Why do you do comedy?

For a number of reasons.  One, it helps me better understand the nuances in peoples' personalities.  Two, its a medium by which I can condense complex social concepts into a more accessible fashion such that people are inspired enough to explore the topics on their own.  Three, because its fitting of my personality.  I like discovering and exploring my own sense of humor and that of others.   


What has been your most memorable stand-up experience?

Probably the time I opened for Lewis Black and Wyatt Cenac from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and for Kenan Thompson from Saturday Night Live.  It was an unforgettable experience.  I ended up having lunch with Wyatt Cenac, and discussed what its like to work for The Daily Show.  Lewis Black also met up with me (very calm guy in real life), lecturing me on the politics of comedy, and how to better market myself.  And you know I had to ask Kenan what happened to him and Kel...the response wasn't what I expected at all.  :-X


How would you describe your material?

Sometimes, non sequitur.  Like my music, I try to write jokes that have a social meaning to them.  I have a lot of material on what its like to be a Muslim living in a post-9/11 world, the current state of hip-hop music, rigidity of social norms, and the subtle racism that people don't recognize in their day to day actions.  Many people have also compared my comedic delivery style to that of Aziz Ansari.  I tell people that Aziz Ansari's style is derived from mine...though he has probably never seen my stuff.  

I am also very critical of my material.  I have a process by which I analyze the hilarity and quality of my jokes.  I hesitate to tell a joke if I don't think its funny.  If I approve its comedic value, I tell the joke to a variety of individuals to ensure that its laughable quality is very high.  Then I debut the joke to an audience.  I don't want people who listen to me to not laugh...obviously.    


What other projects are you working on other than stand-up?

I have a few movie ideas, and some ideas for television shows.  At this point, I just need to get in touch with the right people because I can't produce a sit-com by myself.  I am planning on doing a sit-com that is kind of like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia meets Saved by the Bell (like the Community, but better), a movie entitled I and I and Selassie about adventures of three unsuspecting cricket fans in Jamaica that get kidnapped by a Rastafarian, its based on a true story, and a mockumentary on the life of bioethicists.