AM FM Fall 2009 Phase I Birmingham AL Honolulu HI Huntsville AL Colorado Springs Fresno CA Charlotte NC Gainesville FL Orlando FL West Palm Beach Buffalo NY Kidd Kraddick Jackson Blue Jody Dean Peter Z Paul, Lisa and Chris Mark Phillips Mark and Brian Bob Buchmann Kevin and Bean Sluggo Tommy Griffiths Stryker Valentine Hollywood Hamilton Shawn Parr Paul Freeman Kennedy Lee Valsvik Greg & Melissa Weasel, Josh & Nick

Straight From The Mouth
The Morning Mouth's Month Interview with Who
(Reprinted by permission; Copyright © 2005 Talentmasters Inc.)

Griff & The A-Team

Tell us about Griff and The A-Team?

I'm a comedian -- wanted to be one since I was 3 years old (that's what my mother tells me). I've been performing stand up for the last 11 years, 5 months, 1 week and 3 days professionally (Or something like that, I'm not sure, (LOL). I have local comedy spots during the week in Atlanta and I travel every other weekend out of town. The host of the show, Rashan Ali, has an acting, modeling and singing background -- if you just asked me... HAM, has been since I've known her. She loves the attention (smile). Akini is our producer. He is a genius behind the board, it's like watching a perfectionist every break. He has different companies outside of radio, casting company, models and he has a show every Wednesday in the city showcasing new artists. C.J. is our entertainment diva. She's on the street for 2 hours during the show and her background is modeling. Our girl has been in Playboy twice and assistant producer and the liaison for our morning show to corporate

nationally and she's our 'computer geek,' she knows everything about anything technical.

Having done standup, are you more comfortable doing schtick than just being a regular guy? When I ask this I think back to Leno's first days on the Tonight Show. He seemed most comfortable with the monologue, but when it came time to interview someone, there was an obvious awkwardness.

My whole life I have been a talker -- comedy was always a bonus. The hours are still hard! It's weird because my body goes into a 'second wind' around 9pm and I normally don't go to bed until about two or three in the morning... having to wake up at 0415.

What do you think is the secret to great comedy?

The drama masks represent comedy and tragedy. A comedians tragedy is everybody else's comedy so to be a great comedian you have to go through great tragedies. The worst thing that happens to me can be the funniest thing to a crowd. My house caught on fire four years ago and I lost everything but when I talk about it on stage its hilarious.

Who makes you laugh?

Believe it or not I've been getting this question for the last decade and I say the same thing -- my mother, Lenoir Jenkins is the funniest person I have ever met in my whole life. I know all the comedians in the business like Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Dan Akroyd and the casts from "Saturday Night Live" are big influences on me because they made me see what a joke could be and I "got it" at an early age. But my mother is by far the funniest person on the planet all I'm doing is my mama on stage.

Give us an example of her humor?

She told me this guy she was dating looked like Snoop Doggy Dogg with a Rodney King flare.

What about grade school, were you the class clown?

I was the class clown in every grade that I was in but I made A's. It was always hard to figure me out because I would be silly, but I was smart. What people don't know outside of my close friends and family is that I'm an intelligent man. I take pride in being a smart guy... the funny guy part is easy, second nature but I read a lot and I spend a lot of time in Barnes & Nobles and libraries. Reading books like "The 48 Laws of Power," "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership" and most recently "Spirit Warrior."

Do you see personality radio on Urban stations becoming more mainstream?

I'm no radio historian but I am a sociologist of sorts because of my interactions with people and what I've noticed is African-Americans are such an influence on the world as a whole and when we come out of our comfort zone of the city and state that we are from we can focus on 'the big picture.' All black people don't think "white folk are out to get us" and "the man is keeping us down." Folk are folk, there are mean white people and mean black people. Were all in the same race though, the human race. We need to focus on that more.

How did you cover Katrina?

Our whole Corporation (Radio One) as a whole, went far and beyond what we could have. This weekend (9/17) we're holding a 'Heal the Hood' Concert with artists like Lyfe Jennings, 112, David Banner, Nelly, Young Jeezy, Big Boi, Jermaine Dupri and so many more and all of the money is going to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. No give aways, no freebies. All the personalities are purchasing tickets and Radio One teamed up with Infinity, Cumulus, Cox and Clear Channel to give all proceeds of this concert to the rest of America to the victims. I saw my country, not just African-Americans, I saw my nation come together for those people in the Gulf and as a veteran and an American I was proud.

This year marked your first visit to Boot Camp. How was it?

Man, Boot Camp was life changing for me in two ways. The first way was because that was my very first time going to New Orleans -- ever! I had to cancel Shows at Xavier and Comic View tapings so to finally go -- that was

like man. Then to know that we were there just three weeks before all that devastation hit that state made me cherish it even more. Boot Camp was awesome. I met so many people that I would be friends with if we weren't on radio. The biggest deal to me was that their was no race card played -- we were all air-personal-ities. People like Spike (KZOK) from Washington all the way to my country station folk in San Jose, California -- it was like a family reunion. I was so comfortable because I was in my element, around people that saw their vision, capitalized on it and didn't give up. Vision is a funny thing, everyone doesn't have it but everyone wants to tell you why yours sounds crazy? As the freshman to the Camp this year I was comfortable like that was my fifth year going -- cannot wait to go to the one next year.

Everyone there thought you were the funniest dude they ever met. Have you always had this impact on people?

Man, these questions are so me me me, but I'm going to answer them the humblest way I can. Yes I have always had that effect on people (LOL). I truly believe in my heart that my purpose on earth is to make people smile. I believe it so much it just comes out, I'm blessed to have a team around me that I can absorb and make up new material from. Its so stupid but I just think that all human beings should talk to one another. That's the only thing that separates us from the animals. I know a lot because I talk a lot. Quiet

What bit did you immediately do when returned to Atlanta?

Loren Henderson ('Hollywood') made an inappropriate joke while we were in one of the meetings and we taped him and ran it on the air. Pooch and Monie in Philadelphia do this thing called 'censored Monie Love' and Pooch gets her to talk about things he knows that pisses her off and runs them with all the bleeps in it -- we started doing that. We also have been calling other morning shows -- we haven't even peeked at our first 6 bits yet, its endless.

Any guest in the world to have on your show, who would it be?

Janet Jackson. We tried for 88 days then just got sick of the chant we made -- it was a last minute idea that taught us a huge lesson. Planning is everything. We'll get her though -- she lives here.

And when you get Janet (Jackson) on the show, what's your first question?

What took you so long?

Is it true you played professional football? Do the Falcons have a shot this year?

I played four seasons professionally in Germany after The World League folded as a middle linebacker and I see the Falcons doing whatever they want to do -- I'm a Raiders fan -- I don't have a backup team, I don't play with another team on Madden. We don't even recognize the NFC in my house but I think the Falcons will do okay.

I hear you have a son who's a Country music die-hard?

My youngest son Marcus (twelve) loves the hell out of some Country music in fact three of the country shows I met at the Boot Camp sent him stuff after I told them -- they sent him Cowboy Troy, Tim McGraw, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley and Gretchen Wilson just to name a few -- (uh oh, he just ran in here and said don't forget 'Shooter Jennings.') On everything if I put my DirectTV on the Country music he can name at least nine out of ten songs -- its funny. I told him it opens him up to a bigger demographic and actually me too.

How do you work with other comedians when they come on your show?

Excellent. We're in like a comedian fraternity. Anyone that's on the radio has done something or is doing something that would get them an interview -- that's respect. All of the black comedians I know well -- so its like a reunion every time. We play off each other a little too much because its taken them (Rashan and Akini) so long to get me to focus that I lose it every time a comedian comes on, its habit.

What's the best and worse part of your job?

The best part is that I have been blessed with the privilege of waking up an entire city with my team. We get people's day started and a lot of people wait until we 'move' before they do. That's an incredible amount of responsibility. I'm so very thankful of Jerry 'Smokin-B' (Program Director) and Wayne K. Brown (General Manager) for hiring me and letting me do what I do. You meet people along the way in this business and you never know who's looking at you or listening to you for that matter. Good thing I never cussed out Wayne or Jerry when I was with V-103.

Read previous Morning Mouth interviews.

Return to Menu