*The Locale: Times Square Arts Center, West 42nd Street & 8th Avenue, New York City
*The Event: Inaugural 'This Is 50 Comedy' Show. (Rapper/Entrepeneur 50 Cent)
RG: Why did you get into doing comedy for a living?
YJT: Well, I started doing comedy because I was always a funny-looking dude and what not. (Laughs)
I spent a lot of time defending myself in school and everything, and through drawing from those personal experiences I got really good. I've been doing comedy professionally since I was 18 years old. (DOB: May 7, 1982)
RG: What was your grind like when you first started out?
YJT: There's been a lot of 'no's,' a lot of ridicule, a lot of boos and a lot of lonely nights. I was constantly going out onstage and working things out - just trying to be No.1. It hasn't been easy by any means. I had to move up to New York City from Atlanta to get it popped off, man. I once heard Chris Rock say, 'If you want to be a real comedian and take things seriously, you've got to move to New York City, hone your craft, and that's how you'll become a better comic.' At the same time, I heard that 50 Cent was looking for writers, comedians and actors. 50 Cent was starting a new company called Cheetah Vision. I took my small-time hustle from Atlanta, moved up to New York City around August of 2009, and I ain't know know how I was gonna find 50 Cent and shit! (Both me & Jack share a laugh)
In the meantime, I started shooting viral videos and sent them to ThisIs50.com, and after like four months (January 2010), 50 called me. I went to his office and he asked me if I wanted to be a G-Unit comedian, or do weekly recaps or be on satellite radio - I said 'yeah' and it's been on and poppin' ever since! 50 always preaches, 'If we're not making stars, then what are we doing?' I want to give back to the comedy game because I've been so blessed. It's taken my career from 1 all the way to 100 trillion as far as popularity and gettin' money is concerned and I'm only just getting better! I also wanna put my comedian buddies on to the game, you know? That's what I'm all about. I'm trying to be the next Keenan Ivory Wayans, the next Robert Townsend. They've spawned careers for a lot of talented individuals.
RG: What other projects do you have going on outside of ThisIs50Comedy.com?
YJT: Look out for me hopefully in Nick Cannon's 'Wildin' Out - The Next Generation' in the near future.
http://www.youngjackthriller.com/
