in films with Chris Rock, been in trouble for making an offensive gay joke, and made Jon Stewart giggle like a baby.
We spoke with Morgan about Biggie Smalls, growing up in the ghetto, and his feelings on the Miami Heat.
your top five rappers: Kane, Slick Rick, KRS One, Rakim, and Biggie.
Does that still stand?
of all, he's from Brooklyn. Second of all, Biggie Smalls changed the
game. He revolutionized it. He made it a champagne campaign. It went
from rough neck to champagne campaign. Playa, playa.
I say hi to everybody. I would never be intimidated or embarrassed. Why
would I? That's not my thing. Do I come off as the kind of person who
would be intimidated to you?
don't even want to really discuss that. I can always talk about
standup. I don't know who's going to be on there. I couldn't tell you. I
don't want to release that anyway.
just really want to be funny. I want to come in and spread my love. I
want to do a great standup show for the city. You know? That's what I
really want to do.
happen in the moment, and you want to be prepared for that. I have an
idea of what I want to talk about, I'm not a check-check comedian. I'm
organized as far as material. I have an idea of some of the stuff that I
want to talk about. And whatever happens after that, happens. Some of
that stuff is what happens spontaneously.
have a lot of experience growing up. I grew up in the ghetto. I grew up
in the hood. With all due respect to the ghetto. I love the ghetto. The
ghetto is a beautiful place. As far as I'm concerned, the whole world
is a ghetto. I grew up there, experiences, being an African American,
being an American, being a human being. I want the chance to talk about
all of that stuff. I'm attached to it. I'm attached to all of my life.
Some people are so detached from the human experience. I want to talk
about the human experience and the funny in it.
No. There are certain things that are my forte. Every day that you're
onstage, doing comedy, you just have to be responsible for what you say.
You have to know what you're saying. There can be some things that you
confront that have consequences to it. Either you're going to accept
those consequences or not. But there's nothing. I feel free in America.
I did that in front of Eddie Murphy during the Eddie Murphy honors. It
was incredible. To make a person who makes you laugh, laugh, I just
thought that was an awesome thing.
don't like to talk about it. 'Cause I'm superstitious in that area. I
don't want to jinx it. I just want to focus on what's going down now.
man. This is my second Super Bowl commercial. I did the first one with
Stevie Wonder, it had a great response. Now, I have this one. I'm happy
about it.
beat them twice, so we're confident. The Heat always show up to play.
They're not playing really well right now. But it's always a competitive
game, and we just want to compete, that's all we want to do.
Tracy
Morgan. 9 p.m., Saturday, February 2, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek,
5555 NW 40 Street, Coconut Creek. Tickets cost $40 to $60 plus fees.
Call 954-977-6700, or visit seminolecasinococonutcreek.com.
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