Red Grant is Showing His Grown Side in His New Comedy “Grow Up” Tour

Red Grant’s Grow Up Tour recently appeared on the marquee at the Arlington Improv, right outside of Dallas. I remember seeing Red at different times in his now 22-year career in comedy, in movies such as “American Hustle” and “First Sunday.” I was ready to see his stand-up act and get to speak with him about his own “grow up.”

I arrived a little before the end of the opening act and waited in the diner area until the show was concluded. The door opened, and the elated crowd poured out of the showroom. People were still laughing. The crowd was greeted by Kevin Tate, Red’s opener and host. Everyone exclaimed about how much they loved the show.

I knew from their body language and attitudes that this was going to be a great night in comedy. Red appeared shortly and greeted the awaiting crowd. Picture snaps and many thank-you’s showed just how humble this veteran comic was. I stood in line and even took pictures for people wanting to take one with the man himself. I greeted him with a handshake, and he looked and asked if I was the lady who would be interviewing him. I replied yes, and he instructed me to follow him. 

My first impression of Red is: this guy is focused. He has many celebrity friends like Katt Williams and Snoop, yet he is still really chill. We found a place to sit, and I started with my line of questions.

Me: Who are you?

Red: Father, husband, entertainer.

Me: Not just a comedian, because you act too?

Red: Yes, I do a lot of things. A lot of people say you can’t do more than one thing. You got to just do one thing, but I like to act, produce, write, direct, make people laugh, executive produce, put money into other projects and build relationships. It’s bigger than just comedy, but it all starts with comedy.

Me: 1996, what made you go into comedy? Did someone tell you that you were funny? Did you have to go to an open mic? What was it?

Red: My friends did tell me that I was funny- my partners, my fraternity brothers.

Me: Which fraternity?

Red: Kappa Alpha Psi. I had just got out of some trouble, and they were telling me that I was funny, because I was ripping all of the house parties. So I got on stage. I had a few jobs; then I met a girl who allowed me to live with her so that I could go back to school. When I went back to school, I was into comedy. Six months later I was on “Def Comedy Jam” and doing “Apollo.” I then did “Teen Summit,” and comedy became what I like to do.

Me: Tell me about the Grow Up Tour.

Red: The Grow Up Tour started because I had just gotten off this Katt Williams 11:11 Tour, and I asked him to direct my special. He said yes, so I told him I wanted to do the Grow Up Tour. I picked 10 cities to do the whole tour. I wanted to talk about growing up a little bit. Everyone thinks they are hard, and nobody ever wants to grow up and just be real about the situation. We don’t want to take responsibility for our actions. So that is what I want to talk about. There is so much stuff that happened when I was young that I want to talk about too.

Me: Is this the last stop on your tour?

Red: Actually this is the second stop on my tour. We have 10 cities. San Antonio, Arlington, Arizona, Los Angeles, DC, and Detroit are a few of them. After the last stop, we will shoot the special.

Me: Shoot the special? Do you know where the special is going to be shot?

Red: No, but you know we will try to sell it to Netflix.

Me: So how was it working with Katt?

Red: Working with Katt? I still work with Katt every day. It’s great! You know what I am saying? He’s a great person, he’s a great teacher, and I learn a lot from working with Katt. Other than working with him, we’re friends, so, it’s a little bit of a different relationship when you become friends with people you work with. You get a chance to not only see the work side, but you are involved with people’s personal lives, you know, their families. We look out for each other. So it’s great working with Katt. I became rich working with Katt.

Me: What about this movie?

Red: “2 Minutes of Fame” (#TwoMinutesOfFame). Katt has a new movie coming out with Jay Pharaoh, myself, and DC Young Fly. It’s a funny movie about this cat, something like Eddie Murphy’s character, which links up with this guy who’s an internet sensation. He ends up “going at” him and becomes popular. It’s a story of the old head and the young comedian. So it’s a good story. (It’s) shot very well, and Leslie Smalls directed it. Leslie directed a lot of the Kevin Hart and Katt specials. It’s in good hands.

Me: Golf! Golf is not something we do in the hood. So why golf?

Red: I definitely didn’t learn it in the neighborhood.

Me: Where did you learn?

Red: My wife’s father challenged me. He told me I would never be able to hit a golf ball. I thought that was disrespectful, so I went out and learned. And now I kick his ass. See you can’t challenge people to certain things, because I am the type of person that when you challenge me, I want to get better. Now I am an ambassador for golf. Golf Beef is my company. We do tournaments every year, and we give money back to communities and kids. It’s a fabulous program. We are helping kids get involved with golf; it’s changing the world, and it all came from a person who said he will never play golf in his life. Now I am addicted to it. I am addicted to helping people. My daughter is nine years old, and she has been playing since she was two. She’s a protégé and learning. Golf teaches you about everything in life. All the bad things and good things that can happen to you, happens on the golf course.

Me: I always say that big deals are made on the golf course. So when is the next tournament?

Red: In three months we are going to do it in LA. For the next Golf Beef date, go to golfbeef.com.

Me: You have 15 minutes before the show starts, is there anything else that you would like to tell our readers?

Red: I would like to tell your readers to make sure they support all of the stuff that I am doing. I have a new RGIFL League, Red Grant International Football League. We do a Madden League on Twitch. It’s blowing up real big, so follow me on Twitch and subscribe under RGIFL. Keep supporting the whole movement, the comedy movement. Always open up to new people and new things.

After the interview I had a chance to get some snaps and enjoyed the show. I absolutely enjoyed every minute of it. Red did not let us down with the laughs. He talked about all subjects, and in some instances I could personally relate. I had a great time. For more information on Red Grant and what he has coming next, go to www.redgrant.com. Follow his movement has he continues on his journey as an entertainer.

In the Wind,

-Arnya T.M. Davis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IG: @ladi_ceo