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Lauren LaRosa
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.
State Farm Announcer
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DJ Envy
All? This is DH Envy from the Breakfast Club. From Curtis, 50 Cent Jackson and the executive producers of Power comes the Starz original series, Raisin Kanan. Kanan's journey is driven by ambition and betrayal as he fights to escape the shadow of his mother, Rock, played by Tony, Grammy and NAACP award winning Patina Miller. As tensions rise, Kanan forges a dangerous alliance that sets off a war with his own blood, becoming the ruthless man he's destined to be. This final season is a must watch. Tune in when it drops and stay ahead of the spoilers. Catch the season premiere of raising Canaan June 12th. Only on Starz.
Lauren LaRosa
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DJ Envy
Every day I wake up.
Ron Taylor
Wake your ass up.
State Farm Announcer
The Breakfast Club.
Ron Taylor
Y' all finished or y' all done?
DJ Envy
Morning everybody. It's DJ Envy. Just hilarious. Charlamagne the guy we are the Breakfast Club. We got a special guest in the building.
Charlamagne Tha God
We do.
DJ Envy
He recently won the winner of Kevin Hart's Funny as Fuck competition on Netflix. Ladies and Gentlemen, comedian Ron Taylor. Welcome.
Charlamagne Tha God
How you doing?
Ron Taylor
Good, brother. Sweet. Ladies. Hi, how are you?
DJ Envy
I ain't know what.
Charlamagne Tha God
She's good.
Ron Taylor
Well, I've seen the show on.
State Farm Announcer
Big show.
Ron Taylor
Okay.
DJ Envy
All right.
Charlamagne Tha God
I just need you also saying how they pick on a T a lot
Lauren LaRosa
and, you know, he Dominican.
Ron Taylor
Well, I've heard.
DJ Envy
I am not Dominican.
Charlamagne Tha God
And now he see.
DJ Envy
That's right.
Charlamagne Tha God
So good.
DJ Envy
Well, let's start from the beginning. Well, first of all, congratulations on winning.
Lauren LaRosa
Yes.
DJ Envy
Now, you're from Detroit.
Ron Taylor
That is correct.
DJ Envy
What up, doe?
Ron Taylor
Okay, what up, though?
State Farm Announcer
All right.
Ron Taylor
Who knew?
DJ Envy
All right, now, what got you into comedy? Let's start with your love of comedy. How that started, man?
Ron Taylor
Long story short, I was funny in school. Everybody say that, you know, but I mean, what else did I. You know, there's ain't nothing else to do but be in school. I was funny in school. And then I actually. I had a second hour start. I don't know if y' all had that. So everybody went to school at 8. I went to school at 9 because my. Because my first hour was lunch.
DJ Envy
Why was your first hour lunch?
Ron Taylor
I don't know. I guess it's some Detroit stuff. Wait, hold on.
Lauren LaRosa
So they. Wait, hold on.
DJ Envy
Yeah.
Lauren LaRosa
So you walk into school, there's lunch, not breakfast.
Ron Taylor
Correct.
Lauren LaRosa
There's lunch prepared, correct?
Ron Taylor
Well, no, that was just the period I had. They had breakfast food.
DJ Envy
But his first period was lunch. You know how some people got their
Charlamagne Tha God
first, like you said, math show up late?
DJ Envy
First period was gym. He had. His first period was lunch.
Lauren LaRosa
No offense, but was it like. Were you, like, in a special needs.
Ron Taylor
What?
DJ Envy
He just said, were you in a special needs class? You needed lunch in the morning.
Ron Taylor
That's crazy.
Lauren LaRosa
I never heard that before. So I didn't know if it was like a special program or something.
Ron Taylor
You skipped all of Detroit just being weird and went to me being in the special class?
Charlamagne Tha God
Yeah, because that's not really weird. It's just like special things for special needs kids.
Lauren LaRosa
But.
Charlamagne Tha God
And we thought, like you.
Ron Taylor
I was in advanced Placement classes. Okay?
Charlamagne Tha God
I know that's right.
Lauren LaRosa
Special program. I left it open for you to tell me.
Charlamagne Tha God
That's why lunch was advanced.
Ron Taylor
I had merit and honors class, but that's neither here nor there. Okay? The point is, I didn't have to, but I had little brothers, so I would take them to school. I didn't have to go in until like 9 o'. Clock. So I would sit in the car, eat donuts and drink coffee and listen to Ricky Smiley Kid. When you say it like that, yes.
DJ Envy
He was a 40 year old, 10 year old. He drink coffee, donuts and listen to Ricky Smiley.
Ron Taylor
Okay, Listen to Ricky Smiley in the morning and Steve Harvey. Right. So by the time I went to my second hour, which was physics, right? Right. I'd just be in there joking around and stuff. I was on the swim team and, you know, they'd be like, hey, say that thing you said again. And then eventually I heard Dave Chappelle say something that made sense where he said, being funny is a marketable skill. So let me go ahead and market this skill. That's how I get started.
DJ Envy
How was your family when you said, you know, you were in special classes?
Ron Taylor
You did your brother. Wait a minute. I'm gonna need you to find
DJ Envy
advanced classes. You were in advanced classes, Right. And what did your parents say when you said, after these advanced classes, I want to be a comic mom.
Ron Taylor
But you know what? My mother's not going to like this. But hey, you know, it is what it is. My mother was not a fan. Not at all. Oh, she was big time not a fan. My mama kicked me out the house.
DJ Envy
Okay.
Ron Taylor
She took my car. Damn. Somehow she took the money out of my account. Right. And kicked me out the house. I think I said that already. Now let her tell it. It was for some other stuff, and I'm sure it was, but all this stuff happen around the same time. And the reality is just I wasn't doing what they thought I was gonna do. You know, they didn't necessarily. I say they, my mother and father, they didn't necessarily have a plan for me. Right. I said, what's y' all plan? We don't know. Okay, well then don't worry about what I'm doing.
Charlamagne Tha God
Right?
Ron Taylor
Right. I went to college for theater arts because again, I heard Dave Chappelle say something about theater arts, but just that deviation from what they thought, you know, they weren't big fans of it, but it didn't take long before they got on board, you know.
DJ Envy
Okay.
Charlamagne Tha God
And that meant, did you go back to the house? Were you able to get back in the house and did they give you your money back?
Ron Taylor
I think my mother did give me my money back. I never got the car back. Damn. And I think I started living with women after that.
DJ Envy
I thought they said you were homeless, living in your car
Lauren LaRosa
when he was up here said that it was something like that. Like you were homeless and trying to figure it out.
Ron Taylor
That. So that was afterwards. So all of the Detroit stuff in the school, that was when I started. Right. So it's like 2010. Come 2016, I bought a van and then I drove to LA and I lived in it until, like, 2023 or something like that.
DJ Envy
So you lived in a van?
Ron Taylor
Yeah.
DJ Envy
Where did you shower? I'm just asking if you live in a vanity. Like, you can't be going up to Stinky.
Charlamagne Tha God
Oh, gosh. I just want to. Where the men take showers.
DJ Envy
I did not.
Charlamagne Tha God
Especially men on the road.
Ron Taylor
LA Fitness was my go to the one on Hollywood by that cvs.
Lauren LaRosa
Okay, I know which one you talk about.
Ron Taylor
Okay. That's my go to Planet Fitness sometimes. But I'm not a monster. That's. Planet Fitness is. Planet Fitness is. That's not where it's.
DJ Envy
He said I'm not a monster.
Ron Taylor
There been not a monster.
DJ Envy
A bunch of white guys walking around with small pbs.
Charlamagne Tha God
Yeah. You see how it goes back to what?
DJ Envy
I'm just asking, Jess.
Ron Taylor
Sorry. It's cheap and it's 24 hours, so you get the worst of the worst.
Charlamagne Tha God
Yeah, it's like a truck stop kind of sort of.
Ron Taylor
Yeah. Yeah. And if I had to, would you be surprised how, like, well, this works? I would have. I'd buy wet wipes in bulk. And I just do the Denzel from. What was that movie? Bookie Eli and just.
Charlamagne Tha God
Oh, wow. Okay.
DJ Envy
Little bird bath, we call it.
Ron Taylor
Yeah.
Lauren LaRosa
So now. Cause everything is, like, different is. Are you kind of used to it yet? Are you still getting used to the fact that, like.
DJ Envy
Well, before we get there, what was the big break?
Ron Taylor
So.
Lauren LaRosa
Oh, wait, I'm sorry.
Ron Taylor
Yeah, go ahead.
DJ Envy
What was the big break?
Lauren LaRosa
How did you. How'd they find you for Funny af?
Ron Taylor
I think I just auditioned to tell you the truth, or sent in a tape. My reps might have sent me something, and I just. But I had been around for a while at.
Lauren LaRosa
You said you had rep. So what got you signed? Like, what were you doing that was big enough for you to even get signed before Funny af?
Ron Taylor
Just being in the clubs every night. Being in the clubs, talking stuff.
Charlamagne Tha God
Comedy clubs.
Ron Taylor
Yeah, being in the comedy clubs and just, you know, just trying to do something. Like, when I was in my van, I did, like, a show in my van where I would cook a meal and, like, podcast, interview a person, so people enjoyed that.
DJ Envy
How big was this van?
Charlamagne Tha God
Very innovative. Like, you. You made, you know, you had a little bit to work with, but you made it work. You made it out of something.
DJ Envy
Jesse had a kitchen in the van.
Ron Taylor
Yes.
Charlamagne Tha God
I love those.
Lauren LaRosa
Like, is it like one of the, like, vintage, like, 70, or, like a RV round one.
Charlamagne Tha God
Kind of like RV.
Ron Taylor
Ish. No, no. Was a E150. That's an Econo line.
DJ Envy
What?
Ron Taylor
That is Y2002. So I gutted it, and I did what they call a no hole conversion. That's where you don't drill no holes. You just start hanging stuff up. Right. So I just put a bed in there and a cooler. I had a little Bunsen crack burner, you know.
Charlamagne Tha God
Oh, I know. That's right.
Ron Taylor
Yeah.
Charlamagne Tha God
And made it work like they don't know what. Listen, these vans, people be stealing kids in, you know, in the vans.
Ron Taylor
Mine was wonderful. People enjoyed it. You go out and you hang. You had company in the van, brother. Let me tell you. Okay, listen, it's people out here getting busy outside.
Charlamagne Tha God
Hello?
Ron Taylor
Okay, I got a bed and a cooler full of wine. Who ain't trying to spend some time.
Charlamagne Tha God
Pictures hanging up.
Lauren LaRosa
Hello?
Ron Taylor
Play a play if.
DJ Envy
Now, what was your question, Lauren?
Lauren LaRosa
Oh, I was gonna say, how did they find. Oh, how did they find you for funny, if that was another question.
Charlamagne Tha God
The van. They saw the van.
DJ Envy
They saw the.
Ron Taylor
I wish my vein got confiscated, but that's a whole nother story. I'll get another one now. I think I can. I can probably afford it now.
Charlamagne Tha God
Okay.
Ron Taylor
Yeah, yeah. Anyway, I put in, like I said, an application, and then I did the first round in Chicago. Then the second round was in la, and then it just continued forward. But it was kind of like an open casting call to everybody. So I don't know, maybe my reps pulled some strings that I'm unaware of. But, you know, I just did the application, and. And I had kind of been around already, like I said, you know.
DJ Envy
Yeah.
Charlamagne Tha God
Or just maybe you just stood out, because I noticed on Funny af, the judges took a liking to you, like, straight off the rip. And then Kevin said when he was up here that he, like, instantly liked you, too. It was something about you that stood out to me. It's like young Norbert. Hilarious.
Ron Taylor
Jesus. Theatrical, funny as hell.
Charlamagne Tha God
I love the microphone bush. Yo. I told you that on the red carpet at the roast.
DJ Envy
Yo, Norbit is crisp.
Charlamagne Tha God
Yes, absolutely.
Ron Taylor
Why you want to hurt my feelings like that, man?
Charlamagne Tha God
You look even more like Norbert.
DJ Envy
See?
Ron Taylor
No, but.
Charlamagne Tha God
No, but listen. Absolutely love the style and everything, but you stand out. And that's what I feel like you gotta do in comedy these days, because the comedy industry is very oversaturated. I think you're very original.
Ron Taylor
Yeah, well, I mean, I try to be. It's funny that just wearing my hair the way it grows. Like, everybody. All black people's hair grow like this. Most black people here.
Charlamagne Tha God
Yeah. I'll see my shit ain't have yet to grow.
Ron Taylor
Okay. But, you know, like, I'm glad that it stands out. And you're absolutely right. Comedy is. I don't want to call it oversaturated, but it's definitely super saturated. Like, but that's. That's the nature of the Internet. Yeah, Right. Which I think is actually a great thing. You get a bunch more of all the different versions of comedy, but you get, like, unlimited amounts of all the comedy. But it's just, you know, as a consumer, it's your job to siphon through and find what's what. And it's our jobs as, you know, comedy producers to stand out.
Charlamagne Tha God
Exactly. And it's a lot of the same types of comedy. That's what I mean. Like, you stood out. You still stand out. You know what I mean? So I really like that. That's what I mean. I don't mean like, oh, no, I'll take it. No, but get out of here. Like, I mean, like, yo, you really, really stood out.
Ron Taylor
I'll take it. Wonderful.
DJ Envy
Now, who was your favorite comedian coming up? Was it Kevin Hart?
Charlamagne Tha God
Was it Dave Chappelle kept saying Dave.
DJ Envy
You kept saying Dave. Like, who was. Who was your inspiration?
Ron Taylor
Okay. In no particular order. Okay. Bernie Mac.
DJ Envy
I see it.
Ron Taylor
Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Patrice o', Neal, and then I'll throw a Louis CK in there. Yeah, it'll be funny. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Those were my favorite.
DJ Envy
Chris Rock.
Charlamagne Tha God
Like, I see that.
Ron Taylor
Yeah. Well, I mean, like, that. It's only so many black comedians to even look at from that era. I've had people tell me that, you know, I sound like Dave. I sound like Chris. Matter of fact, Dave Chappelle said I look like Bernie Mac. I think that's just the hair in the air ring.
DJ Envy
No. Cause when you said Bernie Mac, it caught it. I was like, I see that. I believe that as well.
Charlamagne Tha God
I agree with that, too.
Ron Taylor
You know, it's only so many of us, but those are my guys.
Lauren LaRosa
So what from your life has been, like, the biggest thing that has changed since winning Funny?
Ron Taylor
Afraid. That's a good question. Probably just buying flights early.
Lauren LaRosa
Oh, that is such a luxury, right?
Ron Taylor
Yeah. I mean, I know a lot of people do that already.
Lauren LaRosa
Oh, no, no. But I know what you're. What, you mean, like. Yeah, yeah, yes.
Ron Taylor
Like, man, that. Like, trying to. Oh, God. Trying to call my mother to ask for money to borrow there. Geez Louise. It's just.
DJ Envy
When's the last time you called your mom and ask.
Charlamagne Tha God
Yeah, come on.
Ron Taylor
I mean, when was funny af.
Charlamagne Tha God
No, the other day.
Ron Taylor
If. Funny if I won the fifth. The week before, I was talking to my mama about some money.
Lauren LaRosa
Wow.
State Farm Announcer
Really?
DJ Envy
Was she supportive? Did she understand it at this point or was she still on some.
Ron Taylor
No, she enjoys having me grovel, which really is kind of why I stopped. You know, if I'd be like, hey, Ma, can I get $20? Now you need $20. How's it feel? So, yeah, not having to do that has been wonderful. Some people knowing me already, I live life like a bum. I'll tell you the truth.
Lauren LaRosa
Okay.
Ron Taylor
Right. I enjoy being able to get on the bus, not have my hair combed. But what's been happening now is like, people like, hey, are you the guy from. So I guess I gotta, you know, look more presentable nowadays. Yeah, yeah.
Charlamagne Tha God
Stop getting on the bus.
Ron Taylor
You don't. You don't ever get on the bus and just like, see what's fine.
Charlamagne Tha God
I don't be doing. Especially not in New York. I do not be doing that. Okay.
Lauren LaRosa
I mean, but if you want to still do. You can do the bus if you want.
Charlamagne Tha God
No, we can get a van. Honda Odyssey Premium. That's nice. I like it. That's a humble enough vehicle. You'd be good, son.
Lauren LaRosa
I know. You get the one hour.
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Ron Taylor
Oh, yeah.
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DJ Envy
What up, y'?
Lauren LaRosa
All?
DJ Envy
This is DHA Envy from the Breakfast Club from Kurta's 50 Cent, Jackson and the executive producers of Power Comes the Stars original series Raisin Kanan Kanan Stark's journey has been one of ambition and betrayal as he fights to escape the shadow of his mother Rock, played by Tony, Grammy and NAACP award winning Patina Miller. As tensions rise, Kanan forges a dangerous alliance that sets off a war with his own blood, becoming the ruthless man he's destined to be. Raising Kanan is a story of power, family and betrayal where every choice has consequences and no one gets out clean. This final season is a must watch. You want to tune in for every episode as it drops. Don't let it get spoiled for you. Starring Makai Curtis, Shameik Moore, Wendell Pierce, Joey Badass, Tony Danza and more. Catch the season premiere of raising Canaan June 12th only on Starz.
Lauren LaRosa
Hey y', all, what's up? It's Lauren LaRosa and I used to think that if something worked for everybody else, it should work for me too. So I was just layering products on, trying every routine I saw online and my hair just stayed dry, undefined and honestly it was frustrating. It felt like I was doing everything right but getting no results. What I had to unlearn is that hair isn't one size fits all. Once I started focusing on my hair and what I actually needed, everything changed. My hair felt softer, stronger and I finally started seeing real growth. That's why I love Baskin Leather. Their products are made specifically for textured hair and you can feel the difference. The stimulating scalp and hair bomb keeps my hair hydrated without the heavy greasy feel and it helps reduce breakage while adding shine and the hydrating hair mist. Oh it's perfect for keeping my curls soft, detangled and refreshed, especially in protective styles. I have thick textured hair that leans very dry so moisture and strength are everything for me and I've definitely seen an improvement in both even their before and after results. You can tell it's real growth and healthier hair and I love the fact that it's a black owned, family operated brand that started from a real need and real care. Explore viral bestsellers and products of healthier hair for all types from Baskin lather. Go to baskinlatherco.com and use code breakfast club for 20% off. That's 20% off@baskandlatherco.com Cold Breakfast Club a
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Lauren LaRosa
you already getting your material together for that?
Ron Taylor
Yeah. Yeah. Well, you know, kind of the nature of comedy is you're always writing. At least you should always be writing. So, you know, I've, I've prepared, I've collected jokes over the years. I've been doing this, what, 16 years. So you know, I've got a bunch of material. But once you're doing a special, you want it to be special. So whether I go from developing things that I already got or just coming up with new jokes, I'll take the time to like make sure that this special is as good as I could make it.
Charlamagne Tha God
Yeah.
Ron Taylor
You know, so.
Charlamagne Tha God
And you try and you have. You rehearse all of your material only in la or do you travel and do like you travel?
Ron Taylor
No, I'm all over the place.
Charlamagne Tha God
Okay, I know you are all over the place, but preparing for your special because some people don't take their special, the jokes that they're gonna do on their special, everywhere.
Ron Taylor
Right, right, right.
Charlamagne Tha God
Sometimes it's just like certain places.
Ron Taylor
Yeah, no, I'm not at that level.
Charlamagne Tha God
Cause the people record and all of that stuff and you wanna save. You don't wanna burn your.
Ron Taylor
That is fair. You are right. And I have run into that, I ran into that at the Netflix as a joke festival.
Charlamagne Tha God
Okay.
Ron Taylor
And I'm up there just talking about God knows what and people got their cameras up and say, hey, lady, put that camera down. She's smiling, keeping it up. Put the camera down.
Charlamagne Tha God
For real.
Ron Taylor
But I never had that issue before, so I'm not gonna let that stop me from, like, going out and, like, preparing the material. But, yeah, just wherever I can get up, that's where I'm going.
DJ Envy
Seems like comedy is. And I say this, Jess, all the time. It seems like they let the. I would say the handcuffs off a lot more recently. Right before, I seemed like comics were kind of nervous to say certain things. Cause I think society was so quick to cancel. Did you notice that at all?
Ron Taylor
Yeah, man. I think it's just, like, fun to have people be in trouble. You know, we just. As a society, it's like, if we can point and wag the finger, we will. So, like. So like the Kevin Hart roast that just took place, Correct? I was there, right?
Charlamagne Tha God
Yes.
Ron Taylor
All of those people are either friends or associates of mine. And none of these people are, like, going around, you know, bothering black people. Right. This is just their job. But the fact that we can say, oh, he's a racist, or this person is sexist or whatever, it's like this. As a society, we. We enjoy doing that.
DJ Envy
What did you think of the George Floyd jokes?
Ron Taylor
Well, to tell you the truth, I didn't know that it was what it was until afterward. I just heard something. Something George Floyd. It wasn't until afterwards when I heard the looking up at us, I was like, oh, God. But again, this is Tony Hinchcliffe. This is what he got paid to do. If he didn't do that, that'd be an issue. Now, if you don't want what Tony does, you don't hire him. But, you know, here we are, what, two weeks after, three weeks after, and we're still tossing.
Charlamagne Tha God
People are still in it.
Ron Taylor
But I know Tony. He's a great guy.
DJ Envy
I don't know. You can't say that after the George Floyd joke. But I will say this. You know, do you think that people took that roast and look at more of what Tony said, opposed to what the whole reason of the roast was? Yeah, yeah.
Ron Taylor
But again, like I said, that that's what we do, right? We nitpick just as human beings. Not the best of us, the worst, but just as human beings. We go, oh, this is something I don't like. Like, people call into the radio to complain about something. You don't call in and say, hey, I love that song. It's not what people do. People call in to complain. So the people that are the most vocal are the people who did not like. There's probably more that enjoyed it. They're just, like, on to the next thing, but, you know, just. They're jokes.
Charlamagne Tha God
Yeah.
Ron Taylor
There's people out here really doing this stuff.
Charlamagne Tha God
Yeah.
Ron Taylor
Nobody got mad or did anybody think about. What's his name? Derek Chauvin. How's he doing?
Lauren LaRosa
Well, they just actually. Yeah, there was a. They had just held a moment of silence for him, like he was a Republican.
Ron Taylor
He's dead.
Charlamagne Tha God
I thought he was. When they said moment of silence and
Lauren LaRosa
George Floyd's family actually said. Or a rep for the family. Gianna Floyd and George Floyd organization said that they felt like the roast actually led to that moment because it made people feel like it was cool to do. To support. Racist. Racist or racism.
Ron Taylor
Is he dead?
DJ Envy
No.
Lauren LaRosa
I'll look up why they held the moment of silence.
DJ Envy
Oh, we in jail.
Ron Taylor
Well, monkey flip him. You know, whatever. He'll be all right.
DJ Envy
Monkey flip him. Jesus Christ. And is there anything that you stay away from with your comedy?
Ron Taylor
Do you.
DJ Envy
Is like, you know what? I'm not gonna do politics, so I'm not gonna. Is there something that you avoid?
Ron Taylor
There's things that I don't do right now, for whatever reason. I don't avoid anything but, like, politics, you know, I'm not extremely versed in politics, you know, so I don't do that. It'd be difficult for me to talk about a family because I ain't got one. Right.
Charlamagne Tha God
Oh, man.
Ron Taylor
You know, I came from one, but I don't have.
DJ Envy
Yeah.
Ron Taylor
I ain't got no woman. I ain't got no kids, so it's difficult to talk about that. Relationships. I ain't really had too many of them.
DJ Envy
You said you had girls.
Ron Taylor
You said you were sleeping on girls,
Charlamagne Tha God
laughing right out their drawers.
Lauren LaRosa
So you was living with them girls, and y' all weren't even in a relationship.
Ron Taylor
These were situationships.
Lauren LaRosa
What's your sign?
Ron Taylor
I'm a Libra.
Charlamagne Tha God
He was looking for shelter.
Lauren LaRosa
Lawrence, I'm trying to figure out, like, what you were saying. And the woman were like, you know, you can't help to pay the bills. I just care for you so much. You just come in here and y' all not even in a relationship.
Charlamagne Tha God
Come here. Make me laugh.
Lauren LaRosa
Listen and sit down while we eat.
Ron Taylor
I was. I was throwing beef. I was throwing beef.
Charlamagne Tha God
Talk about Ron.
DJ Envy
They playing with you.
Charlamagne Tha God
He was laughing.
DJ Envy
Girls, they play. They act like you. Your name Diddy, and you walk around with little shrimp.
Charlamagne Tha God
You tell them. Tell them, Ron, listen, he ain't got that.
Lauren LaRosa
I'm not reference your.
Ron Taylor
I was in my look.
DJ Envy
I was in my. Throwing beef around.
Lauren LaRosa
Yeah.
Ron Taylor
I was in my 20s, you know what I'm saying? I had all the energy in the world. I was breaking stuff, you know, but we got it together at the right time. I'm in my 30s, you know, the energy start to decline.
Shopify Advertiser
Not this.
DJ Envy
He played too much.
Ron Taylor
Okay.
Lauren LaRosa
Are any of those women, like, still in your life today?
Ron Taylor
All of them. Yeah. Especially now, right?
Charlamagne Tha God
Yeah.
Ron Taylor
They hit me up. Call, how you doing? Shut up. Whatever they trying to get back in my life. I let them, too. I don't care. I love them.
Charlamagne Tha God
Throw some more beef.
Ron Taylor
Yeah, I know.
Charlamagne Tha God
That's right. How was the Tonight Show?
Ron Taylor
Tonight's show was great.
Charlamagne Tha God
Amazing.
Ron Taylor
You know, this entire, like, what would you call it? Run, I guess ascension has been wonderful. It's like there are different things that I thought I'd be doing. I just didn't know I would feel how I feel right now. When I was doing them. I envisioned myself being on the Breakfast Club. Right. But in my mind, I don't know, I was taller. I had a six pack. You know, I was cussing people out, trying to defend God knows what, you
Lauren LaRosa
know, you thought it'd be, like, a controversial moment.
Ron Taylor
Yeah, but that's just in the shower. What you think you're like, I'll tell you something, Charlemagne. You know, all that stuff. Right, Exactly. But more than that, like, I'm just here and is talking about the little shows I've done and what it's turned into. So when I was at the Tonight show, it's like, I didn't know that I'd feel that. I don't want to say nervous, but, like, all of this stuff is such a production.
Charlamagne Tha God
Yeah.
Ron Taylor
You know, you see it on TV and it's like, backdrop, blah, blah, blah. But there's, like, people. There's people's jobs to, like, hold your hand and stuff like that. I kind of felt a certain way when I did it, but I watched it yesterday. It came out great. Yeah, it's like, oh, yeah. I guess I am a professional, right?
Charlamagne Tha God
Overthinking.
Ron Taylor
Yeah.
Lauren LaRosa
Yo, you're a star.
DJ Envy
Are you shocked with your success? It seems like it.
Ron Taylor
Shocked. No, not shocked. It's more so, like, oh, okay. I mean, what it is.
Lauren LaRosa
I guess I'm here.
Ron Taylor
I guess. I guess it's here.
Lauren LaRosa
Is it hard for you to accept that you're here?
Ron Taylor
No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I mean, because obviously anything can go any way at any time.
Lauren LaRosa
Yeah.
Charlamagne Tha God
You just needed $20 last week from your mother.
DJ Envy
Yeah.
Ron Taylor
What's more interesting to me is keeping it and, like, you know, doubling up on it. Yeah. Right. So anybody can. I won a contest, you know. Now I had somebody tell me, like, hey, don't let anybody let you feel like you're a contest winner.
Lauren LaRosa
Right.
Ron Taylor
All of the work you did up until this point allowed you to succeed in that contest.
Charlamagne Tha God
I love that.
Ron Taylor
Well, that was Dave Chappelle.
Charlamagne Tha God
Nice.
Ron Taylor
Now I feel that. But also, I won a contest, period. So it's like, I gotta keep going, you know? Like, I'm here now. Like, I don't want to be on Vlad TV explaining some controversy after this. Like, I want to keep going week
Charlamagne Tha God
after week after week.
DJ Envy
What's your conversation with Kevin Hart like? If you have conversations?
Ron Taylor
Kevin is. He's just a. Just a magnanimous guy, you know? Like, people are asking me, like, how short is he? And I'm not, as the kids say, glazing right now. But, like, he. You don't feel that he's that short, right? Because, yes, he's wearing, you know, just jewelry, and he's just saying all this important stuff, and he's swinging around like, I'm gonna change your life like this. And then he does. So he's just a great guy. And you can tell he's like, he's just a smart dude. Just a smart dude. So the conversation we had was like, hey, you're on right now. I'm gonna make sure I have a vested interest in you. You failing is not good for me. All of you all doing good looks good on me. So I'm gonna make certain that you're good. And then here I am.
Charlamagne Tha God
He said he's swinging around.
Ron Taylor
That might have been the wrong language. I'm sorry about that.
DJ Envy
He is?
Charlamagne Tha God
Sure.
Ron Taylor
Okay.
DJ Envy
Now, if there was one thing you said you dreamed of taking a shower and cursing out charlamagne, what would you curse him out about? Is this something that he did to you to pitch you up? Because we can. We can jump him right now.
Ron Taylor
No, no, no, no. There was nothing in particular, like I said. You know, I just. I just thought. I didn't really think. But I don't know what to call it. But, like, when you just envision yourself places like, I'm be explaining something, I don't know why. I just put myself in trouble. Got you. Right. But I. You know, I've been a fan of the show forever. The only thing I would, you know, which. This is old news, but I ain't like what he did to Lil Mama. That was. Oh, my God.
Charlamagne Tha God
Every day I think about it, sometimes I cry for her.
Ron Taylor
Yeah, yeah, yeah. That was unfortunate.
DJ Envy
Him and Lil Mama was going back and forth with each other. That's how it started.
Ron Taylor
But it just. It looked like a jumping. It looked like. Looked like Charlamagne had four arms. Like, that was the way he got at her was just like, oh, God.
DJ Envy
You know, little mama's dad was gonna shoot me over that one one day. Yeah, I'll tell that another day. I was on the street one day, and, you know, he was working construction, and I was outside in my car, and all of a sudden I heard, yo, yo. And all of a sudden, all these construction workers started coming out.
Ron Taylor
And I'm like, all right.
DJ Envy
I'm not paying it no mind. I'm like, whatever. Maybe they know who I am. They want a picture.
Ron Taylor
Yeah.
DJ Envy
And I seen them go in the car. Cause his car was parked in front of me. A car was parked from me. And then I seen him put a pistol in his pocket. I'm like, oh, boy. And when he walked up, he was like. He's like, I'm little mama's dad. And you know what? I said, I'm not Charlamagne. He said, I'm not Charlamagne. But that's another story for another time.
Charlamagne Tha God
He walked up on Envy's van and was like, listen, he was talking about my daughter.
Ron Taylor
He was.
Charlamagne Tha God
And he was serious.
DJ Envy
He was. He was dead serious.
Ron Taylor
That's a hell of an intro. I'm Lil mama's dad. First of all, brother, what's your name?
DJ Envy
All right. But if he said his name was Charles, I wouldn't be like. I'm like, all right, Charles. No, that was the right intro.
Charlamagne Tha God
Right, right, right.
Ron Taylor
And the fact that he's working construction, it's like, brother, get back to work. It's so many factors involved in that. But I'm glad you're okay.
DJ Envy
I'm glad I'm alive, too. I'm glad we squashed that beef.
Ron Taylor
Yeah, man.
Charlamagne Tha God
Has there been a date set for your special?
Ron Taylor
No, not really. You know, we're looking at time frames, and of course, like, the closer, the better. What was more important, especially to me, is making sure that it's done. Making sure it's as good as I can have it be. Because I don't want to turn in a subpar. Yeah, you know, thing. So if that's next year, spring, summer, fall, then, you know, so be it. But right now, I'm just on the road, trying to make these jokes. I've never had to make jokes in a small window of time. I've had 16 years to make all the jokes in the world, but now, let's just say it was sometime next year. Okay, now you gotta make. I've never done that, so.
Charlamagne Tha God
Yeah, but it's fun. You got this.
DJ Envy
All right, well, how can people check you on tour? I know you on tour. I was gonna name some of your dates, but you got so many goddamn dates.
Charlamagne Tha God
I love it.
DJ Envy
So talk about how people. He says. Yeah, everywhere. Talk about people. I can follow you and definitely check you out on the road, brother.
Ron Taylor
Yeah, you can follow me at Comedian Ron T. On Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Actually, not on Twitter. I got kicked off. I had no idea.
DJ Envy
Why'd you get. What did you say?
Lauren LaRosa
Have you banned?
Ron Taylor
I don't know. Yeah, I got no. I never even used it. They just kicked me off. Who knows why?
Charlamagne Tha God
Eli thought you was, like, a Norbert fan page. And they don't be liking it. They try to ban it. They probably was like, we're banning this.
Ron Taylor
I told you. That hurts my feelings.
DJ Envy
You're a comedian.
Charlamagne Tha God
I don't know when to take his.
Ron Taylor
Sir, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Charlamagne Tha God
No more Nova jokes. No more.
DJ Envy
No.
Ron Taylor
But who knows why? But, yeah, I'm on there. My website actually just launched, which is. What is Comedian Ron Taylor dot com. Boom, there it is. Comedian Ron Taylor dot com.
Charlamagne Tha God
He got such an old soul, y'. All.
Ron Taylor
Yeah. On there you can find all of my dates and whatnot. I'm out every weekend to the end of this year. This is the I Ain't Ask My Mama For Nothing tour.
DJ Envy
Get that money back. I ain't mad at you.
Ron Taylor
Right.
DJ Envy
Did your mom come out to any of your dates?
Ron Taylor
She been coming out to everything ever since Funny af. She been coming out like a super fan.
DJ Envy
Okay.
Ron Taylor
That's my son. Whatever. I don't see that.
Lauren LaRosa
She had greatness in you. She just needed you to get to it faster.
Charlamagne Tha God
Right?
Ron Taylor
You know what? You're absolutely. You're absolutely correct. But, you know, you can't. You can't rush. You can't rush it. You know, but you're right. No, she. She put the greatness in me, you know, her and my father. So absolutely, you know, they're doing great. But still, come on out every weekend for the rest of this year so that I ain't ask my mama for nothing to her.
DJ Envy
Ladies and gentlemen, it's Ron Taylor. And we appreciate you for joining us. You better Come back when you're in New York. You better come back up on Star Shorty. We love it. Yeah, well, next time you're up here.
Ron Taylor
All right, Albany. Right on. All right. Good brother. Sweet.
DJ Envy
Ladies let you know this New Albany's
Charlamagne Tha God
like, he got West Nyack.
DJ Envy
He got city water. Next time, you do city riding. Yeah. City winery. Father's Day. There you go.
Ron Taylor
Right on.
DJ Envy
It's the Breakfast Club. Is Ron Taylor.
Charlamagne Tha God
Hold up.
DJ Envy
Every day I wake up.
Ron Taylor
Wake your ass up.
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Ron Taylor
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DJ Envy
This July 4th, come celebrate at America's Block Party hosted by America 250. America's Block Party is a can't miss 4th of July concert happening at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Experience music, performances from major artists, patriotic tributes and the kickoff to giving 4th, helping to make July 4th the largest day of giving in American history. It's more than just fireworks. Learn more about this landmark celebration at america250.org
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DJ Envy
It is like electricity blowing through your veins.
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DJ Envy
No one can ever be as good
Ron Taylor
as this right here.
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Lauren LaRosa
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The Breakfast Club – INTERVIEW: Ron Taylor Talks Winning 'Funny AF', Kevin Hart Roast, Stand-Up Comedy Tour + More
Aired: June 9, 2026
Hosts: DJ Envy, Lauren LaRosa, Charlamagne Tha God
Guest: Ron Taylor, Stand-Up Comedian
This episode features comedian Ron Taylor, fresh off his win on Netflix’s “Funny AF” competition. The hosts delve into Ron’s comedic origins in Detroit, his unique personal journey—including stretches of homelessness and living in his van—his inspirations, the realities of grinding in stand-up, and how winning has (and hasn’t) changed his life. Ron shares candid and humorous insights into the stand-up world, preparing for his special, dealing with controversial material, and the realities of rising fame and its pressures, all with his signature wit.
Kevin Hart Roast & George Floyd Jokes:
Boundaries in Comedy:
Ron Taylor’s story is one of resilience, raw hustle, and authentic comedy. The episode dives into the grind and sacrifice behind his rise, his approach to the art form, and what success looks like from the inside. Through it all, Ron remains grounded, reflective, and hilariously candid—embodying both the future and the old soul of stand-up comedy.