Best of full interview: Kevin Hart Talks Lil Kev, Advice To Druski & Kai Cenat, Mike Epps, Shaq + More

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Breakfast Club – Kevin Hart Best Of Interview

Podcast: The Breakfast Club (iHeartPodcasts)
Episode: Best of full interview: Kevin Hart Talks Lil Kev, Advice To Druski & Kai Cenat, Mike Epps, Shaq + More
Date: January 5, 2026
Guests/Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God, Kevin Hart

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Overview

This episode of The Breakfast Club features comedian and mogul Kevin Hart. The discussion covers his tireless work ethic, his new documentary and adult animated series “Lil Kev,” advice for rising comedic stars like Druski and Kai Cenat, reflections on his career and collaborations, the realities of comedy today, and key lessons on business, legacy, and partnership. The conversation is candid, funny, and full of behind-the-scenes insights into stand-up, television, and Hollywood.

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Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Kevin’s Relentless Work Ethic and Views on “Rest”

• Quote:

  "You can rest when you die. I enjoy doing what I do, so why would I look to rest?... That's my happy space." (00:53, Kevin Hart)

• Kevin declares that he’s not interested in taking a break, thriving on constantly working, creating, and expanding his impact.

2. The Jamie Foxx-Inspired Documentary: "Number One On The Call Sheet"

• Kevin discusses collaborating with Jamie Foxx on a two-part documentary examining the experience and pressures of being the lead actor ("number one") on film and TV sets, and how it’s expanded to include female perspectives.
• “Fox is a brilliant mind…It’s dope to hear all these people talk about [success and failure].” (02:43, Kevin Hart)

3. Stand-Up Comedy: Staying True and Evolving

• Kevin’s love for stand-up is clear—he continues doing both small clubs and arenas to stay sharp and connected to fans.

  “There’s nothing better than stand-up comedy…Nothing takes the place. That’s my muse, my stress reliever.” (05:06, Kevin Hart)

• When asked about material inspiration, Kevin credits travel and constant engagement with the world rather than family:

  "It’s not family-generated, it’s travel-generated. Where am I going? What am I experiencing?" (06:49, Kevin Hart)

4. Comedy in a “Sensitive” Era

• The group discusses whether comics should fear offending audiences. Kevin acknowledges Damon Wayans’ decision to avoid stand-up due to audience sensitivities but disagrees personally:

  “I don’t have that level of give a fuck. I’m not out to offend, I’m here to do my craft.” (07:05, Kevin Hart)

• Charlemagne: “I think you can get away with anything if it’s actually funny.” (08:06)
• Kevin: “If it’s funny, and it’s coming from a genuine place, and trying to make you laugh…Not being malicious.” (08:09)

5. Positivity, Anger, and Solution-Oriented Thinking

• Kevin reveals he rarely gets angry.

  “It takes so much energy to be angry…If this is a mistake you always make, alright, we have to remove you, I’m not angry about the choice, but it’s a professional solve.” (09:07, Kevin Hart)

6. "Lil Kev": The Adult Animated Series

• Discusses the evolution of his animated BET+ show based on his upbringing.
  • Seven to eight years in development, aimed at flipping narratives about the “hood” to highlight love, strength, and community.

  “It’s about me, my upbringing, being in the hood, but having such a high level of love for the hood, for my family and for all the people around it.” (11:04, Kevin Hart)

7. Supporting and Uplifting the New Generation (Druski, Kai Cenat)

• Kevin’s hands-on mentorship for rising comedian/streamers, encouraging education on production and “bigger things.”

  “I told them…show you guys ways to give your audience more and ways to do more…Do it yourself, go figure out ways to do it with other people.” (14:15, Kevin Hart)

• He admires how new comics build influence differently, via streaming and personality-first:

  "I think it's dope as fuck. They're breaking new ground." (13:11, Kevin Hart)

8. Viral Moments and Comedic Collaboration

• The group jokes about a controversial stream with Druski, how he “exited the room” when things got heated, and his philosophy as a mentor.
• On “fat jokes,” Kevin calls out playful “aggressive” ribbing but keeps it positive.
• No hard feelings with other comics, like Mike Epps—relationship mended.

9. Career Power: No More Auditions, Now Making Opportunities

• At his level, Kevin doesn’t audition but creates or is approached with projects:

  “I’m more in the business of creating the things that best service my want and direction… auditioning, I’m not really auditioning.” (19:07, Kevin Hart)

• Recent projects highlighted: “The Upside,” “True Story,” “Fight Night.”

10. Handling Criticism and Social Media Backlash

• On NBA All-Star hosting criticism, Kevin says he’s a partner to the NBA, understanding the business and not engaging haters:

  “I’m not going to the All-Star Game to create a big moment for me. The energy comes with [the NBA crew]–we’ve been doing this for years.” (22:31, Kevin Hart)

11. Shaq Stories and Real Husbands of Hollywood

• A hilarious recounting of an unscripted Shaq interaction (“starts humping me,” 26:10) underscores their off-screen and on-screen chemistry.
• Explains Shaq’s All-Star Comedy Jam as a turning point in his own career:

  “It was a toss-away 15-minute set…Ended up being the biggest. So shouts out to the big dummy himself.” (28:35, Kevin Hart)

12. Hollywood Egos, Teamwork, and a New Harlem Nights

• Cites challenges of assembling star-studded, multi-comic films (Harlem Nights as the template), and how egos/money often derail such efforts today.

  "There is no initiative where it’s like, ‘okay, we’re all going to share the same level of pay’… It's about the project." (40:27, Kevin Hart)

13. Advice to Young Comedians/Streamers: Diversify

• Kevin stresses the importance of collaboration, diversifying skills, and not letting money be king.

  “You cannot do it by yourself… I stack the deck. I’m thankful for names willing to work with me.” (42:03, Kevin Hart)
  “Talent caps out where it is when what you do is all you think you should do… If you don’t offload, if you don’t figure out, ‘I’m tapping into this, tapping into that’… Talent is one source of energy.” (43:56, Kevin Hart) “The money will come. The ideas don’t. The relationships and the partnerships don’t.” (47:21, Kevin Hart)

14. Business Moves: Heartbeat Entertainment & Brand Collaboration

• Heartbeat’s partnership with Indiana Pacers/Fever for creative content, and franchising this approach to brands and teams.

  “Our company is a creative engine for any resource…our business thrives when we can implement ourselves in places to create or elevate a brand.” (31:38, Kevin Hart)

• Explained the difference between his fan loyalties and company’s business outreach.

15. Plastic Cup Boyz & The Importance of Close Collaborators

• Kevin thanks his long-term comedy crew, Plastic Cup Boyz, as sources of ongoing inspiration and honest feedback.

  "Shouts out to Naim, Spank, Joey Wells...my guys still make me work." (49:23, Kevin Hart)

16. Personal Legacy

• “Lil Kev” animated series is a tribute to his parents:

  “It’s a testament to my mom and dad who aren’t here. RIP to the Harts upstairs, and maybe down. My dad, they say it could be. I don’t know.” (48:21, Kevin Hart)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On why he doesn't rest:

  "You can rest when you die. I enjoy doing what I do." (00:53, Kevin Hart)

• On stand-up and creative process:

  "Nothing takes the place of stand up comedy. I will go do comedy clubs... That’s my muse, my stress reliever." (05:08, Kevin Hart)

• On comedy and cancel culture:

  "I’m not doing comedy and thinking about what you think about what I’m saying. I’m here to do my craft." (07:30, Kevin Hart)

• Advice to new generation:

  "Talent caps out where it is when what you do is all you think you should do...The money will come. The ideas don’t. The relationships and the partnerships don’t." (43:56, 47:21)

• On “Lil Kev” series:

  "This is a passion project...a true testament to my mom and dad who aren’t here." (48:21)

• On Shaq:

  "He grabbed me, throws me over the [car], and he starts humping me... That chemistry, that rapport, comes from real understanding for how TV works." (26:02, 23:36, Kevin Hart)

• On comic collaborations:

  "We don’t have the Harlem Nights for this era...The conversation can never be had because people are bumped out the gate." (41:33, Kevin Hart)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:53 — Work ethic and not taking breaks
• 02:41 — Discussing “Number One on the Call Sheet”
• 05:06 — Why Kevin stays on the road with stand-up
• 07:05 — Comedy & sensitivity/cancel culture
• 09:07 — On not getting angry & being solution-oriented
• 11:04 — “Lil Kev” and reframing hood narratives
• 12:59 — Mentoring Druski, Kai Cenat, and new comic opportunities
• 14:15 — The scale of Kai Cenat’s reach
• 19:07 — No more auditions, now creating roles
• 22:31 — Handling social media backlash (NBA All-Star)
• 26:02 — Shaq story & Real Husbands
• 28:35 — Shaq’s pivotal role in Hart’s comedy career
• 40:27 — Hollywood ego and challenges of comic collaboration
• 43:56 — Diversifying as a comedian/influencer
• 47:21 — Legacy advice: partnerships matter more than money
• 48:21 — Tribute to family & “Lil Kev”
• 49:23 — Shout-outs to Plastic Cup Boyz

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Tone & Language

The interview is energetic, irreverent, honest, and laced with humor. Kevin’s signature mix of humility, confidence, and mentorship comes through. The dialogue flows between business insight, street-level wisdom, and inside jokes between seasoned comics.

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Conclusion

This episode is a masterclass in entertainment industry real talk: from the philosophy of hustle and emotional intelligence, to practical guidance for the next generation, all delivered with Kevin Hart’s trademark humor and openness. A must-listen for anyone interested in comedy, Hollywood, or creative business.

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Transcript

[Kevin Hart]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Wake that ass up in the morning. The Breakfast Club.

[DJ Envy]

Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy. Just hilarious. Charlemagne the guy. We are the Breakfast Club. We got a special guest in the.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Building who refuses to stop.

[DJ Envy]

Ladies and gentlemen, Kevin Hart. Welcome back, brother Kevin.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

He just won't sit down.

[Kevin Hart]

See that?

[DJ Envy]

How you feeling?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Come on.

[Kevin Hart]

How you feel for yourself?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Give it up for yourself if nobody else will.

[Kevin Hart]

Clap for yourself.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

That's right.

[Kevin Hart]

Feeling good, man. Life is great. No complaints, man. Here to talk about more, which means great is happening. Still moving, still tracking, still working, still doing the same thing, but bigger.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

When the last time you took a break, Kev?

[Kevin Hart]

Why? Why? Why take a break, Sheldon? We talk about this all the time.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

What did you need a little rest every now and then? Rest? Reset.

[Kevin Hart]

You can rest when you die. I enjoy doing what I do, so why. Why am I looking to rest? I. I have a good time working. I don't, like, hate my job or my job. Doesn't stress me out. I enjoy the idea of work. I enjoy the idea of doing something that I set out to do. That's my happy space. Yeah. So I'm not resting anytime soon.

[DJ Envy]

Well, congratulations to your Eagles 45.

[Kevin Hart]

Thank you.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, congratulations to your Eagles. Yeah, I said congratulations.

[Kevin Hart]

I didn't say.

[DJ Envy]

No, I just said congratulations.

[Kevin Hart]

You a Giants fan?

[DJ Envy]

I am a Giants fan.

[Kevin Hart]

That's crazy. Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

You thanked me.

[Kevin Hart]

I mean, I don't work in the office. I understand what your office did. Saquon Barkley.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

How about that?

[Kevin Hart]

How about that? Just a second.

[DJ Envy]

The helmet, it was signed by Saquon.

[Kevin Hart]

Just a second to talk about that.

[DJ Envy]

How about Saquon? It says.

[Kevin Hart]

You don't say. How about that? Yeah, man. Like, not a lot of officers can, like, sit and be like, we up. There's not a lot that can actually go. You know what, man? We really up on this one, man. We did. Like, who's responsible? Like, they got a point. That's one of the few times where they got a point at each other. Was it you, Garrett? Did you. Who. Who didn't make the deal? It was been. You know, I thought it was in our best interest. The biggest gift in football, man. So stupid.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

It is, but it was good for Saquon. He wouldn't have had that season in New York.

[DJ Envy]

I'm happy for Saquon.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

He wouldn't have had that season in New York.

[Kevin Hart]

You don't know what he would have had.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

That's true.

[Kevin Hart]

You don't know what he would have.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I know they Wouldn't win no Super Bowl.

[Kevin Hart]

I mean, that's true, but you don't know the season.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

That's true, that's true.

[Kevin Hart]

Coming back healthy, ready to play football, you know, it's not like he just got good. He's been fucking good. Healthy, 100%.

[DJ Envy]

He was the face of the Giants.

[Kevin Hart]

I mean, a hundred percent. Why do you get what to say? I just don't understand it. But thank you. I, I thank the Giants for the gift. One of the best gifts I've ever like, received as a fan. Saquon Bar.

[Interviewer / Host]

Talk to us about this new two part documentary. You got number one on the call.

[Kevin Hart]

Number one call sheet.

[Interviewer / Host]

Congratulations.

[Kevin Hart]

Shout out to Jamie Foxx, man. This is a Jamie Foxx like idea that he came to me with a heartbeat and you know, it was a concept about being the one on the call sheet and the good and bad of it, right? He's like, you know, a lot of people experience it, but it doesn't do the same for everyone, you know, and whether it's the ego, whether it's the money, whether it's the idea of the money, whether it's the thought of my career is now about to be and it doesn't become like there's so many different concepts attached to it. I thought it was a great idea, man. You know, Fox is a brilliant mind. And I said to make it real, like, we gotta go out and you know, of course tap into all our relationships. So it started off as just the idea for men. Like we were heavy on the men's side and then we were like, yo, it's dope as fuck if you have it to where, you know there's a male version. And then we go and we tap into a female version as well and really just expand the conversation of success or, or lack thereof. And it's, it's dope to hear all these people talk about it. So I think people are going to be blown away by hearing the good and the bad. Like everybody doesn't with the concept of.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

It, you know, well, being number one.

[Kevin Hart]

On the call sheet, everybody doesn't with it, man.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

When did you become number one on the call sheet? And what does it mean to be that?

[Kevin Hart]

I've been number one for a while. When was the first time? I like, I love it, I love it. Like, I don't, I don't want to make it very clear. I, I love it.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Was think like a man the first time?

[Kevin Hart]

No, I mean, the first one, first one was probably, of course, paper Soldiers way back in the day. Oh, but you know, it's been, it's been a lot.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

They will be happy to hear that. He'll be happy to hear that.

[Kevin Hart]

You paper soldiers shouts out today. I think, I think for, for me it's more about, you know, it's about the, the idea of building the project. So, so, you know, I'm more of the creative behind the scene now. So to have the idea and the idea come into like real life and you're like, oh shit, we're doing this and it's happening and then the number one on the call sheet and you're like following down, that's great. But now, honestly, I don't really, I don't really give a fuck. I'm joking about the number one, but I'm more about putting other people in place to do shit. And the producing or the development of projects is what thrives. Like that's what drives me now.

[DJ Envy]

You never left the road. Why is the road so important to you?

[Kevin Hart]

Because you control it. You own it.

[DJ Envy]

There's small venues, you do big venues.

[Kevin Hart]

Like there's nothing better than stand up comedy.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[Kevin Hart]

There's no job better than the job of live entertainment, live audience, your fans, your connection, your relationship. It doesn't die, right? Like you can, you literally, if you, if you treat it like a plant and you forever water it, the plant is never going to die. Right? Like, so if it can grow and you have good seasons, bad seasons, it's always going to be there and those fans are just going to ride with you forever. So I'm very, I'm very adamant on staying true to stand up comedy. Nothing takes the place of stand up comedy. I don't give a fuck what I'm doing. The level that I'm doing at, I will go and do comedy clubs. I will come to New York for months on a time and just do a run of pop ups. That's my muse, that's my stress reliever.

[Interviewer / Host]

So do you have a specific process? Like do you ever still go back and visit family in Philly to get some core material?

[Kevin Hart]

No. I mean, you know what, Jess? I, I think when you're, when you're doing a lot in general, you're, you're always in a space of creative thinking, right? Like if you're non stop, I'm not in the house, like I'm, I'm traveling, I'm around people. Like you're, if you're constantly around and you're constantly seeing things, like that's where your ideas are coming from. That's where the urge to talk about more shit happens. Whether it's young energy or old energy. That's where my appetite to go. Oh, fuck, that's funny. Let me, Let me go on stage. I'm gonna see what this is or. Oh, God. This is actually. This is a new, like, this is a new bait or possible, like, idea to get to the bait so I can fucking get like some dope shit. Once I get excited about it, then I'm. I'm hitting the ground running. But it's not. It's not family generated, it's travel generated.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[Kevin Hart]

Where am I going? What am I experiencing? Who am I around?

[DJ Envy]

Did you hear Damon Wayans say that he would never do stand up anymore? Because he was like, people are too sensitive.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

No, he said people are stupid.

[DJ Envy]

Well, yeah, people are stupid, dumb, basically. You know, he says anything. People get offended too fast and it's like, it's just not worth the stress.

[Kevin Hart]

I understand. I mean, I'm not. I don't. I don't see it the same way because I don't. I don't. I don't have that level of give a fuck of. I don't want to do the thing that I love to do because I'm caring so much about what everybody else is thinking about what I'm doing. Like, I don't.

[Interviewer / Host]

I think he meant that on, you know how the Wayans used to be like, they. No limit. Like, you talk about anything. But now, since the. The new trend is being offended and a lot of people are just, you.

[Kevin Hart]

Know, it is what it is, though, like communities. I mean, Dame is. Dame. Dame is a legend. Like, if Dame wanted to go on stage and around, Dame can do what he wants when he wants. You know, the idea of people being upset or, or triggered, if you're thinking about that, like, then you're. You're going down a crazy spiral. I'm not. I'm not doing comedy and thinking about the thought of what you think about what I'm saying. Like, I'm. I have the things I want to talk about. I know the direction I want to go in. I'm not here to offend. I'm not here to aggravate or piss people off. I'm here to do my craft.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I think you can get away with anything if it's actually funny.

[Kevin Hart]

If it's, if it's funny.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I really believe that.

[Kevin Hart]

If it's funny and it's coming from a genuine place and trying to make you laugh. Yeah. Like, I'm. I'm not being malicious. Like, if I. Now, if your intent is to be malicious behind said thing and there's no real humor attached to it, it's just a. An angry suggestion, and that's different. But I'm not in that space. I'm not. I'm not doing to piss people off.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

When the last time you've been angry, Kev?

[Kevin Hart]

Last time I've been angry? It's been a minute, man. It's been a minute. I don't get what. What do you say? Like, what are you angry about? Like, what. Why, why, why are you letting things drive you to the point of a level of anger that prevents you from doing something else? Like, it takes so much energy to be angry.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Or do you have something that, when you even get to that point, like, is it the gym? Is it your kids? Is it the stage?

[Kevin Hart]

Like, I don't. I don't. I know this is going to sound crazy. There's nothing that pressing to make me angry. You can have a moment, you can be frustrated for a moment, but then I'm solution oriented. So what's the solution?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

That's what I mean.

[Kevin Hart]

Yeah, like, what's this? Okay, if something happened and it's upset, all right, well, why, like, why did it happen? Like anything? It's all office or business related. So, like, what? Well, why. All right, well, now that is the case, like, what are we doing to basically get outside this box? Yeah, how can I help get outside the box? Like, me being upset at you and your mistake doesn't change the mistake. And by the way, if this is a mistake you always make. All right, well, we gotta remove you. I'm sorry, but that's business. I'm not angry about the choice, but it's a. It's a professional solve.

[DJ Envy]

Have you apologized yet to Delaware State University?

[Kevin Hart]

For what?

[DJ Envy]

Why would I. Sean Jackson said you were sorry.

[Kevin Hart]

Huh? Sean Jackson said. Oh, sorry. Oh, you talking about when I said.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I forgot what he said. What did he say?

[Kevin Hart]

Jokes.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

That's not a college.

[DJ Envy]

It's not a.

[Kevin Hart]

It's not a real college.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

It's a bunch of on campus park or something. Oh, a bunch of.

[Kevin Hart]

Yeah, yeah, that's a bunch of on campus. I mean, first of all, it is, all right, but it's like smart people there, too.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Me?

[Kevin Hart]

What you talking about? I used to go to Delaware State all the time. I performed there several times from Philadelphia. It's right up the street.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[Kevin Hart]

Delaware State knows I have no ill will towards them. I love you guys. But it was a funny bit there's a lot of. A lot of niggas out there.

[Interviewer / Host]

You guys animated. Show out little kids.

[Kevin Hart]

Yes.

[Interviewer / Host]

Talks about your life growing up.

[Kevin Hart]

Yes.

[Interviewer / Host]

What made you want to do that animation style?

[Kevin Hart]

You know, Crazy. This has been a. This is like, this is a crazy development, man. This is, I want to say, like seven to eight years in the making before we could actually, like, do it properly. Shouts out to. To Scott Mills over there at bet, man, for understanding, like, my world of want and allowing me to do it the way I wanted to do it. You know, it's an adult animation and I wanted to like, flip the story of. Of the conversation attached to the hood. Right. Like, everybody talks about the hood from one point of view. You know, the hood is the hood and people, like, the hood is fucked up. It's so bad.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

But just a bunch of niggas in the neighborhood.

[Kevin Hart]

Yeah. Like, and I think that there's a. There's a positive side to it. You know, there's a. There's a role that everybody plays in the hood, especially when it comes to kids, families. Like, everybody's a part of the village. Everybody's raising everybody's child. Everybody is aware. Everybody's in the know. Everybody's trying their best to service and eat a good and even bad shit is happening. You know, when people find out there is an energy attached to trying to solve it and make it better. And this is a way of just flipping the conversation on the hood upside down. So it's about me, my upbringing, being in the hood, but having such a high level of love for the hood, for my family and for all the people around it.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

And just hilarious is in it. Keeping her away from Breakfast Club.

[Kevin Hart]

Come on. Okay, just. Just don't listen to that.

[Interviewer / Host]

I don't.

[Kevin Hart]

Yeah. That's ridiculous. First of all, thank you. And when people say, like, I want to make something very clear when people say, like, kev, thank you for giving people a job. People earn them job. Like, I'm not giving. Thank you anything. I'm not out, like, hey, here, just. Here's a gift. Like, that's just. That's her team. That's people working and saying, hey, this is a good thing to possibly put Jess up for. But you can say no process. I mean, you could say no. But when people are talented and earning things on their own, it's happening the way it's supposed to be. I'm not. I'm not in the space of. No. Of everything. And I'm hand picking people and doing, like, that's. That would mean that I'm. I mean, the time in a day to do that and do it and do it and do it, then that means that the people around me aren't doing what the fuck they're supposed to do. So it's your job to, like, properly package and, you know, put people in places to make these projects good. And it's my job to see it at the end stage of going, wow, this is a great cast. These are great personnel, great roles. I like this, I like this configuration. But Jess is earning it. That's not giving anything.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

And, you know, you do take the time to pour into the next generation. You know, Drewski was up here and Drew said that you gave him and Kai s not a bunch of movies to watch and told them, get your stu. Whatever your stupid asses is doing right now. Watch these movies.

[Kevin Hart]

Yeah.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

And prepare for the next level.

[DJ Envy]

That's right.

[Kevin Hart]

You know, I like, I like, I like what the younger generation is doing. It's crazy. I'm saying it like I'm, I'm really am a part of, like a time of old.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

How old are you now?

[Kevin Hart]

45.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Damn.

[Kevin Hart]

Well, it doesn't look it.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I did that for Dontino.

[Kevin Hart]

You know, that, that, that older generation of, like, how we approach the business, how we approach the craft. Right. Like, and I think it's dope as to see this new generation navigate differently. Like, like the comedians of today did not go and, you know, work at it the same way that we did. Like, they're, they're breaking new ground, finding ways to be the personalities first and then get to the stage after. And the way they're engaging with their audience and the way the audience is responding to them, I think it's dope as fuck. So, you know, and being a fan of it, I feel like it's my job now to figure out ways to, like, grab this personnel when and where I can and, you know, try to push them forward with Kai and Drew Ski. Kai is such a monster, man. Like, I don't think people realize how big Kai's audience is.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Yes, we do.

[Kevin Hart]

Kai's fan base is insane. Like, you're talking about somebody that's talking in front of a computer for hours on end. And, you know, he holds anywhere between 300,000, 400,000 people for eight to 12 hour periods that don't move. Like, when we did those streams, you know, you're putting up super bowl, like, numbers. We had at one point, like 900,000 people in a stream watching for hours on end. So I told him I said, look man, I want to show you guys ways to like give your audience more and ways to do more. So I came up with like with some dope ass ideas, concepts for us to rock in together but stay true to the space of what they're doing. So Drew Ski, I know he came and he was like telling you guys about the movie. I don't want to tell y' all what it is, but it's a big, it's a big idea that we're working now. But I was like, to do it, you guys got to educate yourself on things in this space. So it wasn't homework. I was like understand production, understand how movies are made, understand the look and feel so that when we're talking and ideating, you know what I'm talking about, like I don't want to talk to you and you got to go backwards and track what we're talking about. So the, the homework, quote unquote, the homework was more about get this concept and then like let's get to the table and, and let's make the funny. But I got them really like creating the, and developing it and not because, you know, it's a chore, a task. It's like I'm, I want you to be a part of the process so you can understand the process. And after you do this with me, go do it yourself. Go do it and figure out ways to, you know, do it with the other people that you're around. But I think they're talented. I think Ju is a star. I think Jus a funny guy, man. Naturally. I think they're like natural talents and, and in this, it's like putting them in a position to be what they are and be the first to come over the bridge from that space of streaming, whatever. Like what Mr. Beast is doing is dope. His game show, big game show, he's taking everything and the idea of game prize, he's. He redefined it right? Like if you really watch it, what he's done, he redefined the concept of game. Game show. We've seen it for years on who Wants to be a Millionaire and all these other shows. A traditional, there's a traditional win. And here's your gift. He broke that model. I'm gonna give some cash to some regular people, man. And he did it time at the time of time again. And then he built a big ass series and hey man, streaming platforms like, hey, we gotta with this guy, we're gonna give him X, Y and Z to do it. We want you to do it with us, but he controls it. He owns it. So I'm showing them how to control. How to own and do bigger things so it doesn't cap out at the stream.

[DJ Envy]

Juicy said you actually set him up in that. In that stream with that. With that. With that little kid.

[Kevin Hart]

He said.

[DJ Envy]

He said it was you that actually set him up.

[Kevin Hart]

I mean, this is ridiculous.

[DJ Envy]

That's what you said.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

You did, though. You did start it off. He said you started your lead because you're the og. They follow your lead.

[Kevin Hart]

First of all, what you need to understand is where the cameras are at all times. What I said, the Drew Ski was in his ear. I said something in his ear. Okay? Nobody really knows what I said. He knows what I said. And then he took the liberty of going and, you know, saying very harsh things, by the way, you know, things that shouldn't be saying.

[DJ Envy]

We seen you move, walk right out.

[Kevin Hart]

Like, you see. I mean, I don't want to be around that. Okay. I've seen a lot of people get in fights. I've seen when it's about to happen, I go, I shouldn't be here. Right? I shouldn't be here. They about to start shooting. By the way, he's got the gun. I see it. I'mma leave right now.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah.

[Kevin Hart]

So I just exited the room because I think. I think at the time, I had to go to the bathroom, actually. And then a lot of stuff from what I was told happened. From what I was told, the kids start crying and stuff like that. And I came back.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

He wasn't even around.

[Kevin Hart]

I came back, and I was like, what's going on? Right? At that time, I'm the adult in the room trying to calm down, right? Like, hey, man, what's happening? And I think all the cameras caught me saying that, which is good for me, legally, so I was never attached.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Drew Ski said he felt like he could make those jokes because he's fat. And y' all were teasing him all day about being fat.

[Kevin Hart]

Oh, ju. First of all, calling people fat is. That's aggressive.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

You saw the Big Dink interview.

[Kevin Hart]

I just want to. I don't know where the camera. I just want to say that's. You got F word. Is Dr. Is Drew big? Is he a little bigger? Yeah. Right? Does he have problems breathing when he walks up steps? Yeah, of course. Of course. But. But, you know, that little kid, I think, is on his way to a healthy lifestyle.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[Kevin Hart]

Yeah. You gotta support that, right? The little kid. Because he was talking. I think the little kid was talking about exercising and stuff. Yeah. Which is good. And I'm always glad to just be on the positive side of conversation. That's what I'm about.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

That's right.

[Kevin Hart]

You know, I'm a beacon of light, joy.

[Interviewer / Host]

Kevin, at your. At the level of success that you are, being an actor, do you still have to audition for roles or.

[Kevin Hart]

Absolutely not. Okay.

[DJ Envy]

What are you talking about?

[Interviewer / Host]

Because Martin Lawrence said he had said that. He does.

[Kevin Hart]

Martin.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Well, no, I think Martin said he had to. He pitches. He still got to pitch projects.

[Kevin Hart]

Oh, pitch that. Yeah, that makes sense. If he's pitching things. I mean, am I really pitching things? I think I'm pitching ideas to my team. I'm more in the business of creating the things that I think best service my want in my. My direction in the business. Like, when you think about the dramas, you think about all the things that I've done. The series, like, that's been me. So true story. I was like, I want to. I want to fucking kill somebody on camera. I think it'd be dope. And I went and found a guy that created Narcos, and I was like, yo, to be dope as fuck if we can collab and talk. But we developed it, and then I was like, okay, this is great. Let's go and take this out. Like, that's developing it and then going to sell it. Fight night. You know, that was me, Will Packer, and Will tell me he had the rights and us saying, hey, to do it, this can be dope as fuck, but let's do it this way and put the right people in it. So, like, the. The creative side of From Start to Finish is where I'm playing it now. But, like, auditioning. I'm not really auditioning. I think people, if they have a project, they're like, oh, Kevin would be good for this. And I'm getting those calls. Hey, we want you to do. And then I got a decision of if I want to do it or not.

[Interviewer / Host]

Like, for instance, the upside. That's still one of my favorite movies. You and Brian Cranston, they. They already saw you for that role.

[Kevin Hart]

And just called you. They said, we want to do the remake. And we see you and Brian Cranston doing this. Are you interested?

[Interviewer / Host]

And that was genius.

[Kevin Hart]

Absolutely. And Nicole Kidman, I was like, absolutely, hands down. But it's. It's. It's coming out and having an ask not to say that I wouldn't audition.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

You would.

[Kevin Hart]

No, no, he would.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I'm about to say. I'm trying to.

[Kevin Hart]

I'm trying to clean it up. I'm trying to clean it up. I was trying to. I know y' all got cameras here. I just wanted to look in and make it just look like I'm willing to do right. I just want to guys make you understand.

[DJ Envy]

When's the last time you got booed? And the reason I asked, because you said you do small shows.

[Kevin Hart]

I'm not getting booed. Like, nobody. I'm not getting booed at this point. Like, if, if even if jokes aren't funny, you know, you're getting the, you're getting the credibility laughs at at least because it's you. Like, you try things out. Minimum.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Yeah, good laughs though. You don't want those.

[Kevin Hart]

When you trying things out. You don't care.

[Interviewer / Host]

You don't want a damn boo either.

[Kevin Hart]

You don't care. Like, honestly, I have no. There is no care for like the level of laughter when I'm trying to figure out now I think I've got it all done. And I'm like, oh, this set is complete. I'm going out and I'm struggling. Okay, then that's, that's a little self esteem bruising if that's the case. But that's not. That hasn't been the case ever. Like when you, when you work the. And you done worked on the craft and I'm like, okay, I got it, I got it down. This is my set. No, you're not, you're not running into them problems now. Do you get an occasional person that you got to deal with in a crowd? Yeah, but that stuff isn't booing. That's like, you know, atmosphere. That's heckling or somebody yelling out and looking for a moment every once in a while, you got to show that you still got that. And you know, you put people in a place comedically and then you move on with the set. But booing, no.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

What about like social media backlash? Because everybody, for whatever reason was highly upset when you hosted NBA All Star Weekend or there was a sector, a section of the Internet that was acting.

[Kevin Hart]

Like they were, you know, you know, what, what do you, what do you, what do you, what energy do you give that. I'm a partner to the NBA. Like, understand what that means? I'm not, I'm not coming on to be Kevin Hart and have funny moments to the NBA. The NBA has been a servicing aid to my career for over 15 years. Like, you go back and you'll look at how much I've been on NBA, TNT and All Star Weekend, celebrity weekends, all these events like this, you're not looking. It's. It's almost host adjacent, right? Like the personalities that we lean on because we're familiar with family and we know how they work. That's what that is. So the All Star. I'm not going to the All Star Game to try to create a big moment for me. I'm there because the energy of the All Star Game comes with Chuck, Ernie, Kenny, myself, Shaq. Like we've been doing this for years, just talking and playing with one another, bantering on camera. That's not an easy thing to do. They make it look fucking easy. They make it look great. That's not an easy thing to do.

[Interviewer / Host]

Something between you and Shaq.

[Kevin Hart]

Yeah, that's very easy. That's not fucking an easy thing to do. Like that chemistry, that rapport, it comes from like having a real understanding for how TV works. So you can't just throw new things in there because it gets weird. People don't understand the times, people understand the cuts. How much time you got to go cut back to the game? They're trying to do so much new shit. They're trying to discover it. So while they're trying to figure it out, here's personality that we can lean on. So at least we don't have dead space or dull moments on camera. That's. That's what that is. So when you understand the technicality behind it, then you, you understand my involvement. I don't, I don't feed into the other like, I know I'm there partnership.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Do you ever tell Shaq to like really back up off you, cuz he be kind of sexually assaulting you in a little bit.

[Kevin Hart]

Sha. Sha. Come on.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Just a little.

[Kevin Hart]

What? There, there, there only one time where Shaq has done some crazy now, okay? I was uncomfortable.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Hey, what was it?

[Kevin Hart]

He want real husbands when he. That whole thing that's on the Internet that they.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Oh yeah. That wasn't scripted, right?

[Kevin Hart]

I wasn't scripted. I bet it was. It was a moment when, honestly, be real. I couldn't do nothing about it. They got a cut, right? You know, before I put a little size on. Not to say that I could do something to Shaq, but I didn't. It was a very frail version of me. And you know, it was. This is when Shaq was like. When they were like just talking about Shaq being a cop and he really was a cop. We think it would be funny as Shaq pulled me over on Real Husbands of Hollywood. And you know, like, Shaq is like basically about to arrest me. And he. You know, everybody can't improv.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Say what he did to you.

[Kevin Hart]

I'm not going.

[DJ Envy]

I don't.

[Interviewer / Host]

That's crazy.

[Kevin Hart]

They kept rolling. They knew. Kept rolling. You don't even have to say this. We're not even going to discuss.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

For people who haven't seen it, real is a great show. You should watch.

[Kevin Hart]

It's a great show, but it's online. Yeah, but what we're not going to do is make it seem like something that it was. So. So what he. What he did was he grabbed me when I got out the car, and he just tried to get a little physical. Right. He was like, pat you down. Yeah, but it's like, everybody doesn't improv the same comedy. Comedy is an art. Like, you ever see comedians when they try to, like, improv? Or some of them go too far or they don't know when to stop? They like, hey, man, we gotta end the scene. Like, the kid go over there like, oh, yeah, well, your mama. And you're like, well, you can't bring up moms. Cause we don't know who our moms are in this scene. It's like, I just Googled it. Yeah, boy.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

And it says, hashtag, pause of the week. Hey, yo. Nah, Shaq, you scraped by, lady. Kevin Hart, you literally took that man to pound town. Well, this is.

[Kevin Hart]

This is. What you're doing is ridiculous. That's actually. That's actually nuts.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Nuts.

[Kevin Hart]

N. That's nuts. That's nuts. He grabbed me. He grabbed me, throws me over the. Over the car, and he. And he starts humping me.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Humping you.

[Kevin Hart]

So I'm like, I remember he turned.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

You around, bent you over.

[Interviewer / Host]

But you have to look at Kevin's face and say, you can tell.

[Kevin Hart]

Let me tell you what I can tell. Charlemagne. Charlemagne is a pervert. Like, he's a nasty man. Like, in this brief time, I just found out a lot about him by the way he starts describing stuff.

[Interviewer / Host]

Yeah.

[Kevin Hart]

Very graphic. Nasty man. Yeah, I just told you.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I'm just describing what Shaq did to you.

[Kevin Hart]

He grabbed me, and he, like, throws me over the car. He's like, you don't know what I can do. He starts humping me. I remember Ralph directed the episode, right? I remember Ralph was directing episode. I remember I looked at Ralph. I'm like, hey, did y'. All. Did y'. All. Is it pink pages? Did something happen?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Right?

[Kevin Hart]

And they was like. They were like, all right. Nobody wanted to say shit to Shaq. They was like, all right, we got it. So let's just. Let's just move on.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

We just.

[Kevin Hart]

We just moved on. Did y' all talk about it after? No, we didn't even address it. I was like, man, just like, everybody just shut up.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

He tried to get you again.

[Kevin Hart]

Shut up. No.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Did you get triggered a little bit? I saw you. He was creeping up behind you.

[Kevin Hart]

That's a very young. I'm older, and I'm. I'm in a much more controlling state in my. In my life where I, you know, I would say something to Shaggy, you know, don't do that. Stop it. Right? Like a firm. Stop that. Right? But in that moment, that was Shaq trying to be funny. That's my. That's my. I have so much love.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Do people know the role well, this generation? Do they know the pivotal role Shaq played in your career?

[Kevin Hart]

The pivotal role. Now, I don't think people do know the pivotal role.

[DJ Envy]

What is the pivotal role? That sounds crazy.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Oh, I'm being serious. We don't know when he. When he had the Shaq Comedy All Star Week weekend.

[Kevin Hart]

Yes, yes. He's referring to, like, the. The special that actually launched, I would say, like, the. The bigger side of success to my comedy career. No, it is Shaq's All Star Comedy Jam. That was in Phoenix. You know the crazy thing, I did it as a favor. It was a favor. Like, I was like, oh, man, I can't really do. I'm about to drop my special, so I don't really want to, like, go and do this. They was like, no, Kev, come on. Like, we need a headliner. We want you to come. It'll be quick. And it was like, just a gig doing All Star Weekend, and, like, we want to tape it. And I was like, all right, well, I'm put, like, a different 15 minutes on this, man. I don't really, you know, I'm not really pressed to. I'm not really pressed about it like that. So I'll give you all this. 15, and I'll save the other for my special. So it's like a toss away set.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Wow.

[Kevin Hart]

It was a toss away 15 minutes set. Like a backlog set. I was like, I get all this and sit. Ended up being the biggest. So shouts out to the big dummy himself.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I want to go back to number one on the call sheet because Sterling K. Brown did an interview where he said that people wanted to put him number one in the call sheets, but he was superstitious about it because he'd been successful enough not being number one. So he was okay, with being number two, what do you think of that?

[Kevin Hart]

I don't. I don't mind that. You know, I mean, as somebody that's been there when, when, when you're there and you've. You've experienced whatever the conversation attached to it is, is not the same level of important. Right? Like, it's. It's not important. Like, I was joking around earlier about the idea of number one, the call sheet, but it's not that important to me. I don't. I don't give a. I don't. I don't care about top billing. I don't need my name to be first. I don't need my name to be the biggest. When they first put the movie or the TV show out, like, if that's more important to you, I'm like, all right, let him get it.

[DJ Envy]

I don't.

[Kevin Hart]

I don't really. I don't really give a. And not in the dismissive way, but if that's what you need to make you feel better and to make you feel like a valuable piece to the puzzle of this projects, absolutely give it to them. Like, I can. I can take those back steps. Because you've been there. Like, it's like the idea of stardom, it's not. It doesn't thrive or. I'm not thriving in the space of being a star. Like, you've. You've been there. I could give a fuck. Like, you condemn the light as much as you want. I don't. It doesn't matter.

[Interviewer / Host]

That novelty has been.

[Kevin Hart]

Yeah, it's like you. You don't. It doesn't. It's not driving my reason to get up and do so. I think what Sterling is referring to is saying, like, look, man, I don't really like that. I've done it. It's better for me to do this. Let somebody else deal with all the headache of that. That's what he's doing. And shouts out to him, too, man, this show is incredible right now.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

So when you in the Rock do a movie, who's number one on the call?

[Kevin Hart]

I let him get it. But he's DJs an. Yeah, he's an ass. You let him get it. I'm joking.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[Kevin Hart]

Dj, by the way, he trumps me every time. What do you mean? It's not even a conversation. I don't even bring it up. No, you're number one on this, right?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

What is it? Because the box office numbers, like, how do they.

[Kevin Hart]

I think he deserves to be number one when we do the project. He's a international superstar. Not to say that I don't have international success, but I don't think that we're equal in that regard. I think that his movies have performed and done crazy business internationally. And when we do projects that we want to appeal to the world, you should be first. I'm coming in and I'm on that train with you. I'm adding value to it, but I'm not bumped by you being first. We put an amazing cast together to help us get those audiences when we do, but I. I don't. I don't feel any type way about that. I think he deserves it and he should have it.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Congratulations too, man. You got it was announced that you're working with the Indiana Paces now.

[Kevin Hart]

I'm not working with the Pacers. Heartbeat.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Heartbeat Entertainment. Heartbeat isn't working with the Faces.

[Kevin Hart]

Yes.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Heartbeat is to be the official cultural curator to provide entertainment and live experiences for fans in the Indianapolis community.

[Kevin Hart]

Yes. Yes. What is it? What does the 76 say about that?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

We're speeding with the question. First of all, what does that look like?

[Kevin Hart]

It's a opportunity for our company. Right. Like you're. Our company is a creative engine for any resource that allows us to be right. Like, we are a business. So our business thrives when we can implement ourselves in places to create or elevate a brand, a company, an entity, an activation, whether it be live entertainment, storytelling, etc. Indiana with the Pacers and the Fever have an attraction coming. I think they have an all star coming up, but it's more about. They're like, look, we're looking for ways to expand and elevate what we've done. They spent a lot of money on a new facility. They have a team that's thriving, a younger team. The Fever are thriving with star power, et cetera. Like, so they're like, how do we elevate? How can we better tell our story? And I'm like, that's what we do, you know, and me having relationships with, you know, the owner of the team and presidents of the teams or CMOs that are a part of those entities, it's like, look, that's what we do. We tell stories very well. So to market, promote and better define that for you, that's our business. Let us show you how we can make that business a service to you. And they gave an opportunity and I was like, dope. Let our company do it. So it's not a Kevin Hart thing. Like, everybody assumes that Kevin Hart is the driving factor or the source. It's the entity. The entity has to do things outside of me for our entity to thrive. Like, that's a fact. So whether it's the fucking Pacers, I got business with the Falcons. I got business with the Eagles.

[DJ Envy]

You do the Giants.

[Kevin Hart]

That's one that I don't know if I would touch because they. They don't know good stuff. They may let me go, but it's. It's. It's. How many of those can I do? Step and repeat. So the Pacers will use as an example, once we do it well, and from that example, I'll go to other NBA teams or the NBA in general. Like, I'm looking to be a better partner for the NBA. How do we better tell stories for your brand? How do we better promote and market you? How can we amplify or activate differently? Like, these are words in the business that companies desperately want to hear from potential partners.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

That's an interesting question because Envy, what you about to say about the Sixes.

[DJ Envy]

And I was just saying, well, how did the 76s feel like that? Because you are such a 76s fan, I feel like they might look at it like, why you over there messing with them?

[Kevin Hart]

You here.

[DJ Envy]

This is home team.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Because his heart beat the company, and.

[Kevin Hart]

Kevin Hart, the individual, I promise you that they wouldn't even blink an eye because they understand business. Kevin Hart is still a 76ers fan. His company, Heartbeat, is doing a service for another company. Hey, Kev, you think you could do this for us, too? Would your company be interested in doing this? Absolutely. Guys, this is not anything Kevin specific. I'm still going to Sixers games. I still sit courtside.

[DJ Envy]

They're trash right now.

[Kevin Hart]

I mean, they're horrible right now. We're not. We're not in the best position, but I'm still a fan. I'm. I'm an Eagles fan. But if there's business that can be done for another NFL entity that wants to tell stories, well, we're going to tell those stories for the entity. That doesn't mean that our brand can't do that. It's a company. You know, I know that you guys were talking to Mike about you like, yo, is that crazy? Like, this isn't Kevin Hart. I'm not. I'm not going to the. To the Pacers. And. And, man, it's time for me to change the narrative. No, this is what my company does. Is that simple.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Will Heartbeat call Mike Epps to do.

[Kevin Hart]

Absolutely. Like, we. By the way, if you. Here's. Here's an Example, right. If All Star Weekend is coming up there, and we're like, okay, hey, we have ideas to service a bigger. Like, a bigger process that people can probably gravitate towards a little different from what they've done in the past. Here's how we're going to make the All Star Weekend in Indiana when the women are playing. Here's how we can make it different. Here's what we can bring to the table. Women roundtables, a woman coldest balls, etc. Is there a comedy activation, Women forwarded. Does Mike want to bring and be responsible for comedy from Indian? Absolutely. Like, that's when you tap in. All you are is the. The servicing hub. We're the hub now. It's our job to go and grab everybody to make this thing underneath our hub better. It's not you. You're. You desperately need that. So in this case, hell yeah, Mike. Come on, Mike, by the way, this is your city. What's dope about the city that we can do with you? What do you want to do? How do we help you? Like, that's. That's partnership. But if the thought triggers you at first, what, this is my city? Well, then you don't even. You don't even get to the next stage of opportunity. The opportunity comes from understanding the idea. Oh, oh, dope. I can't. I can do something. I'll bet. And I want to do this, too.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Absolutely. Here.

[Kevin Hart]

Here's how we're gonna do it. Like, that's. That's business. That's how business is done. That's how you get to the place of success.

[Interviewer / Host]

So there just hasn't been an opportunity for Heartbeat to call Mike yet?

[Kevin Hart]

No, we just did anything with it. We just. We literally just.

[Interviewer / Host]

Just happened.

[Kevin Hart]

We just did the deal.

[Interviewer / Host]

Gotcha.

[Kevin Hart]

And now that we are doing the deal, well, now you got to tap in to the culture of the city. You got to tap into popular names and faces from the city. You got to tap into the athletes that are the stars in the city. Now you go and you say, guys, here's what we're thinking of. Here's how we make this special, but here's how we do it with you. Is this a collaborative thing that makes sense for you? Dope. Okay. If so, great. If not, well, what does? Cool. Okay, we like that. All right, let's build, let's expand.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I told him that when he was there. I said, knowing Kev, he's going to call you to do something.

[Kevin Hart]

Absolutely. I mean, me and Mike's relationship now, we're 10 times back. It took a long time to get to where we are now. But I'm. I'm happy at the. The road of, like, dumb shit because it got us to a place of real grown man shit. And, you know, it's. It's not. We not. We're not doing the dumb, like, tweets and shit no more like, mike, call me. I'm calling you. And we. We talk. So, you know, when I did, Mike was the first one we got on the phone. We had a conversation, and me and Mike are very much on the same page. And I think, you know, a lot of the disconnect was from Assumption, and. And that's what. That's the realization that came about. But I have no ill will, no beef towards anybody. Damn sure not Mike. And, you know, right now, the priority between me and Mike are figuring out the thing that we're going to do together. And, you know, I told Mike, like, it's a. It's a real thing. Like, we've haven't done it because of this disconnect in our relationship. We've never been on screen together. We did Real Husbands together in the beginning. Mike did an episode, and that's the only time where we've ever jousted on camera. And I was like, at this point in our career, like, we're. We're not nobody but ourselves. So, you know, how do we make it work? And he's like, yeah, Kev, how do we make it work? And it's a. It's a mutual understanding. And I think now having that as a priority, his fans will be happy. My fans, I think, will be happy. And I think it'd be dope for the culture when we do it.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Yeah. Where is that version of Harlem Nights? For this era?

[Kevin Hart]

It's hard to happen because the idea of it being just one is what people can't let go of.

[DJ Envy]

What you mean, like, there doesn't have.

[Kevin Hart]

To be just one star.

[DJ Envy]

The Harlem Knights wasn't just one star.

[Kevin Hart]

But that's why I worked. Right? That's why it worked. Richard didn't give a fuck about Eddie. Eddie didn't give a fuck about Richard. Right? Like, the two biggest comedians, you know, minus the bullshit. The only person that was missing that should have been in that, you know, Cosby in some degree. Right. A showing of him. But they have Red Fox, Robin Harris. Like, if you go and you look at the names, you know, Del Reese, like, you. You look at the names and the people. In Harlem Nights, you looked at a conglomerate cast of Hard hitting comics of color. We don't have that to date. The attempts to do it shouts out to Chris Rock, top five. Yeah, putting, putting comics in. Whether you are a fan of the movie or not, the attempt was I want to see, I want to see comics of color share the screen together. And I want to get down. Tracy, Leslie, I want to get down. Let's go back and forth, let's do some shit. Death at a funeral. Chris attempted to put comics together. There's not a lot of examples.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I would say life, to a certain.

[Kevin Hart]

Extent, life is dope. But you don't. You had Eddie and you had Martin.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Bernie, Matt, Bernie, Guy Tori, Guy Tori.

[Kevin Hart]

You know, we didn't, we didn't have like a, a woman, a woman figure. Yeah, that's true in life. But I think like you've seen the attempt, but there is no, like, there is no initiative where it's like, okay, look, we're all gonna share the same level of pay and we're all going to play on the back. And this is how I would approach it. Everybody's gonna win on the back end. Okay, let's remove money from the idea. This isn't about who's getting the money or who's doing what. It's about the project. So we're going to do our best in this project to put people positioned to win, winning, mean, memorable moments, laughs, funny, etc. But to do it right, everybody's not going to be on the same page. Like you kind of. You got to have an understanding of who has to carry the weight here for the people here to get in and get down. When you can have that conversation and people are okay with it, all right, it's great. But that conversation can never be had because people are bumped out the gate. I ain't working with him. I ain't working with her. I ain't doing well. Fuck that. They got me. Like, I ain't the one. I ain't the funniest nigga. I'm a like you. You can't even get to the fucking second page.

[Interviewer / Host]

And even when it comes to like the younger comics, man, it's been a few of like, like DC Young. Fly has countless scripts that he has and he's trying to get all of us like in this generation, but egos and ah, what's she gonna be getting and who gonna be the main character? I ain't working with her or how he. You know what I mean?

[Kevin Hart]

So with the, with the younger generation of comics, man, I made money so fast. Good money.

[Interviewer / Host]

Yeah.

[Kevin Hart]

Like not, like, not little money. They made money so fast. So definitely the idea of doing that for that, that I. Dude, I'm over here getting. It's like the idea. Come here now. I mean, just, just, yeah, just made money. Still making money. Right. Like, just understands that road money, that road money is a different type of money. These comics or new comics influencers turn com are making real money. So until you get to a point where you understand the money isn't going to drive your next stage of success, if your next stage of success or want for success is attached to IP projects, whatever, you cannot do it by yourself. You need the helping aid of other talent. I don't give a who you are. I'm saying this as a pound for pound conglomerate in the business, respectfully and humbly, a conglomerate. I stack the deck. I'm not looking to be on screen and be the only person. I stack the deck winning where I can, by the way. And I'm very, I'm very thankful to the other names that are willing to come and work with me and do things with me. I was excited. Samuel L. Jackson is doing thank you, God. Sam, Don Cheadle. Oh, thank you, Taraji. Oh, thank you, Terrence. Thank you. Like, I'm. I'm thankful. You cannot be the only one into that younger generation. My message to so many funny, like, I can go down the list. D.C. young, Fly, who you just mentioned Country Wayne, Desi, Banks, Drew, Ski cas, not Jess. You got pretty V, you got B smoke, you got all of these. Carlos, Carlos, Ryan Davis. Right?

[Interviewer / Host]

Yeah.

[Kevin Hart]

85 soft. All those guys. You got all these great new emerging pieces of talent. I'm going to tell you right now, talent caps out where it is when what you do is all you think you should do. In other words, like if, if I'm just doing stand up comedy and then doing stand up comedy, I do the theaters and arenas. Okay. I can't do that every year. And that's will flatline. It will die down at some point. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but at some point it will digress. So if you don't offload and you don't figure out I'm tapping into this and I'm tacking into this or tapping into that. This thing is one source of energy that you have. It'll get a little dim, that light ain't gonna flicker the same. So if they don't tap into each other and figure out the way to make each other a valuable resource and asset, it will tap out. We're assets to One another, like say what you want. Me and the Rock are assets to one another, man. DJ and I will get on the phone. We talk now. Hey, man, it's time for us to do something. We gotta figure out the next thing. What you thinking? I don't know. Is it Jumanji? Three is another problem. What you thinking? I don't know what you thinking. Let's talk. Let's figure it out. Hey, man, you know who I want to work with? Who I haven't worked with, man? Man, Idris. I gotta get down with Idris. I've yet to do something. I'm tapping into other energy. I don't want to be the only source of energy.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Right.

[Kevin Hart]

That's the only way that you continue to move forward. Writers, producers. I want to work with you, man. You're doing amazing things. You're an amazing writer. How do I work with you? Kai, you're doing amazing in this streaming space, man. I got some to show you. I'm gonna work with you. Like you. You gotta tap in. That's what people are afraid to do, and they're afraid to do it, especially in our culture, because we feel like there can only be one.

[DJ Envy]

That's right.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

That's some good ass advice too, though, because you know, that is the toughest thing. Trying to convince this, this generation that there is another level. And what you're doing does have an expiration date.

[Kevin Hart]

If you don't diversify your portfolio 1000%, it's, it's building correctly. And by the way, you don't have to do it all in one day, man. You know, I'm, I'm almost 30 years strong in this business. You don't, you don't have to do it all in one day. The discovery is exciting when you start to figure it out and you start to see the things that you're changing or things that you're driving towards work. That's the exciting part. And the exciting part is like, oh, I actually can't do the shit that I'm thinking about. Like, oh, fuck. Damn. I started off doing these videos and now the videos have turned into a business, but now the business has turned into a touring job. Now my radio job, fucking Offsets, promotes the fucking touring. By the way. My businesses are connecting. The dots are connecting. Say what you want. You can hate me or you can love me. I connect dots. I connect dots very well. Every piece of this machine somehow connects in some way, in some shape, in some form. So at the end of the day, if this piece dies, well, you can't kill this one. If this one dies and this one dies, well, I got this one. If these three die, well, they don't know I got these. The dots are important, man. And that younger mindset in this business today is a cash driven mind. The money will come. I'm telling you. The money will come. The ideas don't. The relationships and the partnerships don't.

[DJ Envy]

There you go.

[Kevin Hart]

That's the difference.

[DJ Envy]

Kevin gotta go too, guys.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I mean, I don't hard, man.

[Kevin Hart]

I do got one last question, Kev.

[DJ Envy]

Do you have a sign? Like, you know, because people interview you all the time, right?

[Kevin Hart]

And it gotta get to a point.

[DJ Envy]

Where you be like, I'm tired. I gotta go.

[Kevin Hart]

Do you have, like, a job?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Say he gotta go. But you. No, no, no, no.

[Kevin Hart]

But you.

[DJ Envy]

Like, you scratch your head twice or you pick your nose.

[Kevin Hart]

I just be like, all right, guys, that's it. It's time to wrap it up.

[DJ Envy]

We've been here.

[Kevin Hart]

I think we did it.

[DJ Envy]

We got everything.

[Kevin Hart]

We touch on everything. Lil Kev dropping. I'm excited about it. Adult animation. BET plus once again, shouts out to. BET. Shouts out to my amazing team at Heartbeat, man. Shouts out to Mike Stein, Tiffany Brown, who worked so hard. Shout out to Malcolm. Oh, God, I just dropped the name of my other Right. I'm so sorry. On our development side, who helped get this? Shouts out to Wanda, Dion, Cole. So many other names. Yes, Ms. Pat. So, so many other names.

[DJ Envy]

Increase, Summer, Jamal, neighbors.

[Kevin Hart]

Yes. It's so many people that are part of this project that have made it what it is today. And once again, this is a passion project, man. This is. This is a piece of IP that I worked on for a long time. And to have it finally come to light is dope as it's funny, as it's raw, it's edgy, you know, and it's a. It's a. It's a true testament to my mom and dad who aren't here. So rip to the hearts upstairs and maybe down. So, you know, my dad, they say it could be. I don't know.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

They say, I don't know.

[Kevin Hart]

So, you know, just in the middle, my dad in the middle, shouts out to pops, wherever you are. Yeah, I know. I don't know what side this is.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

You don't want to assume.

[Kevin Hart]

Yeah, I don't want to assume. I don't want to assume. I don't. If God ever closed the door, my dad might have been on the outside. But it's a testament to them, so I can't Wait for. If you guys enjoy it, Bet. Plus, watch it. Lock it in. Number one of the call sheet. Shout out to Fox. Lock it in.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

And you're at Radio City Music hall all weekend.

[Kevin Hart]

That's right.

[DJ Envy]

Tonight, Friday and Sunday.

[Kevin Hart]

Radio City.

[DJ Envy]

Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

[Kevin Hart]

And last but not least, man, I want to give a big shout out to my guys before I go. You know, I've talked about the younger generation. I've talked about, you know, energy and servicing energy. I want to talk about my energy source for a reason and. Or just for a quick moment. Plastic cupboards. Man shouts out to Naim. Shout out to Spank. Shouts out to Joey Wells. You know, I'm excited about comedy still because my guys still make me work. Naim, pound for pound, Naim Lynn, one of the funniest motherfuckers on the planet, constantly creating, constantly developing new materials. Spank, one of the funniest people on the planet. Joey Bill me for years. One of the funniest people on the planet, shouts out to those guys for making me stay as sharp as I am by being as sharp as they are.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Naheem out here inspiring governors. Governor Gretchen Whitmer loves Naim, wrote about Naim in her book. Man talks about how she gives speeches. She quotes Naim's Shark Week joke.

[Kevin Hart]

You know, listen, let me tell you something about Naim. Naim is the most emotional comic. So we talk about, like, comments and like that. Naim used to go to Ticketmaster and he would read, like, the comments. Like, he would read them all. So he'd come in, like, the. The dressing room after the show. He'd be like, did you see what they said about me? No, what they say? This is like, nah. Why are you reading that? He's. I'll just go on it. But it's like, once you win it, you win it. Like, he. He would really, like, he would go back and forth with people. Like, what the you talking about? Obviously you got there late. Like, he was like, he would go back and forth with people. Yes, well, Ticketmaster, he would go to people that had, like, bad things to say. I love him, though. Not even. That's it. I'm done.

[DJ Envy]

It's the Breakfast Club. It's Kevin Hartcher.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Wake that ass up early in the morning.

[Kevin Hart]

The Breakfast Club. This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.