Chris Thomas of "Rap City"
Chris Thomas Interview Transcription:
In an exclusive one on one interview at The Nelson Manor in Fort Washington, MD. BET’s The Mayor of "Rap City” Mr. Chris Thomas and Business Owner Yolanda Nelson sat for a candid conversation about Chris’s great accomplishments in comedy, challenges, faith, family, and what the future has in store. Chris’s creative comedy and wit on stage and television helped to set trends in hosting Rap shows at that time. Especially for a generation viewing something “new” in music culture. Thomas has helped to break down cultural barriers at a time when Rap wasn’t quite so “mainstream”. Chris’s skillful hosting abilities infused his brand of comedy with rap music videos that have made Hip Hop music more appealing to all.
Chris’s rise to celebrity in the late ’80s and early ’90s helped to bring Hip Hop into the “mainstream” at a time when it wasn’t widely accepted. As seen on BET’s Rap City, he infused his brand of comedy and commentary with Hip Hop Music. It inspired a diverse generation of new listeners, with upcoming talents in comedy. This year is the 30th Anniversary of Rap City. In honor of this, Chris is inspired to make his Rap City Comedy Club Tour a reality that will continue to allow him the platform to continue to make many laugh and capture new audiences.
Yolanda: What’s happening all? It’s Yolanda Nelson here at The Nelson Manor Luxury Vacation Rentals located just outside of our Nation’s Capital Washington, DC. Tonight’s episode is brought to you by our sponsors Copa Style Magazine, Planet DK Productions, and of course, The Nelson Manor Vacation Rentals.
Tonight, we have a special show and special guest who is known to be the “Mayor of Rap City.” He was BET’s Original Hip Hop King of Comedy, the longest-running rap video show in history. Please help me welcome …The Mayor of Rap City, Chris Thomas.”
“Thank you for your time today and joining us. It’s good to see you out here doing your thing. We are going to get right into it. I understand you had a knack for doing impersonations when you were really young, who were your major influences?”
Chris: “That’s exactly right! I first started out it was more of the cartoons with Donald Duck, Yogi Bear. (impersonations) They were basically the voices I grew up at 8 because I wasn’t identifying with no one TV shows than cartoons.”
Yolanda: “I understand you have mastered over 2,000 amazing realistic even celebrity voices.”
Chris: “Well, when people say I’m the man of 1,000 voices..the man of a million voices, that is showing that my capability that I’ve never had to do 2000 voices. I do, do a lot of impressions from my era. There were a lot of voices from Clark Gable, George Burns, John Wayne. ( impersonation) That was, to me, one of the most unique times in Hollywood and probably television.”
Yolanda: “So, your first audience was your family and friends?”
Chris: “Family and in school. In Jr high school I asked the Principal, could I start a Comedy Club, I didn't even know what a Comedy Club, what it was, but I was the only person in it.”
Yolanda: “It gave you a platform and an audience at a young age.”
Chris: “Exactly, and then it allowed me to be on the morning announcements. They would let me get up on the announcements and read off the menu of food that we going to eat for the day.”
Yolanda: “When you are young you get those people who will push you and encourage you at a young age. I know you, too are a believer in community and supporting young folks, people who are coming up.”
Chris: "Yes, I am. I’m a believer in faith. I believe that all good things happen for those who believe in good things. And family, we all have to be in touch because we grew up to see death, grew up to see people become wealthy, very famous. So we do see a lot of different things in our lifetime.”
Yolanda: “I think that human connection is very important. To look at you -people see fame, superstar but at heart, you are a caring person. Someone who likes to connect with people… I want to talk more about how I’ve heard some great stories about how you have encouraged young folks in the community coming up. There are comedians who are coming up now and look up to you and the work that you have done.”
Chris: “It’s a different time. And let’s reflect on when they say that. It's a different time because we didn't do things that the young people are doing now. I met a lot of people during my travels as a comedian to host a rap tour even to be in the presence of the Tupacs or Will Smiths.”
Yolanda: “Speaking about that on another bit of topic, you're speaking about all these people in history especially in hip-hop and rap and. We talked about this tour, you were the first comedian to host a Rap Tour. Run DMC, The Beastie Boys, and Public Enemy”
Chris: “Yes, I was. Russell Simmons had Russ Communications. So, my manager- who was actually the promoter of the show. He had to get the approval because it was a big risk for him to take on Hip Hop….. Even though it sold music in the record stores, no one knew how it would do on a national tour. Back then it really was not really considered music back then music with a band. It was a record player and the artists are rapping to music. That’s a gift too with the DJ. So they had told me the story I went to the Marriott Hotel in Washington DC and sat down with Run DMC and Jam Master Jay and they were telling me what they were thinking about. They said they had asked Chris Rock and he declined and……. I don’t know if I want to say it was an interview, but I suppose I met them to make them get a feel for more of what type of person I was off stage than I was onstage and we hit it off. I was asked to go on =tour that was during the height of their career when they had “Walk This Way”, “My Adidas”, Public Enemy.
Yolanda: “Was that when you were in their video with Public Enemy “Night of the Living Baseheads?” and your dance…”
Chris: “Night of the Living Baseheads"….“When I was on Rap City um... I was before the Bankhead Bounce. Immediately when they start doing it, people would say..” They are doing your dance!” So how it happened, I would be in the studio and we would go into a commercial break. Um... My producer said that I needed to do something different other than just standing still in front of the camera. I couldn’t just stand up in front of the camera because of how the shot was. So I just started doing this.. (shaking and bouncing his left arm gesturing the dance move) with the beat and they called it “The Mayor”. That’s how it was created. Well... Rap City was created by Alvin Jones, he’s a local DJ he use to do the "Quiet Storm" on WHUR and he created "Rap City." There was another TV show, "Yo MTV Raps!" Rap City, T was so much more than YO because It was more diverse….they thought that Black Hip Hop was tainting the young white kids. So Rap City opened up a lot of doors in most magazine write-ups, they said that Rap City...during my time, extended through the other hosts, were the most important to HIP HOP.”
Yolanda: “I came from that generation. It definitely inspired the culture. I remember watching the music videos that raised a generation of us to love the music and the culture. At that time, it wasn’t accepted as easily and it took some time for it to catch on.”
Chris: “I have to be honest. Fab 5 Freddy, Dr. Dre and Ed Lover, don’t get me wrong.. knew HIP HOP was a “New York thing” and they shared it with the world. There sure was...There were limitations that MTV allowed them to do.”
Yolanda:” Exactly...To make it (Hip Hop) more pleasing to the masses?”
Chris: “Yes, your right…. To make it more appealing ...That really helped the white kids bought more of the music. so...That’s when the doors opened up we were supporters of the music, but when they were buying the music….. Once they bought the music, they took it at a point to buy the whole album and get in support of and behind the artist. When RUN DMC did the record. “Walk This Way”. That was probably one of the first times that it was experimented with a hot rap group.”
Yolanda: “I can see how your role as “The Mayor” of Rap City kind of kept things balanced at times. Kept the interviews-- funny, you done it in a freestyle way to lighten the mood. You really did a lot during that time in brokering and bringing that (the acceptance of hip hop in the mainstream) culture forth and how it was conveyed through the television. It wasn’t easy to accept this new music ( hip hop)at that time.”
Chris: “You are exactly right! It was Will Smith who got the door open for me. Through the travels that we use to all do, it was after every concert. Will Smith, DMC, Flavor Flav and myself, we would always get together and talk after the concerts. We use to have interesting conversations. When I got the show on BET he was one of my guests, Will saw me reading the teleprompter. “Yo Homies and Homettes...Welcome to Rap City” He was like….“What in the hell are they doing to Chris?” “Just let him flow, he knows Hip Hop, and ….they took his advice that is when RAP CITY took off the producers asked me, “What do you want to do today?” I said, “well let's pretend I'm a pizza delivery guy, and I’m climbing over a mountain….you know... you can do anything on camera.” I brought some creativity and They (producers) were creative too because now their minds got to thinking too.”
Yolanda: “All the possibilities at this point. Would you say you were a pioneer? Is that too heavy to say?”
Chris: “It’s not heavy because I’m sure there were somebody else, but it wasn’t doing HIP HOP and Rap videos. Yo MTV RAPS did rap videos, but they weren’t incorporating comedy with it. It was more so straight talk.”
Yolanda: ”Is that is what makes you so unique and your position so unique? You warmed the crowds up and broke the monotony between acts. If something happened in a show, you had to come out save the day.”
Chris: “That was my job. These were no small audiences. There were thousands there and the kids in the audience could be rude too. They threw money, quarters real hard.”
Yolanda: “I was going to ask you… What were some of those challenges you faced of being a comedian on stage?”
Chris: “They didn’t really target me because I kept it moving. The kids could be ruthless, even though they were there to hear the music. Don’t know how they were raised or what was on their mind. There is always a few in every bunch.”
Yolanda: “That’s was what I was going to say the challenges are in comedy, the performing part and then too, the real life. People expect you to be funny all the time. They forget you are a human being and need to respect your time and space.”
Chris: "Exactly, We are all comedians, I’m just extending myself to talk about some things that happen to me in front of a larger audience. It’s a wonderful thing to see people laugh.”
Yolanda: “I see you get a lot of joy from that.”
Chris: “I do... I think it is better that people smile than be upset. Cause being upset or something that you cant change i9s gonna make you just more angrier.”
Yolanda: “It is for me, I love a good sense of humor. It’s good medicine and helps to relieve stress. It makes being around company easier and better.”
Chris: “Opens doors up. Loosen them up. That’s exactly right!”
Yolanda: “People can be themselves. I know you say the generations are different. Do you have anyone today that you like to watch as far as comedians are concerned?”
Chris: “George Wallace, Paul Mooney. When I traveled with Jamie Foxx, I got to sort of see myself. As Even though he’s an impersonator, he plays the piano. I got to see another side of comedy…..um It’s hard to make me laugh. Bernie Mac use to have me rolling cause we use to travel together,... after we did the Kings of Comedy, he asked me to go on tour with him. Me and Bernie got to sit back and would converse on a regular basis. He was one of those extraordinary individuals. He didn’t trust too many people either.”
Yolanda: “I had a chance to meet him in 1991 on the Def Comedy Tour…... and was an amazing human being. I enjoyed speaking to him as honoring for his craft he was very respectful. A completely different persona than what he was on stage. Very humble.”
Chris: “That’s right! very laid back….he didn’t hang out...and He loved his wife too. Bernie had a favorite saying he said one time when we were on tour in Japan”. I told him “Bernie, let’s go out and meet some Japanese woman”. He told me (Bernie Mac voice) “Chris, I am going out there to mess with nobody. “Them woman they shoot that venom at ya.”
Yolanda: “I respected him for being faithful to his wife... Has faith and family, togetherness those are things that have grounded you?”
Chris: “The Creator has given a lot of it to you. Living Proof that children can be raised with parents as preachers and they will do the total opposite of how they were raised. It’s how you analyze things about wrong and right. I mean I use to get my butt whipped. A Lot of it was me being analytical of seeing how my friends would react to certain things. Which made me say, That’s not what I want to do.”
Yolanda: “Changing gears, 30 years is a long time. You are very accomplished in all you have done.”
Chris: “I wished I would of saved a few more dollars…..” but, It’s not over...
Yolanda: “So, tell me what you are doing now and what you are planning for the future?
Chris: I always wanted to have my own Comedy Club and even though certain people brought me into their dreams of owning. I just never had the help…. On anything you do, you have to have some type of help to understand what you are doing. As soon as I leave, now the comedy club is a strip club and that was the problem I was having with some of the folks that I had brought in…..that could of had an opportunity to make a lot of money.” And I don’t have to be assertive and argue and tell them … they know!” “They know what got us there...but sometimes you can’t always bring friends into business unless they understand about what you are trying to do… because at the end of the day, they are going to want YOU to understand.
Yolanda: “Those can be the stumbling blocks.”
Chris: “Though people do you wrong, they know they are wrong. You can still be friends with them, You don’t have to bring them out no more. Bernie Mac told me a story one time about his cousin who came over the house and there was $15,000 on my table. My wife ain’t got to steal it, my kids ain’t got to steal it. But her cousin was over the house.” “The next morning I got up and decided to count it again. $5,000 was gone.” I said. Did you say anything? Bernie said, “No, I didn’t say an MF thing”, but I just didn’t have them back over my house again.” (Thomas) He didn’t say anything to that person because he was still making money and didn’t need to make it no argument. He let it spill over and kept it going. Just can’t be around them.”
Yolanda: “Tell me about the future for you? What are you doing now? I know you are still doing some comedy.”
Chris: “I’m on the radio now, The Chris Thomas Radio Show. I actually do a show with one of the RedSkins Radio HOGS... right after I do my show. I have a podcast starting soon too. Everyone will have to keep listening to find out when The Chris Thomas Comedians Club will be on. I don’t know when this interview comes on. Just keep looking out for it. On top of that...I have been asked to do a few things with Netflix and Hulu. Actually, I’ve always had a movie that I wanted to do. So, I’m still doing a lot of different things. I’m still going to get my Comedy Club.”
Yolanda: “Right….I believe it’s a great next chapter for you.”
Chris: “Welp.. you exactly right. But comedy clubs close down like night clubs and it shouldn’t. People have the money , but that have the proper training and understanding about it. Not because the person says because I'm a comedian, because we all are comedians. I know a lot of comedians from Chris Thomas to Bruce Bruce to S’More. A lot of things came out of the relationship with Whoopi Goldberg. I was on Star Search and got a perfect score.
Yolanda: Whoopi is amazing.
Chris: “Yes she was. People come and ask me to be on a lot of shows. Sometimes you got to choose the time and place when you want to do things. I don’t want to be stereotyped in roles. I’m blazing my own trail. My thing is basically… I enjoy interviewing people without a script. I just want to do it.”
After 30 years later, after RAP CITY. I’m glad people still love the show. I'm thinking of trying to produce a different type of show .. but with the phone and the internet, people don’t have to go home and watch video shows anymore. it’s not necessary to have a video show anymore. To just sit and have a talk… I don’t want to overextend myself.” I’m on this talk show… and that talk show.
Yolanda: “Isn’t that part of branding tho? Getting yourself out there? To get on as many venues as you can? This is how the new generation is doing it now. Some people have different means of getting your message out and want to try to get on as many venues as you can. With your repertoire, with your resume?”
Chris: “Sometimes things can be overexposure. You could put yourself in a situation and 10 years later, it can come back to haunt you. The crazy thing is.. to just sit and have a talk. I don’t want to overextend myself.”
Yolanda: “True, I get that. It can be good. This internet can be good and it can work against you. So what are you doing now? ..comedy shows, radio shows.. and touring?”
Chris: “Comedy shows and traveling. I’m doing My Rap City Comedy Tour.
Yolanda: Yes! Please talk about that.
Chris: I’m using it as a base to still do comedy and put a few HIP HOP artists on it. To turn it into a big tour would mean I would have more Rap artists and not do as much comedy. It would be more hip hop than comedy.”
Yolanda: “I know that you have a whole generation my age and up.. like me who would love to see it. To see all of my favorites, would take me back to hear the music.... Have a great carefree time and help me laugh. Is there anything else you want to tell the people?”
Chris: “Life is a never-ending story. As long as I am still around, the story... there is still something to talk about.”
Yolanda: “That’s right! So any new comedians coming up, is there anything you want to tell them?”
Chris: “Be original. I think that I wanted to be Superman, but I realized I couldn’t fly. So You have to be real with yourself and...Telling someone else’s story doesn’t help, but it will help you because now you are learning how to tell someone else YOUR story. You can’t write someone else’s book and say it’s your book. People know because people backtrack, It’s called fact finding. Be real.. If you love what you do, constantly do it. Grooming your craft. Try to be more unique, there is no trend on how you act. Don’t be like a comedian and sang as a singer.” “From Charlie Wilson, they say the same thing. Love, Love, Love. Sometimes you think they are picking with the word love.” Depends on how you sing it.
Yolanda: “Everyone,... Chris Thomas. I’m Yolanda Nelson, on behalf of our sponsors The Nelson Manor Luxury Vacation Rentals, Copa Style Magazine, Planet DK Productions. I would like to thank you for tuning in and watching. Thank you to you Chris Thomas for sitting with us.”
Chris: (In Barack Obama Voice) “Thank you. GoodBye EveryBody. This is Barack everybody! Good Luck and GoodBye!”
As we finished our interview with a good laugh, I couldn’t help but think that there is even more on the horizon for Mr. Chris Thomas in his weekly radio show, comedy shows, and upcoming Rap City Comedy Tour. So, just keep listening, supporting and watching. The best is yet to come.
Written by
Yolanda Nelson
CEO & Concierge at The Nelson Manor
CopaStyle Magazine
Planet DK Productions
In an exclusive one on one interview at The Nelson Manor in Fort Washington, MD. BET’s The Mayor of "Rap City” Mr. Chris Thomas and Business Owner Yolanda Nelson sat for a candid conversation about Chris’s great accomplishments in comedy, challenges, faith, family, and what the future has in store. Chris’s creative comedy and wit on stage and television helped to set trends in hosting Rap shows at that time. Especially for a generation viewing something “new” in music culture. Thomas has helped to break down cultural barriers at a time when Rap wasn’t quite so “mainstream”. Chris’s skillful hosting abilities infused his brand of comedy with rap music videos that have made Hip Hop music more appealing to all.
Chris’s rise to celebrity in the late ’80s and early ’90s helped to bring Hip Hop into the “mainstream” at a time when it wasn’t widely accepted. As seen on BET’s Rap City, he infused his brand of comedy and commentary with Hip Hop Music. It inspired a diverse generation of new listeners, with upcoming talents in comedy. This year is the 30th Anniversary of Rap City. In honor of this, Chris is inspired to make his Rap City Comedy Club Tour a reality that will continue to allow him the platform to continue to make many laugh and capture new audiences.
Yolanda: What’s happening all? It’s Yolanda Nelson here at The Nelson Manor Luxury Vacation Rentals located just outside of our Nation’s Capital Washington, DC. Tonight’s episode is brought to you by our sponsors Copa Style Magazine, Planet DK Productions, and of course, The Nelson Manor Vacation Rentals.
Tonight, we have a special show and special guest who is known to be the “Mayor of Rap City.” He was BET’s Original Hip Hop King of Comedy, the longest-running rap video show in history. Please help me welcome …The Mayor of Rap City, Chris Thomas.”
“Thank you for your time today and joining us. It’s good to see you out here doing your thing. We are going to get right into it. I understand you had a knack for doing impersonations when you were really young, who were your major influences?”
Chris: “That’s exactly right! I first started out it was more of the cartoons with Donald Duck, Yogi Bear. (impersonations) They were basically the voices I grew up at 8 because I wasn’t identifying with no one TV shows than cartoons.”
Yolanda: “I understand you have mastered over 2,000 amazing realistic even celebrity voices.”
Chris: “Well, when people say I’m the man of 1,000 voices..the man of a million voices, that is showing that my capability that I’ve never had to do 2000 voices. I do, do a lot of impressions from my era. There were a lot of voices from Clark Gable, George Burns, John Wayne. ( impersonation) That was, to me, one of the most unique times in Hollywood and probably television.”
Yolanda: “So, your first audience was your family and friends?”
Chris: “Family and in school. In Jr high school I asked the Principal, could I start a Comedy Club, I didn't even know what a Comedy Club, what it was, but I was the only person in it.”
Yolanda: “It gave you a platform and an audience at a young age.”
Chris: “Exactly, and then it allowed me to be on the morning announcements. They would let me get up on the announcements and read off the menu of food that we going to eat for the day.”
Yolanda: “When you are young you get those people who will push you and encourage you at a young age. I know you, too are a believer in community and supporting young folks, people who are coming up.”
Chris: "Yes, I am. I’m a believer in faith. I believe that all good things happen for those who believe in good things. And family, we all have to be in touch because we grew up to see death, grew up to see people become wealthy, very famous. So we do see a lot of different things in our lifetime.”
Yolanda: “I think that human connection is very important. To look at you -people see fame, superstar but at heart, you are a caring person. Someone who likes to connect with people… I want to talk more about how I’ve heard some great stories about how you have encouraged young folks in the community coming up. There are comedians who are coming up now and look up to you and the work that you have done.”
Chris: “It’s a different time. And let’s reflect on when they say that. It's a different time because we didn't do things that the young people are doing now. I met a lot of people during my travels as a comedian to host a rap tour even to be in the presence of the Tupacs or Will Smiths.”
Yolanda: “Speaking about that on another bit of topic, you're speaking about all these people in history especially in hip-hop and rap and. We talked about this tour, you were the first comedian to host a Rap Tour. Run DMC, The Beastie Boys, and Public Enemy”
Chris: “Yes, I was. Russell Simmons had Russ Communications. So, my manager- who was actually the promoter of the show. He had to get the approval because it was a big risk for him to take on Hip Hop….. Even though it sold music in the record stores, no one knew how it would do on a national tour. Back then it really was not really considered music back then music with a band. It was a record player and the artists are rapping to music. That’s a gift too with the DJ. So they had told me the story I went to the Marriott Hotel in Washington DC and sat down with Run DMC and Jam Master Jay and they were telling me what they were thinking about. They said they had asked Chris Rock and he declined and……. I don’t know if I want to say it was an interview, but I suppose I met them to make them get a feel for more of what type of person I was off stage than I was onstage and we hit it off. I was asked to go on =tour that was during the height of their career when they had “Walk This Way”, “My Adidas”, Public Enemy.
Yolanda: “Was that when you were in their video with Public Enemy “Night of the Living Baseheads?” and your dance…”
Chris: “Night of the Living Baseheads"….“When I was on Rap City um... I was before the Bankhead Bounce. Immediately when they start doing it, people would say..” They are doing your dance!” So how it happened, I would be in the studio and we would go into a commercial break. Um... My producer said that I needed to do something different other than just standing still in front of the camera. I couldn’t just stand up in front of the camera because of how the shot was. So I just started doing this.. (shaking and bouncing his left arm gesturing the dance move) with the beat and they called it “The Mayor”. That’s how it was created. Well... Rap City was created by Alvin Jones, he’s a local DJ he use to do the "Quiet Storm" on WHUR and he created "Rap City." There was another TV show, "Yo MTV Raps!" Rap City, T was so much more than YO because It was more diverse….they thought that Black Hip Hop was tainting the young white kids. So Rap City opened up a lot of doors in most magazine write-ups, they said that Rap City...during my time, extended through the other hosts, were the most important to HIP HOP.”
Yolanda: “I came from that generation. It definitely inspired the culture. I remember watching the music videos that raised a generation of us to love the music and the culture. At that time, it wasn’t accepted as easily and it took some time for it to catch on.”
Chris: “I have to be honest. Fab 5 Freddy, Dr. Dre and Ed Lover, don’t get me wrong.. knew HIP HOP was a “New York thing” and they shared it with the world. There sure was...There were limitations that MTV allowed them to do.”
Yolanda:” Exactly...To make it (Hip Hop) more pleasing to the masses?”
Chris: “Yes, your right…. To make it more appealing ...That really helped the white kids bought more of the music. so...That’s when the doors opened up we were supporters of the music, but when they were buying the music….. Once they bought the music, they took it at a point to buy the whole album and get in support of and behind the artist. When RUN DMC did the record. “Walk This Way”. That was probably one of the first times that it was experimented with a hot rap group.”
Yolanda: “I can see how your role as “The Mayor” of Rap City kind of kept things balanced at times. Kept the interviews-- funny, you done it in a freestyle way to lighten the mood. You really did a lot during that time in brokering and bringing that (the acceptance of hip hop in the mainstream) culture forth and how it was conveyed through the television. It wasn’t easy to accept this new music ( hip hop)at that time.”
Chris: “You are exactly right! It was Will Smith who got the door open for me. Through the travels that we use to all do, it was after every concert. Will Smith, DMC, Flavor Flav and myself, we would always get together and talk after the concerts. We use to have interesting conversations. When I got the show on BET he was one of my guests, Will saw me reading the teleprompter. “Yo Homies and Homettes...Welcome to Rap City” He was like….“What in the hell are they doing to Chris?” “Just let him flow, he knows Hip Hop, and ….they took his advice that is when RAP CITY took off the producers asked me, “What do you want to do today?” I said, “well let's pretend I'm a pizza delivery guy, and I’m climbing over a mountain….you know... you can do anything on camera.” I brought some creativity and They (producers) were creative too because now their minds got to thinking too.”
Yolanda: “All the possibilities at this point. Would you say you were a pioneer? Is that too heavy to say?”
Chris: “It’s not heavy because I’m sure there were somebody else, but it wasn’t doing HIP HOP and Rap videos. Yo MTV RAPS did rap videos, but they weren’t incorporating comedy with it. It was more so straight talk.”
Yolanda: ”Is that is what makes you so unique and your position so unique? You warmed the crowds up and broke the monotony between acts. If something happened in a show, you had to come out save the day.”
Chris: “That was my job. These were no small audiences. There were thousands there and the kids in the audience could be rude too. They threw money, quarters real hard.”
Yolanda: “I was going to ask you… What were some of those challenges you faced of being a comedian on stage?”
Chris: “They didn’t really target me because I kept it moving. The kids could be ruthless, even though they were there to hear the music. Don’t know how they were raised or what was on their mind. There is always a few in every bunch.”
Yolanda: “That’s was what I was going to say the challenges are in comedy, the performing part and then too, the real life. People expect you to be funny all the time. They forget you are a human being and need to respect your time and space.”
Chris: "Exactly, We are all comedians, I’m just extending myself to talk about some things that happen to me in front of a larger audience. It’s a wonderful thing to see people laugh.”
Yolanda: “I see you get a lot of joy from that.”
Chris: “I do... I think it is better that people smile than be upset. Cause being upset or something that you cant change i9s gonna make you just more angrier.”
Yolanda: “It is for me, I love a good sense of humor. It’s good medicine and helps to relieve stress. It makes being around company easier and better.”
Chris: “Opens doors up. Loosen them up. That’s exactly right!”
Yolanda: “People can be themselves. I know you say the generations are different. Do you have anyone today that you like to watch as far as comedians are concerned?”
Chris: “George Wallace, Paul Mooney. When I traveled with Jamie Foxx, I got to sort of see myself. As Even though he’s an impersonator, he plays the piano. I got to see another side of comedy…..um It’s hard to make me laugh. Bernie Mac use to have me rolling cause we use to travel together,... after we did the Kings of Comedy, he asked me to go on tour with him. Me and Bernie got to sit back and would converse on a regular basis. He was one of those extraordinary individuals. He didn’t trust too many people either.”
Yolanda: “I had a chance to meet him in 1991 on the Def Comedy Tour…... and was an amazing human being. I enjoyed speaking to him as honoring for his craft he was very respectful. A completely different persona than what he was on stage. Very humble.”
Chris: “That’s right! very laid back….he didn’t hang out...and He loved his wife too. Bernie had a favorite saying he said one time when we were on tour in Japan”. I told him “Bernie, let’s go out and meet some Japanese woman”. He told me (Bernie Mac voice) “Chris, I am going out there to mess with nobody. “Them woman they shoot that venom at ya.”
Yolanda: “I respected him for being faithful to his wife... Has faith and family, togetherness those are things that have grounded you?”
Chris: “The Creator has given a lot of it to you. Living Proof that children can be raised with parents as preachers and they will do the total opposite of how they were raised. It’s how you analyze things about wrong and right. I mean I use to get my butt whipped. A Lot of it was me being analytical of seeing how my friends would react to certain things. Which made me say, That’s not what I want to do.”
Yolanda: “Changing gears, 30 years is a long time. You are very accomplished in all you have done.”
Chris: “I wished I would of saved a few more dollars…..” but, It’s not over...
Yolanda: “So, tell me what you are doing now and what you are planning for the future?
Chris: I always wanted to have my own Comedy Club and even though certain people brought me into their dreams of owning. I just never had the help…. On anything you do, you have to have some type of help to understand what you are doing. As soon as I leave, now the comedy club is a strip club and that was the problem I was having with some of the folks that I had brought in…..that could of had an opportunity to make a lot of money.” And I don’t have to be assertive and argue and tell them … they know!” “They know what got us there...but sometimes you can’t always bring friends into business unless they understand about what you are trying to do… because at the end of the day, they are going to want YOU to understand.
Yolanda: “Those can be the stumbling blocks.”
Chris: “Though people do you wrong, they know they are wrong. You can still be friends with them, You don’t have to bring them out no more. Bernie Mac told me a story one time about his cousin who came over the house and there was $15,000 on my table. My wife ain’t got to steal it, my kids ain’t got to steal it. But her cousin was over the house.” “The next morning I got up and decided to count it again. $5,000 was gone.” I said. Did you say anything? Bernie said, “No, I didn’t say an MF thing”, but I just didn’t have them back over my house again.” (Thomas) He didn’t say anything to that person because he was still making money and didn’t need to make it no argument. He let it spill over and kept it going. Just can’t be around them.”
Yolanda: “Tell me about the future for you? What are you doing now? I know you are still doing some comedy.”
Chris: “I’m on the radio now, The Chris Thomas Radio Show. I actually do a show with one of the RedSkins Radio HOGS... right after I do my show. I have a podcast starting soon too. Everyone will have to keep listening to find out when The Chris Thomas Comedians Club will be on. I don’t know when this interview comes on. Just keep looking out for it. On top of that...I have been asked to do a few things with Netflix and Hulu. Actually, I’ve always had a movie that I wanted to do. So, I’m still doing a lot of different things. I’m still going to get my Comedy Club.”
Yolanda: “Right….I believe it’s a great next chapter for you.”
Chris: “Welp.. you exactly right. But comedy clubs close down like night clubs and it shouldn’t. People have the money , but that have the proper training and understanding about it. Not because the person says because I'm a comedian, because we all are comedians. I know a lot of comedians from Chris Thomas to Bruce Bruce to S’More. A lot of things came out of the relationship with Whoopi Goldberg. I was on Star Search and got a perfect score.
Yolanda: Whoopi is amazing.
Chris: “Yes she was. People come and ask me to be on a lot of shows. Sometimes you got to choose the time and place when you want to do things. I don’t want to be stereotyped in roles. I’m blazing my own trail. My thing is basically… I enjoy interviewing people without a script. I just want to do it.”
After 30 years later, after RAP CITY. I’m glad people still love the show. I'm thinking of trying to produce a different type of show .. but with the phone and the internet, people don’t have to go home and watch video shows anymore. it’s not necessary to have a video show anymore. To just sit and have a talk… I don’t want to overextend myself.” I’m on this talk show… and that talk show.
Yolanda: “Isn’t that part of branding tho? Getting yourself out there? To get on as many venues as you can? This is how the new generation is doing it now. Some people have different means of getting your message out and want to try to get on as many venues as you can. With your repertoire, with your resume?”
Chris: “Sometimes things can be overexposure. You could put yourself in a situation and 10 years later, it can come back to haunt you. The crazy thing is.. to just sit and have a talk. I don’t want to overextend myself.”
Yolanda: “True, I get that. It can be good. This internet can be good and it can work against you. So what are you doing now? ..comedy shows, radio shows.. and touring?”
Chris: “Comedy shows and traveling. I’m doing My Rap City Comedy Tour.
Yolanda: Yes! Please talk about that.
Chris: I’m using it as a base to still do comedy and put a few HIP HOP artists on it. To turn it into a big tour would mean I would have more Rap artists and not do as much comedy. It would be more hip hop than comedy.”
Yolanda: “I know that you have a whole generation my age and up.. like me who would love to see it. To see all of my favorites, would take me back to hear the music.... Have a great carefree time and help me laugh. Is there anything else you want to tell the people?”
Chris: “Life is a never-ending story. As long as I am still around, the story... there is still something to talk about.”
Yolanda: “That’s right! So any new comedians coming up, is there anything you want to tell them?”
Chris: “Be original. I think that I wanted to be Superman, but I realized I couldn’t fly. So You have to be real with yourself and...Telling someone else’s story doesn’t help, but it will help you because now you are learning how to tell someone else YOUR story. You can’t write someone else’s book and say it’s your book. People know because people backtrack, It’s called fact finding. Be real.. If you love what you do, constantly do it. Grooming your craft. Try to be more unique, there is no trend on how you act. Don’t be like a comedian and sang as a singer.” “From Charlie Wilson, they say the same thing. Love, Love, Love. Sometimes you think they are picking with the word love.” Depends on how you sing it.
Yolanda: “Everyone,... Chris Thomas. I’m Yolanda Nelson, on behalf of our sponsors The Nelson Manor Luxury Vacation Rentals, Copa Style Magazine, Planet DK Productions. I would like to thank you for tuning in and watching. Thank you to you Chris Thomas for sitting with us.”
Chris: (In Barack Obama Voice) “Thank you. GoodBye EveryBody. This is Barack everybody! Good Luck and GoodBye!”
As we finished our interview with a good laugh, I couldn’t help but think that there is even more on the horizon for Mr. Chris Thomas in his weekly radio show, comedy shows, and upcoming Rap City Comedy Tour. So, just keep listening, supporting and watching. The best is yet to come.
Written by
Yolanda Nelson
CEO & Concierge at The Nelson Manor
CopaStyle Magazine
Planet DK Productions