WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.779 Welcome back to the Deep Dive. Today, we're really 00:00:02.779 --> 00:00:06.040 digging into a career that's way more layered 00:00:06.040 --> 00:00:08.320 than you might think at first glance. We're talking 00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:11.939 about the journey of Michael Elliott Epps. Yeah, 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:15.740 Mike Epps. Yeah. Comedian, actor. But when you 00:00:15.740 --> 00:00:18.109 look at the sources we've gathered. It's clear 00:00:18.109 --> 00:00:20.129 there's a lot more going on. Exactly. It's not 00:00:20.129 --> 00:00:22.829 just punchlines and, you know, those high -energy 00:00:22.829 --> 00:00:25.170 sidekick roles he's famous for. Looking at his 00:00:25.170 --> 00:00:28.109 whole filmography, his stand -up, even his business 00:00:28.109 --> 00:00:30.190 stuff. Yeah. It's kind of like a master class 00:00:30.190 --> 00:00:32.450 in adapting. That really jumps out from the sources, 00:00:32.509 --> 00:00:34.409 doesn't it? We're looking at, what, almost three 00:00:34.409 --> 00:00:37.409 decades of work since the mid-'90s? Right. And 00:00:37.409 --> 00:00:39.590 it's defined by this interesting duality. You've 00:00:39.590 --> 00:00:41.950 got the iconic comedy characters, the ones everyone 00:00:41.950 --> 00:00:43.950 knows, Day -Day Jones, obviously. Can't forget 00:00:43.950 --> 00:00:46.189 Day -Day. Definitely not. But then there's this 00:00:46.189 --> 00:00:48.799 other side. Him constantly pushing into different 00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:51.600 areas, unexpected dramatic roles, which we should 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:54.859 definitely talk about. Plus hosting gigs, getting 00:00:54.859 --> 00:00:57.939 deep into the music scene. It shows a real drive 00:00:57.939 --> 00:01:01.399 beyond just being funny on screen. So our mission 00:01:01.399 --> 00:01:03.719 here for you listening is to kind of peel back 00:01:03.719 --> 00:01:06.219 those layers. We're using the sources to map 00:01:06.219 --> 00:01:08.540 out the big moments, the roles that really defined 00:01:08.540 --> 00:01:10.859 him and figure out how he stayed relevant for 00:01:10.859 --> 00:01:13.260 so long. You know, going from Indianapolis to 00:01:13.260 --> 00:01:16.750 Hollywood and now. being a big name in streaming, 00:01:16.890 --> 00:01:19.329 too. It's a story about versatility, really. 00:01:19.450 --> 00:01:22.290 Yeah. How you navigate a long career in entertainment. 00:01:22.670 --> 00:01:24.730 Okay, before we dive into the timeline, let's 00:01:24.730 --> 00:01:27.409 just lock down the basics, the core facts. Good 00:01:27.409 --> 00:01:30.750 idea. So, full name, Michael Elliott Epps, born 00:01:30.750 --> 00:01:34.090 November 18, 1970. That makes him, based on our 00:01:34.090 --> 00:01:37.030 source context date, 54. Okay. Born in Indianapolis, 00:01:37.129 --> 00:01:39.010 Indiana. Yeah. His parents were Mary Reed and 00:01:39.010 --> 00:01:41.930 Tommy Epps, and his main fields are stand -up, 00:01:41.930 --> 00:01:44.599 film, and TV. Been active professionally since 00:01:44.599 --> 00:01:47.840 about 1994. 1994. So, yeah, that's nearly 30 00:01:47.840 --> 00:01:50.459 years right there. Consistent output. Very consistent. 00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:52.540 Rarely seems to have slowed down. All right. 00:01:52.540 --> 00:01:54.359 Section one. Let's talk about where it all began. 00:01:54.480 --> 00:01:56.200 That foundation. You can't really understand 00:01:56.200 --> 00:01:57.980 his later moves without looking at how he launched, 00:01:58.060 --> 00:02:00.540 right? Absolutely. And for comedians of that 00:02:00.540 --> 00:02:03.459 era, especially black comedians, there was one 00:02:03.459 --> 00:02:05.540 place that was absolutely crucial. Got to be 00:02:05.540 --> 00:02:08.599 Def Comedy Jam. Def Comedy Jam. Exactly. It wasn't 00:02:08.599 --> 00:02:12.460 just a show. It was like a cultural phenomenon. 00:02:13.780 --> 00:02:16.379 raw, unfiltered comedy that you just didn't see 00:02:16.379 --> 00:02:18.740 anywhere else on TV then. And Epps was right 00:02:18.740 --> 00:02:20.300 in the thick of it. Did he move just for that? 00:02:20.479 --> 00:02:23.840 The sources say yes. He moved from Indianapolis 00:02:23.840 --> 00:02:27.419 to Brooklyn as an adult, specifically aiming 00:02:27.419 --> 00:02:30.520 to get on that show. And he did in 1994. Wow. 00:02:30.740 --> 00:02:33.020 That's a big bet to make, moving across the country 00:02:33.020 --> 00:02:34.900 like that. Shows incredible self -belief, doesn't 00:02:34.900 --> 00:02:37.319 it? Yeah. And it paid off quickly. Getting on 00:02:37.319 --> 00:02:39.479 the show led almost straight away to joining 00:02:39.479 --> 00:02:42.800 the Def Comedy Jam tour in 1995. Which is massive. 00:02:43.199 --> 00:02:45.139 Huge. And then he followed that up with appearances 00:02:45.139 --> 00:02:47.419 on two of the HBO specials. For a young comic 00:02:47.419 --> 00:02:49.300 back then, that was like hitting the jackpot 00:02:49.300 --> 00:02:51.360 in terms of visibility. Okay, so Def Jam puts 00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:53.460 him on the map. How does that translate into 00:02:53.460 --> 00:02:55.939 movies? Because that next step, landing Day Day 00:02:55.939 --> 00:02:58.400 Jones, that was just... Monumental for his career. 00:02:58.699 --> 00:03:01.599 It really was. And the connection, interestingly, 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:04.780 comes directly from that stand -up success. It 00:03:04.780 --> 00:03:07.479 involves Ice Cube. Makes sense, given the Friday 00:03:07.479 --> 00:03:09.960 connection. Right. So Ice Cube was developing 00:03:09.960 --> 00:03:14.120 Next Friday, the sequel, around 1999. Chris Tucker 00:03:14.120 --> 00:03:16.419 wasn't coming back, so they needed a new character, 00:03:16.539 --> 00:03:19.159 a new dynamic. And Epps was on the radar. He 00:03:19.159 --> 00:03:21.680 was, but it wasn't handed to him. The sources 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:24.199 mention he went through weeks of auditions. It 00:03:24.199 --> 00:03:25.719 sounds like it was pretty competitive. So what 00:03:25.719 --> 00:03:28.300 sealed the deal? According to the material, Ice 00:03:28.300 --> 00:03:30.939 Cube actually went to see one of Epps' live stand 00:03:30.939 --> 00:03:33.719 -up sets. And apparently that's what convinced 00:03:33.719 --> 00:03:37.080 him, seeing that raw energy on stage. So the 00:03:37.080 --> 00:03:40.099 stand -up, his core craft, directly opened that 00:03:40.099 --> 00:03:42.560 movie door. What was it about Day Day that just 00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:45.159 clicked so well with audiences? Well, Day Day 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:47.500 really became Epps' signature comedic persona, 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:50.599 didn't he? He's that kind of chaotic, frenetic, 00:03:50.639 --> 00:03:53.639 always hustling, but somehow still likable cousin. 00:03:53.840 --> 00:03:55.960 Yeah. Well, Ice Cube's character, Craig, is more 00:03:55.960 --> 00:03:58.479 the straight man reacting to everything. Exactly. 00:03:58.500 --> 00:04:01.180 Day Day brings all the high -energy physical 00:04:01.180 --> 00:04:04.840 comedy and the slightly unpredictable element. 00:04:05.020 --> 00:04:07.500 He became this recognizable type. And it worked 00:04:07.500 --> 00:04:09.860 so well, obviously, that Epps came back for the 00:04:09.860 --> 00:04:13.500 next sequel. Friday After Next in 2002. That 00:04:13.500 --> 00:04:16.759 role basically guaranteed him work for years, 00:04:16.920 --> 00:04:19.100 you figure. People knew who he was instantly. 00:04:19.420 --> 00:04:21.480 It was his calling card, no doubt about it. And 00:04:21.480 --> 00:04:22.959 you mentioned something interesting about Friday 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:26.839 After Next. He didn't just play Day Day. Yeah, 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:29.279 it's a fun little detail in the sources. He also 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:31.180 played a very minor character, the old man with 00:04:31.180 --> 00:04:33.800 shotgun. Oh, right. I remember that. It's just 00:04:33.800 --> 00:04:35.879 a small thing, but it kind of shows that even 00:04:35.879 --> 00:04:38.420 once he was the co -lead. He was still up for 00:04:38.420 --> 00:04:40.360 doing goofy character bits, not taking himself 00:04:40.360 --> 00:04:42.980 too seriously. So Friday is the breakout, definitely. 00:04:43.180 --> 00:04:46.540 But let's rewind just a tiny bit. His very first 00:04:46.540 --> 00:04:48.819 movie appearance wasn't next Friday, was it? 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:51.620 No, but good point. The sources actually pinpoint 00:04:51.620 --> 00:04:54.560 his first on -screen film role as being in 1997. 00:04:55.259 --> 00:04:58.079 It was Vin Diesel's second movie as a director, 00:04:58.220 --> 00:05:00.699 a film called Strays. Strays, okay. Didn't know 00:05:00.699 --> 00:05:02.750 Vin Diesel directed back then. Yeah, it was early 00:05:02.750 --> 00:05:04.949 in Diesel's career, too. Yeah. So Epp's appearance 00:05:04.949 --> 00:05:07.889 there, even if small, shows he was already hustling, 00:05:07.930 --> 00:05:09.870 getting his foot in the door before the big day 00:05:09.870 --> 00:05:12.050 -day break came along. And then the roles started 00:05:12.050 --> 00:05:13.970 coming faster around the turn of the millennium. 00:05:13.970 --> 00:05:16.730 Yeah, the period around 2000, 2001 was busy for 00:05:16.730 --> 00:05:18.870 him. There's a cameo in Three Strikes in 2000. 00:05:19.230 --> 00:05:21.490 He supported Jamie Foxx in Bait the same year. 00:05:21.610 --> 00:05:24.129 Bait? Okay. And then another really memorable 00:05:24.129 --> 00:05:27.829 comedic role, Baby Powder in How High. With Method 00:05:27.829 --> 00:05:30.449 Man and Red Man in 2001. Baby Powder, another 00:05:30.449 --> 00:05:33.029 classic Epps character. The flashy, kind of over 00:05:33.029 --> 00:05:34.569 -the -top pimp. Right. So if you look at Day 00:05:34.569 --> 00:05:37.670 Day Day, Baby Powder, those early roles, they 00:05:37.670 --> 00:05:40.089 really cemented that specific persona for him 00:05:40.089 --> 00:05:44.269 early on. The charismatic, maybe slightly shady, 00:05:44.449 --> 00:05:47.209 high -energy guy. A very bankable persona at 00:05:47.209 --> 00:05:49.269 the time. Incredibly marketable. It gave him 00:05:49.269 --> 00:05:51.790 a strong identity. But, you know, the real test 00:05:51.790 --> 00:05:54.389 for any actor is longevity. Can you move beyond 00:05:54.389 --> 00:05:56.939 that initial typecasting? And that's where things 00:05:56.939 --> 00:05:58.860 get really interesting with Epps. Which takes 00:05:58.860 --> 00:06:01.839 us perfectly into the next section, his adaptability. 00:06:02.220 --> 00:06:05.019 Because sticking to one thing, even if it's successful, 00:06:05.180 --> 00:06:07.139 often doesn't cut it long term in Hollywood. 00:06:07.439 --> 00:06:10.939 You got to pivot. Exactly. And analyzing how 00:06:10.939 --> 00:06:13.920 he pivoted is key to understanding his career. 00:06:14.120 --> 00:06:16.819 He nailed the stoner comedy, the sidekick role, 00:06:16.959 --> 00:06:19.819 but he clearly realized, OK, I need to show more. 00:06:20.490 --> 00:06:24.230 And he did moving into action, horror, and eventually 00:06:24.230 --> 00:06:27.399 some really surprising dramatic stuff. Let's 00:06:27.399 --> 00:06:29.240 talk about that action horror move first, because 00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:31.740 going from Friday and How High to fighting zombies, 00:06:31.899 --> 00:06:34.600 that feels like a sharp turn. It was. He took 00:06:34.600 --> 00:06:36.879 on the role of L .J. Lloyd Jefferson Wade in 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:38.800 the Resident Evil movies. Right. Resident Evil, 00:06:39.019 --> 00:06:41.420 Apocalypse in 2004, and then he came back for 00:06:41.420 --> 00:06:44.339 Extinction in 2007. And L .J. wasn't a comedic 00:06:44.339 --> 00:06:46.399 character. This was a conscious choice, you have 00:06:46.399 --> 00:06:49.259 to assume. A strategic move to say, hey, I can 00:06:49.259 --> 00:06:51.670 do more than just make you laugh. How is he than 00:06:51.670 --> 00:06:53.730 those? It's a different skill set, playing survival 00:06:53.730 --> 00:06:56.750 horror versus slapstick. Well, the role required 00:06:56.750 --> 00:07:00.990 him to play off pension, danger. It's about reacting 00:07:00.990 --> 00:07:03.709 to the situation, not setting up jokes. And the 00:07:03.709 --> 00:07:06.470 fact that he got cast in a huge established franchise 00:07:06.470 --> 00:07:09.290 like Resident Evil showed the casting directors 00:07:09.290 --> 00:07:11.750 were willing to see him differently. It was a 00:07:11.750 --> 00:07:13.829 risk stepping outside his comfort zone like that, 00:07:13.889 --> 00:07:16.199 but it broadened his range significantly. But 00:07:16.199 --> 00:07:18.019 what's interesting is even while he's fighting 00:07:18.019 --> 00:07:20.819 zombies, he didn't ditch comedy entirely, did 00:07:20.819 --> 00:07:23.160 he? He kept those connections going. Oh, absolutely 00:07:23.160 --> 00:07:25.759 not. He was smart about it. He reunited with 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:29.220 Ice Cube again in 2002 in All About the Benjamins. 00:07:29.220 --> 00:07:31.279 Right, where Epps is the kind of bumbling thief 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:33.759 and Cube's the bounty hunter. Yeah, so he's still 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:36.040 doing comedy, still working with Cube, maintaining 00:07:36.040 --> 00:07:39.759 that base. diversifying but not abandoning what 00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:41.459 got him there. And then came another massive 00:07:41.459 --> 00:07:43.740 comedy role, one that probably introduced him 00:07:43.740 --> 00:07:45.839 to a whole different audience. You mean Black 00:07:45.839 --> 00:07:52.540 Doug. Black Doug from The Hangover. Black Doug 00:07:52.540 --> 00:07:55.019 is such a great example of making a huge impact 00:07:55.019 --> 00:07:57.399 with limited screen time. He's not in the movie 00:07:57.399 --> 00:07:59.839 a ton, but he's absolutely crucial and memorable. 00:08:00.279 --> 00:08:02.300 The guy who kind of holds the key to the whole 00:08:02.300 --> 00:08:04.959 mess. Exactly. And being in a monster hit like 00:08:04.959 --> 00:08:07.879 The Hangover, that just boosted his profile even 00:08:07.879 --> 00:08:10.600 more, especially with mainstream comedy audiences 00:08:10.600 --> 00:08:13.160 who maybe didn't know the Friday films as well. 00:08:13.339 --> 00:08:15.139 He was also doing voice work around this time, 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:18.360 too, stepping in for someone pretty major. Yeah, 00:08:18.439 --> 00:08:21.300 he took over the voice of Boog the Bear in Open 00:08:21.300 --> 00:08:24.779 Season 2 in 2008. Martin Lawrence voiced Boot 00:08:24.779 --> 00:08:27.160 in the first one. Oh, interesting. He replaced 00:08:27.160 --> 00:08:29.959 Martin Lawrence. And funnily enough, Epps actually 00:08:29.959 --> 00:08:31.959 starred with Martin Lawrence in a movie that 00:08:31.959 --> 00:08:35.059 same year, Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins. Epps 00:08:35.059 --> 00:08:38.200 played Reggie, Roscoe's cousin. Ah, okay. So 00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:40.039 there was already a connection there. Seems like 00:08:40.039 --> 00:08:42.279 it. It just shows his willingness to jump into 00:08:42.279 --> 00:08:43.919 different kinds of projects, whether it's voice 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:46.620 acting or taking over a role. And speaking of 00:08:46.620 --> 00:08:49.360 reprising roles, he even brought back Baby Powder 00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:52.440 years later. He did? For what? For the TV movie 00:08:52.440 --> 00:08:54.639 sequel, How High Too, which came out in 2019. 00:08:55.100 --> 00:08:57.039 Wow, okay. So he's keeping all these different 00:08:57.039 --> 00:08:59.919 threads going simultaneously. Comedy, action, 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:02.840 voice work, reprising old characters. Exactly. 00:09:02.940 --> 00:09:05.139 Building a really diverse portfolio. But then 00:09:05.139 --> 00:09:07.799 comes the role that I think really made people 00:09:07.799 --> 00:09:10.519 sit up and take notice of his acting chops in 00:09:10.519 --> 00:09:13.320 a totally new way. Gotta be Sparkle, the 2012 00:09:13.320 --> 00:09:16.480 remake. Yes. sparkle this wasn't just another 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:18.840 role this felt like a statement especially considering 00:09:18.840 --> 00:09:21.779 the context whitney houston's final film starring 00:09:21.779 --> 00:09:24.639 alongside jordan sparks and epps wasn't the comic 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:28.139 relief not at all he played satin struthers and 00:09:28.139 --> 00:09:32.340 satin was well he was the bad guy the main antagonist 00:09:32.340 --> 00:09:35.019 describe satin a bit based on the sources what 00:09:35.019 --> 00:09:37.340 kind of character was this the descriptions paint 00:09:37.340 --> 00:09:41.409 him as this uh really evil and abusive drug kingpin 00:09:41.409 --> 00:09:44.070 but here's the twist by day he was also a stand 00:09:44.070 --> 00:09:46.750 -up comic whoa that's a chilling combination 00:09:46.750 --> 00:09:49.730 a comedian who's secretly a monster right and 00:09:49.730 --> 00:09:52.269 for epps who built his career on being the funny 00:09:52.269 --> 00:09:55.269 guy to step into a role that dark it was his 00:09:55.269 --> 00:09:58.509 first major non -comedic role and it was incredibly 00:09:58.509 --> 00:10:00.929 challenging how do people react critics audiences 00:10:00.929 --> 00:10:03.110 the sources say the performance was actually 00:10:03.110 --> 00:10:06.519 really well received critically People were surprised, 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:09.259 maybe even shocked, to see the guy they knew 00:10:09.259 --> 00:10:13.080 as Day Day embody that level of menace. He had 00:10:13.080 --> 00:10:15.559 to ditch the usual Epps energy and find something 00:10:15.559 --> 00:10:18.840 much colder, much more calculated. So Sparkle 00:10:18.840 --> 00:10:21.950 was the proof, proof that he had... serious dramatic 00:10:21.950 --> 00:10:24.750 depth. I think so. It definitely changed the 00:10:24.750 --> 00:10:26.669 perception of him in the industry. It showed 00:10:26.669 --> 00:10:28.549 he wasn't just a comedian who could act a little. 00:10:28.629 --> 00:10:31.549 He was an actor who could handle complex, dark 00:10:31.549 --> 00:10:34.610 material. It basically opened up a whole new 00:10:34.610 --> 00:10:36.690 range of possibilities for him. And that leads 00:10:36.690 --> 00:10:38.629 directly to the conversation around him playing 00:10:38.629 --> 00:10:41.309 one of the most iconic and complex figures in 00:10:41.309 --> 00:10:43.330 entertainment history. Richard Pryor. Richard 00:10:43.330 --> 00:10:46.269 Pryor. Getting linked to that role is huge for 00:10:46.269 --> 00:10:48.809 any actor, but especially for a comedian known 00:10:48.809 --> 00:10:51.029 for broad comedy who'd just proven his dramatic 00:10:51.029 --> 00:10:53.370 skills. Absolutely. The fact that he was seriously 00:10:53.370 --> 00:10:56.190 considered and actually cast for the lead role 00:10:56.190 --> 00:10:59.509 in a planned Richard Pryor biopic around 2014, 00:10:59.929 --> 00:11:03.009 that's enormous validation. Lee Daniels was attached 00:11:03.009 --> 00:11:05.509 to direct. Lee Daniels, wow. That would have 00:11:05.509 --> 00:11:08.730 been a major project. Huge. Being chosen to play 00:11:08.730 --> 00:11:12.200 Pryor. Someone who navigated comedy and intense 00:11:12.200 --> 00:11:16.700 personal drama like almost no one else. It felt 00:11:16.700 --> 00:11:19.659 like the ultimate culmination of Epps' own journey 00:11:19.659 --> 00:11:22.500 towards dramatic work. But the sources say that 00:11:22.500 --> 00:11:24.899 specific biopic project kind of stalled out. 00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:27.299 It's in development hell. Yeah, that's the term 00:11:27.299 --> 00:11:29.600 for when a movie gets stuck in limbo. Maybe funding 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:32.340 falls through, script issues, rights problems, 00:11:32.659 --> 00:11:35.580 whatever the reason, that big Lee Daniels biopic 00:11:35.580 --> 00:11:37.600 hasn't happened yet. It's still listed as stalled. 00:11:37.779 --> 00:11:40.129 That must be frustrating. To get the role and 00:11:40.129 --> 00:11:42.629 then nothing. You'd imagine so. But here's the 00:11:42.629 --> 00:11:45.610 thing. Even though the main biopic stalled, Epps 00:11:45.610 --> 00:11:48.450 did end up playing Richard Pryor, just in different 00:11:48.450 --> 00:11:50.970 projects. Oh, really? What? He portrayed Pryor 00:11:50.970 --> 00:11:53.169 in the Nina Simone biopic, Nina, which came out 00:11:53.169 --> 00:11:55.529 in 2016. And then he played him again more recently 00:11:55.529 --> 00:11:57.809 in the HBO series Winning Time, The Rise of the 00:11:57.809 --> 00:12:01.009 Lakers Dynasty. That was in 2022. Huh. So he 00:12:01.009 --> 00:12:02.710 got to embody the character, just not in the 00:12:02.710 --> 00:12:04.990 standalone film he was originally cast in. Exactly. 00:12:05.070 --> 00:12:07.990 He had to capture Pryor's essence in these, like, 00:12:08.009 --> 00:12:10.730 supporting appearances. Which is maybe even harder 00:12:10.730 --> 00:12:12.970 in some ways. You don't have two hours to build 00:12:12.970 --> 00:12:14.830 the character arc. You have to nail it quickly. 00:12:15.049 --> 00:12:17.269 It still shows the industry trusts him with that 00:12:17.269 --> 00:12:19.370 kind of weighty material, though. Definitely. 00:12:19.789 --> 00:12:22.750 Even without the main biopic, playing Pryor multiple 00:12:22.750 --> 00:12:25.929 times keeps that dramatic credibility firmly 00:12:25.929 --> 00:12:29.149 established. Okay, so he's proven his range across 00:12:29.149 --> 00:12:32.070 genres. Let's talk about where he is now, especially 00:12:32.070 --> 00:12:34.870 in television, because he's found a really solid 00:12:34.870 --> 00:12:37.830 footing in the sitcom world, particularly with 00:12:37.830 --> 00:12:41.529 streaming. Yes, this feels like the current stability 00:12:41.529 --> 00:12:44.190 phase of his career. First, there was the sitcom 00:12:44.190 --> 00:12:47.370 Uncle Buck in 2016. It only lasted one season, 00:12:47.429 --> 00:12:49.190 but it was lead role. Right, based on... On the 00:12:49.190 --> 00:12:51.750 old John Candy movie. Yeah. But the much bigger 00:12:51.750 --> 00:12:55.169 deal is his current show. Since 2021, he's been 00:12:55.169 --> 00:12:57.450 starring as Benny Upshaw in the Netflix sitcom 00:12:57.450 --> 00:12:59.929 The Upshaws. And that show's been quite successful, 00:12:59.950 --> 00:13:03.210 hasn't it? Multiple seasons. It has. Co -starring 00:13:03.210 --> 00:13:06.250 with Wanda Sykes and Kim Fields. Landing a lead 00:13:06.250 --> 00:13:08.970 role on a popular multi -season Netflix show. 00:13:09.230 --> 00:13:12.649 I mean, in today's world, that's a major achievement. 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:15.759 It signifies real staying power and bankability 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:18.100 in the streaming era. It really brings things 00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:20.399 full circle in a way, from breaking out on TV 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:23.220 with Def Comedy Jam to now anchoring his own 00:13:23.220 --> 00:13:26.679 hit sitcom on a global streaming platform. A 00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:29.799 great point. It shows continuous adaptation to 00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:31.539 the changing media landscape. But throughout 00:13:31.539 --> 00:13:34.419 all these movie roles, dramatic turns, sitcom 00:13:34.419 --> 00:13:37.440 leads, we can't forget the thing that started 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:40.169 it all, his stand -up. Did he keep that going 00:13:40.169 --> 00:13:42.789 consistently? Oh, yeah. The sources make it clear 00:13:42.789 --> 00:13:44.490 that stand -up has remained a constant for him. 00:13:44.549 --> 00:13:46.970 It's the bedrock. He's consistently put out stand 00:13:46.970 --> 00:13:48.830 -up specials over the years. Can you give us 00:13:48.830 --> 00:13:51.529 a sense of that timeline? Sure. His first recorded 00:13:51.529 --> 00:13:53.850 special mentioned is Mike Epps, Inappropriate 00:13:53.850 --> 00:13:56.269 Behavior from 2006. And then there's a steady 00:13:56.269 --> 00:13:58.190 stream after that, right up to the most recent 00:13:58.190 --> 00:14:01.289 one listed, Ready to Sell Out in 2024. So almost 00:14:01.289 --> 00:14:03.850 20 years of recorded specials alongside everything 00:14:03.850 --> 00:14:06.190 else. Exactly. It shows a real commitment to 00:14:06.190 --> 00:14:08.850 the craft, you know. Returning to the stage, 00:14:09.009 --> 00:14:11.730 honing his material, connecting directly with 00:14:11.730 --> 00:14:13.830 that live audience, it feels like that's where 00:14:13.830 --> 00:14:16.529 he recharges. That dedication really sets the 00:14:16.529 --> 00:14:19.169 stage for our next section because his influence 00:14:19.169 --> 00:14:22.190 extends beyond just acting and stand -up. He 00:14:22.190 --> 00:14:24.990 became this figure involved in hosting, music, 00:14:25.070 --> 00:14:28.070 almost like an entrepreneur. Yeah, Section 3 00:14:28.070 --> 00:14:31.169 looks at that broader footprint. He really leveraged 00:14:31.169 --> 00:14:33.600 his fame and personality, didn't he? especially 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:35.460 within the hip hop community. Let's start with 00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:37.539 the hosting gigs. Those were pretty high profile. 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:40.460 Definitely. Yeah. He hosted the BT Hip Hop Awards 00:14:40.460 --> 00:14:44.559 for four years straight from 2009 to 2012. That's 00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:47.539 a big gig. Hosting an award show like that requires 00:14:47.539 --> 00:14:49.639 a certain kind of energy, right? You got to know 00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:51.799 the culture. Absolutely. You need to be funny, 00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:54.820 sharp, but also respectful of the artists and 00:14:54.820 --> 00:14:57.700 the music. His style seemed to fit well, high 00:14:57.700 --> 00:15:00.179 energy, quick on his feet, seemed to have a genuine 00:15:00.179 --> 00:15:01.840 connection with the people in the room. And he 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:03.960 was doing his own specials around the same time, 00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:07.120 too. Yeah, he had a special underrated and never 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:09.899 faded out in 2010, the same year he was hosting 00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:12.960 the BET Awards. So really maximizing his visibility 00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:15.399 across platforms. He also had that interesting 00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:18.559 role back in his hometown for the Super Bowl. 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:21.659 Ah, yeah, that's a nice detail. In 2012, the 00:15:21.659 --> 00:15:24.340 Super Bowl, remember XLVI, was held in Indianapolis. 00:15:24.840 --> 00:15:27.639 And Epps served as the official Super Bowl ambassador 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:30.440 for the city. What did that involve, just showing 00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:33.360 up? It seemed like more than that. The sources 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:35.860 say he appeared in commercials promoting Indy, 00:15:35.860 --> 00:15:38.019 made special appearances down in the Super Bowl 00:15:38.019 --> 00:15:40.919 village. It was a way for him to connect back 00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:43.419 to his roots and be the face of his city during 00:15:43.419 --> 00:15:46.600 this huge national event. Kind of cool. Definitely. 00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:48.559 Okay, now let's really get into the music industry 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:50.820 stuff. Yeah. Because it sounds like he was more 00:15:50.820 --> 00:15:53.639 than just a fan. He was actively involved. Deeply 00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:56.059 involved. Not just making cameos in videos, although 00:15:56.059 --> 00:15:58.340 he did plenty of those, which we'll get to, but 00:15:58.340 --> 00:16:00.559 he was hosting projects, putting out his own 00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:03.259 music. Hosting projects, like mixtapes. Yeah, 00:16:03.299 --> 00:16:05.679 exactly. The sources mention he hosted an album 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:09.100 for Jim Jones and Skull Gang in 2008 called A 00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:12.059 Tribute to Bad Santa, starring Mike Epps. Okay, 00:16:12.100 --> 00:16:14.299 interesting title. Right. And he also hosted 00:16:14.299 --> 00:16:16.840 G -Unit's mixtape, Elephant in the Sand, that 00:16:16.840 --> 00:16:20.019 same year. G -Unit, 50 Cent's crew. Yep. And 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:22.860 hosting these projects often meant doing skits, 00:16:22.980 --> 00:16:26.659 intros, outros, basically weaving his comedy 00:16:26.659 --> 00:16:28.700 persona throughout the whole musical project. 00:16:28.759 --> 00:16:30.779 Like he was the comedic guide for the listener. 00:16:30.940 --> 00:16:32.879 He even appeared on one of the G -Unit tracks, 00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:35.279 Hollow Threw Him. So he wasn't just lending his 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:37.440 name, he was contributing content. Seems that 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:40.240 way. And then... He decided to release his own 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:42.159 music project. Right. You mentioned that funny 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:45.919 business. Dat album? When was that? That came 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:48.840 out in 2009. The sources suggest it was mostly 00:16:48.840 --> 00:16:51.200 comedy -focused tracks, but it did have actual 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:53.720 singles. Big Girls came out in 2008. Were there 00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:56.480 others? Yeah. Singles called Trying to Be a Gangsta 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:59.379 and Ain't You You also came out around 2009. 00:16:59.559 --> 00:17:01.919 It shows him really trying to bridge his comedy 00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:04.140 world directly with the music format. It's a 00:17:04.140 --> 00:17:06.279 common move for big comedians, isn't it? Turning 00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:08.880 their stage persona into recorded bits or songs. 00:17:09.160 --> 00:17:11.059 Definitely. It's part of building that multi 00:17:11.059 --> 00:17:13.920 -platform brand. And his connections clearly 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:17.259 ran deep based on who he collaborated with or 00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:20.380 whose tracks sampled him. For sure. He had guest 00:17:20.380 --> 00:17:22.279 spots on tracks with guys like French Montana 00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:25.390 and Dom Kennedy. Yeah. But maybe even more telling 00:17:25.390 --> 00:17:28.109 is how his actual stand -up comedy got sampled 00:17:28.109 --> 00:17:31.750 by major artists. Like who? Material from his 00:17:31.750 --> 00:17:33.869 underrated and never -faded special was used 00:17:33.869 --> 00:17:36.630 on a Bad Meets Evil track that's Eminem and Royce 00:17:36.630 --> 00:17:40.990 today 5 '9", called I'm On Everything. Wow. Okay. 00:17:41.089 --> 00:17:44.130 And maybe most famously, J. Cole sampled him 00:17:44.130 --> 00:17:46.970 on the track Runaway from his Born Sinner album. 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:49.240 That's significant. When your stand -up bits 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:51.299 become part of the fabric of hip -hop tracks 00:17:51.299 --> 00:17:54.039 by major artists. It means you've really permeated 00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:56.440 the culture, right? Your voice itself becomes 00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:58.940 shorthand for a certain vibe or attitude. But 00:17:58.940 --> 00:18:01.140 his involvement in the music business side wasn't 00:18:01.140 --> 00:18:03.660 all smooth sailing, was it? There was that Naptown 00:18:03.660 --> 00:18:06.160 Records situation. Ah, yeah. The Naptown Records 00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:08.319 story. It's kind of a cautionary tale about the 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:10.559 risks involved, even for celebrities trying to 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:13.289 run a label. What was his role exactly? The sources 00:18:13.289 --> 00:18:16.369 identify him as the CEO of Naptown Records, based 00:18:16.369 --> 00:18:20.309 in Indianapolis. And in 2006, he signed a local 00:18:20.309 --> 00:18:23.049 indie artist named Philip White, who went by 00:18:23.049 --> 00:18:25.819 Filthy Phil. Apparently, White had just been 00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:28.160 released from prison on a drug charge. And Epps 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:30.420 gave him a deal. A pretty significant one, according 00:18:30.420 --> 00:18:35.039 to reports, around $175 ,000, which shows Epps 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:37.519 was putting serious money behind trying to boost 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:39.779 local talent from his city. So what went wrong? 00:18:40.059 --> 00:18:42.299 Well, the deal was reportedly terminated just 00:18:42.299 --> 00:18:45.599 a year later, in 2007. And the reason was... 00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:48.339 Pretty stark. White was charged with first degree 00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:51.180 murder out in Oakland, California. Oh, wow. OK. 00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:54.039 Yeah. So that venture ended in a really difficult 00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:56.559 and tragic circumstances. A tough lesson in the 00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:58.119 volatility of the music business, I imagine. 00:18:58.319 --> 00:19:00.519 Despite that setback, though, his presence in 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:02.920 the hip hop world seemed undiminished. Just look 00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:05.140 at all the music video cameos. The list is long. 00:19:05.299 --> 00:19:07.539 It really shows how connected and respected he 00:19:07.539 --> 00:19:10.289 remained within that scene. We're talking videos 00:19:10.289 --> 00:19:12.750 like West Side Connection's Gangsta Nation back 00:19:12.750 --> 00:19:16.529 in 2003, Ice Cube's Why We Thugs in 2006. So 00:19:16.529 --> 00:19:18.970 staying close to his early collaborators. Yep. 00:19:19.289 --> 00:19:23.589 Then Hurricane Chris' A Bay Bay in 2007. Fast 00:19:23.589 --> 00:19:26.250 forward a decade, and he's in T. Grizzly's No 00:19:26.250 --> 00:19:30.269 Effort in 2017, and 21 Savage's huge hit bank 00:19:30.269 --> 00:19:33.259 account that same year. That's incredible range 00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:35.859 from West Coast OGs to the new generation of 00:19:35.859 --> 00:19:37.839 trap stars. It really underscores his cultural 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:40.619 relevance across different eras of hip hop. His 00:19:40.619 --> 00:19:43.079 appearance signifies something, maybe authenticity, 00:19:43.299 --> 00:19:46.059 maybe just being a recognizable, cool figure 00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:48.339 within that world. All this visibility, though, 00:19:48.380 --> 00:19:51.339 the movies, the music, the stand up, it inevitably 00:19:51.339 --> 00:19:54.660 brings scrutiny, which leads us into section 00:19:54.660 --> 00:19:58.059 four, his personal life, the awards, but also. 00:19:58.839 --> 00:20:00.920 The controversies. Right. When you have a career 00:20:00.920 --> 00:20:03.200 that long in that public, you're bound to hit 00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:05.220 some turbulence. And Epps has certainly had his 00:20:05.220 --> 00:20:07.079 share of public relations challenges alongside 00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:09.019 the successes. Let's start with the personal 00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:11.339 milestones mentioned in the sources. His family 00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:14.079 life. Okay. The sources note two marriages. His 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:16.279 first was to Michelle McCain. They got married 00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:18.539 in July 2006 and apparently lived in Beverly 00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:21.480 Hills. They divorced in September 2017. And his 00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:24.019 second marriage. He married Kyra Robinson in 00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:26.799 June 2019. The wedding was in Newport Beach, 00:20:26.900 --> 00:20:29.630 California. The sources mention she's an executive 00:20:29.630 --> 00:20:32.490 at the OW1 network and a producer on Ayanla. 00:20:32.829 --> 00:20:36.210 Fix my life. Interesting. And kids. The sources 00:20:36.210 --> 00:20:38.829 state he has seven children. So clearly a full 00:20:38.829 --> 00:20:41.609 family life happening alongside this very busy, 00:20:41.670 --> 00:20:44.480 very public career. On the professional recognition 00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:47.519 side, the NAACP Image Awards seem particularly 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:50.180 significant for him. They really do tell a story 00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:52.640 of his evolution. He's received nominations and 00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:55.380 wins across different categories over the years. 00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:58.859 What specifically? Well, back in 2011, he got 00:20:58.859 --> 00:21:00.740 a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor 00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:04.000 in a Motion Picture. Then in 2015, recognition 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:07.609 for TV. A nomination for Outstanding Supporting 00:21:07.609 --> 00:21:10.190 Actor in a Comedy Series. Okay. Film and traditional 00:21:10.190 --> 00:21:12.690 TV covered. And then most recently, in 2023, 00:21:12.950 --> 00:21:14.849 he actually won Outstanding Actor in a Comedy 00:21:14.849 --> 00:21:17.609 Series for The Epshaws. Ah, for the Netflix show. 00:21:17.789 --> 00:21:20.569 Exactly. So that trajectory, film nomination, 00:21:20.869 --> 00:21:23.970 TV nomination, streaming TV, when it perfectly 00:21:23.970 --> 00:21:26.710 mirrors his career path and his ability to stay 00:21:26.710 --> 00:21:28.609 relevant and critically acknowledged across all 00:21:28.609 --> 00:21:31.119 those platforms for over a decade. That's impressive 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:33.779 consistency. But now we have to address the more 00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:36.619 difficult parts of his public record, the controversies. 00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:38.619 And it's important, as you said, to just lay 00:21:38.619 --> 00:21:41.220 out what the sources report neutrally. Agreed. 00:21:41.220 --> 00:21:43.319 We need to be clear we're reporting on the incidents 00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:46.140 as documented. The first area mentioned is backlash 00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:49.079 regarding some of his stand -up material. What 00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:52.180 was the issue there? Sources report that Epps 00:21:52.180 --> 00:21:54.940 faced significant criticism from disability advocates. 00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:58.000 They objected to parts of his act where he allegedly 00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:01.319 mocked children with physical and mental disabilities. 00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:04.359 Yeah, that's always a sensitive line in comedy. 00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:06.759 Extremely sensitive. And this generated considerable 00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:09.680 public outcry at the time, sparking debates about 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:11.859 comedic boundaries and targeting vulnerable groups. 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:14.440 It definitely impacted his public image for a 00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:16.619 while. Then there was a specific incident involving 00:22:16.619 --> 00:22:20.519 alleged violence. In Atlanta? Yes, in 2014. This 00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:22.720 involved another comedian named LeVar Walker. 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:25.759 An arrest warrant was actually issued for Epps 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:29.579 on June 3, 2014. An arrest warrant? What allegedly 00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:31.940 happened? The incident reportedly took place 00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:34.799 on June 1, outside the Uptown Comedy Club in 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:38.380 Atlanta. Walker claimed that Epps, along with 00:22:38.380 --> 00:22:40.940 some other men described as bodyguards, assaulted 00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:44.329 him. Why? What was the supposed motive? The reported 00:22:44.329 --> 00:22:46.849 reason was that Walker had made some kind of 00:22:46.849 --> 00:22:50.450 parody video mocking Epps and Kevin Hart. Walker 00:22:50.450 --> 00:22:52.230 alleges that Epps and the others struck him, 00:22:52.329 --> 00:22:55.089 kicked him, and damaged his glasses and phone. 00:22:55.329 --> 00:22:57.769 Wow. That's a serious accusation between fellow 00:22:57.769 --> 00:23:00.630 comedians. Very serious. And it created this 00:23:00.630 --> 00:23:02.750 stark contrast, didn't it, between the funny 00:23:02.750 --> 00:23:05.890 guy persona on screen and these allegations of 00:23:05.890 --> 00:23:08.099 real -world aggression. It put a spotlight on 00:23:08.099 --> 00:23:10.460 rivalries within the comedy scene, too. And the 00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:14.140 third major controversy mentioned is the kangaroo. 00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:17.059 Ah, yes. The kangaroo incident. This was in 2017 00:23:17.059 --> 00:23:19.200 during a show in Detroit. What exactly happened? 00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:21.400 He just brought a kangaroo on stage. Apparently 00:23:21.400 --> 00:23:23.640 so. Yeah. And it did not go over well. Yeah. 00:23:23.740 --> 00:23:26.279 Videos started circulating online, and many people, 00:23:26.359 --> 00:23:28.720 including animal rights groups, were really upset. 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:31.000 They pointed out that the kangaroo looked distressed. 00:23:31.450 --> 00:23:33.690 Yeah, I vaguely remember seeing clips that looked 00:23:33.690 --> 00:23:35.490 like he was kind of holding it, maybe against 00:23:35.490 --> 00:23:38.190 its will. That was the criticism, that he was 00:23:38.190 --> 00:23:40.990 holding it, pulling on its harness, and the animal 00:23:40.990 --> 00:23:43.430 clearly wasn't comfortable being on a stage with 00:23:43.430 --> 00:23:45.910 bright lights and loud noise. How did Epps respond 00:23:45.910 --> 00:23:48.849 to that backlash? Because it got pretty intense 00:23:48.849 --> 00:23:51.740 online. He ended up issuing a public apology. 00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:54.099 He said the whole thing was unscripted, acknowledged 00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:57.440 it was a mistake, and specifically said he regretted 00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:59.859 potentially harming the animal. It became this 00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:02.500 viral moment, a real example of how quickly things 00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:05.160 can blow up online, especially when animal welfare 00:24:05.160 --> 00:24:08.539 is involved. So putting it all together... The 00:24:08.539 --> 00:24:11.740 huge successes, the dramatic turns, the music 00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:14.259 ventures, these controversies. It's a really 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:16.660 complex picture. It absolutely is. You see this 00:24:16.660 --> 00:24:19.559 incredibly savvy career unfold. He takes that 00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:21.720 one breakout character, Day Day Jones, which 00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:24.259 could have typecast him forever. Right. And uses 00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:26.680 it as a launch pad. He builds this multi -platform 00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:30.220 career, moving into drama with Sparkle, anchoring 00:24:30.220 --> 00:24:32.799 a hit streaming show like The Upshaws, even trying 00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:35.279 his hand at being a record executive. And tackling 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:37.640 iconic roles like Richard Pryor along the way. 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:41.619 Exactly. His journey really highlights the power 00:24:41.619 --> 00:24:44.259 of locking down that initial memorable brand, 00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:48.299 Day Day, and then having the guts and the skill 00:24:48.299 --> 00:24:51.680 to pivot and take risks. He wasn't afraid to 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:54.519 step into action movies or serious drama or the 00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:56.880 tricky world of hip -hop business. His influence 00:24:56.880 --> 00:24:59.259 really does cut across different parts of culture, 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:02.839 comedy stages, movie screens, hip -hop tracks. 00:25:03.019 --> 00:25:05.460 Simultaneously. Which is pretty rare. And that 00:25:05.460 --> 00:25:07.460 dramatic work, especially Sparkle, it really 00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:09.680 makes you think, doesn't it, about how we perceive 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:12.599 comedians. It really does. His success there 00:25:12.599 --> 00:25:15.259 and his constant pursuit of playing Richard Pryor. 00:25:15.789 --> 00:25:18.130 What does that tell you, the listener, about 00:25:18.130 --> 00:25:20.230 the dramatic potential that often gets overlooked 00:25:20.230 --> 00:25:23.349 in people known primarily for comedy? Hollywood 00:25:23.349 --> 00:25:26.009 loves putting actors in boxes. Yeah. But Epps 00:25:26.009 --> 00:25:28.150 consistently fought against that. It raises the 00:25:28.150 --> 00:25:30.509 question, how much talent are we missing because 00:25:30.509 --> 00:25:32.970 we typecast performers based on their early success? 00:25:33.210 --> 00:25:35.950 So looking ahead, what's next for him? The sources 00:25:35.950 --> 00:25:38.450 mention upcoming projects like Madam Web, The 00:25:38.450 --> 00:25:41.509 Underdogs. Right. New movies aimed at today's 00:25:41.509 --> 00:25:43.890 audience. So the question for you to consider 00:25:43.890 --> 00:25:47.089 is... How will these next projects continue to 00:25:47.089 --> 00:25:49.670 shape his legacy? Will he lean more into the 00:25:49.670 --> 00:25:51.750 reliable comedy of something like The Upshaws? 00:25:52.210 --> 00:25:54.950 Or will he keep pushing for those challenging 00:25:54.950 --> 00:25:57.549 dramatic roles? That tension between the Mike 00:25:57.549 --> 00:25:59.769 Epps everyone knows from comedy and the serious 00:25:59.769 --> 00:26:02.609 actor he's proven himself to be, that's the fascinating 00:26:02.609 --> 00:26:04.750 thread to keep watching. His deep dive is definitely 00:26:04.750 --> 00:26:05.450 still ongoing.