Either way, funny man Donnell Rawlings is making moves and has been setting a name for himself in the comedy scene and in television shows. Vibe.com sat down and asked the guest host of Chappelle’s Lost Episodes 20 Questions.
Vibe.com: Did being a comedian come naturally or was it at all an escape from anything…in life…as a young kid?
Donnell Rawlings: I think it’s been a natural thing for me. I been funny all my life. It started off fun but now it became an escape.
As a comedian/actor, do you find it hard to become a new character or to take on a certain role?
Donnell Rawlings: No, not really. Normally the characters I do, I draw them from certain life experiences or somebody I met and I just bring them into me and pretty much create the person that I bcome. (laughs) I embody the character that is Donnell. I don’t find it hard at all.
At what age did you figure out comedy was your niche?
Donnell Rawlings: I was like 21.
What do you think makes you unique?
Donnell Rawlings: What makes me unique as a performer? I don’t do “hacky” jokes…
Besides comedy, is there anything you are passionate about?
Donnell Rawlings: I’m passionate about life. I love to live, love and have fun.
right Do you enjoy comedy more or do you equally enjoy other roles you may play such as those like in “Third Watch”, “The Corner”, “The Wire”, etc…?
Donnell Rawlings: Comedy is more natural for me and acting is more challenging for me.
What can we expect from your stand up show?
Donnell Rawlings: A lot of funny stuff. Reality enforced through comedy and I take everyday experiences and put them back in people’s faces. Just reality, a lot of stuff people can relate to.
Can you speak about your role in “Spider Man 2”?
Donnell Rawlings: Yea, I can. Spiderman stole that guy’s pizza!! (laughs)
What’s it like to work with Dave Chappelle?
Donnell Rawlings: It’s awesome. A lot of time when someone’s the star of the show, they don’t really let the co-stars shine, but he lets you really express your comedic ability. He trusts your judgment and lets you do whatever you want to do with some guidelines. I respect him a lot.
Who came up with the characters “Ashy Larry” and “Beautiful”?
Donnell Rawlings: Well, Ashy Larry was a character already in the script who was gonna wear boxers and socks and his shoes. When I was young I used to shoot dice myself and my mother would always bust me when I got home. She’d be like, “Where you been, you been shootin’ dice?” and I’d be like, “Nah, I wasn’t shootin’ dice.” But then she’d be like, “Look at your knees, you’re knees are ashy.” So when they gave me the breakdown for the script for the character, I told Neal Brennan that I wanted to be ashy as hell and they fell in love with it. Dave and Neil brought the Larry and I brought the ashy.
Beautiful wasn’t even on the original script. I had to bully my way on that set. 'Cause I was talking to Neil and I looked at the breakdown for the next thing we were shooting and I was like I thought we were supposed to do “Player Haters Law”…and he forgot about it. So I put pressure on, I was like I really wanna do it. So, I called wardrobe. They gave me like 3 suits to choose from. I picked the shiny one out and I went o hair and make-up and was like I want a Jeri curl wig, a platinum bottle of hair gel and like maybe 2 minutes before I was ready to go shoot him, I mean he didn’t have a name or anything. So, I literally built the character in like 20 minutes. I was walking passed the mirror and I was like, “Neal what’s my name?” And he was like, “I dunno, name yourself something.” So I walked passed the mirror and I told him, “Sexy.” Then I looked in the mirror twice and I was like, “I feel beautiful.” So that was his name beautiful…2 minutes before I stepped on stage.
Are you smooth with the ladies since you’re a funny guy…because I read in your bio that you like to persuade the ladies with humor?
Donnell Rawlings: I used to be smooth with the ladies. I got a girlfriend now, so I’m smooth with a lady. Even when I was growing up… I’m not the type, the Tyson Beckford…I never went into a room and omen said , “Oh my God, he is sooo fine…” But, if you give me 30 minutes worth of conversation, it was on and poppin’. I consider myself to have some type of charm.
When did you serve in the military and can you speak about your experiences in the military?
Donnell Rawlings: I was a military police officer in the Air Force. I probably was the worst officer in the military you ever saw. I was there for four years and made one arrest. It was a good experience; I mean I wasn’t really college bound. I was definitely the class clown. I didn’t really focus. It wasn’t that I was a bad student it was just that I didn’t have the focus. I was too busy being funny. I didn’t really wanna do nothing after high school, so my options were either college of the military and I didn’t really pursue college like that so I decided to go into the military.
How do you feel about the current situation military wise and do you feel like having served in the military has changed your opinions about certain topics?
Donnell Rawlings: I think it’s unfortunate that we got troops over there that’s representing something that probably 50 percent of them don’t even know why they there. I just wish them the best luck and that everybody come home safe.
What are some upcoming projects that you are involved with?
Donnell Rawlings: Well I’m doing this show on Comedy Central with Charlie Murphy called “Charlie vs. Donnell”. It’s a reality show and I’m just wrapping up a film and a movie with Charlie called “Twist the Cap”. And I’m Power 105 from 6-10. It’s the bomb working with Tigger and Sunny. You know I was working at Hot [97] last summer and the working environment wasn’t really good for me to let my comedic abilities shine. But, working with Tigger and Egypt just makes me feel like I’m working with a family. No hate, it’s all love. It’s really like a family unit up there. It’d just a good vibe. It’s tough enough to get up at 4:30 in the morning, and the worse thing you wanna do is get up at 4:30 in the morning and work with people you don’t get along with.
Do you feel like everything happened at its right time, when things were supposed to happen for you career wise or would you change anything if you could?
Donnell Rawlings: Nah, you know…when you first start you want everything to happen then but sometimes when things happen too fast for you, your maturity is not ready for it, mentally you’re not prepared for it. So, I think everything happened at the time it was supposed to happen.
How do you feel about hosting “The Chappelle Show”?
Donnell Rawlings: Yea, me and Charlie Murphy are guest hosting. July 9th, it’s on and poppin’.
How has your experience been with battling artists on radio?
Donnell Rawlings: It’s been good for me, it really hasn’t been good for the artists. It’s droppin’ some people’s record sales. You know I wanna give a shout out to Daddy Yankee, Beenie Man, Donell Jones…everybody who I annihilated. I want to let everybody know that we not gonna do this like no East Coast, we gonna keep it on wax. But, I’m trying to step it up from music. I gotta see Chris Brown on the dance floor. After watching the BET Awards I was a little upset, cause’ every move he did was moves that he know I do. The back flip, all of that. It ain’t gonna be pleasant for him.
What comes to mind when I say the name George W.?
Donnell Rawlings: Confused!
What kind of advice can you give for up and coming performers?
Donnell Rawlings: Stay focused, stay focused, stay focused…and uh, stay focused.
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