Tracy Morgan: the HHDX Interview

Tracy Morgan has made it into my list of comedians I can stop quitting. He is up there with Dane Cook, Chris Rock, Jamie Foxx, Cedric, George Lopez, and a few others. Heck, my Guitar Hero band is named Blowdoff. Here is a pretty funny interview with HHDX on his throught on pets vs. babies and working with Cube. If you haven’t see Tracy Morgan on his recent SNL appearance, you need to watch it! Full interview after the jump…

B. Love writes:

In the history of comedy, there’s never been someone quite like Tracy Morgan, who proves just as irreverent and colorful in person as his “Tracy Jordan” character is on his hit sitcom, 30 Rock. Born in the Boogie Down Bronx, the 10-year Saturday Night Live veteran was in Los Angeles to promote his latest film, First Sunday, which marks his first proper leading role after years of stealing scenes with supporting turns in films such as The Longest Yard, Are We There Yet? and Head of State.

More than holding his own opposite gangsta rapper-turned-family-friendly star Ice Cube, the film gives Morgan a rare opportunity to show a more serious side. But don’t expect the 39-year-old actor/comedian to go for the Oscar anytime soon— in his next film, Deep in the Valley, he plays a character named Busta Nut. In the meantime, Morgan kept us laughing while riffing on topics ranging from his unpredictable alter-ego to needing Jesus in his life.

HipHopDX: Some people think First Sunday is gonna be your breakout role. Do you look at things from that point of view when you select something like this?
Tracy Morgan: No, that’s too much pressure. I don’t know about anybody else, but I’m just looking forward to people going to the movie and enjoying it. That’s the main thing.

DX: Why did you want to do this movie?
TM: Why not? When I read the role, Lee John hit home with me. Almost scared me, because I’ve known that pain. In the beginning of the movie, [he’s this] funny guy, sort of a knucklehead. And then you begin to see the layers being peeled back. For a comedian, it’s awesome when you get an opportunity to get emotional. We search for comedy so much, but true comedy lies in drama.

DX: How well did you know Ice Cube before this? Had you guys hung out together before?
TM: No, we didn’t hang out. He and I did a movie, Are We There Yet, and I did the voice of the bobblehead doll. We hadn’t worked together, but we knew each other. I’ve always been a fan of N.W.A., and all that stuff, so it was an honor. And I always knew he was the king of franchises, you know? He’s like McDonald’s! Don’t think I didn’t go into this knowing if I didn’t screw this up, it might be my breakout joint! So I’m fresh out the box, you know what I’m saying? Then, coming out with Ice Cube? So I had to seal it. When I went in that room, the role was mine. I am Lee John! When I got the script, the first thing I did was I broke it down. I read it, then I read it again, and then I began to create a history for Lee John and Durell. So when I got there for the audition, right before I left, me and him were sitting there talking about our [characters’] history. I broke it down for him: We knew each other since first grade. I was always a knucklehead, getting in trouble. You always protected me. Now we’re in Baltimore and we’re grown men, and I see you’re in trouble with your son, and I’m gonna do anything to help you win him. And Cube was like, “Wow!” And then he started chiming in, and before you knew it we had a history. So by the time we got to filming, we was already Lee John and Durell right there.

DX: How close is the real Tracy Morgan to the character you play on 30 Rock?
TM: Tracy Jordan’s my alter ego. Tina Fey and I spent time on Saturday Night Live, and we didn’t just work– we partied, too. Saturday Night Live is infamous for parties and after-after-parties and stuff. Tina saw that–she just sat back and watched, and created that role. She said, “Do you.” Which is my alter-ego. I call him Chico Devine. Chico’s a great guy. Every week I get to fly over the cuckoo’s nest. It’s liberating.

DX: What did your mama think after you became successful?
TM: Well, that’s my moms. My moms always believed in me, man. She carried me for nine months. You know what I’m saying? So after I became successful, she was even more proud. But she’s always been proud of all her children. We’ve never disappointed my moms. My brothers and my sisters, we’re all good people. We all have great families. And this show business stuff makes her happy, but she loves her grandkids.

DX: Did you expect 30 Rock to be the breakout hit that it’s become? Why do you think it struck such a chord?
TM: Because the characters on the show are the most unlikely. Me and Alec Baldwin? Tina Fey? You gotta watch that show! It’s a little bit of something that everybody in there can identify and relate to. Plus, it’s like an HBO show on network TV. We push the envelope, and that’s what TV needs. I’m sick of this political correctness. It’s killing comedy. I mean, we used to make fun back in the days. Archie Bunker and George Jefferson? We used to make fun of racism! Now you can’t say nothing without people wanting to protest, and all that stuff. I came up in a different generation of TV. You know, like when Redd Foxx was on Sanford and Son? Anything came out his mouth, and that was comedy.

DX: What do you want to say that you can’t say?
TM: I want to be able to say whatever I want to say! Freedom of speech! Not “Watch what you say.”

DX: Go ahead.
TM: Now? [Laughter] I’m on the spot, man.

DX: You had some very dramatic scenes in this movie. Was it difficult for you to let go emotionally?
TM: Well, Lee John had dramatic scenes. I like to separate that. I don’t want to end up taking pills the rest of my life. I understand reality from fiction. Like I said, you get to see the layers being pulled back, and it starts with Lee John recognizing himself in that little boy. He sees this little boy as hope, where he lost it. It’s tragic when people don’t care enough to even find your birth certificate. So it touches you. And people who have taken buses in this room, we all know what pain feels like. That’s the only thing that’s really real in this world. People act like happiness is a fantasy. So pain, it touched you.

DX: What do you do as an actor to find the character’s painful place?
TM: Most people live their lives trying to run from it, where, as an actor, you gotta be able to go do it. Maybe you lost a puppy when you was little. Maybe your puppy got hit by a car or something. You gotta be able to go there. I don’t know what’s in your life, but you don’t want to open up this can of worms, man! You gotta sit there, and you gotta imagine what is he thinking!

DX: How much of this role was scripted?
TM: Well, what you see on the film, you’re only given one take. But we could do a million takes. We would do one take of what’s on the paper first, and then he lets you play. I love that! Keenan Ivory Wayans was like that, too. We’d do one or two on script, and then he said, “Let me see what you got!” And he put the batteries in your pack.

DX: How much improv is there on 30 Rock?
TM: Not much. We don’t have room for that stuff. That’s TV, so if we do [have time], we’ll go with it. But the writers are great.

DX: Did the writers’ strike affecting your work?
TM: See, for me it’s different, ;cause I just hit the road and do stand-up.

DX: What kind of stuff are you doing in standup now that you might not have done when you first hit the road?
TM: When I first started doing stand-up, I was young. That was maybe 15 years ago. A lot of my material was based on imagination. Now I’m an adult, so a lot of my material’s based on observation. Because I’m seeing a lot of stuff every day, and it’s hilarious.

DX: Like what, for example?
TM: Tragedy, funny, all that stuff. What I see is what I’m saying on stage. I’m just gonna inject my sense of humor and make it funny. ‘Cause if you don’t laugh, guess what? You cry. And I’m tired of crying, so I’m laughing about it all.

DX: Are your kids following in your footsteps?
TM: I hope not. [Laughter] They don’t gotta wear alcohol detective bracelets. Don’t get caught, brother! No, these guys are gonna be great guys. One is 22, one is 20, and one is 16.

DX: Twenty-two?
TM: Yeah! Listen, in the ghetto we use sex as a sedative, man. It eases the pain of poverty. We couldn’t afford a puppy. Make a baby! You need something to love in this broken house.

DX: How old were you when you had your first kid?
TM: I used to drop it like it was hot and pick it up when it was cold. I was exposed early. If it wasn’t for this industry, I would have been in the porn industry. You should see me. My nickname is “Donkey.” [Laughter] They call me “Manaconda.” I got you! I got you! I was aiming for you. I am on target!

DX: What are you gonna do next?
TM: I don’t know. People ask me what I’m gonna do next. My favorite answer is, “I’m gonna leave it all in God’s hands, man.” I can’t call it, or I might spoil it. So I’d rather just leave it in his hands. I know he has a plan for me, and I just want to follow through. I want to do it all., but I know enough not to let my wants hurt me. I’m talking about what I need. And what I need is Jesus in my life. You all can see that. [Laughter] I’m a mess…