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Drew Fraser:Comedy Class Act
Written by Foresight
Monday, 22 October 2007
Drew Fraser has the talent and ability to perform for any group, regardless of race or age. This makes him one of the most sought after comedians in the country.
Drew Fraser began his career in Boston, Massachusetts at the world’s famous “Nick’s Comedy Stop”. He later moved to New York City where his career took off. His first television Appearance was on “Showtime at the Apollo”. Since then, Drew Fraser has been seen on Russell Simmons “Def Comedy Jam”, “BET Comic View” and in 2005, Drew Fraser had his own comedy half-hour special on “Comedy Central Presents”. Drew Fraser has made performances all over the world, including London, Holland, Bermuda and Australia. Drew Fraser also has several music videos to add to his list of performances credits.
Drew Fraser has also hosted “Amateur Night” at the world’s famous Apollo Theater in New York City. In addition, Drew Fraser has done warm-ups for top talks shows, “The Queen Latifah Show” and in 2007, co-hosted “P.Diddy’s Bad Boys of Comedy”.
On February 16, 2007, Drew Fraser made it to the finals of the “Bay Area Black Comedy Competition” and will compete on March 31, 2007 for the grand prize.
Drew Fraser is currently the host of “The Wendy Williams Comedy Experience” in New York City at Club “Comix”, every Wednesday night.
IMPERIOUS INTERVIEW
IMPERIOUS: What separates comedians from "normal people", mentally?
DREW FRASER: Comedians are normal people who just went mental. That’s pretty much it. We are crazy individuals that tell a story on stage in a humoristic fashion.
IMPERIOUS: As a black comedian, do you feel confined to talk about certain material? (i.e. being poor, black/white issues).
DREW FRASER: Negative. As an African American comedian, I find it to my advantage to get into the political arena and talk about political issues, social issues, mainstream topics. It gives me an advantage when I talk about those things because a lot of people don’t expect that. So once I talk about those subjects, it puts me on another level.
IMPERIOUS: Can a black comic be funny without using profanity?
DREW FRASER: Of course. Without a doubt. I think profanity has its place. If you use it in everyday society, then by all means go ahead and use it on stage. But, if you use it just for shock value, no. You have to know how to place it so people in audience are not offended.
IMPERIOUS: What movie part would you not play?
DREW FRASER: Yes. I wouldn’t play anything that would strip me of my integrity or I believe would strip my people of integrity. If I take a movie role, I would want people to look at me and say I would of done that.
IMPERIOUS: Have you ever gone too far, what sets your limits? Or do you have any?
DREW FRASER: I think every artist, no matter what he does, has gone too far. Artistry is pushing the envelope. What you may feel is appropriate, others may feel is not appropriate. Everything in the world is funny. You just have to find a way to go onstage and say it so that your audience will look at you and say, you know what, he touched on a sensitive subject but he did it with a passion to the point where we can all laugh. Death, rape, child molestation are sensitive subjects. You just have to find a way to say it on stage so that it is funny. A true artist can do that.
IMPERIOUS: Who are the “Kings of Comedy”?
DREW FRASER: Of course the king himself Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby, Eddie Murphy, Bob Newhart (old school), and I would have to say myself Drew Fraser, a King of Comedy that has yet to be introduced to world.
IMPERIOUS: Do you use the N-Word? How do you feel about the recent criticism of rappers and comedians using the words nigga, bitch, and hoe since the Michael Richards and Don Imus incidents?
DREW FRASER: Yes I do use the N-Word. I believe it can be used in a way that when you say it on stage, it has a positive effect on your audience. In life, it’s not what you say, but how you say it. Imus used the words :nappy headed hoes” in a negative way. If he had said “these chicks really need to get their hair done”, no one would have been upset. If you had replaced hoe with chick and “nappy headed” with “they need to get hair done” everyone would have been fine because the girls needed to get their hair done. But because he used the word nappy headed hoe as a negative reference out of context, he was wrong. And the fact that 90% of the girls were black and white man saying it had some impact.
IMPERIOUS: If racism was the catalyst for Dave Chapelle’s departure from Comedy Central, would you also leave the money or become a “modern day Uncle Tom”?
DREW FRASER: I probably would have left the money if I felt the way he felt. I believe it gets to some point in your life where you have to look at yourself in the mirror and say to yourself, am I giving up my integrity for money. If that’s the case, you have to walk away from that. I’ve always said to myself, I’m not going to let anyone degrade me or my people just because they are paying me.
IMPERIOUS: What do you think happens in the Hollywood environment that causes successful Black comedians to become "disillusioned"? (Dave Chappelle, Martin Lawrence)
DREW FRASER: Everybody in life has issues. Once you’re in the public eye with a lot of money, your issues become bigger. Take the line from Biggie, “more money, more problems”. Both individuals didn’t have different problems then the rest of us have. But, their problems were magnified because of their celebrity status. If you have $50 to your name and someone asks for $50 and you give that $50, you are broke. Now, if you have $500 million, you can bets believe people are coming at you left and right trying to get at that $500 million. So your problems become magnified. I don't think Martin was dissolusioned. When Martin became dehydrated he was simply trying to lose some weight for a role. I went and worked out the other day and laid down on the street. But once you get up there, if you spit on sidewalk, the whole world will know. Britney Spears is not the first chick to ride around with baby on lap or shave her hair over a dude. But she’s surrounded by cameras everywhere she goes, so of course it makes front page news.
IMPERIOUS: How do you want to be remembered?
DREW FRASER: I would like to be remembered as a funny guy. A guy where people say, man, that dude was funny. Not he was funny but I couldn’t take my kids to see him or my mom to see him. I want everyone to be able to come see Drew. Something I admire is Ellen Degeneres. When I see her audience, there are mothers, grandmothers, children. Everyone can go and have a wonderful time.
IMPERIOUS: What’s next for Drew Fraser?
DREW FRASER: I hope to have some movies and another half hour special on comedy central and then a sitcom.
IMPERIOUS: If you weren’t a comedian what would you be doing?
DREW FRASER: I’d be a funny guy sitting at a desk.
IMPERIOUS: Anything else to share with our readers?
DREW FRASER: Whatever you want in life, work hard and you will achieve it. Follow your dreams and do not give up. Life is out there for the taking.
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