From Bullied Kid to Comedy King of Topeka | Malik In The Street

The only person told you he was funny was your mama. You know what I'm saying. I've always either been funny or funny looking. The type of people that don't like Menards are the people that get out of the shower to pee Malik. Welcome to the podcast, man. Thank you, thank you guys.

Thank you, thank you Come on, man. So we've got Malik alamin aka malik in the streets.

yeah, malik alamin come on, aka malik in the streets, let's go, you're a comedian here in.

So, uh, why don't you just tell us some jokes, man?

oh, people put me on the spot like that. People put me on the spot all the time on there. It's like oh, you're a comedian, be funny.

Right, you know what I mean. Like Finding Nemo, Like man, You're a clownfish. Tell us some jokes. That's how I feel. It's like dang. It's like oh, you're in the military.

Shoot somebody, prove it, speak what.

That's awesome.

So I heard about you because it was super random, the 785 Magazine, I think. Yes, they did a piece on you.

Yeah, they did, they did. They were great to me. Yeah, yeah, it was cool. Was it kind of recent?

So it was a while back when we did it. You know what I mean. But just with the economy, dow Jones, you know everything like that. Yeah, it finally came out just this summer too.

Oh yeah.

Yeah, yeah, they did a great piece, the pictures were great, shout out to Tyler Shrunk pics.

Oh it's cool, yeah, pretty cool, yeah. So I just saw that and I was like dude, I love comedy and my wife and I watched Comedians and I was like dude, I, I love comedy and my wife and I watched comedians and and I was like dude, I've been, I would love to go to a comedy show in Topeka, if there's like a local thing. So I just like looked you up on social media and I was like bro, we got to get this guy on.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, go ahead. You found me oh no-transcript.

And then, finally, it was like like somewhere. I was like oh, it's malik in the streets, I bet that's what it is you know what um I malik in the streets just started off, as you know.

I mean something we did like shows that we do. We go to a bunch of different events in Topeka just because we wanted to show that there are things going on in Topeka. There's, there are things to do. I hear all the time there's nothing to do with Topeka.

So that's why we started it. That's great. And then just people started knowing me as Malik in the streets, Right, and I actually decided I was going to go. I was going to say my name is Malik in the streets, on stage doing podcasts, anything Right. When someone cussed me out and kept calling me Malik in the streets, it was F you, Malik in the streets. What you ain't nothing? Malik in the streets.

And I was like you know what?

Let's keep that rolling, let's catch on, catch on, give me the finger. F you and your mama.

Malik in the streets. It's like when you're in trouble as a kid and your mom uses all three of your names. Yeah, exactly.

It's like, hey, is my my legal name? Yeah, now, when someone just like all three of my names, I turn.

When someone says we're in the streets.

I'm like hey, what's up you know that's amazing, so it was great how'd you get into comedy?

um, excuse me, yeah, who hurt you as a kid? Yeah, exactly, all of the bullies in school.

It was either be funny or get beat up. So that's how I started being funny in the first place and I think most comedians would say that Right. And actually I don't want to say the bullying was too bad, probably because I was funny. It never got to that point, right? I grew up in Kansas City, missouri, and the projects there which I don't want to say that as a sob story that was some of the best times of my life, to be honest with you, to be a kid. But the gangsters are. You know what I mean? Gang members kind of left me alone because they were like that's the funny kid, oh, really, leave him alone. You know what I mean? Wow, that's how I started being funny, but actually getting into comedy a comedian, local comedian here by the name of Ed Davis. I worked with him and I found out he was a comedian. I was constantly going to him with jokes and he was like man, just shut up and take it up on stage.

Come on, man Come on.

So I started Top City Comedy. Shout out to them Any local comedian here in Topeka. They started at Top city comedy. Yeah, uh, and this was back in the day when they used to be at the break room, I don't know if you guys remember that. Um, uh, right now is uh, cosmo court, which they have shows out there oh yeah, it's downtown, okay, yeah right, yep uh, two doors down from the pennant so right uh, you guys got to check out friday night.

Funnies out there top city puts it on every friday. Uh, actually I will be there this friday are you serious? Yeah, okay, dang, let's go yeah, so, uh, you guys want to check us out? Come out, check us out. They always get a funny lineup out there. Uh, every friday they got them going on so that's awesome top city comedy.

That's like the venue or that's that's actually, uh, the group that puts it together. Um, just look them up, top city comedy on all social media. You'll see everything that they do. Uh, they also host, uh like uh, open mic comedy Nice, um, uh, I know, at Happy Bassett every other Wednesday.

Oh, yeah, yeah, exactly, I've seen that.

Yeah, that's probably where I've seen you from there you go. But it's a great atmosphere out there. But I had to give a shout out to them because every local comedian here in Topeka started with them. I don't care what they say, who you are, but that's where I ended up going. I started going to their open mics. They thought I was funny and they started asking me to do shows. Uh, and so then they just ventured to there.

I started doing shows in other cities and other venues here in topeka. So you said that was like five to six years ago when you first started going on stages. Well, no, that was about eight years ago actually. You know what?

I mean, I like, like I was saying before, kobe kind of for some reason like 20 between 2020 and 2024.

Like my, time is all right, it's like a time warp.

So I'm like, yeah, I'm pretty sure, yeah, about the time there, so, but it's been a great journey. You know what I mean. Um, yeah, I have no visions of being famous, and you know what I? I have no hoop dreams about it, but it's been very fun. My friend, tyler Shrunk he's the one that got me actually going into doing Malik in the streets. He was tired of me not getting my social media up, so he was like, man, let's do this. You know what I mean. So, with lots of support from my family and my friends and the community, it's been a great ride.

Come on, man, that's awesome. Do you do this?

full time. I don't. Oh, man, I wish man I got kids. Okay, I got kids, man. They look at me crazy if I was like I'm quitting my job. You know what I mean. Like no, you're not.

Yeah, exactly how am.

I to play NBA live.

You know what I mean. We need Wi-Fi, Dad.

We need Wi-Fi. Yeah, they ain't worried about eating, they worry about Wi-Fi and stuff like that.

Is that?

the goal to go full-time, or are you like hey, dude, I'm going to love my idea If it happens it happens.

But, like I said, right now, I'm just you know what I mean. Uh, it's just been fun. So if something like that happens, someone's like a million dollars, you've been great, I'm all for it. Yeah, you know what I mean. So right, who wouldn't?

just receive a million dollars. Yeah, exactly.

You know what I mean. Like here's a million, now I'm good yeah, I got kids, man.

That's my life plan actually yeah exactly.

I want to struggle for the rest of my life, thank you. Thank you, sir.

I'm trying to build character yeah, hard to write your book about the struggle yeah, exactly, no one's gonna buy that book? How did you make it in life? Someone gave me a million dollars yeah, follow my life plan just let someone give you a million.

Exactly that's the. It'll happen to everyone, right. At least once in your life someone's gonna offer you a million dollars, yeah so you grew up in Kansas City, Missouri.

How did you end up in Topeka? Oh man, that's a long story.

I was a teenager in my late teens. We moved my mother and my stepfather and myself moved to Tennessee because he got a job out there and just being a teenager, my mom was, like you, about to go live with your daddy man.

he was living here in Topeka, you know okay, you're giving mom a run for her money yeah, she was like nah, it's his turn.

You know what I mean? Yeah, exactly so. Uh, that's how I ended up here in Topeka. Okay, uh and um, but my mother's side of the family has been here for years, so I was already familiar with Topeka. We were here probably every other weekend, if not every weekend, so I already had family here, a few friends here that I already knew, so I fit in very well when I first moved here.

So you've lived in Kansas City, you've lived in Topeka. I think most people in Topeka when they move out, that's where they're going. They're going to Kansas City. Like, I don't want to live in Topeka anymore, I want to go to Kansas City because it's bigger and better. What does Topeka have on Kansas City? What do you think Topeka makes Topeka better?

It's going to backfire. It says nothing, gable edited it out.

There is oh, topeka, it is. That's the answer, topeka, and I think that's what makes it great. It has nothing that Kansas City doesn't have. You know what I mean? That backfired. But I will say this it's slower. If you're raising a family, I think Topeka is a great place to raise a family. Don't get me wrong. There's things pop off, people are acting crazy, the population sometimes is too low for, sometimes, the amount of crime that we have. Oh sure, but for the most part I think anyone else watching this that has lived in a bigger city knows that it's actually still a nice place to raise a family. Right, it's.

It's not too fast, it's not too slow, it's almost like the Goldilocks effect, you know I mean everything is just just right, um, but what I do wish that my kids probably would have been exposed to is a lot more culture. Um, even though, um, I was raised predominantly in the inner city, I still was used to different cultures. I was still used to hearing different accents from all over the world. Yeah, um. And so now my kids hear someone with an accent, they're that's especially, that's not hispanic accent. They're staring at him like do you hear? I'm like, yeah, people do talk differently.

So, um, but I think that's the biggest difference yeah there's a lot more culture in in kansas city than there is here yeah, yeah, I think it's true.

That's awesome man. So what? What has it been like being in topeka? So you said you were in high school yeah, you moved here.

Yeah, I went to. I went. I came here in high school. So, like I said, I've always either been funny or funny looking. Um. So when I came to topeka, that's what I.

Sometimes you find those collide, like you're both at the same time. Yeah, yeah.

Sometimes being funny looking makes you funny at the same time.

You know what I mean, you know what I mean, and you got to own it.

You know what I mean. Like I said, being fat, I own being fat. You know what I mean. You asked me do I want some Pepsi or some water? I was like I want some water. You know what I mean. Let's go, people watching this. They're like, look at his fat butt. I knew he was going to get some pop. You know what I mean. Talking about diabetes earlier, man, that's what I'm saying. I got to watch that too. You know what I mean. I'm fat. You know what I mean. And I'm about to turn 40. 40 is way different to being fat at like 25. You know what I mean. Like, yeah, I can move around. You know what I mean. Like even looking for clothes. You know what I mean. Like I I looking for shoes. Now I'm looking for shoes for comfort.

You do that now right, yeah, it is, it's different you remember looking for shoes, because they match the outfit right.

You know what I mean. I'm like, oh no, tingly feet for me tonight exactly like dude.

It's so true, man. Yeah, so I'm 36 and I'm this. I'm like, okay, I want to look good, but like I don't want to look good and be uncomfortable, so it's not. There's a line I'm willing to draw now I'm mad.

He's like yeah, I'm 36 and I'm man. Look at you, you're 36, your body thinks you're 24 36.

I received that when I 36,.

My body thought I was 65 years old, looking for an AARP card.

What is happening? Do you have strong preferences about your bed and your pillow and stuff like that though, too, man, I'm not just going to sleep anywhere anymore, like when I was young.

Well, that's the problem. Man, guys like me, we fall asleep anywhere. This is any place that I can quiet, Right, someplace quiet. Yeah, man, like guys like me, we fall asleep anywhere. This is any place that I quiet, right, someplace quiet, yeah, someplace I can sit down. You know what I mean.

so sometimes that may be the toilet at work yeah, yeah, I mean I'll say, though, when I was young like we, you know it was kind of like oh it's just, you know, and you're a kid, you have sleepovers. You just sleep on the floor. Even in college we go crash at a friend's house and be like we're gonna road trip to this cool place and we'll just crash on our friend's floor.

Now I'm like I'm not sleeping on yeah, yeah, no, I am bougie now I don't want to wake up and not be able to walk straight the next day, you know, because my back hurts, you know.

Yeah, we're too grown for that right, like no, I'm too grown to be sleeping on the floor now, right, yeah, no, I get it I am a little. I am a little bougie now. You know what I mean. I don't have enough money to be too bougie, right, but it's like you, gotta pick your battles. Yeah, exactly, you know what I mean I'm I'm super sizing at mcdonald's now. Regular size isn't enough for me.

So back to doing comedy. What is the hardest part about being doing stand-up comedy? Because I imagine it's incredibly hard.

It is. It's actually harder than what people think. I think the hardest part is when you don't get a laugh. Yeah, and not to toot my horn or anything. I've never had a bad set. Okay, let's go when I've had jokes where I didn't get a laugh, and there's a difference and.

I want people to know that when they get into comedy, that that's the biggest difference there. Hone your craft, write stuff down, because you get up there and you're just talking and they don't laugh at what you initially say. That can shake you. You know what I mean and so you got to remember. Just because you're not laughing now doesn't mean this is a bad set. It just means this joke right now, right, it's bad. Let me keep it moving.

Yeah.

You know what I mean. Are you constantly like editing your set, like hey, that joke didn't hit, taking that one out, adding something different?

I am or you know what. Also, in saying that, I know it feels like I'm jumping all over the place on what I believe, uh, but also own, if you think it, even if people don't laugh at your joke and you think it's funny, you know, I mean like, own that, keep it doesn't mean throw it out. So, to answer your question, uh, instead of throwing it out, just tone it up a bit. Sure, or it may be just the way your body moved or your facial expression.

Delivery was all yeah, you know what I mean and so I know it sounds corny, but I practice all of those things. Yeah. You know what I mean For sure, I'm in my kitchen, I have a broomstick and I'm practicing how my body is going to be, how my face is going to be, the tone of my voice.

I think all of those things uh go into being funny, hitting all of those senses, because people aren't just listening to you, they're watching for sure as well right, I guess I never really thought about that is, you know, probably the materials, half of the work you know how you deliver it exactly, your facials exactly you know how you say.

It is probably another huge part of which is another reason why I believe to kind of uh, being a comedian these days is is a lot easier than back, maybe in richard pryor's younger days and red fox's earlier days, when all most of their stuff was on albums. I don't know if you guys knew that or not. You just have to. Now we can just youtube somebody or look up on some other social media. See their face. You just heard it. Yeah, exactly, had to go buy an album, and so I think that's challenging too. So now it is just listening. You know what I mean. So, yeah, uh, your jokes better be on point if somebody is just listening.

So yeah, uh, this is maybe I'm not. I don't know if I'm allowed to admit this, but I had a bill cosby vinyl. No, it's like comedy vinyl.

Yeah, no, you didn't just buy it, did you? You didn't just like yesterday.

No, not yesterday. Okay, then you're good, then you're good, you're good, you're good. It wasn't yesterday, it wasn't yesterday. He's at it, right right right, yeah, yeah, that you're inspired by that you look up to, uh, or is it? I imagine it's also like maybe you're inspired by people.

It's hard to listen and not accidentally borrow like you know, you want to have 100, 100. I'm glad you said that too. It's, it's um, it's hard not to borrow like um, a style, right? You know what I mean. You don't want to take anyone's jokes, right, uh.

But sometimes how you can deliver them, maybe someone's style, you picked it up yeah, but I think I would say that I'm a mixture of of everyone, to be honest with you, um, even um, a little, some some white comics in there. You know what I mean. Like, um, I used to, um, I used to love y'all, remember that cartoon life with louis louis anderson. Louis anderson, for some reason I thought he was funny, you know me. Rodney dangerfield, okay, yeah, um, but also, uh, the greats. Eddie murphy, uh, was really my, my big guy, the big one that I watched.

Yeah, he's classic.

Yeah, even Dave Chappelle.

Yeah, so good.

Dave Chappelle came out right when I was finishing high school, Really, yeah. So I would say that I'm a mixture of all of those things, but then I'm just me at the same time. So I don't think when people come see my comedy at least no one has said this to me I don't think anyone's like oh, he's trying to be like this person.

He's trying to be like that person. Yeah, you're ripping off. Yeah exactly.

You know what I mean. So, but no stealing jokes. Is a no, no Right yes.

But sometimes you can, kind of like by osmosis, take someone's style sure, right, I've seen that.

But you know you're pulling from a little bit of everybody. That's great.

Yeah, exactly, I mean I don't know if I've laughed harder in my life than watching dave chapelle's sticks and stones stand up. That's on netflix. Have you seen that one um?

I've probably seen them all, but I don't remember the actual names.

I'm not even gonna go into it because half the stuff I don't even want to repeat. Was it one of the newer ones? It was, I think, like 2020. It was one of his newer ones, but it was the funniest thing I've ever seen in my life. He's funny, well, he's so funny and he's one.

And I've heard this before and I 100% agree. You cannot steal from dave chapelle. You know what I mean. Like there's some comedians out here. You cannot steal from dave chapelle. You know what I mean. Like there's some comedians out here you cannot steal from. He's one of them. Everyone's gonna know that's a dave oh yeah, you know what?

I mean like even his style, almost really. You can't really even accidentally take his style because, right, everyone's gonna be like, no, that's straight up dave chapelle, yeah, which is why he can these days say whatever he wants. Right, he's won very few superstars out there period, rather be sports entertainment or he won't get canceled yeah, he won't get canceled. He'll actually have to physically do something to somebody, right, probably, uh, to get canceled so you keep talking about styles.

Probably one of the biggest comedians right now is probably kevin hart. How would you describe kevin hart's style like when you say, hey, you don't. You know, stealing jokes is a no-no. Stealing someone's style you don't want to do either. What would be like stealing kevin hart's style like? What would that even? Oh man, you're gonna get me in trouble here.

Um, I, I I like kevin hart and I I don't I don't want to sound like a hater or anything like that um, but he's one that I've felt like. He's kind of like one-dimensional now, like over time, now that we've had him for a long time, I just it's always the same thing, and that's just my opinion. You know what I mean. I know people are going to be like Hayden.

I'm really not. Well, you can love a comedian's one thing, but you can admit it's he does one thing.

Yeah, it's the same thing, Even in his movies. Now you know what I mean. It's like the same character, no matter if it's a drama or a comedy. It's almost like it's the same character, but now doing comedy or now doing drama.

Well, he's definitely going to see this. Yeah, bro, it might make his way.

Hey, it might make me famous. It might make me famous If Kevin Hart sees this. We have other things to worry about.

Be grateful If he sees this, oh yeah. We're in there, I'll be with you. I've been winning since day one. Y'all remember me.

We'll just post that part, yeah. Yeah, I mean, if he just stops posting about like pants or whatever he's. He like is selling some clothes brand.

I was getting paid. But he's getting paid and I don't know what it is, but I know it's well. I would keep posting about pants too Well that's what it's about with him now.

It's all about getting those and what's working for him is working. You know what I mean? And so that's why I'm saying, like, that's just how I feel. I don't think he should change what he's doing. Yeah, because it's working and he has a fan base and a very, very, very, very large fan base and people that love him, and rightfully so. Right, I don't want to knock him. I'm just saying, as far as me speaking personally, I and as far as me speaking personally, I think he's just one-dimensional, I think it makes sense.

And then each stand-up I see is almost like the last one. That's why it's so easy, too, to impersonate him.

Right, it really is. Yeah, that's true it is funny, though, seeing him and the Rock impersonate each other. Yeah, because they're in so many movies together.

So seeing them impersonate is pretty funny. Yeah, no, and they, they found they've struck gold with what they're doing as well. You know what I mean. They they really have. But I know I think I think I'm having like one of those things where people who aren't cheese fans are like tired of seeing patrick mahomes win. You know what I mean. I think some people who who maybe agree with what I was just saying, saying about Kevin Hart were just like we're tired of seeing the same old stuff and him winning.

Right, right, right. Come up with something new. Yeah, come up with something new. But he's winning. You know what I mean? Yeah, that's true. So props off to him. Yeah, sound Stadium's out, yeah, yeah, and just kind of doing it as kind of a side gig, what? What are some lessons that you learned, um, in your comedy, in your routine, or how you approach it?

oh, that's a good question. Have I learned anything? My old teachers are looking at this like he ain't. He ain't learned nothing.

I know he's never learned anything. He's a class clown.

He ain't learned nothing. We just we just graduated him because we was tired of looking at right, right, move him on. Yeah, what have I learned? I've learned to take your craft seriously. That's the only way you're going to get better at it. If you're just going in and giving it half, you're not going to get better at it. And try new things. Don't try new things. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Fear will stop you every single time. But then also, don't be too prideful. You know so. I think those are the biggest things you know.

We're gonna try to remember the people that helped you get to where you're at. You know what I mean and try to be thankful for where you're at and not spend too much time thinking about where you're not at. You know what I mean. Where you want to be, you may look across the stage and see someone that maybe started after you. And it depends, and it doesn't matter what you're doing in life.

If you're looking at this, I don't care what you're doing in life. If you're looking at this, I don't care what you're doing in life, right, yeah, if, if you've seen someone and maybe started doing what you're doing after you and they be. They may be moving faster. Um, don't spend too much time looking at that. Those are the things that I've learned over the eight years. It's like work at your own speed, because this person may be going super fast, but that's because they might not be spending as much time on quality and stuff like that. So they may be moving super fast now, but they're going to come to a certain sudden stop. So just focus on yourself, hone your craft, take it seriously and be humble.

That's great If someone's listening. You know whether they're in high school, college, young adults who are thinking about getting into comedy, whether they're funny or funny looking. What advice would you give to someone that's so funny? What advice would you give to someone who's thinking about getting into the comedy scene?

Well, if you're from Topeka, the easiest way, hit up Top City Comedy on one of their open mics, that'll be the easiest way, uh, but start writing um those things. You find something funny if you, if you don't have a pen and paper which most people don't these days get your phone out. You know, I mean that's what I do, you know, I mean put it in your notes real quick and your phone um right, right, right, uh, build that up. Just like songwriters, they build up songs and songs and songs.

Get some reps exactly so when you get up there, you can be ready. So, um, that would be what I would say to anyone trying to get into. And then just do it, just do it. I hear people all the time like, man, I want to do that I was thinking about. Just just get up and do it.

Just get up and do it I feel like comedy and it's like a lot of things. But correct me if I'm wrong you can't read or study how to get better at comedy. It's like push-ups. You know you can't read how to get better at push-ups.

You just gotta know yeah, yeah, exactly that's why it's kind of hard to like tell someone. Now, one thing I don't like to do is uh tell someone how to tell their jokes, but I will every now and then be like man, that was a funny joke, so. But I think maybe you should have paused, maybe here or something like that so, but it is like you said.

It is one of those things you really can't write a book comedy for dummies, which I'm sure there's some out there somewhere someone has if you find it there is comedy for dummies, which I'm sure there's some out there somewhere.

Someone has, I'm sure there is. If you find it there is comedy for dummies, it's like the more you break down a joke, the less funny it is. Yeah, exactly, make it a science.

Yeah, make it a science. You know what I mean. Make it a game or whatever it is you want to do with it, but make it something.

Right. Do you think comedy is something like some people are just naturally good at stand up or 100?

okay, there's some people that are just naturally good, it's not always just yeah, I'm sorry you, you gotta come see some of these open mics. Uh, especially if you go out to kansas city, there's some out there. Um, and it's like the only person told you he was phony was your mama. You know what I'm saying. That's the only reason you came out here.

Your mama thinks you're hilarious, I have a friend and he might be watching this.

Yes don't need to say his name. He don't know.

You're talking about him, everyone around him was like nah, bro, don't do this and he went and he didn't open mic and it was, uh, a train wreck inside of a dumpster fire. You know what wife they're like.

Honey, please, yeah just stop, yeah, the wine was a dumpster fire I don't think he couldn't smell it. He was nose blind to the dumpster fire.

I think he he was like that was great, that killed it. People, people, yeah, because he went back. I'm pretty sure he went back multiple times and people were like no bro, please don't. They don't see anything. That's going on. Like I said, like you know what I mean.

It's like the Voice or American Idol, like who told you never say anything, and then they always have some people there supporting them. You know what I mean. But it's never a wife, it's always a girlfriend.

You know what I'm saying?

It's always a supportive girlfriend because she don't know no better. You know what I mean. She gets the vibe. That's how I can tell if it's your girlfriend or your wife.

The wife's rolling her eyes like oh my God. And the wife's like oh my god. He's so the girlfriend, he's so hilarious.

Like no, he's not, he's only funny. Yet, and and that's the that's what messes people up too um, sometimes you can be funny, but just in group settings, right with your friends, because they know your inside jokes, they know all of that stuff and you get on stand. That's why you guys are like look man, you are funny, like with us.

Easy, guys, easy, don't get on stage but but no, I see it a lot more, especially when I go to, like, bigger cities, um, but you also, that's where you also find diamonds in the rough. You know what I mean. You find people that are like what are you doing?

here you're hilarious you know what I?

mean, yeah, I've seen that so many times with. I've seen people that were funnier than me. You know what I mean and I'm not ashamed to say that and I really I think I'm a pretty funny guy, especially when I go on stage and I'm like what are you doing? You know what I mean.

Like you're one of the funniest people I ever met and I'm like no, I mean, what are the stages of being a comedian? You have your local comedians and we're talking about people that shouldn't be up there. What's the farm system?

Kind of yeah, what's the?

farm system for being from Topeka to Kevin Hart. What's that?

Oh, man, probably move to LA or to New York if you really want to get like that Kansas City. We have some famous people coming out of there now, but I guarantee you they moved to LA first. Yeah, or they moved to Kansas City first. I mean sorry to New York, right Way bigger city, because also Kansas City is as small compared to most of the cities in the country.

But I would say you have your open mic comedians. Only that's where it start off. Then you have your local comedians who eventually go from doing open mics to actually getting a couple of shows wherever they're at, maybe doing some birthday parties, and then you have your, which I would say are most comedians are the ones that are actually taking it seriously and really putting themselves out there, getting on social media, getting on like those.

there's booking sites that you can put yourself on and they'll book your shows and send you all across the country, um, and then, in that same group, I want to say there's a different tier in that too, uh, because you have a tier in that. Or people like myself that we still work but we're still putting ourselves out there, uh. But then, on that same, you have a tier in there where they've quit their jobs, like you were talking about before. You know what I mean and they're putting it all on the line. You know what I mean. And like, those are the ones that eventually make it to the Kevin Hart's and stuff like that.

You know what I mean. It's just such a hard. I mean I feel like with comedy, you know you could be as funny as Kevin Hart is, but you know, if you're not in a position to put yourself out there, like you know, you're not going to make it.

Yeah, exactly, you got to be ready for opportunity. So you know what I mean. Don't get me wrong. People want to call it luck or whatever you want to call it. I call it opportunities. The only difference is a lot of us aren't prepared for that. When opportunity comes, it's like a ride to work. When opportunity comes, pulling in your driveway if you're not dressed, if you're not ready, I gotta keep going. I'm gonna move on to the next one Pulls out your driveway and leaves. So a lot of time when people are like oh, they were lucky, they met the right people. It's a little bit of that. Yeah, they met the right person, but they were prepared.

Right, it's funny you say that they were dressed when the car pulled up. They were dressed when the car pulled up.

I've always heard. The definition of luck is when preparation meets opportunity. That's 100% right. You know you got to be prepared and the opportunity has got to get there, but that's what luck looks like Exactly.

Yeah, and and and also. Um, sacrifices have to be made as well. People aren't willing to do that sometimes, and that's all well and good. Only we can decide what we're willing, you know what I mean. People can say this about myself why haven't you just quit and done it full time? Well, I'm not willing to take that chance right now. I have other people that are depending on me as well you know what I mean.

But the same thing, people can make the argument. You're never going to make it if you don't take that chance. Well, that's something I'm choosing to do, so I don't want to knock anybody that's not choosing to make some sacrifices. But sacrifices are going to have to be made if you want to get to that higher level.

Yeah, but I think to back you up too, get to that higher level, yeah, but I think to back you know, you up to you know, to made it doesn't mean it looks different to everybody 100%.

You know doing what you're doing, you know work.

You work target but you work, you know, as a comedian part time. You know you support your family.

You love what you get to make it just this one thing Exactly. I 100% agree with you in any aspect, in anything out there that anybody's doing at their job or music. It's how you look at it, and I do consider myself successful. You know what? I mean Absolutely my wife and I have been together 21 years Come on, that's awesome.

Let's go, man.

We have four children. Wow, one is out on his own now, so that's a whole new ballgame.

Thank you.

We started young. In three more years we're going to be done. Are you serious? I'm a poet. I didn't even know it.

I didn't mean to do that.

We're going to be done.

I can't wait. So that means you have a 15-year-old, she's 15.

She's 15, the youngest, our only daughter.

Y'all have children. I have three little boys, so six and under.

I just have a dog.

You have a dog, you have a son then, Sons are just as messy, right, it's so true. We had three sons, too, before we had our daughter. Oh, that's cool, oh yeah, and back to back, though, we have four children. You want to guess how old the oldest was when the fourth was born?

Oh gosh, If you had them back to back Five.

It was four. Wow, it was four oh yeah, I didn't, I had to Google it.

That's what's causing these babies.

Why does my wife keep getting pregnant? Oh Okay, I kept her pregnant for like five years straight, dang there.

But I love her.

She stuck with me. That's amazing. Stuck with me being a young dad, just being young, like 19, 20 when we first had, so you know I mean you guys like high school sweethearts?

uh, we were not.

I met her right at right out of high school, right after high school, um, and we just been together ever since, stuck together you know I mean through the hard times you know I mean the best times and, um, I tell anybody out there, if you stick with it, you know what I. If no one has done anything like too harsh, you know what I mean, but almost everything is forgiven.

And you always fall in and out of love. You know what I mean. That just happens in any relationship. But if you hold on, I guarantee you, because you're always going to love each other. It's being in love that comes and goes, but the longer you're together, the longer that in love part stays too, and so good, yeah, exactly so, and we're experiencing that now, and the fact that the kids are a lot older and a lot more independent, like we can focus on ourselves a lot more it's it's nice.

It's nice yeah, that's awesome, man love that how many comedians are kind of would you call you know part-time, that are doing this regularly. Like you are there more than just you. Is it primarily yeah?

uh, no, there's more than just me, and they're in this climbing um. A lot of them, though, are going to the open mics, you know, um, and it's small, so top city comedy can only show the same comedians so many times, so they do have comedians coming from different cities. You know what I mean. Different places, um. So I will say if you are a comedian here in topeka and you want and you want to start doing more, you are going to have to start venturing out of topeka, right? You know what I mean?

a little bit more, yeah um, is there anything happening in lawrence with comedy? Yeah, there's some, there's some spots out there at lawrence.

Um, and forgive me, uh, there was one, the name isn't popping off to me right now. They have an open mic on saturdays, um, and a lot of the comedians from like Kansas city go out there. Is it like a bar downtown?

Okay.

Yeah, um, and then just I would say, just look out, just get on social media and look out for shows, that's coming out there?

Yeah, um, how often are you doing shows, whether it be Topeka, lawrence, kansas city?

I've been doing about two, about two a month or so. You know what I mean. And then, on top of the Malik in the Streets, which we do a lot more of, those where there's different events. We were just at the Topeka Social Again. That's where the 40 and Funny show is going to be November 14th.

Yeah, trap.

Yeah, trap was there and so we did a Malik in the streets out there. Yeah, local artist by the name of Silent Ave was out there. We did one with him. He's real good. Guys, look him up. It's more of a country style feel that he does. It's really good. Y'all ding yeah. But yeah, the Malik in the streets thing has really been taken off. So trying to balance that and doing shows at the same time and working and being a husband and father, so there's a lot going on.

Wait, sorry, real quick. Where are you getting the most traction? Like which social media TikTok?

and Facebook.

Okay, which?

is, I know, old school, you know what I mean. But I did say I was 40. Yeah.

Okay, but that's.

that's where we're getting the most traction. We want to do more and other ones, but that's that's the ones that's hitting. Cool yeah.

Okay, so top city comedy Malik in the streets. What's the difference? Like Malik in the streets, that's like your socials and you know you doing stuff on your own, so no, so top city comedy is just uh, that's that's the group that puts on different comedy shows.

Okay, and so I'm. I'm not part of their group, but they've given me a lot of opportunities, they've given me my start, so they put on a lot of shows around. So that's what he meant when he was asking like, are they the scene? Because they're all over the place. Um, right, right, so, um, but like I said, I, I, I do our, we're starting to do our own shows now. Gotcha Solid.

That's awesome. So thinking, uh, you can apply to comedy, but really just broadly, just life in Topeka. You have a family you work into in Topeka. You know your comedy obviously centers kind of around Topeka. When you think about just living in Topeka, what are some things that you would like to see more of happening, you know, as the city grows, oh man, I see stuff happening.

I like to see Topeka as a community come together a lot more. I think if we did that then a lot more things would come and a lot more things to stick around, and I'm not a politician or anything like that, and so I really don't know. But like, as far as like Heartland closing you know what I mean like stuff like that was rough. I don't know if it's true or not, but I heard it was like for the tax purposes, like the county or the city or the state, something like that wasn't bending. I don't know, but if that is the case, then you know. I mean I would like to see our local government do a little bit more to you know.

I mean, either keep people here or right, you know I mean bring more things here right so that's, that's what I would like to see.

Uh, a lot more stuff for the kids to do yeah yeah, and but then we gotta support it, we gotta stick to it. To peak, as we have a habit of new stuff coming, we'll hit it up, there'll be a line around the block, right it's so like six months later there's like right, nothing going on in there. You know so, um. And then um, just don't assume anything's not going on, because there I don't want to sound like I'm being too harsh, because there are a lot of new businesses popping up.

Right, and that's one reason why we're doing Malik in the streets as well is because we want to show people that these businesses are here and that there's people, promoters and different shows that's going on, like the reggae fest and the stuff that's going down at uh evergy plaza every thursday. Yeah, you'd be surprised how many people don't even know that that's happening down there right every thursday and it might not be your type of music.

Right, you know what I mean, but it's something to do, yeah yeah, absolutely I agree, and I mean it's cool.

It's kind of kindred, you know spirit of what we're trying to do too. I'm just like hey, look, there's so much more good stuff happening in topeka than most people realize. And uh, I mean I, I saw that you were uh like that's what you were doing, highlighting people. Um, I just threw you as I was looking up some of your stuff, discovered that other podcast. Uh, I'm from topeka. Yeah, I was like that's cool, they're trying to do similar things like highlighting all these great things happening in the city of Topeka.

Now we need that Because, yeah, some people it's kind of like laziness, like there's nothing happening, like well, have you looked recently? Because there's like a lot of cool stuff happening and not only look be open-minded.

Right, yeah, be open-minded, like some at Evergy Plaza. Sometimes I can dance to anything. I can get down to anything but some of the music playing. Yeah, it's not my first choice of music, but you know what I mean. The atmosphere out there.

Everyone's having a good time you know what I mean, especially in the summer they got a splash pad out there.

Kids are having a good time and it's crazy to me that people don't know that's happening. Right, you know, I mean also too, especially like um, different cultural events. You know what I mean, right, um, I know that for the culture as a group, that they're uh bringing a lot more uh events in for, uh, the black community, which I love uh, but then it drives me crazy because there's some people that don't know that it's happening. You know, I'm all like how do you not know the?

Juneteenth Festival is happening. How do you not know?

You know what I mean, so on top of that, I just everyone, if you're watching this in Topeka, stay tuned. You know what I mean. There's all types of outlets. The city has their own Facebook. You can just Google what's going on in Topeka. Yeah, but you can just Google what's going on in Topeka.

Yeah, that's awesome Rapid fire questions we love to ask. Oh okay, At the end of every episode kind of the same ones we got, First thing that comes to your mind how many potholes did you hit on your way over here today?

I lost count because they were making my mind rattle while I was hitting them. So shout out to Tua and the Dolphins yeah, you got ct, yeah, ct. That was.

That was insensitive of me, please forgive me have you ever been able to get somewhere in topeka without hitting construction?

that is not possible at all at all. That's why you know that I started keeping like a 12 pack of beer. Like around five o'clock I handed out all the construction guys.

That's right. Yeah, yeah, that's funny.

Uh favorite local coffee shop oh man, um starbucks, there you go, there's that town is a local coffee shop definitely not but java bean, java bean there we go, isn't it? That's local right java bean is off the chain over there on fairlawn love it, oh yeah you know what I'm talking about classic classic that place is awesome it's like I don't know java bean, but we're gonna go, yeah, java do you golf? I do, I suck, I suck but I do golf.

That's why everyone wants to come. Yep, yep, yep, right in here, right on Favorite golf course, I ain't gonna lie to you.

This might come to a shocker, but the Forbes Field, yeah, the Forbes Field one over there in Montero. I love that one over there. It's nice. You know what? Golf is awesome too. You can take your wives out there.

They don't golf, but they can read a book. Yep, you know what I mean.

On a nice day out there read a book, have a Stanley Cup full of wine, you know what I mean, oh yeah.

You got the hack on it, oh yeah.

I'm here to let y'all know I got four kids. I I know how it is.

You know what I mean, I know how it is and your kids are old enough to watch themselves. Like you can just leave them at home.

Oh yeah, I don't even got to worry about that. That's awesome yeah and they're good kids too, so you know what I mean.

I don't have to worry about too much. You know what I mean. Yeah, it's like they're even more so like We'll be back.

Yeah, yeah, exactly, stay off the couches, don't poop on the floor.

Here's your food Water in the tap, favorite local restaurant.

I would have to say my favorite local restaurant would be Banjo's. Love it, yeah, yeah.

It's a big boulevard Well it's down by Forbes Field right yeah, down by.

Forbes Field. But they do you right, it's pretty good. Especially for people if you're working night shift over there. Yeah, that is right over by Target, home Depot, target, all of the places. If you're getting off, they're open early in the morning and portions are nice.

Nice yeah, all right.

On that note, you're doing a home project, home depot, menards or lows, where are you going? I am going to menards. Give me some, let's go. You're not a menards guy, I hate menards.

He hates it with the passion, and I don't know why. What's wrong with menard? Yeah, exactly, john explain.

Uh, I well, it's probably because I know home depot better, so I like to get in and out. Menards, seems it's really hard to get in and out. You're trapped in there for three hours you know, yes, listen, I go to.

Yes, you will get trapped in menards, but that's because I choose to be trapped in menards yeah, exactly, yeah.

You know I get it. I get exactly what I need right away.

But it's like oh, look at that, there's groceries. Yeah, yeah, running over there. Oh, I need some pet food. Oh man, now that I think it, I could use a third hammer.

Yeah, and look at these cabinets.

Look at that. You know what I mean, did you see? That sink over there Look at all these appliances you're never going to buy. Yeah, look at all this stuff.

I say trap. That's what I'm telling the wife. I got trapped. There was a line out the door man.

You don't like Menards in like personal space, just meandering in your thoughts, like in the store.

Oh yeah, you're imagining what I could have what I should have.

You know what.

I mean, Like it's, I love Menards oh that's funny.

I mean, you don't like.

Menards Type of people that don't like. Menards are the people that get out of the shower to pee Like that's all good, that's funny.

Which one did you say Loves, though no, I like Home Depot, home Depot, yeah it doesn't matter, they're both wrong.

Okay, you're okay.

You're okay.

You're okay.

I'll take Home Depot too, I appreciate that Go to date night spot.

You're taking your wife on a date in Topeka. Where are you going?

McDonald's baby. No, I'm joking, let's go. Oh, a good date night man, maybe somewhere downtown, you know, over there on Kansas.

Yeah, you know what I mean.

That's really developed over there. So maybe one of those restaurants over there Grabbing some beers. Is this a summer night or a winter?

night, any night, whatever Okay.

So, yeah, hit up one of those restaurants, maybe, look up maybe a live show somewhere. There's a lot of places that have live shows. Just look them up, you can find them. Yeah, just Google it. And then, if it's a summertime, you know what I mean Maybe going to get some Baskin Robbins and going out to Shawnee.

Lake. Okay, cool Eating some Baskin Robbins. There you go.

You know what I mean. That sounds awesome as the night goes down. Maybe hitting up a bar afterwards for the nightlife, you know what I mean. Maybe meet up with some friends or something like that. Love it, love it. It depends on what time you're starting your date night. But if you're starting, if it's a date day, if you're like me and my wife, we date. We, we got day dates. Now you know what I mean yeah, night.

You know, I mean the kids, it's it's great.

It's great with kids that are older now. Yeah, you know what I mean.

It's awesome all right, I got two more for you.

No, I'm not going to take you on a date.

Is there anything you convinced?

him. He's like that sounds awesome. Can I go to that? I like basket robins. Yeah, you paying Long walks on the beach, yeah.

Is there anything? Whether it's a particular restaurant thing to do, you know one item, is there something? Topeka is missing, dang. One item is there something Topeka is missing.

Dang, that's a good question, because I just feel I know Topeka, so there's places I can go to get whatever, but I would say, just from being a Kansas City kid more barbecue spots.

Yeah, we got some barbecue spots.

But I'm like you know what I mean I want like a local dude, like a fat Joe, you know what I mean. Dirty and got barbecue sauce all over and yeah, you walk, you leave his restaurant smelling like smoked meat.

You know what I mean. Yeah.

Hole in the wall type of shouldn't eat. That is going to mess up my get my diabetes ago and you know what I mean Tingly feet tingly feet, that's funny, all right.

Last feet that's funny, alright. Last question when can our listeners and viewers find you at You're on socials? What's your app, all of it.

Just look for Malik in the streets on all of your social media, mainly TikTok and Facebook, but we're on all of it Again. I have. I'll be performing this Friday at Cosmo Court Be there or be square Big show, though. Big show is going to be both music. So if you want to listen to some music from uh mike g, who's also a local artist, we're gonna have uh me, some other comedians and uh tevin from um I'm from topeka, yeah, and he's gonna to be hosting. That's going to be November 14th at Topeka Social. So, if you get on again, find me, malik in the streets and you will see all of that.

Perfect. Thanks for joining us, thank you. Thank you for having me.

This was fun. This was fun, thank you.

This was great, thank you. Thank you so much.