Affion Crockett Talks Beefing Comedians, “In The Flow” & Working With Jamie Foxx [Exclusive Interview/Video]

Affion Crockett Interview

Hip-Hop Wired caught up with comedian Affion Crockett just before the debut of his new sketch comedy series which airs this Sunday called In The Flow.

Known for impersonating some of Hip-Hop’s  biggest stars including Drake, Jay-Z, Chris Brown and Russell Simmons, the Hip-Hop funny man talks about his relationship with Jamie Foxx, his short lived rap career as well as not being afraid to take risk with his comedy and addressing serious topics.

Hip Hop Wired:    You’re like the Hip-Hop Soulja Boy…  What made you decide to use YouTube to get your comedy out there more and use the platform to produce a lot of original content?

Affion Crockett:    When I was on Nick Cannon’s Wild n’ Out, I had a lot of ideas in my head on different ways of how to present the characters.   Everyone knew me on Wild n’ Out for doing the impressions during the games, but I was still addressed as me, Affion Crockett.

I always wanted to do sketches where I could actually transform to into these people and start doing song parodies and more.  So, once I started doing it, and once I started feeling like I could exploit my own vision and do it myself, that’s really how it came about.

Hip Hop Wired:    What made you decide to target rappers in your skits?

Affion Crockett:    For one, I am a rapper, and I am a fan of most of the people I impersonate.   If I can get their voice down, I might as well do a spoof on them.   For most of them, I can get down their voice, mannerisms, and I can morph my face into theirs.   I try to use that as a different way to be different from most impressionists out there.

Hip Hop Wired:    You mentioned that you were a rapper, are you coming out with any albums or other projects soon?

Affion Crockett:    Not really.  To be honest, I’m so far removed from the culture that rap is in right now, that I don’t desire to be a part of it as far as pursuing it as an artist.   I’ll be a fan of it, and the time is right and the opportunity is right, I’ll make an album.   I’ve done mixtapes before; I’ve done collaborations with people like Talib Kweli.   But right now, I’m really focused on comedy and acting, and I want to service the audience with that for now.

Hip Hop Wired:    Was it a hard transition from Hip-Hop  to comedy?

Affion Crockett:    Not at all. I never really pursued rap to that level.    I’ve always just been a comedian and an actor.  The rap thing came in the middle as the more people I met with, I collaborated with.  I’ve always been on the path of comedy and acting but I’ve fused them together now with  Hip-Hop so now you can  call it a Hip-Hop style of comedy.

Hip Hop Wired:    Out of all the people you’ve done impersonations of, who has been the most receptive? Has anyone given you any flack about your work?

Affion Crockett:    No flack to date.  Jay Z was very receptive. He loved the impression. Russell Simmons was probably the most receptive.   After he saw me do the impressions, we ended up doing Hustles With Russell  together, a 7-part YouTube series . That was probably the biggest compliment I’d received off my work…someone being so appreciative of it that he really wanted to get involved.

Hip Hop Wired:    Tell us a little about In The Flow.  In the past it was communicated that Jamie Foxx was doing a  sketch comedy show and then you were doing one and somehow they merged.  What was the connection or clarify the misconfusion.

Affion Crockett:    It’s  still a sketch comedy show.   There were no monkey wrenches in the system.  It was always meant to be my show with Jamie Foxx’s named attached as executive producer and to introduce me to the world.  It also gives the show more publicity as he’s an Oscar winner, Grammy winner, and a veteran of sketch comedy.   So he was always there to oversee the project but it was always meant to take my same vision I had on  YouTube videos and turn that into a TV show.

It’s definitely sketch comedy.  Jamie’s not in it but its plenty  of other guest stars where you’re not going to be sitting around asking, ‘Where’s Jamie?’

Hip Hop Wired:    What else can we expect from the show?  Is it like the 2011/2012 version of In Living Color, except with more of your personal touch?

Affion Crockett:    Think of it as a combination between my Youtube channel and the skits done on Wild n’ Out.  Another example of the show’s theme would be like The Chapelle Show, where I come out and interact with the audience as myself.  But, I come out doing live sketches, just at the top of the show. Then I show sketches that we pre-taped, with real reactions, and real laughter.  So it’s Wild n’ Out and my YouTube channel all in one show.

Hip Hop Wired:    What’s your take on comedians having beefs with one another?   Now you got comedians like Katt Williams turning into 50 Cent and going to war with his peers…

Affion Crockett:    I think we’re comedians  and we should make people laugh.  That’s really all I’ll say about that.  I know all of these guys.  They’re all funny, and they’re all making money so  there’s really no point to it.  I don’t know their personal situations, but you won’t see me beefing.  I  let my talent speak for itself and any extra stuff like beef or drama, I’m going to handle my drama behind the scenes and keep it moving.

Hip Hop Wired:    You’ve worked with Bernie Mac, Martin Lawrence and Jamie Foxx.  What have you learned from each of these three comedic veterans?

Affion Crockett:    I learned that all of my dreams can come true because I’ve always dreamed with working with all three of these guys. They all convinced me to be me and they commended me on the work I’ve done so far. They all taught me to be patient as well, and not to rush and not to try to make it overnight.

One of the things Bernie used to tell me  is ‘I’ve been doing comedy for so many years and I didn’t really get discovered till like 25 years in.  All these guys that want to rush and make it over night, they don’t have any foundation’  and it shows.

When Bernie did his comedy set, that was one of the best sets I’ve ever seen, and that comes from constant work. You have to work to really be a true artist, and entertain people.

I made Martin break up in take where he started laughing.  I made him break character.  Martin told me he was excited that I was bringing new energy into comedy.  He stayed on set during shooting when he wasn’t even part of the scene, just to see me perform and that was encouraging to me.   That made me excited, having Martin Lawrence watch me perform. He taught me to keep my originality strong, so that I could be different from anyone out there.   Keep doing you.

Jamie and I’s relationship is kind of like a merger of sorts.  When my partner Carl Jones and I took the show idea  to Fox, they loved the idea and loved me as talent and really it was a merger because Jamie approached them before as well about doing a sketch comedy show.

So Fox was like maybe we should just blend the two together and let Jamie Godfather this project and let him introduce Affion to the world.  So that’s really how it happened.  We  met and then the whole deal came together.

Jamie and I have kind of like a “Kobe and Phil” relationship.  He has a lot of wisdom   and he’ll come in at the end or in the writer’s room and he’ll give you something to think about which you never fathomed.  He’ll tell what kind of characters to stay away from as they might be funny now but stereotypical later and your audience might use that against you later.

It  will always be something to make you think and sit back like ‘I never thought of it that way.’  So Jamie is real good with coming in with nuggets of wisdom.

Hip Hop Wired:    I  know you had a big affiliation with The Boondocks.  Will that be coming back?  Also, with your sketch comedy show, will you be touching on current and real  topics in a comedic way?

Affion Crockett:    I’ve heard rumors that The Boondocks is coming back but I can’t touch on that for sure. But I always try to touch on social conscience elements and  issues dealing with race, politics (including issues with Barack Obama and the sly racist comments and things he has to endure ) and other events in a comedic way.

There was a sketch I did about the state of the rap game that was so controversial that the network didn’t want to air it. We’ll see where that ends up down the line.  It may end up in Season 2 when they trust my vision more and understand that what I was saying was not offensive but to wake people up.

I really have a lot of respect in the Hip-Hop community  so I’m able to say it but they were a little shy.

Hip Hop Wired:    Are you fearful that you’re a little too ahead of your time?  Like when Richard Pryor had the Richard Pryor Show  where he addressed a lot of serious issues, his show went away quickly.  Do you ever catch yourself holding back since you worked so hard to get to this point and don’t want the door immediately closed on you?

Affion Crockett:    I don’t operate out of fear  and I do what I feel is right in the moment and what’s the wisest thing to do.  I never want to alienate people, so the end result is that people have to  look at my show and laugh. That’s my main goal.   If  I’m here to entertain you, that’s what I’m gone do.  I’m not gone spend too much time trying to be too deep or serious  but there are elements and I do it when I feel it.

Hip Hop Wired:    Will any of the hip hop artists you’ve impersonated make an appearance on your show?

Affion Crockett:    Yeah, mostly definitely.  Russell Simmons came back through for the show and we’re doing Hustles With Russell on the Fox show now.  Chris Brown, I’ve done many sketches about him and he came through for the taping for the show.

Hip Hop Wired:    So the show airs this Sunday…

Affion Crockett:    August 14^th, we really need those numbers to be astronomical.  August 14^th at 9 PM, right after Family Guy. We’ve got two back to back episodes for an hour premiere. And you’ve got to see it.  It’s the comedy you’ve been waiting for.

Hip Hop Wired:    When you say “the comedy you’ve been waiting for”, what kind of legacy and impression do you want to leave with your comedy and this show in particular?

Affion Crockett:    I just want people to know that I did it my way, it was very original. It has a Hip-Hop foundation, but a universal appeal. There’s something for everyone in the show. Nothing’s watered down, nothing’s tailor made.

Fox gave me a lot of freedom to just be me.   So  if you’re a fan of my comedy now, from Wild n’ Out to YouTube, you’re getting authentic Affion Crockett here. You’re not getting a structured, toned down version of me because it’s on a national network.  You’re getting Affion Crockett.