At the height of a tumultuous public moment for Mike Epps, the comedian had an important message for his community, “Black men, you got to learn how to control your mind and your emotions.” Epps appeared on Episode 222 of the podcast All The Smoke, hosted by Matt Barnes and Stephen “Stak” Jackson, to speak on various topics, including the current state of comedy, his recent rift with Shannon Sharpe, creator of Club Shay Shay and NightCap, and how he was counted out of playing Richard Pryor in a highly anticipated biopic.
Epps certainly had several viral moments in the 68-minute interview. Beyond the shock value and laughs, however, his message about expectations from his own community resonates with what has appeared to be this year’s theme within the realm of entertainment, from YouTube podcasters to mainstream comedy actors.
A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Epps prides himself for being “real” and bypassing the easy route to success while holding on to his foundational beliefs. The 53-year-old built a career off of his wits, starring in his own television show, stand-up comedy specials, and box office films. Although he says he didn’t compromise himself to get to where he is, there was still a price to pay.
“I had survivor’s remorse,” Epps told Barnes and Jackson. “I was so sad that I left all them [people] here in this city, and I was famous. When I would come home, I wanted them to be happy for me, and they was mad at me.”
It was at that moment that Epps had an epiphany, “Damn, I got to destroy myself for you to like me.”
Epps referred specifically to a person from his home state who posed as a supporting friend, yet, seemed only to be happy when he wasn’t doing well.
“He like me more when I’m coming down off coke, and I’m crying and I hate myself,” Epps said. “When I wasn’t high, I was working out and look good, he’s like, ‘You think you better than me.’ I said, ‘How is my success a reflection of your failure?'”
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The Next Friday actor cautions the youth to not “celebrate” in the “wrong areas” trying to appease dysfunctional and broken people. The need to please and be accepted drives people to behave in unbecoming ways, something Epps knows all too well.
A joke he made during his stand-up special, Ready To Sell Out, suggesting that Sharpe has gay tendencies did not impress the NFL Hall-of-Famer. After some back-and-forth on social media, Epps and Sharpe hashed out the issue in a closed meeting. Ironically, Sharpe has been spreading the same message on his podcast, NightCap. Sharpe’s recent success sparked by a searing Katt Williams interview has incited a wave of criticism for the First Take commentator.
It is obvious that Epps is still on the journey of learning how not to self-sabotage in an effort to make people like him, but his message can be applied to the current landscape of pop culture commentary. As an American, everyone has a right to have a perspective (for now). It’s when those opinions become vitriol derived from hate and jealousy of others’ success that the host of those opinions should question whether tearing down another person is really worth it.
Watch Mike Epps on All The Smoke below:
