An Interview with Lil Rel

Interview with Lil’Rel

How many kids around know exactly what they want to be when they grow up? You don’t meet too many kids that fit into that category. But when you do find a child that says they want to be something and the actually stick to it, you know you have found a kid with a serious passion and talent.

Years later, comedian Lil’Rel still remembers the day he claimed his career. “I was 12 years old when I told myself that I was going

to be a comedian,” Rel says. “I wasn’t going to let all those days I was sleepy in Sunday school because I was up late watching Saturday Night Live go to waste.”

Since Saturday Night Live was on of his greatest comedic influences, you would think that the heart of the Chicago born comic would be in performing in sketches. His heart is truly in stand-up. “My biggest influence is Eddie Murphy,” he says. “I just love his structure and the way he tells stories in his comedy and you can see that in some of my stand-ups.”

Doing comedy for 9 years now, Rel got his start in the comedy world in a little spot called The Lion’s Den in Chicago. “I saw the add in the newspaper all the time while I was growing up and I always used to tell myself that once I turned 18, I was going to perform there and as soon as I went to college, I tried out.”

The 31 year old father of two has major plans for the future. He just finished up shooting a film called “Get A Job” and will also be featured in Jamie Foxx’s “All Star Jam.” He also began working on an animation series called “The Lil’Rel Show.” “I want my kids to be able to see what their father does everyday and be proud of it,” Rel says.

So where does the up and coming comic want to be in 5 years? Lil’Rel says “I want to be the #1 urban comic in the country. I want to do dramas, movies and all that. Basically I want to be a boss!”