Gatekeepers in Hollywood

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Mike Epps. We Them Ones Comedy Tour. Get Your Tickets Now at http://www.BMNShows.com 

Shannon Sharpe sits down with comedy legend Mike Epps for a raw, hilarious, and deeply personal conversation that spans decades in stand-up, film, and survival in Hollywood.

The episode opens with Mike promoting the We Them Ones Comedy Tour, then quickly shifts into the tension surrounding the Katt Williams interview, the rift between comedians, and how Mike almost skipped the sit-down altogether. He and Shannon break down their phone call, the Country Kitchen meet-up, and why it mattered that their disagreement didn’t turn violent — emphasizing the responsibility entertainers have to their communities.

Mike opens up about his complicated relationships with Katt Williams and Kevin Hart, including how Kevin brushing him off fueled his hunger. He talks about how Katt turned comedy beef into a check by calling out Cedric The Entertainer and Steve Harvey, and how sadness is often the hidden cost of making people laugh.

From there, Mike revisits his journey into the Friday franchise, meeting Ice Cube, auditioning for Next Friday, competing for a role Chris Tucker passed on, and the pressure of replacing a legend. He shares how Ice Cube always had a comedian’s soul, paid his actors, pushed ad-libs, and taught him that success is a marathon.

Mike reflects on fame, survivor’s remorse, resisting drugs, and trying to buy love from friends and family. He dives into iconic roles like All About the Benjamins, nearly casting Lil’ Kim, filming Whitney Houston’s last movie Sparkle, watching Whitney sing on set, working with Beyoncé on The Fighting Temptations, and why acting is a different hustle than music.

He speaks on family ties with Mo’Nique, performing on Netflix vs. network TV, creating The Upshaws with Wanda Sykes, being killed off on shows, forgetting lines, working alongside Denzel Washington, John Goodman, The Rock, Taraji P. Henson, and more — while admitting his desire to take on more serious roles.

The conversation turns brutally honest as Mike addresses regretful career decisions, Hollywood gatekeepers, conspiracy thinking, the meaning of “selling out,” the Chris Rock & Will Smith incident, his admiration for Eddie Murphy, and naming his GOAT comedians: Martin Lawrence, Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, and Bernie Mac.

Mike reveals painful childhood memories of being held back in school, growing up on welfare, buying his mom her first washer and dryer, purchasing the homes his family was evicted from, surviving jail time, bad contracts, and personal demons. He credits Def Comedy Jam, Russell Simmons, Steve Harvey, and Bernie Mac — including the advice Bernie gave him before his passing.

He closes by discussing mentorship, taking young comics like Carlos Miller and DC Young Fly on tour, losing money gambling with Charles Oakley and Gerald Levert, receiving Tupac’s jewelry, rumors about being related to 2 Chainz, and why his passion for the art and business has kept him relevant for decades.

Mike Epps believes this tour will be his biggest yet!

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