Photo cred : Travis Marshall: @tmarshphoto
Comedian Jordan Rock is no stranger to the world of stand up comedy. He is the younger brother of comedians Chris Rock and Tony Rock. But Jordan’s strength is that his comedic stylings are nothing like his brothers. Jordan has his own vibe. A vibe that delivers a fresh, new energy. Comedy Hype recently talked with Jordan about his role in the Netflix sitcom, “Love”, his recent move to Los Angeles and where he plans to take his career to next.
By Corey Tate
CH: You play the character of “Kevin” in the Judd Apatow produced Netflix sitcom, “Love”. How did getting this role come about?
JR: I came out to LA for pilot season and started going on a bunch of auditions. “Love” was one of the roles that I really wanted to land, so I got focused, worked hard at it and it happened. It was really exciting to land that role.
CH: Aside from filming the sitcom “Love”, you also just filmed your first (yet-to-be released) movie, “San Bernardino Bound”. How did it feel to film your first movie?
JR: It was cool as sh*t [Laughs]. Filming my first movie was one of my goals when I came out to LA. I wanted to return to “Love” for season 2 and land my first movie role. It feels good have accomplished both things and I’m really looking forward to the movie coming out.
CH: You’re the younger brother of Chris Rock and Tony Rock. But your comedy is nothing like your brothers, which is your strength. Even in your twitter bio, you say, “The Solange of my family”. How does it feel to know that you come from a family of comedians, but your style is nothing like theirs?
JR: I grew up watching my brothers do stand up. So once I started, I had a pretty good grasp of comedy. And as much as I admire my brothers and learn from them, I always wanted to be an individual. Also, stand up wasn’t easier because those were my brothers, I actually had to earn respect. I had to do the hood rooms, the check spots at clubs and the open mic circuit. So, now I feel like my own person, because I started from the ground up.
CH: You started a show in NYC called, “Productively Stoned”. What’s the theme behind the show?
JR: That’s just my lifestyle [Laughs]. I always thought it was a funny name and I used to joke with my friends about doing something with the name. Then, I found a venue called Karma Lounge in New York and it was one of the last buildings you could smoke in, which was perfect for the show’s theme. I started running the show with my friend, Reg Thomas 3yrs ago and now we’re planning to take the show on the road and do pop-up shows in NYC, LA and other cities.
CH: You’re very vocal about being a stoner. Is the stoner crowd who you hope to reach with your comedy?
JR: Not necessarily. I want to reach everyone. I happen to be a stoner but I don’t want to be put in a box and only speak to one group of people. When I do comedy, I just try to speak from my point of view and give my perspective.
CH: You’re a big fan of Hip-Hop and you’re not afraid to voice your opinion on the current state of Hip-Hop, whether it’s good or bad. Before a standup show, what are you listening to nowadays to get pumped up?
JR: I like a lot of the Atlanta dudes. Migos, iLoveMakonnen, Young Thug. Young Thug is cool cause he’s like a cartoon character that raps [Laughs]. But also, I listen to DJ’s like Cashmere Cat to get my fix of the trippy stuff.
CH: Who are your biggest comedy influences?
JR: Honestly, I’d have to say my friends right now. I went to dinner last week with Pete Davidson and Jerrod Carmichael and just talking to them was inspiring. They’re 2 people whose careers I’m observing and learning from.
CH: You got your comedy chops in NYC. A place that breeds some of the best stand up comedians. But recently, you’ve been making your way around the comedy scene in Los Angeles. Do you see any differences between NY and LA comedy?
JR: There are very noticeable differences between NY and LA comedy. In LA, there’s a lot of people doing stand up in hopes of getting a TV spot or a movie role. Instead of being themselves, they’re trying to make themselves into someone they think would be a good fit for a TV show. In NY, the comics are doing comedy for the sake of doing comedy. No one is trying to deliver jokes in a quirky voice, in hopes that a network talent scout is in the crowd.
CH: What’s next for Jordan Rock? What should we be looking forward to?
JR: I’m always trying to take things to the next level. So my plan is to just keep working hard at all aspects of my career. I plan to keep doing stand up, TV, movies, touring, merchandise, etc. I’ve been sitting back observing everything for a while and now I’m in a position to take things to the next level.
By Corey Tate
The post Jordan Rock Tells Comedy Hype The Difference Between LA & NYC’s Comedy Scene, How He Landed ‘Love’ On Netflix, And His Brothers Influence appeared first on ComedyHype.Com | Comedy ReFueled.
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Original article: Jordan Rock Tells Comedy Hype The Difference Between LA & NYC’s Comedy Scene, How He Landed ‘Love’ On Netflix, And His Brothers Influence.
