Club Shay Shay - Mike Epps Part 1

Summary

Club Shay Shay – Mike Epps Part 1

Host: Shannon Sharpe
Guest: Mike Epps
Date: January 7, 2026
Podcast: Club Shay Shay (iHeartPodcasts & Shay Shay Media)

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Episode Overview

Shannon Sharpe hosts comedian, actor, and entertainment entrepreneur Mike Epps for an in-depth conversation. They address personal history, lessons from their respective industries, comedy’s inner workings, the “Friday” and “All About the Benjamins” films, the impact of Cat Williams' viral interview, survival and responsibility in the Black community, and the psychology of entertainers. The episode brims with candid humor, honesty, and insights into both fame and adversity, reflecting the real-life chemistry between two men who came from humble backgrounds and made it to the top in their fields.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Squashing Beef: Setting an Example (03:20–13:47)

• Addressing Public Perception & Real-Life Tension:
  Epps and Sharpe talk openly about a supposed beef stemming from Katt Williams’ infamous interview. They clarify that although there was tension, they resolved it privately, showing maturity and responsibility for younger generations.

• The Importance of Peace Over Violence:
  They discuss the tendency in the Black community to solve disputes violently and stress modeling nonviolent conflict resolution.

  Quote:

  “One of the most important things that came out of that is we got a chance to show these little youngsters out here that, guess what? It ain’t always got to end in no violence. Or fighting each other, putting our hands on each other. ’Cause at the end of the day, we still all Black men… we still all examples in front of millions.”
  — Mike Epps (10:01–10:20)

• Role-Modeling for the Community:
  Both express a sense of duty to handle disagreements respectfully because they know the youth are always watching.

  Quote:

  “We all are responsible for the youngsters out here because they watching us. You know, if you are somebody that the kids are watching, whatever you do, they gonna do it.”
  — Mike Epps (12:12)

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2. Inside Comedy: Rivalries, Recognition & Cat Williams’ Interview (13:47–21:49)

• Katt Williams' Viral Interview:
  Sharpe reflects on the explosive impact, explaining his intention was not to incite or “set up” comedians but to create conversation.

  Quote:

  “Because I think what Katt did was peel a scab back that outside the comedic world, nobody knew about. Didn’t nobody know that there was this hostility or this butting of heads between comedians.”
  — Shannon Sharpe (06:50)

• Epps on Comedic Rivalry & Success:
  Mike Epps discusses how all comedians hustle for success in their own way and how generational clashes arise (e.g., his dynamics with up-and-comer Kevin Hart).

  Quote:

  “Kevin Hart knew how to do that show and that business, so he was able to get in there. And then I had to end up learning from him… The old learn from the new, the new learn from the old.”
  — Mike Epps (18:47)

• Survivor’s Remorse:
  Epps admits to feeling guilt after making it, especially when returning to his hometown.

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3. Hollywood Stories: Roles, Auditions & Legendary Films (35:59–53:49)

• Landing “Friday” and “Next Friday”:
  Epps recounts his humble beginnings, from sleeping on friends’ floors in LA to nailing auditions with Ice Cube.

  Quote:

  “I rode a bus from New York to LA… sleeping on Red’s floor… I went up there, audition, and when I came off the stage, [my man said], Ice Cube wanna holler at you. And when I turned around… I seen Ice Cube and John Singleton standing there and almost peed on myself.”
  — Mike Epps (37:15–37:51)

• The Power of Ice Cube & Comedians in Film:
  Discussion on why Ice Cube gravitates towards comedians and how he became a launching pad for many careers.

  Quote:

  “Cube has the ability to keep creating, he gonna squeeze the juice out of this.”
  — Mike Epps (51:32–51:48)

• On Improvisation and Set Life:
  Cube often allowed major ad-libs in his productions, amplifying the authenticity and humor.

  Quote:

  “I remember I went in the script… and he just took the script out my head and threw the ball. He said, come on, let’s go.”
  — Mike Epps (52:44–53:06)

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4. The Comedian’s Burden: Darkness Beneath the Laughter (33:54–36:15)

• Darkness as Fuel:
  Epps talks about the sadness many comedians carry and how painful experiences fuel stand-up.

  Quote:

  “That’s one of the hardest things about being a comedian. And they call it tears of a clown, you know, because… you gotta be sad to make me laugh. You can’t be happy and make me laugh.”
  — Mike Epps (33:59–34:20)

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5. Navigating Hollywood: Money, Growth, & Ownership (49:12–53:49)

• Pay in Movies & The Bigger Payoff:
  They address rumors that Ice Cube doesn’t pay his actors well. Epps points out the exposure led to much greater rewards on the road.

  Quote:

  “I didn’t get paid… the money that I made from being in the movie… Now you getting your money. In this business… you have to plant a seed for the flower to grow.”
  — Mike Epps (49:59–50:52)

• The Next “Friday” Installment:
  Epps confirms “Last Friday” is in development, with new comedians expected to compete for roles. (50:52–54:10)

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6. Black Success and Survivor’s Remorse (57:51–61:53)

• Dealing with Success and Hometown Pressures:
  Epps details how fame created a rift and caused personal anguish, even relapse, as he tried to “make it up” to friends and family left behind.

  Quote:

  “I was so hurt that I left so many people back in my hometown, my friends. Cause I was really out here by myself, you know.”
  — Mike Epps (59:14–59:57)

• Crabs in a Barrel Syndrome:
  Sharpe and Epps discuss why successful Black men often feel exploited by their community.

  Quote:

  “We all came from a crab in the barrel syndrome. That’s what they do… if one of them get out, another one will grab his crab and pull it in.”
  — Mike Epps (61:04–61:50)

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7. Fame, Acting, and Creativity (65:55–86:44)

• Hardships of Hollywood:
  Discussing the transition from small venues to major films and sitcoms, the challenges of learning lines, and the unpredictability of acting careers versus stand-up.

• Creativity & Sleep:
  Epps reveals insomnia from constant creative ideation.

  Quote:

  “No, not at all. I’ve been having sleep apnea my whole life because… you’re thinking about the next move.”
  — Mike Epps (81:45–83:20)

• Difference Between Black and White Audiences:
  Epps describes how laughs and energy manifest differently, requiring comedians to adapt.

  Quote:

  “When white people laugh, they say, ha, ha, ha ha. Black people… They hit each other…That’s us.”
  — Mike Epps (76:00–76:41)

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Highlighted Segment Timestamps

• 03:20 – Mike Epps joins, playful banter about their "beef"
• 05:07–07:40 – Discussing Katt Williams’ interview’s impact on the comedy world
• 10:00–12:33 – Responsibility as role models, showing non-violent resolution
• 13:47–14:38 – Sharpe on handling interviews and not intending to incite
• 17:19–18:47 – Epps learning from Kevin Hart, older vs. newer generations
• 37:15–40:47 – Epps’ journey from struggling comic to landing “Friday”
• 46:34–47:06 – Ice Cube’s advice: “It’s not a race, it’s a marathon”
• 49:12–50:52 – Discussing actor pay and “planting seeds” in show business
• 52:44–53:20 – On improvisation and freedom on Ice Cube’s sets
• 59:14–61:53 – Survivor’s remorse, crabs in a barrel, and origin of jealousy in the community
• 65:55–66:03 – Sharpe’s HBCU experience: finding purpose and belonging
• 76:00–77:10 – Difference in audiences: white vs. Black crowds
• 81:45–83:20 – Insomnia and the curse/blessing of endless creativity

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Notable Quotes

• “You was coming there anyway. But that was the thing, Shannon. One of the most important things that came out of that is we got a chance to show these little youngsters out here that, guess what? It ain’t always got to end in no violence… We still all Black men.”
  — Mike Epps (10:01)

• “Kevin Hart knew how to do that show and that business, so he was able to get in there. And then I had to end up learning from him… The old learn from the new, the new learn from the old.”
  — Mike Epps (18:47)

• “That’s one of the hardest things about being a comedian. And they call it tears of a clown, you know… You gotta be sad to make me laugh. You can’t be happy and make me laugh.”
  — Mike Epps (33:59–34:20)

• “We all are responsible for the youngsters out here because they watching us. You know, if you are somebody that the kids are watching, whatever you do, they gonna do it.”
  — Mike Epps (12:12)

• “I didn’t get paid… the money that I made from being in the movie [Friday] was now you getting your money… you have to plant a seed for the flower to grow.”
  — Mike Epps (49:59–50:52)

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Memorable Moments

• Improvisation on Set:
  Epps recounts getting genuine reactions from extras and co-stars by surprising them with unscripted lines—Cube encouraged these moments.
• Survivor’s Remorse:
  Mike is deeply honest about feeling isolated by his own success and even relapsing as a result of the emotional toll.
• Comic Generational Rift:
  Sharing the stage (sometimes contentiously) with past and future greats, Epps unpacks the love, resentment, and learning on both sides.

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Summary Takeaway

Mike Epps and Shannon Sharpe deliver an unfiltered exploration of comedy, fame, Black success, and resilience. Beyond the laughs, Epps reveals the vulnerability beneath his on-stage persona, offering powerful commentary on community, mentorship, and holding space for both old wounds and new growth. The humor never lets up, but the honesty makes this episode especially compelling for longtime fans and newcomers alike.

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For further discussion—including behind-the-scenes on working with icons like Whitney Houston and Beyoncé, the challenge of sitcoms, and reflections on legacy—check out Part 2, now available.

Transcript

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[Mike Epps]

You were talking to me on the way to my hometown when you got to the airport Mother said Shannon Sharp.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Here He just I said oh Shannon.

[Mike Epps]

Sharp at the hotel I talk to.

[Shannon Sharpe]

A man turf and talk to him.

[Mike Epps]

I can take my mother jacket off too just in case. All my life been grinding all my life Sacrifice, hustle paid the price want.

[Shannon Sharpe]

A slice got to roll a dice that's why all my life I've been.

[Mike Epps]

Grinding all, been grinding all my life Sacrifice, hustle, paid the price, wanna slice.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Got the rolling dice to swap all.

[Mike Epps]

My life I've been grinding all my life.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hello. Welcome to another episode of Club Shay Shay. I am your host, Shannon Sharp. I'm also the proprietor of Club Shay Shay. Stopping by for conversation and a drink today is one of the most hilarious comedic minds of our time. He's one of the funniest comic actors to emerge in Hollywood. He went from stand up comedic star to a bonafide international movie star. One of the most celebrated comedians of our time. He tours the country and performs to sold out arenas. Award winning and critically praised actor, multifaceted host, writer, executive producer, entrepreneur, real estate magnet, artist, entertainer and extraordinaire. He's a powerhouse, an icon, a legendary. The og. Here he is, Mike Epps.

[Mike Epps]

What's up, Shannon? Sup, man?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Look here. Hey, you know this like not to happen.

[Mike Epps]

Fuck you, Shannon, man. You.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Now, I ain't gonna lie to you, Mike. You had me on swole. I was gonna whip you.

[Mike Epps]

Okay, well, hey, you know what?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, you ain't got your boys here now. You get your ass toe up.

[Mike Epps]

What's up? We ain't nothing right here between us.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You know, I ain't gonna be no old person.

[Mike Epps]

But you know what? You know, I know you a football player, but I ain't turn. If we would have really. If we would have got in a fight, I wasn't gonna turn down the fades.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You out there talking about you gonna shoot me. You in the bed talking about ta, ta, ta. You ain't want any problems.

[Mike Epps]

I never said that I was gonna shoot you, bro.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What you say, Shannon?

[Mike Epps]

I didn't say that I was gonna shoot you. But them little niggas, the little homies, gonna probably tear your ass up. I wasn't. I wasn't finna fight your big ass, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Let me ask you this.

[Mike Epps]

I had seen you at the. I seen you at the.

[Josh Whalen]

Whole Foods.

[Mike Epps]

In Atlanta and you was nice as hell to me.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's what took me by surprise.

[Mike Epps]

What?

[Shannon Sharpe]

I said, hold on.

[Mike Epps]

I'm saying to myself, I said, hold on.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I just saw this man at Whole Foods. We exchanged him for.

[Mike Epps]

You hadn't did the interview with Cat. The Cat thing, that's.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He ain't say shit about you. Look, I could have put you in there. You did.

[Mike Epps]

You did. Say my name.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, Lord.

[Mike Epps]

You said. You said.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I said. I said Mike F. Was great.

[Mike Epps]

You said my name. No, nigga. The way you said my name, you said it like you was trying to set me up to get him to talk about me. I was watching. I watched the interview channel.

[Shannon Sharpe]

This is what I said. I said, mike Epps played that. I said, can't nobody else play Dae Dai but Mike, that ain't.

[Mike Epps]

You might have said that, but you did say some other shit. That and where I was up with that at. Shannon, to be honest with you, bro, I respect your podcast. I respect you getting your money. What threw me off was I'm like, this ain't interviewing nobody but comedians. Yes, that's what threw me off.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Why?

[Mike Epps]

Because I'm like, this is our business. And look at what the. Look what. Catman cat the shit up so that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hold on.

[Mike Epps]

I can't even do this shit now. That nigga broke the record. Why am I doing this shit?

[Shannon Sharpe]

So let me ask you this because I did catch a lot of flack. Let me tell you why we brainstormed because in the beginning, we did mainly athletes, But I said, I got the athlete.

[Mike Epps]

And see, I had to study that to know that. At first, I thought you started off doing comedians.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Mm. Mm. I started off with athletes. I said, in order to what? The Popeyes did chicken, but in order to get bigger, what'd they do, the chicken sandwich?

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So in order for me to get a different audience, let me do celebs, Let me do entertainers, let me do comedians. Yes, I can get the athletes, but I need to get a different audience, because that's the only way you can grow.

[Mike Epps]

I get it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I mean, if Target just sold one thing, they're not gonna be Target. If Costco sold one item, they're not gonna be Costco. I get it. So in order for me to grow, that's what. Now, I didn't know I was gonna have to whip a comedian in order to get even more followers, but I thought that's the way I was gonna have to go.

[Mike Epps]

Well, nigga, you wasn't gonna whoop me. First of all, I wasn't gonna let. I know you played football and everything. I played.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't play no more.

[Mike Epps]

You was a great ass tight end.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I appreciate that.

[Mike Epps]

I must say, you was a great tight. You wasn't as good as Mike Dicker, but you was a good tight end.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I did okay. So let me ask you this because a lot of comedians got upset at me.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Because I think what Katt did was peel a scab back that outside the comedic world, nobody knew about. Didn't nobody know that there was this hostility or this butting of heads between Comedians. Because it was never talked about.

[Mike Epps]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And so what Cat did is that Cat lifted the veil and like, oh, this one don't like that one, and that one don't like this one. And I don't like him, and he don't like that. And so everybody got mad at me. I was like, bro, I mean, I don't know what y' all want me to do.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, I understand that. I understand that. I mean, you know, I mean, the thing of it is, is that us as comedians, we all. Every last person that Kat talked about, everybody that I talk about, we all worked hard as to get here, you know, And I guess. I guess each one gets money the way they get money. You know what I mean?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Get it how you get it.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah. And that's what everybody has to respect. But like I said, it just felt like it was like the interview was set up to gear towards attacking. You see what I'm saying?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, that's what he. You realized the first 45 minutes I didn't ask a question.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, I understand that. So, yeah, that was his. But that's what I'm saying. See, that's just like me right now. I could tell a million stories about.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I just need, like, three or four.

[Mike Epps]

You need three or four?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, you know, before we go anymore, let's get in here. Let's get a ton of here.

[Mike Epps]

You want to talk about. I'm ready to go now.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Check this out, Devin.

[Mike Epps]

I'm ready to go now.

[Shannon Sharpe]

This is my cognac.

[Mike Epps]

This mother you want to talk about right now.

[Shannon Sharpe]

This is shaped by La Portier. It's a VSOP cognac. I know you like cognac. I know you do. This is the best cognac you gonna ever put to your lips.

[Mike Epps]

You ain't put no P. Diddy in there, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Go there you go back there over.

[Mike Epps]

Here in the morning.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, bro, you've been in this thing three decades, bro.

[Mike Epps]

Damn, that's pretty smooth. It ain't. Yeah, I thought I. Yeah, you thought.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It was gonna burn. I know. Yeah, see?

[Mike Epps]

See, that's pretty smooth. Yeah, I've been in the business 30 years, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But you know what? When you and I had a conversation, we talked on the phone, and I just thought it was very important. I wanna hear why you thought it was very important for you and I to have a conversation.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

To settle our differences, be it agree or disagree. We can agree to disagree. But you felt. I felt that we need to have a conversation. And I'm gonna tell you what I was Gonna tell you my things from my point of view. I wanted you to hear from your point of view. And we got. I didn't anticipate you showing up at Country Kitchen. Cynth set that up. Cause she knew I was coming. And the next thing I know, I'm sitting down there. And Jordan, he boss there. Mike ells. So now I'm like, okay. You know, I ain't ate too much. I could tussle for. Nigga, that was my hometown.

[Mike Epps]

You was talking shit to me on the way to my hometown. And then you got to the country. When you got to the airport, said shannon Sharpe here at the airport.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He just.

[Mike Epps]

I said, oh, shit. Shannon Sharp at the hotel there.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I come to a man turf and talk to him.

[Mike Epps]

Your ass was coming there anyway.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I was coaching the All Star Game as a good time.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, you was coming there anyway. But that was the thing, Shannon. One of the most important things that came out of that is we got a chance to show these little youngsters out here that, guess what? It ain't always got to end in no violence.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It doesn't.

[Mike Epps]

Or fighting each other, putting our hands on each other. Cause at the end of the day, we still all black men.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yep.

[Mike Epps]

You know what I'm saying? We still all examples in front of millions. Millions. That's just like, whatever. Cat said it wasn't that bad, right? It was like roasting a. He just got up here and roasted everybody. Nigga, I can take my jacket off, too, just in case. Shit. Shit.

[Shannon Sharpe]

All right, we up here, White Tee.

[Mike Epps]

Think you try to. Just in case you get upset.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But, no, I think the thing was for me, right? Is that everything that you said that I wanted to show. Look, we disagree. But just because we disagree, that doesn't mean we have to fight. We have to, like, get our hair. Because at the end of the day, ain't no other group doing that but us.

[Mike Epps]

You right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Ain't nobody doing that but us.

[Mike Epps]

You're right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I mean, ain't nobody fighting Joe Rogan. Ain't nobody fighting Theo Vaughn.

[Mike Epps]

No.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Ain't nobody fighting Andrew Schultz. And there might be people that say things that they disagree, but we're the only ones that feel like, I got to show you how much macho, how big and bad I am.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I'm gonna show you we ain't gotta do that, bro. Let's go ahead and get this money.

[Mike Epps]

But that's where we come from, you know, the neighborhoods and stuff we grew up in, man. You know, I'm pretty sure you had a Bully. I had a bully. Everybody had a bully when we were kids. And we grew up in neighborhoods fighting, man. That's what black kids did. We grew up fighting each other. You know what I mean? And, hey, man. Unfortunately, that's what it is. But like you said, as adults, we have to make sure that we understand.

[Shannon Sharpe]

We passed that stage now.

[Mike Epps]

That's right. So.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But I'm glad that we got an opportunity. But do you feel that's an obligation? Because everybody referred to me as. They call you the og. Do you feel like we have an obligation to our community to show that there's a better way outside of violence, to handle the difference?

[Mike Epps]

We do. We all are responsible for the youngsters out here because they watching us. You know, if you are somebody that the kids are watching, whatever you do, they gonna do it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yep.

[Mike Epps]

And sometimes you can't even see your influence. You doing some shit. You don't even know somebody's copying you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Nope.

[Mike Epps]

So we are responsible for that. And that's the hardest part about coming from where we come from, is that a lot of us don't want to take the responsibility. Cause we so used to being.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I'm who I am.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah. I'm who I am no matter what age. Now you gray and you old doing this shit. And you look stupid as a. Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. Cause if you think about it, think about everything you see these NFL players do when they start doing all this stuff like this. What the college kids do, what the.

[Mike Epps]

High school kids do, they start doing it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Steph Curry hit a three and do this right here. What they doing in college.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So you are influential, whether you choose to be or not. And I think you should take responsibility. Because all the positive that comes along with it, you're so accepting of it. The money, the fame, the attention, the adulation that comes along with it. So I think we do have an obligation, Mike, to, like, put our best foot forward.

[Mike Epps]

We do.

[Shannon Sharpe]

To make sure that the ones that are watching us say, you know what, man? Sharp and Mike had a disagreement, But I like the way they settled that, man. I like. They got together and they said, you know what, man? I understand. I might not agree with what you said or how you said it, but I understand you being a comedian. You said it, bro. Let's dap this thing up. Let's move on.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah. Cause it's enough. It's cold. A motherfucker.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Mike Epps]

Nigga got this motherfucker on jail, on hospital in this motherfucker, man. Cause it is enough situations out there to show that where it couldn't come to an agreement. And it's enough, like you said, it's enough doing that. We don't have to do it. Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So when Katt came, like, people like, man, you said, kat, I say here, first of all, when someone comes, sit down, I'll always ask them, is there anything you don't feel like you don't wanna talk about? Because if you're sitting in that chair, which you're sitting in, I believe you have enough of a career that I can talk to you over your career about something that's not your most salacious or something that you don't wanna talk about. I believe you have enough of a career that we can exclude that and still get the best. Mike Epps.

[Mike Epps]

That's right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So when he came, I had no idea what he was gonna talk about. But that's his story. Like, mike, you tell me your story. And I'm like, mike, that didn't happen. Yeah, that is your story. You telling me your story. I wasn't there.

[Mike Epps]

That's right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So I can't. I can't. It's like, man, you should have said, no, stop. What? I don't know his relationship.

[Mike Epps]

Well, you know what I think. Cause I met Cat Williams long time ago. We used to do. We did a thing called. It was a comedy competition in the Bay Area. It was called the Bay Area Comedy Competition. And Cat was as cool as a nice in a motherfucker. His name was Cat in the Hat. Yeah, and Cat, when it was time to do next Friday, Ice Cube asked me, man, you know him? I said, hell yeah. That's Cat in the Hat from Oakland. Cause I thought he was from Oakland. Cause he's always like a Bay Area dude to me. I said, hell yeah, that's Cat. He said, man, he funny. He put him on Friday after next.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right?

[Mike Epps]

So.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So you knew him prior to Friday after next?

[Mike Epps]

Hell yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay.

[Mike Epps]

From doing from, like I said, the Bay Area comedy. I thought he was from Oakland. And then he did the Bay Area Comedy competition. And I knew him from there, but he was always a cool, calm, funny dude to me. I never seen all of the crazy shit that happened. But I can honestly say this right here. I really think that coming up in this business, when you young as a comic, you could probably relate to it in sports, I think. You know, I think you do get brushed by older guys the wrong way. I done been brushed by a couple of them. But I don't say nothing about it. Cause I understand what to see. It's A sport. And it's camaraderie. And when you first come in the game, when you first come in the locker room, you know, just talking shit, really. I mean, in anything. Yeah, I think. I think when you coming into prison, gonna try. You go in the locker room of a sports joint, you know that. Am I lying?

[Shannon Sharpe]

They're not trying. They're not trying a lot of. Especially if you play the. Cause it's like, okay, I might take somebody under my wing, but am I really trying to take somebody under my wing that's really trying to take my job, take food off my table?

[Mike Epps]

Hell no. Hell no.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So.

[Mike Epps]

So you gonna be away with him. And I think that's what happened to Cat, right? Crossed him a couple times, Steve Harvey, all of the motherfuckers crossed him some kind of way. But it happens in the game. Cause I'm an older comic now and I run into all kind of young. Sometimes I run into little young comics and I be looking at them like, you need to get a job straight the up. Now you gonna have to prove to.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Me later on, right?

[Mike Epps]

And if I see you again and you hot, I'm gonna say, shit, this little end up turning into something, right? But I know that can happen. And I'm pretty sure that happened to Cat, right? Cause it happened to me, right? But some of the same that he was talking about.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Damn.

[Mike Epps]

But I never took it the way.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That Katt took it.

[Mike Epps]

You see what I'm saying? The only that I took that from when me and Kevin Hart had a little problem is Kevin was a dude that came right up under me, right? You see what I'm saying? And he blew up and he got famous and he got rich. And they were no longer talking about Mike Epps, but before Kevin came along, they was talking, man, I had this shit locked down, right? I did. I was out on the road, but I didn't know that other part of the business, which was business business, you know, I got in show business and all I was good at was the show part of it. Cause I didn't grow up under business. And all I could speak for was really my work, which later on in life that shit ended up helping me because I did good work. And I didn't get the big accolades, but I did good work. But Kevin Hart knew how to do that show and that business, so he was able to get in there. And then I had to end up learning from him. Damn. That's how that shit works. The old learn from the new, the.

[Shannon Sharpe]

New learn from the old.

[Mike Epps]

And I didn't understand that. So I took it to heart, you know, I took that shit to heart. I was looking at him like, shit, this is a little dude that came up under me, that opened up for me that sometime I put money in his pocket and he don't remember, but a couple times I've seen him and he kind of brushed me the wrong way. And see people do that shit sometimes, especially if you get some success. Sometimes if you get some success and you hot and a person see you and you don't respond to them or act a certain way with them, especially if they are OG to you, they'll take that shit to heart. And all this mother think he better than me, you know, that's how that shit end up happening. And I told him that when I seen him. I said, you know what? You actually end up putting fire under me. That's what it end up actually doing. It made me. It put fire under me. Because it. At the time, man, I was settled in, whatever the. I was settled in. I needed some young to come along that was hot and the people was loving them and looking at me like, what you gonna do? You know, that shit hurt. But at the end of the day, I'm like, okay, you know what? I know what I gotta do. I gotta stick it to him. So I just went back to my regular roots, to who I really was and how I started comedy, you know? And that shit helped me, propel me to keep going and stop looking at the new, stop looking at the old, and just focus on what you got. Cause there's only one Mike Epps. Ain't gonna be no other Mike Epps. Only one Mike Epps. Go do Mike Epps, and you gonna get whatever you get from that. And once I focused in on that, I was able to breathe and I'd be free and not look at the young coming up or the old.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So in other words, a lot of what Kat was talking about, that some people rubbed them the wrong way, some rubbed you the wrong way. You just didn't take it the way Katt did.

[Mike Epps]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And boist it because you could. But you like, you know what? Let me leave well enough alone. I'm eating, I'm okay.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah. And that's a testimony to believing in yourself and believing in your art. When you believe in your art and your testimony. I have a lot to believe in. That'll help. That keep me from getting into bullshit.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Mike Epps]

I'm a real. I'm a good actor.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Mike Epps]

So I can rest on that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Mike Epps]

You know what I'm saying? I'm good at what I do. So do I really need to do some other bullshit to get people to look at me? Hell no. But it's days I wake up, I'm.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Like, oh shit, I need to get a podcast.

[Mike Epps]

Cause it look like the business is leaving me. You know what I'm saying? Right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Mike Epps]

Oh, Shannon Chopp just got a big ass deal. I gotta do this. Let me go get me some glasses and tight ass shirt. I'm serious.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I started looking at little tight shirts and shit.

[Mike Epps]

I said I'm finna do. I'm not lying. That shit did cross my mind. Because. Because when you see a getting money and success, you start think the way.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Your mind flick is like, I can do that.

[Mike Epps]

That's right. And I'm gonna get left back.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right?

[Josh Whalen]

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[Mike Epps]

That was your. This is your thing. Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

This episode is brought to you by Prize Picks. Whether you're starting a new routine making player picks for the first time, trying something new can be hard. But in life and on Prize Pick, it always feels good to be right. With high pressure playoff matchups every weekend, elite hoops action almost every night, the action never stops. And prize picks lets you take control. Football playoffs are here. Buffalo Bills Football and playoffs. Josh Allen, James Cook, Dalton Kincaid. Bills mafia is ready. Russian TDs. Passing TDs rushing yards, receiving yards. We're hitting more more more all damn day. Find your community on Prize Picks with new Social Feeds feature. You can share Prize Picks with friends. Copy lineup from winners with a single click. Copy lineups you like. Use them as inspiration for your own picks. You can even follow Prize Picks partners like yours truly and tail or fade our picks with just one click. New Feature Alert Prize Picks has early payouts. If your lineup gets off to a hot start, you may now have the option to cash out those winnings early before the game even finishes. Prize Picks is simple to play, just download the Prize Pick app today. Use Code Shannon to get $50 in lineups after you play your first five dollar lineup. That's code SHANNON to get $50 in lineups AFTER you play your first five Dollar lineup. Prize picks this it's good to be right now. Listen, if you love comedy, if you love the culture and you love the laugh until it hurts, you need to pay attention to this. The biggest, funniest comedy tour of 2026 is pulling up to a city near you with We Them ones Comedy Tour. 35 cities, 35 stops and headlining the whole thing. One of the greatest comedians to ever do it, Mr. Mike Epps himself. Mike Epps is bringing a brand new stand up comedy set of non stop laughter. And guess what? He's not coming along. We Them Ones Comedy Tour featuring comedians like D.C. young, Fly Mojo Brooks, Carlos Miller, Chico Bean and more. All hosted by Tony T. Roberts. This isn't just a comedy show. This is for the culture. This is one you don't want to miss. So do yourself a favor. Grab your tickets right [e-mail] Mike Epps We Them Ones Comedy Tour get your Tickets [e-mail] Here's a question. If you walked into a stash house and you found it full of $20 million, how much would you steal? That's the question Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have to answer. In the Netflix new movie the Rip, they play a team of Miami cops alongside Teyana Taylor, Steven Yeung, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Sasha Kaje and Kyle Chandler, all trying to decide are they the good guys or or the bad guys? This movie is an edge of your seat thrill ride the entire time, keeping you guessing till the very end. Don't miss the Rip. Only on Netflix on January 16th. I was gonna ask you because you were on Friday after next with Rickey Smiley, right? I had Rickey Smiley on the show and it was great. Ricky was unbelievable. He's one of my favorite guests.

[Mike Epps]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He divulged some information that I didn't know. He said that he was originally cast to play Money Mike. Cat asked me say why. I said, katt, how am I supposed to know? I wasn't on the set. I gotta take. If you were to say, you know what you know, sharp.

[Mike Epps]

That's not true.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Check this out. If you were to say, Sharpe.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I was originally scheduled to play Damon.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I gotta believe that. Cause you were there. How would I know that's not true. So I said, cat, how would I know that's not true?

[Mike Epps]

So, Cat.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So when we released the episode.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And we had that clip that he. That Ricky said that he was originally scheduled to do Money Mike. Cat responded upunder. I didn't think he said anything bad. I didn't know that wasn't true.

[Mike Epps]

I don't think that was true. I think that. I think that knowing Ice Cube and watching how he works. Cause I done worked with him many a times and he is involved in the casting.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Mike Epps]

I think Ice Cube might have, you know, vaguely told. Cause that's how Ice Cube is. He might tell a nigga. Go read these two parts. I want you to read for this one and read for that one. I don't know if that's what happened.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Mike Epps]

But it's something along the lines of that where Ricky could have thought that. But Money Mike was a real.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But like I'm saying, you look at it.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't believe. I don't think.

[Mike Epps]

I don't think Ricky liked the part.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He played because he had the bandana on. You could really couldn't see it.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah. And he said that. He said that me and Ice Cube was really hitting him hard with the tree, you know? You know, we found him and that nigga kept saying, man, y' all hit me hard with the tree. And Ice Cube was like, what's up with this dude? I said, I don't know. I said, I'm not hitting him hard with the tree. You was.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You was framing. I wasn't hitting him. You were framing him, man. Yeah, you were.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, Mike, you was framing on him, man.

[Mike Epps]

I wasn't hitting that with that tree. Ice Cube slammed the tree on that nigga. And when he slammed it on it, Ricky got up and said, okay, that's it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No more of the tree slamming on, Man. You know, I can see now you went overboard with it.

[Mike Epps]

I swear, I wasn't the one hit. Yeah, I was hitting him with the trick. You was hitting But I really wasn't trying to hit him with the. I mean, sometime when you in acting, I think Ice Cube might have told me, go ahead and hit that nigga for real. He didn't tell him that. Oh, that nigga Ricky go mad. I knew the.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Did that on purpose.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And so that. And so that was the situation. I didn't know.

[Mike Epps]

I thought.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I was like, well, damn. I remember thinking. I said, cj, man. He revealed that he was supposed to be Money Mike. I said, people gonna really love this. Cause he get. So I didn't know.

[Mike Epps]

But can you see Ricky as Money Mike?

[Shannon Sharpe]

No.

[Mike Epps]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It's hard to see, because when you, like, we've all seen, somebody was originally supposed to play this part, or somebody was supposed to originally sing this song.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And after you hear that person sing the song, like, I know you can sing, but I don't think you would've did it like, this person did it.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So, no, I can't see him. I think Ricky played the role of the Santa Claus, and he played it amazing.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That klepto Santa Claus.

[Mike Epps]

Do you think Gonzalez should be sitting where you at right now instead of you?

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't know if that's his call. No, no, no. But I just said they can't.

[Mike Epps]

I'm just fucking with you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But if you look at. Look at the tight ends. Look at all the tight ends. Me, Jason, Whitten, Gates, Gonzo, all the guys.

[Mike Epps]

Now, you took that shit to the next level, though. You made it where, you know, you was the. You was the first tight end that was catching that shit.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. But I think the thing is. You know what it is, Mike?

[Mike Epps]

You said it all.

[Shannon Sharpe]

When people come sit across from me within the first five to 10 minutes, they look at me and they say, this man ain't judging me. Whatever I've done or haven't done, I don't look at somebody with judgmental eyes. And so they're willing to open up to me because I don't have any judgment.

[Mike Epps]

That's good.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And I think that's the thing that people love about me. I don't. You got them drunk or you let. I didn't lead nobody. I don't make nobody say anything. So I was the question.

[Mike Epps]

They just want to tell. Yeah, you like a detective. You make tell on theyself. Like on first 48, the nigga just sit there and just tell the nigga all that shit. That's. Cause most of these want to need a daddy. You look like a daddy to some of These. But you don't look like no daddy to me. You look like a big old.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You older than me, Mike.

[Mike Epps]

I ain't older than you. How the am I older? How old are you, Shannon?

[Shannon Sharpe]

57.

[Mike Epps]

How the is my older than you? I'm 55. Do I look older than you?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Kinda.

[Mike Epps]

Hell no. Stop cutting your face like a white man. Let the fucking. And let the beard grow on your shit. See how old your old. Old Southern.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I ain't never had no face for her, man. Cause I ain't never had no beard. You know that shit won't grow. It'll grow. Yeah, but I shave every day.

[Mike Epps]

That shit won't grow. You got.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I shave everything. No, no, I ain't got no splotches. That ain't passion. I ain't gotta do no fill in. You gotta walk around like a white.

[Mike Epps]

Man, all your shit shaved like that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And so. But I think the thing is, when Katt came on though, everybody that Katt was really talking about had already been on the show. Yeah, Ricky, Ced, Steve, and the thing is with Ced, I asked Ced, I said, ced, Rick. Cat said you stole one of his jokes, said Shannon. If you take the timeline, it don't really, it don't add up. He was talking about, I think he said about a spaceship and so forth and so on. So here come Cat again. I was like, cat, I don't know, but I ain't heard that joke, you know, joke. You in the comedy club, so you know, people joke.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, but you know what? Just looking at what he was doing, the went and turned the check into it, Went out on the road and went out there and people came to see him off of what he said on this show. Yeah, that was his hustle.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So that's what it was.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, them niggas should have came back on here and roasted his ass right back and said all kind of shit. But you know what I'm saying, everybody's different. I don't think they. Them type of dudes, you know what I'm saying? But he should have came on here and roasted them back.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You mentioned that you knew, you had known Cat from the Bay Area. So when you saw him on Friday after next, were you surprised at how well he played that role?

[Mike Epps]

Nah, man. You got guys like, guys like me and Cat, certain guys in the business, you know, we come from a, you know, we can reach back and grab certain things that. First of all, me and him from the Midwest, he from Cincinnati, I'm from Indiana, and you know, we Coming from a different perspective when it come to acting and performing. But I wasn't surprised. Cause I knew, you know, Kat been around some shit.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He done seen some shit.

[Mike Epps]

So, you know, when it comes down to this acting thing and this comedy thing, if you don't have that background and that history, it's gonna show up in your work. You know what I'm saying? It's gonna limit you on your jokes, it's gonna limit you on your creativity. So, nah, that was a perfect role for Cat. And like I said, Katt is a great actor, right? You know, like myself. But, you know, personally, everybody has their own personal shit. And that's where it get a little rough for all of us as comedians, man. We are some crazy. Yeah, it is motherfucking comedians. I tell everybody, man, we like. It's dark, you know, And I had to just as a comedian, man. People don't understand the sacrifice for making laugh in your personal life. It's like you give up a lot.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Is it a lot of times that you're sad you're making other people laugh, but you're really sad in your own personal life?

[Mike Epps]

All the time. All the time. That's one of the hardest things about being a comedian. And they call it tears of a Clown, you know, because it's. The real sacrifice of making someone laugh is that you gotta be sad to make me laugh. You can't be happy and make me laugh.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right?

[Mike Epps]

And if I see something that you're happy, it's kind of made up, you know? Cause we come from dark places, man, to make people. I know I'm standing up here telling motherf ers my whole personal life, and they dying laughing, right? And I gotta go to a therapist and tell the bitch the same thing. You know what I'm saying? And she gotta make it make sense for me before I go make a mother laugh about it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So you got two therapy sessions. One which you're getting paid for, and the other you're paying for.

[Mike Epps]

Come on. Two therapy sessions. One I'm paying for and the other one I gotta. Don't laugh. This is real.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But you know what? But I had Ms. Pat on, and Ms. Pat said, although a lot of comedians do come from a dark. Everybody doesn't have that same type of a past.

[Mike Epps]

They don't. Everybody don't have the same past. I got a hell of a. I got a dark past. You know what I'm saying? My past is dark. I come from dark shit. Family, personal life, all of that shit. So, you know, I consider Myself a hero every day because of the shit that I experienced.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What you've overcome, huh?

[Mike Epps]

Hell, yeah, That. I know that I ain't even supposed to be sitting here, period. Supposed to be dead in jail, strung out on dope, failed at this shit, you know? But I guess God had a better plan for me, you know? And I think that that's because he knows I'm gonna do the right thing with my shit. Now that I'm at this age, I. I use my power to do the right, you know?

[Shannon Sharpe]

When did you. Was the Friday the first time you've ever met Q? Yeah. So how did you get the call? Okay, you. Hey, obviously, the. The first Friday was Chris Tucker. So now Tug's not coming back, so he's gonna have to move this franchise in a different direction.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So he need. Smokey was his homeboy. Now he need another homeboy. Day date. That's gonna be obviously. Probably three, 400 people read for that part. Yeah, you get the part. So what is Cube? When Cube tells you to come in and you read for the part, did he tell you anything? So how did you create this character, day Date?

[Mike Epps]

Well, at the time that. The first movie that I did when I got to LA was Three Strikes. It was a movie called Three Strikes with DJ Pooh. I met Pooh. He said, damn, boy, I wish I would have used you as the main role. Even though my man Brian Hooks did a great job. He said, damn, boy, I would have used you as great. I said, I know, man. So I did a small part in that movie, but my manager, who's still my manager, his name is Niles Kirchner. When I first moved to la, and this is some funny shit, when I lived in New York, Red Grant.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Mike Epps]

Your partner.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. He put him all together.

[Mike Epps]

Yes. Red Grant used to come to New York and sleep on my floor.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Damn.

[Mike Epps]

When I moved to la, I rode a bus from New York to la. Shit.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That probably take you a week?

[Mike Epps]

Seven days. Yeah, took me seven days.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Cause they stopped. They stopped everywhere.

[Mike Epps]

You did it before.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It took me like six and a half hours to get from Glennville to Columbia, South Carolina.

[Mike Epps]

It's crazy, right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

I said, God, yeah.

[Mike Epps]

They stop everywhere. Yeah. So I took the bus out there, man. And Red Grant said, man, I got an apartment over here off of Venice, man. You can come stay on my floor. I said, come on, Red, I'm gonna stay on your floor. I'm sleeping on Red's floor, man. And I had a little partner, man, named Lil Marcus Baby Looney. He Was a straight gang member. Straight gang member. But he was so nice to me and cool. I never seen that part of it. They said he was a straight hitter, right? He was telling people he was my manager. So he take me up there to the comedy club. We had the comedy club. My man Niles, who's my manager now, he was a manager at Jamie Foxx's management company, okay. Which was Marcus King and his wife. And that's who I was signed with. Mark Niles went to school with Matt Alvarez, who was the producer of. He said, man, we gotta get Mike up here to do an audition. I went up there, audition, and when I came off the stage, man, my man Baby Looney said, mike, Ice Cube wanna holler at you. And when I turned around, man, I seen Ice Cube and John Singleton standing there and almost peed on myself. I said, damn. And he said, can you act? I said, hell, yeah. And he start putting me on auditions. I start auditioning for it. Every time I show up, I see a lot of comedians audition for it. Now, don't forget, everybody's trying to aud for this move, this role that Chris Tucker didn't want to do no more, right? Which was next Friday, correct? I mean, was. Was the first Friday. So this role was really hot in Hollywood. And I'm. I'm. I'm performing and. And audition. Bunch of comedians that I know was auditioning for it. Every time I audition for Ice Cube, when I'm done, he look at me and go like this. So I'm like, okay, I got this. So I'm thinking in my head, okay, I got. Yeah, I got this mother. Make a long story short, unfortunately, my little homie that was bringing me to the auditions, man, little Baby Looney, he got killed. Get murdered up on. Yeah, got murdered up on Sunset, man. I'm talking about beautiful young brother, man, but was in the streets. Wasn't no joke. Good little guy, right? Gets killed. The day that I went to his funeral, I left his funeral and took my funeral clothes off and put my regular clothes on and went in that and got that role, man. And that day that I pulled up, I seen Marlon Wayne's all kind of. I was like, oh, I thought I had it. Cause he kept looking at me going.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Like this, yeah, you doing good, man.

[Mike Epps]

I pull up, I see all kind of out there with the power. I said, oh, I ain't gonna get this shit, man. I went in there and got that role. And when I seen his wife, Ms. Jackson, laughing, I said, oh, man, I think I Got this role, man, you know, And I got that roll. I called my mom, I said, what you want? She said, give me a. Buy me a washer and dryer. I said, I'm gonna buy you a house. She said, no, you gonna my Social Security up. Cause I get 700amonth. I get 700amonth. You gonna my Social Security.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But I let the black. Hey, you ain't been messed up that Social Security.

[Mike Epps]

Okay, folks, What'd you do?

[Shannon Sharpe]

What is it about Cube that he loves comedians? Chris Tucker, you. He had John Witherspoon, he had D.C. curry, he had Bernie Mac.

[Mike Epps]

Bernie Mac.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He had all those guys. Ajamie Foxx.

[Mike Epps]

What is it about Cube with comedians.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And comedians in his movies? I don't think he's never had. I don't think Cube has ever been really been in a movie. Obviously, you know that Triple X stuff that he was.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, he did a few.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. But for the most.

[Mike Epps]

I get what you're saying.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Johnson Family Vacation and all that other stuff.

[Mike Epps]

Let me say this about Cube. As long as I've been. And I've been a fan of ice Cube since 1989.

[Shannon Sharpe]

NWA.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah. NWA. He's always had. If you listen to his music, he always had comedic. A comedic sense to his music. Once upon a time in the projects, you know, I mean, on and on and on. And I think that he's a comedian in his own right, you know, so he knows how to work with comedians. He knows how to be the straight man. He knows how to be that guy that is. That'll play off of you and let you get your shit off.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Mike Epps]

Like he did for me and Cat and all the rest of it. Yes, everybody. That Cube touch on the comedic side, gold. Now, on the other hand, you have to have it to bring it, too. You know, I tell people all the time, man. Q put me on. I put the movie on, too. I made that character. You did the franchise of a movie too.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Mike Epps]

You know, so it takes both moving parts to make the shit work.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. I mean, now that you. Now think about it and you look at all the comedians that you say. There are a lot of comedians, obviously, that was reading for the part. I don't know if they could have played dae date like you.

[Mike Epps]

No. Because that's how Cube wrote it. And fortunately, it would fitted me because if he would've wrote the character different.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Mike Epps]

Might've been a different story. So, you know, he's a genius when it come to that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, what's up, y'? All? It's your favorite, unc. Proud partner of Roast Sparks. Have you ever had one of those nights? Maybe you're watching a movie, you're laughing, she snuggles in closer on the couch, and boom, it's on. Now, in these moments, you can't get caught slipping. You gotta be ready to perform like it's the big game. You hear me? And that's what roast Sparks come in. These bad boys dissolve right under your tongue. No water, no worries. And here's the kicker. That dual action formula stays active for up to 36 hours. Now, you ain't hard for 36 hours. Let's get that straight. But when the moment strikes again or again, you're ready to rise to the occasion. With Roast Sparks, you get harder, you get more control, and everybody's leaving the room with a smile. That's what I call a dub baby. And check this out. Now, if you prescribe the new sexual health patient and get $15 off the first order of Roast Sparks on a reoccurring plan, just go to Ro Co Shay Shay to find out if prescription rose sparks are right for you. Again. That's Ro Shay. Now, you know your aunt gotta shoot you straight. Rose sparks is a compounded drug. That means it's allowed to be prescribed under federal law, but it isn't FDA approved, and it doesn't go through their reviews. For the full safety info, hit Roco safetyinfo. So, fellas, stay confident, stay ready, and let them sparks fly when the moment is right. All right, guys, it's your favorite. Unc, let me keep it a buck with y'.

[Mike Epps]

All.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I got some real big goals lined up for 2026. I'm trying to lock in on my fitness, keep my mind right, eat like somebody that actually reads the nutrition labels. But to hit all those goals, I need somebody that know what they're doing, like a trainer, therapist, a nutritional expert, folks who really know what they're doing. And that's the thing. It's hard to find people that are good at their job. It's just like that. When you're hiring a team, you're wondering, how do I find the best of the best? Easy. ZipRecruiter. And right now you can try for free at ZipRecruiter.com Shay Shay ZipRecruiter matching technology works fast, so you're not wasting time or money. You can see right away how many qualified people are in your area and for the role that you need. Plus, there's resume database lets you instantly unlock top candidates contact info, no Waiting around now. It's no wonder they're the number one rated hindsight on G2. Let ZipRecruiter help you find the best people for the best roles. 4 out of 5 employers who post on ZipRecruiter get a quality candidate within the first day. See for yourself. Just go to this exclusive web address right now and try ZipRecruiter for free. Ziprecruiter.com Shay Shay Again, that's ZipRecruiter.com Shay Shay ZipRecruiter the smartest way to hire. Now listen, if you love comedy, if you love the culture and you love the laughing till it hurts, you need to pay attention to this. The biggest, funniest comedy tour of 2026 is pulling up to a city near you with we them ones Comedy Tour. 35 cities, 35 stops and headlining the whole thing. One of the greatest comedians to ever do it, Mr. Mike Epps himself. Mike Epps is bringing a brand new stand up comedy set set of non stop laughter. And guess what? He's not coming along. We them Ones Comedy Tour featuring comedians like D.C. young, Fly Mojo Brooks, Carlos Miller, Chico Bean and more. All hosted by Tony T. Roberts. This isn't just a comedy show. This is for the culture. This is one you don't want to miss. So do yourself a favor, grab your tickets right [e-mail] Mike Epps, we them Ones Comedy Tour get your tickets [e-mail] what's some of the best advice Cube has given you?

[Mike Epps]

You know, Cube always used to tell me it's a marathon. That was one of, one of the things that stuck to me. He said, man, this is a, this is not a race, this is a marathon. Because I think he caught on when I was younger, like, this dude want it now, right? This dude want to make it now. This dude.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You do realize that a marathon is a race. You meant to say it's a sprint.

[Mike Epps]

You know what I'm talking about?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's not a sprint, it's a marathon. Yeah, I get what you're saying.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah. This nigga here. I knew you was gonna get me on here and do a Sesame street thing with a nigga, man. Hey, look, the man said, take your time, do it right so that you could be here for a long time, right? And I took that advice, you know? And to this day, I think Chris Tucker is mad at me cause I didn't do. Cause I did the next Friday. To this day, how is he Mad at you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He didn't. Okay. The reports are that he didn't want to do cursing and he didn't want to be smoking weed.

[Mike Epps]

Well, I heard that. I heard through the grapevine. He said they should have left it alone. Huh? That they keep doing it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It's too much money to be made.

[Mike Epps]

Well, you know, you can say that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Same thing about the Godfather. They should have left it alone. But they had two and three.

[Mike Epps]

That was. That was. He did such a great job. He did. I can see him saying that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But I don't think anybody.

[Mike Epps]

I don't think my mama needed a washer and dryer. That's what I was supposed to do.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Mike. I think the thing is, I love the way what Cube, the pivot, he did. Nobody could have played Smokey.

[Mike Epps]

Nobody could have played Smokey.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He had to do a whole different character, a whole different. A whole different way of doing it.

[Mike Epps]

Nobody could have played it. And see, that's what thought I was about to come and go. Come and play Smokey. But I fooled him. And I'll never forget the first day I did that when I was on the set and they said, action. And when they said, cut, I'm not bullshitting. John Witherspoon was sitting down looking at me like this. And the set was silent. It was quiet. Cause they was waiting on me to bring it. They like, nigga, you better bring this shit. And I was nervous. I went up there and told Cube. I said, man, they ain't laughing. You know what Cube said? It ain't time for him to laugh. I said, okay. He said, I'll let you know when it's time to. When it's time to go there. Go there. By the time it was time for me to go there, and I came down the stairs, said, why y' all let the fat jump on me? Y' all just.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It was over with.

[Mike Epps]

They was laughing. I said, I'm gone now, you know, and that. You know. So that was pretty much the layout.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Shannon, you know, but, you know, as great as Cube has been to a lot of people, a lot of people complain about the pay, that Cube don't pay his actors and Cube don't do this after all this all what that man has done. We gotta get a man his flowers. Cause he's put so many people on. Neil Long was in the movie. And Tiny.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, see, his pay is different. And if you wanna ask somebody, if you wanna compare to what somebody gave you for one movie, and it was your breakout movie or your first movie.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, you ain't in no $300 million budget movie.

[Mike Epps]

You ain't in that yet. And so I hear people talk about he don't pay a lot, but every that did his movie took off and went and got paid.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Mike Epps]

You know what I'm saying?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes, absolutely. I know what you're saying.

[Mike Epps]

I didn't get paid. I got a decent pay.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Mike Epps]

But the money that I made from being in the movie was.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Now your stand up. Now you hotter in your stand up.

[Mike Epps]

Now I'm hotter in my standup now.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Instead of doing, you know, not. Is there anything wrong with a 200 seat? Now you doing 500. Now you're doing 1,000. Now you're doing 2,500. Become this man. Hey, man. Hey, daddy. Put it in a mug.

[Mike Epps]

Now you getting your money. And see, they gotta look at it. You gotta. You have to. In this business here, as an actor, as a comedian, when you first starting off. Cause everybody gotta start somewhere. You have to plant a seed for the flower to grow. You're not gonna get an instant. Well, some of these dudes is getting instant flowers. But the flower pot gonna pop in a minute, gonna break, and your ass gonna melt down back into the soil. Cause it ain't a seed. It was sitting in a pot.

[Shannon Sharpe]

There is a report that there is a last Friday.

[Mike Epps]

It's a last Friday. I just sat with me, Ice Cube, Aaron Magruder and DJ Pooh just sat in a room. And we been writing, right? So it's gonna be off the hook.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So what can we expect at 27, 28?

[Mike Epps]

Hopefully 26. Hopefully we'll come out 26. Yeah. Probably 27.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Mike Epps]

Damn, how you know this shit more than me?

[Shannon Sharpe]

So, I mean, is it bittersweet? Cause you've been at this thing. It's two decades that you've been at the Friday at the Friday franchise. And knowing that it's coming to an.

[Mike Epps]

Well, you know, it might not come to an end. We thought the second one was the last one. We thought the third one was the last one, but Ice Cube has the ability to keep creating that gonna squeeze.

[Shannon Sharpe]

The juice out of this fucking. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Mike Epps]

That motherfucker ain't gonna have no juice.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Left in it Friday after next. Man, how did you come up with that? You cuss them old ladies out. Them ladies come at her with a pamphlet, and you say, y' all selling. Y' all selling in the neighbor out here selling the name of the Lord.

[Mike Epps]

That's the thing about film and knowing somebody's gonna do something you know what the reaction is. But if you don't know what I'm gonna say when I walk up to you, it's gonna throw you off. I got a real response out of them ladies. It really shocked them. Yeah, but them as being knowing that they in a movie, they couldn't break, so they just went on with it. That shit was real. They didn't know what I was gonna say. I just walked up to him and said, why y' all using God to sell pussy on old lady? Said, oh, my. That's how she was looking.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But they just kept going. They kept.

[Mike Epps]

You know, they stayed in it, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So how much freedom does Cube give you to ad lift?

[Mike Epps]

Oh, man, that's. That's what he do. I remember I went in the script. I mean, I was sitting in the trailer with him, and he just took the script out my head and threw the ball. I said, what the. I'm saying. He said, come on, let's go. You know, but. But, but, you know, the script is the guideline, right? And we have to say certain words to. To lead us to the next scene.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay.

[Mike Epps]

So it's certain shit that has to be said, and it's certain shit that he's like, okay, this scene right here, do what you want. You know, go ahead in there and, you know, and if he had to pull me back, he'll pull me back.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Should we expect some up and coming comedians in the last Friday?

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, I mean, like I tell all the comedians, a lot of people been hollering me about that movie. I said, cube, is he gonna make you audition?

[Shannon Sharpe]

He ain't just handing out no part. Cause sometimes, like, Leo. Leo ain't got. Ain't gotta read for no part. Denzel ain't reading for no part. Samuel Jackson not reading for no part. No, there's some people that are not reading for a part.

[Mike Epps]

You're not reading for a part.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You gonna read for this part.

[Mike Epps]

Even though, not me. I'm part of the franchise. But these new guys, I'm pretty sure I respect him for doing that. Because the only way you'll see it is if you see it. Like, I can guess all the way and try to pair a person up with a character in a script, but to see it is to believe it, you know? So I agree with that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right. Do you think Chris Tucker have regrets about not returning to Friday, seeing how successful that it was? Cause in the beginning, they said, well, he wanted this much money. And, well, then you heard other people say, well, it was about his religion and he didn't want to smoke weed. He didn't want to do all that cursing. He didn't want to do all that drinking. But then I guess, you know, when. What was that movie that he got with Jackie Chan? I mean, they came along and it's.

[Mike Epps]

Like, well, he was the perfect example of. He might have been the. That first started off saying the Cube didn't pay.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right?

[Mike Epps]

Cause I remember he had a joke that said, man, that paid me a t shirts and CDs. That was his joke that the N used to do on there.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Mike Epps]

And then. But what he did with that role was crazy. He went and did Rush Hour's Rush Hour Money Talk. So he went and got paid off of the role. Do I think he regret being in it to some degree?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Why would he regret it? It put him on the map.

[Mike Epps]

I mean, look what he did afterwards. Yes.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't think he gets. Do you think he gets Rush Hour if he's not in Friday?

[Mike Epps]

No, I agree. I think Rush Hour got him. I think next Friday. I think Friday got him everything he was gonna get. Would he have been a star outside of Friday? I think so, yes.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Mike Epps]

Cause he was good. Yes, he was good at what he did. But definitely the Friday role put him where he was. It was crazy and I'm glad that didn't do it. Don't do another one. I was waiting on him to say he wasn't gonna do Rush Hour. I was gonna play.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, man, they got a light skinned.

[Mike Epps]

Nigga that'll do all these roles. This dark nigga won't do.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Did you feel pressure because even though that was a different character.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You were a comedian.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Replacing a comedian in the franchise of Friday. Did you feel pressure?

[Mike Epps]

No, I didn't feel no pressure because of where I came from, how hard I work. You gotta think about it, Shannon. I work. I lived in New York for 10 years, man, doing $50 rooms. $25 rooms. Damn. Yeah. Not making no money, man. You know what I'm saying?

[Shannon Sharpe]

So that true? Like some.

[Mike Epps]

Hey, not making no money.

[Shannon Sharpe]

We had Roy Woods Jr. On. He's like, hey, sometime, man, all they pay you in buffalo wings and drinks.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, well, I don't know where that nigga was performing. I always got a couple dollars for performing.

[Shannon Sharpe]

$20. 20.

[Mike Epps]

Do at least some gas money. Roy, where the was you performing? That one nigga gave you some chicken.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Wings, nigga, you parlay Friday after next to all about the Benjamins.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, all about the Benjamins. That was a script. Me and a partner Named tc, my partner tc. We found the script, took it to a guy named Ron Lane. Ron Lane wrote it, took it to Ice Cube. Ice Cube rewrote it when we shot the movie. So at least the second movie, I brought it to Ice Cube.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Mike Epps]

You know what I mean? He put me in one, then I brought him one. Yeah. And that movie was incredible, too.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It was. It was. But you said that was like you had a lot going on during all about the Benjamin. You had a lot going on in your personal life, in your private life.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

How were you able to. Because as a professional athlete, we have to compartmentalize. I gotta play the game. Whatever I got going on at home. Whatever I got going on, the game is the most. So I'm gonna focus here. Now, once I'm done with the game, I can decompress and I can deal with whatever I got going on outside of the game. How are you able to compartmentalize? Focus on. I gotta do this read. I gotta get through this movie. But I got all. I got chaos in my life.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah. Well, you know, first of all, the next Friday movie, it did something to me. It me up. I couldn't believe I was famous. I couldn't believe I made. Really did a mind trick on me. And not only that, I was so upset that I left so many. It felt like I left my whole family and all my friends. Cause I'll never forget, one day I went back home and I was looking for everybody to be like, ah, yeah. Was nobody like that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You minded them, though.

[Mike Epps]

That shit me up. That shit me up. And I'm the type of person that, you know, since I didn't get the love, you know, I started getting high. I started getting started doing coke, start snorting cocaine.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That was your first time? That's what that was.

[Mike Epps]

That. No, I was doing that shit when I was 14. But I had and revisited it as an adult.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Damn.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah. First time I did it, I was 14, but I revisited it as an adult and I started getting high. Cause I really had survivor's remorse. I swear to God, I was so hurt that I left so many people back in my hometown, my friends. Cause I was really out here by myself, you know.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But what were they gonna do?

[Mike Epps]

It wasn't.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They like, they could act, they couldn't sing, they couldn't dance. So why you having. You make it seem like they actually could do something and you didn't help them. They couldn't do what you did, Mike.

[Mike Epps]

They couldn't do what I did. And then I had Pressure me on to bringing money back home to buy kilo, cocaine, all kind of shit.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Damn, Escobar.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah. Cause I, well, you gotta think about it. I came from the street.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Mike Epps]

I came straight out of jail and started doing comedy. I was in the street and I wasn't successful at it, you know, and that shit followed me, man. You know, I mean, for a long time I would come back home, man, it was niggas still talking about I owe the money. And I'm like, shit, I can't pay no old ass, 20 year old debt with you with no money, man. I, you know, I tried to buy my friends, I tried to buy my family. I couldn't buy none of them. The ones that were naturally jealous of me, they was just.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It did what. It was nothing I could do to them.

[Mike Epps]

I was getting. One time, I swear to God, I gave my friends one of my buddies some money and that. Took that shit and threw it out the window.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Huh? Hold on. Yeah, why? Why? It wasn't enough?

[Mike Epps]

Well, you know, I think it was just, it was just, I think people's perception of what they thought I had. I didn't have it, you know, I didn't have what motherfuckers thought.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They thought you was Eddie Murphy. All of a sudden, hell yeah.

[Mike Epps]

I'm like, nigga, shit, I. I'm one joke away from being right back here with you standing on a block.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But why is it that when I can just speak to our community, I'm black, you black. So we can speak on a level that we understand. Why is it that when we leave, everybody feel like we owe them something?

[Mike Epps]

Cause we all came from a. We all came from a crab in the burro syndrome. We all came from crab in the burro. Only if you watch crabs in the burro. That's what they do. They. If one of them get out, another one will grab his crab and pull it in. That's why they call it crab in a borough. And you know, I think that shit is a derivative from slavery. You know, we all, you know, that shit started. And I tell brothers this all the time, man, we still on the plantation. You know, we just got clothes, we got more money and stuff like that. But if you think about back in slavery, that shit was real. If you seen a brother standing up there with an outfit on in massa's house, you, you know, you was, you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Had light skin, you worked inside, dark skinned, you was outside.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, how can I get in? How can I get. How can I get. How can I get down? How Can I be a part of this? You know, so that shit is. That shit is real prevalent. It's still right now. It's still right now. And that's what these dudes. That's what these dudes don't realize is like, you know, if one brother makes it in his business, he don't understand that he's the guy that they use to make all the other brothers rise to the top. He's. He's the guy, he's the center guy. You know, he's the template of what we are. They all compare us like that. I was just sitting on the plane with a. And it blew my mind. But the shit is real. I was sitting on the plane with an older white lady and people were speaking to her. She said, who are you? I said, chris Brown. And she believed that shit. She said, oh, I can't believe I'm sitting there with. I'm serious. I said, yeah, Chris Brown is late. And then something must have hit. She said, you've gotten a lot older. I said, yeah. I said, Rihanna. Them wore me out. They drove me crazy. I was just talking shit, right? And then she must have called her daughter on the phone. She called her daughter. Cause the lady, I seen the lady, she started looking at me like this.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You ain't Chris Brown.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, you ain't no Chris Brown. And. But it didn't make me mad. Cause I was the first thing I said to myself, we sitting on Southwest Heifer. You should know that. I ain't no damn Chris Brown.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right?

[Mike Epps]

That just. She didn't know who I was. She probably didn't know who damn Chris Brown was.

[Shannon Sharpe]

She knew who Chris Brown was. She did probably. She probably knew the name, but I don't know.

[Mike Epps]

55 year old nigga with snouser color gray in his chin.

[Shannon Sharpe]

When you did all about the Benjamins. Those lines, 15, 30, 35, 15.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, them joints right there, them was.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You came up. That was ad lib.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, I was high right then.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Damn.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

How you show up to work high.

[Mike Epps]

Like now?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Nah, I'm just bullshit. Nah, I'm just bullshit.

[Mike Epps]

No, no, you know what, man? I was 20 some years old. Please. I could, I could do everything at that age. You know, my comedic timing. I don't care what position I'm in, I am able to still tell jokes. You can wake me out of my sleep and I'm a crack a joke. That was my calling. This is my only talent that I've ever been able to harness. That's right. I tried. All kind of Shit, Janet, I tried to go to the military. They wouldn't let me in there. Cause I flunked the test.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, that's probably why. Yeah, but military take anybody. Damn. How bad are you in school?

[Mike Epps]

You right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And military ain't really turning out nobody. They looking for a few good people to die. Damn, you couldn't. They healed so bad, they didn't even want you. You couldn't even die. Damn, Mike.

[Mike Epps]

Oh, stop. I'm just like all the rest of these niggas, right? It's all kind of can't read in the next field. You wasn't no scholar, Shannon.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, no, no, no.

[Mike Epps]

Don't probably let your ass get through the.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, but I was about to take the test. I was about to go to the Air Force.

[Mike Epps]

Did you have good grades in college?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, I got good grades in college. I ain't have no good grades in high school. Cause I didn't apply myself. I was full of, you know.

[Mike Epps]

So how did you get to college?

[Shannon Sharpe]

You know, back then, my first year.

[Mike Epps]

Your talent.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, no. Prop 48 hit 1986. Which means if you didn't score 700 on the satisf, you couldn't go D1. You had to go D2. HBCU. So that's why I ended up going to an HBCU.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah. That's why you went to Savannah State.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes, yes.

[Mike Epps]

You was too good to be there. You supposed to been in Notre Dame.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Somewhere, Georgia, Texas, somewhere like that. But you know what the best thing to happen.

[Mike Epps]

Why?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Because I sincerely believe I went to.

[Mike Epps]

A university where you could get off.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They cared about me.

[Mike Epps]

How did the NFL find you in that little school? When you're good, they find you them numbers, huh?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Mm. And I think the thing is, Mike.

[Mike Epps]

Is that you don't think your brother. You don't think your brother put a little.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Nah. Cause guess what? He couldn't catch no passes for me. Now, obviously, it's like he has a brother. Okay, let's go see what he's like.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah. Come on.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Now.

[Mike Epps]

Don't take nothing from Sterling.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, no, no, no, no, no. They're gonna say, yeah, he has a brother. Well, why is he at Savannah State then? If he that good, why is he at Savannah State? His brother's at the University of South Carolina. Then they see me play. Okay. He's big, he's fast. Okay.

[Mike Epps]

Raw tape on you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And the thing is, is that obviously we don't have a wide receiver coach, a tight end coach, a running back coach, a O line coach, a desk. We ain't got 15 coaches on offense and 15 on defenses. So they look at me as like, okay, he's raw, but with some coaching, we think we can find something for him to do in the NFL. He's big, he's fast, he's strong.

[Mike Epps]

So when you came in the NFL, they wasn't checking for you like that. You had to earn it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, you gotta get it. Because you gotta realize, though, Mike, I went to an HBCU where HBCU wasn't cool. You see everybody how they hype up HBCU now. It wasn't no espn, wasn't coming to.

[Mike Epps]

No hn looking at you like you wasn't shit.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, man, they was. Oh, you went to a college in a strip mall. People was making jokes about it then. Yeah, they making jokes now. It's a big thing going to an hbcu.

[Mike Epps]

A strip mall. Damn.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hold on. Was Lil Kim supposed to be in all about the Benjamins?

[Mike Epps]

She auditioned for it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Damn.

[Mike Epps]

She auditioned.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You was gonna be your wife or your girlfriend or something.

[Mike Epps]

She was gonna be. If you watch all about this, I think she was gonna be Cube's girlfriend.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But you've been in movies with, like, Whitney Houston was in what sparkle with you was.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, I was in Whitney Houston's last movie. Man, it was crazy to be in the movie. Cause she was a lot different person in the movie world than she was in the music world.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Really?

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, man. When she was on the set, she was really, really calm. She was really cool, and she was really serious, right? And what threw me off with that? I was like, damn, this ain't the Whitney. Everybody be saying, right? Because I think in the film world, she was. Cause she was a great actress. She was an incredible actress. She wasn't just a good singer, she was a performer, right? And she just has some great energy on the movie set is that you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Get that a lot. Like, you get on the set, you have these expectations of someone and what you've heard or what you've kind of experienced with them not on set. And then you get on the set and they're totally different than what you thought they would be.

[Mike Epps]

Totally different people, man. And I done had some good experiences and bad experiences, really. I mean, you know, sometimes. I mean, they always. They got a saying that sometimes you don't want to meet your heroes, you know, because they're not gonna be who you think they are. And that's a true statement. You know, everybody is not who they portray. They are in show business. You know, some people are different. People, you know, you meet em and you like, damn, what an asshole. That's why I'm always cool. I try to be cool with people when I meet em and see em.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Who?

[Mike Epps]

Cause I heard all these stories before I got in the show business, you know. I'm pretty sure you did too.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, well, people always ask me what such and such like. I was like, I just know what they're like around me.

[Mike Epps]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I can't speak to what they. If they see you or if they see somebody else. I can just tell you what. How they treat me and people like, well, oh, I thought, well, I don't. I mean, what you want me to. I mean, I can't tell you somebody that haven't been around what they're like. I can just tell you how they interact when I'm around. Right. So you say she was really, really quiet. Did she ever sing on set? Did you. I mean, could she?

[Mike Epps]

I tell a story. One day I was on my way to the set and I had to always walk past the trailers and I was walking past the trailers and I heard Whitney Houston singing. Mike, she was playing Michael Jackson in the trailer and man, it sounded like they was both in there singing together. It blew my mind.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Damn.

[Mike Epps]

You know, she was in there singing. I'm like, damn. So it was. That hurt it man, that really hurt me. Cause I had just met her, you know, I did a previous video with her and Bobby Brown years ago, but I didn't get to meet her. This was the first time that I got to meet her. And oh man, she was such a beautiful person.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You think somebody could beat Whitney in a versus Battle?

[Mike Epps]

Hell no. Hell no. I doubt it. Shit.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But you was also on the set with Beyonce in Fighting Temptations.

[Mike Epps]

I did a movie with Beyonce in Fighting. I actually worked with Beyonce on the Apollo. When I first did Showtime at the Apollo, Destiny Child was on the show. Really? Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Damn.

[Mike Epps]

And I seen them before they became who they were, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Did you know they were gonna become bad?

[Mike Epps]

You know what, I was so nervous from doing that show, I didn't even pay attention to him. And then later on I was like, damn, that's the girl.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's them.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

On 125th, you look at Beyonce fighting Temptations. She was in, I think Dream Girls with Eddie Murphy. She was in Austin Powers. One of the Austin Powers. Are you surprised she's not doing any more acting and then she's kind of focused on her music career and raising a family.

[Mike Epps]

No. You know, the acting world is something you gotta Wanna do. Yeah, that's some shit. That's.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I think she feel that. She feels scratched that itch.

[Mike Epps]

And. Yeah, acting is. Acting is different. It's some shit you gotta wanna do. It's a different parlay. It's a different hustle. Sitting in trailers and that shit is different, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It is.

[Mike Epps]

And you can't.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Shit. I can just imagine. I can imagine doing a movie. Cause I've been on commercials. And the commercial is gonna be 30 seconds. And you're there a day and a half. You're there a day, a day and a half. Maybe even two days. So I can imagine a movie that's gonna be 120 minutes or 150 minutes. I can just imagine.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, it's a process. It's different. And it's different than performing on stage.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Mike Epps]

When you performing on stage as a performer, whether you're a comedian, actress, I mean, or a singer, you got control. That's your shit. Yeah, the acting, the you sitting in the trailer waiting on them to literally call you and say, okay, it's your turn.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yep. Five minutes.

[Mike Epps]

Five minutes, ten minutes. Sometimes you send a trailer and they come home and tell you, go home.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yep. Yep.

[Mike Epps]

It's different. It's a different hustle.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So we gonna rap for the day. What you mean, rap for the day?

[Mike Epps]

I've been here all day.

[Shannon Sharpe]

We can finish this today.

[Mike Epps]

Welcome to the movie world.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Someone that we had on the show that I know you're familiar with, Monique. Yeah, I love Mo.

[Mike Epps]

I love Monique, too.

[Shannon Sharpe]

She. Welcome home. Roscoe Jenkins. Three strikes Bessie.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

People have this perception of Mo because what they heard.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You've been around her in a more intimate setting on set. Been around her a lot. Probably been on tour with her. What's Mo like?

[Mike Epps]

Family. You know what I'm saying? One of them cousins or one of them aunties that don't bite her tongue.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Nope.

[Mike Epps]

Gonna say how she feel, but sweet, man. Monique, good people, man. Me and Monique, we did a comedy festival up in Montreal called Just for Laughs. And I didn't have no ride back home. And Monique and her mother and her brother, I rode all the way back to the States with them.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Damn.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, I rode all the way back to the States with them.

[Josh Whalen]

She.

[Shannon Sharpe]

She is a very motherly person.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Because off. Off camera, brother Shannon.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You know, I'm praying for you.

[Mike Epps]

Off camera, huh?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. Oh, brother Shannon, I'm praying for you.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah. Hey, but see, she's another one. See, that's what I'm saying. In this business right here, people Cross people in paths. People. People do shit and little shit. Like, you know, like if we sitting under a table, right? Say, this is the table, right? We at the dinner table. And nobody can see me doing this to you. And you just jump and say, you kick my mother. Now, from everybody else appearance, they like, you overreacted. You're crazy. Yeah, but that's what happens in this business.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Wow.

[Mike Epps]

People, people, People nudge people the wrong way and.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And they pretend like ain't nothing happened.

[Mike Epps]

And you supposed to take it and deal with it. Cause it's me.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Mike Epps]

I'm the one. It's me.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Now you wanna work now? Yeah.

[Mike Epps]

You wanna be around here. So don't even say nothing about what I did that might've offended you. So if you don't bring it to me, guess what? I'm gonna go publicly and talk about every motherfuckin body in the business. And I think that. Man, I'm telling you, that shit happens to everybody, you know? And if you don't address it to nobody. Cause what happens is when you get home and you sitting around, you like that. You know what I'm saying? That's some bullshit. And you're really upset. Cause you didn't check them right then, right? So you go on a platform and just blast they.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Being in the hangover.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I've always. I ask a lot of people, and some people, like, hey, audience is an audience. A funny joke is a funny joke. Yeah, but have you. Is there a difference between a black audience and a white audience?

[Mike Epps]

Yeah. Hell yeah. Money, craft, service shit, you see a whole bunch of differences. Shit.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, but seriously, so when you go on stage, let's just say for the sake of argument, you in Harlem and you got 5,000 people and they're black.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Now you go to Oklahoma and you got 5,000. You gotta tell different jokes.

[Mike Epps]

You do, you do. It's. You actually have to tell a different joke every time you go in front of any audience.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Really?

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, Every audience is different. And black people celebrate different than white people.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Mike Epps]

And that's what throws a black comic off, is that when white people laugh, they say, ha, ha, ha ha. Black people.

[Shannon Sharpe]

See what I'm saying? Niggas hit each other. Yeah, that's us.

[Mike Epps]

Yes. So.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But that's how we are.

[Mike Epps]

That's how we are. That's our makeup. That's how we celebrate. So that shit'll throw a comic. Cause it did me like that. And I get off stage, I'm like, damn, man, white people ain't laughing at Me, right? They laugh different. They laugh different. And that's like Dave Chappelle and them. They know how to do that shit. They know how to master that. And see, my whole thing with white, I don't think white people trust me 100%.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I mean, your background, I mean, you did, you know, do some.

[Mike Epps]

But even if a don't even know that, I guess they could see the arrest.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, but you got little beady eyes.

[Mike Epps]

Hey, but you know what? That's the real truth. I said, guess what? Your success, it spans off of the trust, you know? And white people, they let me in the house, I ain't gonna take nothing.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Out of there this time.

[Mike Epps]

No. Back in the day, I wouldn't had all they VCRs and TVs up at the front. Cause you know, that's how niggas used to do. They break your house. They bring everything to the front of the door and just set it there. Go make a bologna sandwich into people's house.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You've been on sitcoms, one on network television, Uncle Buck, and now during the final season of the Upshaws. I love the Upshaw. Thank you, Krisha. My favorite.

[Mike Epps]

Thanks, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Creesha be tearing you up, man.

[Mike Epps]

Hilarious, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Chrisha be tearing you up bit. I ain't gonna even hold you on that one. Is there a difference? Do you have to? Because like Netflix versus abc, is there a difference in performing and how you do it on like a streaming platform versus a network television?

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, you know, the streaming platform, you're able to be yourself more.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay.

[Mike Epps]

I've always looked at network television as a commercial.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay.

[Mike Epps]

It's a commercial for you to show who you are and to do other things. To ride in the parade on cbs, get other commercials and stuff. Because it's a commercial network, right? You know, it's a sale network. So if you do a television show on one of these main networks, that's what you. Are you really doing a commercial?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right? I want to ask people this. Like when people get killed off. It was reported that you got killed off because you asked for a rape. Is that true?

[Mike Epps]

And which one?

[Shannon Sharpe]

What was that?

[Mike Epps]

Survivors of Mourn.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Mike Epps]

No, I didn't get killed. Cause that was LeBron's show. I didn't get killed. I didn't get off the show. Cause I got another show. So you took the buck on abc and I was a fifth lead on that show. I had to go for the.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You got the biggie, Brad.

[Mike Epps]

Even though the show didn't go, but I still had to take the Chance, right? That's why I wasn't on the show anymore.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right?

[Mike Epps]

But what they'll do on a show is if you're not on it no more, especially if you're black, they gonna kill your ass.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Is that written into your contract that you gotta let them kill you off? Can you just not show up no more?

[Mike Epps]

No, they gonna kill you without asking. They wanna die or not. They're gonna get rid of your ass. The dude, Michael Melly asked me that shit, the director, how do you want to die? I said, huh, we killing you on the show, so let me know how you want to die. I was like, oh, making a car accident. Damn, you know, that's how they do.

[Shannon Sharpe]

How did the Upshaws come about? Because you got you and you got Wanda. Wanda in there. My guy, Duck, duck.

[Mike Epps]

Kim Fields.

[Josh Whalen]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Regina.

[Mike Epps]

You know. Yeah. That's all I do is create, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And you spend a lot of time doing that, huh?

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, that's all I do is think of different scenarios, think of different television shows, movie ideas. And I take em. And when I write, I'm always writing casting at the same time. I'm writing with this person in mind, you know what I mean? So when it's time to pitch it, it matches. So I called Wanda. I said, man, I gotta, I gotta. First I called Wanda. She ain't called me back. I said, oh, this some bullshit, you know, I started saying all kind of crazy shit. You know how you say some crazy shit? Then she called back. I felt bad as hell. I said, oh, Wanda. Then went Hollywood on a. She don't wanna call me back. Yeah, I know. She think I'm a def comedy gen. Hello, Wanda. And I pitched her the idea and she loved it, man. We went to Netflix, sold it, went for six years.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Wow.

[Mike Epps]

We're in our final year, man. And it was great to do, man. It really was. The kids got old on us.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, you said, you said something very interesting. You said you always got these ideals in your head and you're always writing. Can you sleep at night? Because it doesn't seem like you can turn your mind off.

[Mike Epps]

No, not at all. I've been having sleep apnea my whole life because, you know, like I said.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Shannon, you mean insomnia.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, my insomnia.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But sleep apnea is like you start breathing for an intermittent period of time.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, shut up, nigga. You know, here we go with this.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Shit right here though, again, I have sleep apnea also. You do? I do. I have insomnia also. The inability to sleep at Night, you know, you stare at me.

[Mike Epps]

Which one?

[Shannon Sharpe]

I got insomnia. Sleep apnea is like. You stop breathing for a period of time.

[Mike Epps]

Oh, no, nigga, I'm breathing.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, you have to get that machine.

[Mike Epps]

I might not know it. Shit, I might have to watch somebody. Watch. Watch me sleep now? Yes.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Mike Epps]

Right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Mike Epps]

Somebody told you that shit, right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, I did. Well, I took the sleep test.

[Mike Epps]

That's what I needed to do.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I stopped breathing for up to like 90 seconds at a time, which is not good. So I got fitted. I'm going to get the machine next week.

[Mike Epps]

Wow. I'm sitting there talking to a nigga that don't breathe.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, I've always had to have it as a kid. Even like when I'm just sitting around. My sister used to always, boy, breathe. Stop holding your breath.

[Mike Epps]

It's a human thing. People hold their breath. Don't know it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But you can't hold your breath. You. You go meet your maker. You hold your breath at night. Cause you.

[Mike Epps]

You're right, you're right. We outta here.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But I find that ironic. People that are really creative.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And you say, like, you're constantly writing and you're constantly thinking. It's hard. It's hard for me to turn my mind off.

[Mike Epps]

It is. Cause you're thinking about the next move.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You are.

[Mike Epps]

And you work. And don't forget, Shannon, from where we come from, from childhood, we are always in survival mode.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Mike Epps]

Yep. In our mind.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yep.

[Mike Epps]

That's crazy, ain't it?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yep, it is.

[Mike Epps]

Even if you successful, bills paid, everything done, still surviving in your head, you are still trying to not fall, still trying to win.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I'm never like Shannon.

[Mike Epps]

You.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I mean, you don't. Cause I don't. Cause that's the way we were brought up.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah. Surviving, trying to win. Shit.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Of all the characters that you play, what's your favorite character?

[Mike Epps]

Um, I used to say all about the Benjamins, but because I was so raw. But I played a. I played a role one time in a movie called Petey Green. And it had. It was me, Don Cheadle, Chiwetel and Taraji. And I played a guy in prison. And I love that role because you a natural. It made me so honest, man. You know, Some roles make you honest, man. I could feel it and smell it. I could touch it. I knew where I was and it just did something for me creatively. But, yeah, that's one of the main. One of the roles that I really enjoy doing.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I'm looking at some of the people that you've been on set with Don Cheadle, Martin Lawrence, the Rock, Angela Bassett, Megan Good, Farce Whitaker, Taraji, Danny Glover, Wanda Sykes, you mentioned Chewy Tail Ejaport. Was it like I could just imagine. Cause I love Forest Whitaker and the Godfather of Harlem, man. I love Don Cheadle. Don Cheadle went to Denver East High school. I've known 20 plus years. So to see. Because that's not the element. That's not the world that you come from. And to see them in their world. I remember doing a commercial with Martin Lawrence and he's like really quiet. And then as soon as they was like, okay, action, they turned it on. You ain't say nothing for the last 10 minutes.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah. Now you. Yeah, that's the anatomy of an artist, man. You know, we. I think to live with the art, to live with being funny all day, you know, you want to have a cut on and cut off switch. That shit'll drive you crazy.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Really?

[Mike Epps]

Oh, yeah, yeah. Or you'll be one of them dudes that's running around and can't cut it off all day.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right. Do people want you when they see you? Do they want you to be funny all the time?

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, they want me to be funny. And sometimes I'm not. I tell people sometime all the time. Not all the time, but for the most part, I'm a nice guy. But I do tell people. Get the out my face. What you looking at? When people just stare at me and they know it's me, I'm like, I'll just say, what they. What the you looking at? Cause say it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You say, yeah, I'm Mike.

[Mike Epps]

Say it. Ask me if my Mike EP are you Mike Epps? You know what? I'll say? You know the. I am Mike Epps. Why would you just sit there? I hate when they do that. Just sit there.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They might not be really sure and just. They don't know, Mike, man, it could be someone else.

[Mike Epps]

I be standing somewhere and a motherfucker say, man, are you Mike Epps? And I'll just do. I'll just say, no, I'm not Mike Elf. And they'll say, stop playing. I say, well, motherfuckers. Yeah, well, stop asking me that. That shit bothers me right there.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Why?

[Mike Epps]

Cause I feel like they playing with me. It's like, you know, I'm Mike Epps. I say, hey, Mike Epps, can I have an article? Don't sit there and just stare at me and do this shit. Cause it make me do it back. I be looking at motherfucker like this. We both in the liquor store looking at each other like this sometimes. Say, are you Mike Epps? And I say, yeah. And they'll say something up.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They'll say, no, you're not.

[Mike Epps]

No. They'll say, you look too old or you look. It's like, ma. It's like you asked me that to say something up.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You. What's the hardest thing to learn as an actor?

[Mike Epps]

The hardest thing to learn as an actor is your lines.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Did you take acting classes or you just.

[Mike Epps]

No, I have went to some acting class and shit didn't work. That shit felt like school again. I'm like, oh, yeah, you know, you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Ain'T do well in school.

[Mike Epps]

I ain't do good in school. I'm out of here. So I lived enough life to know.

[Shannon Sharpe]

How to act right.

[Mike Epps]

You know what I mean? And I learned long time ago as a kid, if somebody's watching you talk to somebody, that's the camera. So do you ever look at that person that's watching you? Nope.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No.

[Mike Epps]

You keep talking like me and you talking and saying, man, you know, we.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Ain'T looked at the camera yet.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, the camera over there. You know what I'm saying?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Mike Epps]

So that's helped me learn how to not look at the camera. But I wouldn't say that I'm a list actor. But I can, you know, you can hold your own. That's all I can hold my own for what? They had the opportunities to show a person that yet, you know, what they.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Ask you to do? Yeah, they're not asking you to be Oscar. They're asking you to be Mike Epps, which is funny, which is hilarious. And to be. And to deliver a line on cue.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, that's it. But I want to show people that I can really get into it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So you want to take on more serious roles?

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, I've done a lot, though. I've done Death Wish with Bruce Willis, Acts of Violence. I've been in Wapaka with Forest Whitaker. I've been in a lot of serious roles, you know, as a comic and.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You know, it's hard, though, when you.

[Mike Epps]

It's not a joke. Most comics, you ain't gonna hear they name is in. In no actor lineups.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Mike Epps]

Like, when it's time to cast, they not calling them. No, but they'll call me and, you know, I'll get at least a shot at it, right? Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Have you ever been embarrassed? Have you ever forgot your line?

[Mike Epps]

Hell, yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Damn, Mike.

[Mike Epps]

Hell yeah. All the time. All the time. It's not easy, you know, Mike. Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You got six months. They send you the script. They say, okay, Mike, you got the part. So before they start shooting, you got months to remember.

[Mike Epps]

Your mind can play a game on you right in the moment of acting, you can really like. Your mind can freeze up where you can't remember what you was supposed to say. Dead ass. When I did Hangover John Goodman, they had a big ass truck, a trailer with the trailer up, and they had a big ass TV screen with his lines on it for him to remember. And in the middle of the scene, he be like, yet, God damn it. He was doing that. He couldn't even remember that shit on the thing.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Damn.

[Mike Epps]

And that's John Goodman. We done seen him in a million movies. Yeah. But it just go to show you that the way the brain works when you trying to memorize the memory is. It can be tricky. You know, man, I got new respect.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Now when I see Denzel doing all that with that Training Day.

[Mike Epps]

Denzel's one of the co. Coldest ever that ever did it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, for sure.

[Mike Epps]

But you could tell that he becomes the character. He does that. The words come like he. Like nothing like him.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And like Malcolm X. I still don't know how he didn't win the Oscars. They pulled a car call on that one.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, he did a good job on the training Day too.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, Training Day.

[Mike Epps]

I liked him better.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hurricane.

[Mike Epps]

Oh, yeah, he was cold.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Devil in Blue dress inside man.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah, he was cold. And he was. If you watch them movies. Cause I've studied the movies and I'm a big fan of his.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Mike Epps]

Still see Denzel the whole time, but the way he take on those characters.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Robert McCall, the Equalizer.

[Mike Epps]

Oh, he just become em.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Did you see. You ever seen the movie Biko when he played Bantu? Steven Biko?

[Mike Epps]

Uh, I never seen that. Cole never seen that. Yes. He unbelievable.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He unbelievable about what was going on in apartheid South Africa.

[Mike Epps]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

This concludes the first half of my conversation. Part two is also posted and you can access it to whichever podcast platform you just listened to part one on. Just simply go back to Club Shay profile and I'll see you there.