The Resource April 2014 Volume 1 Issue 004 | Page 9

Bear and it really encouraged
me to give it a shot.
THE RESOURCE - When did
you know it was what you
wanted to do? I had my first
opportunity to try stand up at a
Tito Ybarra show in Bemiji MN
with some comedian friends of
mine Chance Rush and Mylo
Smith. They encouraged me
and coached me through and I
was hooked after that.
THE RESOURCE - Do you
have a particular comedic
style, if you will? Any specific influences? I’d say Vaugh
Eagle Bear is probably the one
that influenced me most. He
has one liners and being an
emcee, I’m all about the one liner punchlines. But I love Mitche
Hedberg, Tim Vine, Steven
Wright, Stewart Francis, Jimmy
Car to name a few.
THE RESOURCE - Where do
you get your material? What
influences your comedy?
What process do you use to
develop your stand-up comedy material? I watch a lot online and something will stand
out and I’ll put my own native
twist on it sometimes. Other
times I’ll just look at my family
and the things that are funny
to me are just real stories from
home. It has taken me awhile
to come up with a solid set that
flows pretty good. So I’ll start
with one subject and make sure
it connects to the next subject.
If I have a new joke, I’ll put it on
Facebook or Twitter to try it out
and see if people think it’s funny
or not.
THE RESOURCE - How long
have you been performing
stand-up comedy? It’s been
about 3 years since I started.
THE RESOURCE - What kind
of jokes make you laugh?
And do you laugh at your own
jokes? The jokes that make me

laugh are the ones that catch
me off guard or they’re kinda
shocking I guess. And of course
one liners are the best, they
might not make me laugh out
loud, but if they make me nod
my head and say “thats clever”
they’ve succeeded. Yes I do
laugh at my own jokes maybe
more that I should. My wife and
my daughter are constantly rolling their eyes at me. Haha.
THE RESOURCE - There is
this stereotype that most comedians are angry or emotionally damaged in some
way. I’ve spoken to you on
several occasions and you
always seem very upbeat and

laugh, it’s more of a connection
than hip hop. Although, music
is very powerful too, so I’ll just
say I’m enjoying comedy more
these days. Plus with hip hop,
that image of being cool is there
with me where as with comedy,
it’s the opposite and challenges me to get out of my comfort
zone and to not care whether
they think I’m cool or not.
THE RESOURCE - Do you
think comedic abilities are
something someone either
has or doesn’t? Or do you
think it’s something that can
be learned? I think it can be
learned. Yes there are those
who are naturals at it and there

each other ugly.
THE RESOURCE - Is there
anything you have on your
Bucket List - whether personal or career—something
in your life that you want to
achieve that has yet to be accomplished? I wouldn’t mind
being on some of those late
night shows performing or like
the Ellen show or something
great like that. It would just
have that “I’ve made it” feel to
it. Haha
THE RSOURCE - You have
so many wonderful things on
your plate! What’s next for
you? What comedy adventures do you have planned
for the near future? I was just
named MTV’s artist of the week
and that has opened many
doors for me as a performer all
over the world. As far as comedy adventures, me and my
group The Illuminatives are
doing short videos and doing
some awesome shows around
Native country, so stay tuned
for that!
Last but not least, if you would
give us a schedule of your upcoming performances, to help
promote your appearances.

positive. Are you the exception or is stereotype a myth?
You know I’ve never heard that
before and now I’m examining
my life right now. Haha. I probably think it’s a myth. I don’t use
humor as a defense, mainly
more just to see other people
happy I guess. Me doing comedy is more of a challenge for
me a ́