Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
hey what's up welcome to the power and the punchline this is where the power gets honest and the punchline actually means something we talk leadership culture influence and real life no fluff no filters i'm rudy rush let's get powerful
All right. So this is part two of the journey, the story of the promise. Queens. No. Harlem's finest. Harlem's finest. That's right. Is what he called himself. Yes. So you just listen to or just watch part one of these. Yeah. And we're releasing these same day. So it's not like you had to wait. We don't have two in one day. Yeah. Oh, nice. That's nice. That's too deep of a story.
I'm telling the truth.
Steve, Steve called and cursed me. I mean, there might've been a phone call, you know, but I think that's a great, a great segue into part two. Oh yeah. And we're doing this authentic. You know, we do a ton of research on everything we do. But episode or part one of that episode was so strong that I was like, hey, we need to finish the story.
So, you know, that journey, man, we just left off with Showtime. And for a lot of people, bro, like that would have been the peak. That would have been. Yeah, that's a career for some people.
Yeah.
Yeah. I mean, you know, even if they did nothing else after that, I think. Some people would say that was a great, he had a great run, you know, but it's more to it. It's more to it. So then what happened? What happened next? I know, you know, you said you kind of were seeking mentorship and you were looking for that in some people. And yeah. Did you think you were going to find it on radio?
No, I had no idea that I would. It just came out of nowhere. Actually, you know, after the Apollo run, which was, you know, like filled with all types of feelings and uncomfortableness. And, you know, it was just it was the best and the worst of times, honestly, because, you know, I'm on TV every week. So I'm being noticed and I'm getting access to things that I wouldn't before.
And one of the things that I did get access to traveling around the country with the McDonald's kids tour. that's affiliated with the Apollo is being on radio and interviewing and doing things like that. Television, you know, I got a chance to do a small couple of stints in radio in Dallas.
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Chapter 2: What pivotal moments shaped Rudy Rush's career after Showtime at the Apollo?
I happened to meet Doug at a real men's cook. You know, I guess it was an event for real men cook and he was there and I was there. We kind of hit it off, but you know, no major fireworks, no come work for me. It was just like, Hey man, I'm glad, you know, you're doing what you're doing. Listen to you guys. I'm sorry. Michelle at the Apollo was that kind of an exchange, you know, we move on.
But then I ran into Didi in Las Vegas, hosted the McDonald's kids tour. And sure enough, you know, just,
the conversations from that and just them watching me you know like from afar and up close because i did some radio when they lost ricky they were like well you know this guy's pretty good and you know he was with joe soto bitch out out to joe so that was my first radio gig and then i also had a stint on the air with cheryl underwood that was hell on wheels basically and
And I'm glad Cheryl and I are super cool friends now because it was just like, it got real ugly real quick. But then we got older and, you know, she has many blessings with the CBS gang. And we see each other in New York and we kind of kiss and made up. So I was happy about that. But yeah, Doug was really my first big opportunity in radio.
And they gave me a call and people don't know this at the same time that Doug offered a gig with ABC Radio. Doug was let go, or at least they were taken off in New York. You know how syndication goes, so they move in different directions.
And Vinnie Brown, shout out to Vinnie Brown, because Vinnie Brown, who was the director, the program director at the time, who had people like Doug, Wendy Williams, he had a really big roster over there. And They approached my agency and they wanted me to take over for Doug in New York because I sat in and I'd done so well that they were very, you know, and they offered a lot.
I said at the same time, Doug and those guys were offering, you know, a little less. But for me, it was like, I'm going to learn from the best, sitting with them. They naturally know I'm a comedian. I can benefit from that, do my shows on the, you know, instead of being in New York, you can't promote in Kansas City, can't promote in, you know, in Chicago. Well, with Doug, I can.
So what I was going to do is I was like, take that opportunity. So anyway, I started working with them and it was like instant chemistry. I mean, it was the best time, especially initially. And like we said before, in the last episode, Doug represented that one older, you know, brother-like, uncle-like, father-like figure that was like, you know, he would do interviews.
And I mean, it still, you know, sits with me now that he would be like, Rudy knows how to get in and get out. He knows the timing of it. And I really felt like I did. You know what I mean?
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Chapter 3: How did Rudy Rush transition from comedy to radio?
So I was fine. You know, the checks I was getting, I appreciated it when you just add into just being able to do whatever I wanted to. And like I said at the time, I still had no kids, but, you know, I was... expecting a child, and my first, and I'm building this house. And let me tell you, people from the hood always tell you, I got two cars. I got the one I drive to work, and then I got my car.
Because I don't want them seeing me at work with this, and then they're going to start acting funny. You know, it goes in one ear and out the other. But, you know, honestly, in a lot of cases, I don't care if you're black, white, Hispanic, you know what? The haters going to hate you. And, you know, I was such a nice guy at work.
I wanted everybody to have a good time and love each other and stuff like that. So I was like, you know what I'm going to do? It's my first year in this big old house. I'm going to have a 4th of July barbecue. My mom is here. She's going to cook. And let me tell you, one of those... you know, directors or executives came by the house with his family.
And the first thing he said when he stepped out of the car was like, yeah, we paid you too much. And, you know, I was quick to let him know, like, this ain't ABC money. This is all, I'm Booty Rush. I'm Apollo. I'm Def Comedy Jam. I'm here. I'm ready. You guys are just, you know, paying for the paper plates. Whether it was the house or just my performance, which I doubt that very seriously.
Number one, you know, I didn't get, you know, my contract. I was just at a stalemate with them for a long time until, you know, things kind of fizzled and Doug had to leave the agency. And we went along with it. So I was with Doug for eight and a half years. Like I said, it was full of fun and things like that. And unfortunately, you know, the reason why Doug...
And I parted ways because Michael Bazin, if you remember, he left and there was an opportunity for Doug to get more markets, meaning taking some of the markets that were left over by Michael Bazin. So somebody convinced him, you know who they are, that Doug should let me go and take on George Wilborn, which was a big mistake, but they thought it would work because George is from Chicago.
Worst mistake they've made. And I'm talking freely now like that because you know what? You know, it's one thing to do things, and I thought Doug did the right thing for him to make the money and move in the direction where, you know what, even some teams in sports, you got to let Hershel Walker go so you can get Michael Irvin and the boys in there and win some championships. You know?
And so that's how I took it. As much as I didn't like it, eight and a half years, that's my family. That's all I know. There was some trepidation. There was some fear. But at the same time, I wasn't mad at Doug. I was just kind of funky on how he did it. You know, I really was. But anyway... Moving forward, you know, I got an opportunity right away. Not right away, honestly.
I left in April, and during the year, I was working with ESPN, and they were trying to develop a show on the sports network. That didn't go through, so I fly to California, and I'm in Cali on my buddy's couch, going to different, sitting on the set with Kevin Hart and those guys at Paramount when they're shooting The Husbands of Hollywood and all this other stuff.
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Chapter 4: What challenges did Rudy face while working in radio?
You know, there was some pictures being shown, which is, you know, people say the word sexual harassment, use the term, excuse me. And they think that it's somebody trying to like sexually get with you physically or whatever. But sometimes it's, It boils down to, you know, crossing barriers that you shouldn't cross.
And, you know, women sometimes, and ladies, you know, if you're a social media public figure, women get some of the most dirty pitches. You know, and some of them say they have a choice to open it. But anyway, she was showing male body parts in the studio, and I didn't like it. And finally, after the third time she did it, I had to go to HR, which I found out about HR the hard way. HR is not...
They're there to help, but they're there to help the best interests of the company. They'll make you feel like they're taking care of you. They moved me from that show, took me off the show with my name, and I moved it from 33, where Steve was before he left, and plus the 18, and we were climbing, and went to Dee Dee's, where she was 3'4". They were doing well. They were doing good.
I bought them the number one and I got all the checks to prove it when we got our bonus. So how does the show go to number one? When you say those numbers, what does that mean? So, you know, and the ratings. So, you know, when they do all the urban shows, whether it's Urban AC or hip hop shows.
But basically all of those shows in that demographic and the other morning shows, the Spanish show, the other the pop shows. You know, like what's the cue and what's the number for the show? And we went to number one, number one, number two, the time I was there. And so it's measuring listener traffic. Absolutely. Listener traffic. Yes. And so we did that.
And so not to say I'm the king of that, but I ain't never been out of it. I've never been out of the top five, forget top 10. And so, you know, with that, I just assume honestly that when my contract was up for renegotiation or just not even a renegotiation, to pick up the extension. This is during COVID. And we gave back 20% of our pay or whatever. Long story short, they didn't take the option.
And the funny thing about it is, okay, I'm Rudy Rush. I'm going to be honest with you. I was like, oh, I could jump on the tour. I'll call somebody, get on the stage, whatever. That's what I said. September 10th, 2020, the world is shut down. There's nothing open. There's nobody flying, nothing. So now I'm in trouble.
Long story short, a year later, not even a year later, in June, my oldest daughter's mother passes away. So, my father passed in 2019. These things happen at work. My relationship is going down the tubes. Now, my oldest daughter's mother passes. And like now, I'm in trouble. And so... It took me years.
I used my savings, all the things that I could do to keep everything for my oldest daughter to come. She didn't want to come. She wanted to come in like two years later. But I started working with Bill Bellamy. And, you know, the funny part is, you know, he called me and was like, yo, you need to borrow some money? I was like, nah, but if you could take me on the road.
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Chapter 5: How did Rudy navigate personal setbacks during his career?
He'll show me how to find that. And I appreciate that. And that's why we're here now. Nah, man. I appreciate you. You know, we go back to that story we talked about in episode one a little bit. Just You were someone I looked up to, right? Like, you spent some time in the Carolinas, right? Like, you were proud to talk about being in the Carolinas sometimes. Low country player of the week.
I scored 60 points in two games. They still, yeah, still in the books. Like, what? Yeah. So, he's not 13. He's 12 and 13. But you're in the record books, though. I am in there. Shout out to Rudy. Athlete. Athlete for sure. He is. But, you know, I was so just touched by your humility because, again, you are the prodigy, right?
Like this episode, part one and two was all about the Rudy Rush story that's been written so far because the story's not complete, right? We're always writing our story. Just how humble you were because, again, that night, man, I was like, wait, is that the Rudy Rush? Yeah. Because, you know, when you put the in front of somebody's face, right?
And I was like, is that the Rudy Rush jumping up on stage? Right. okay. Yeah. As the host. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. This show is about to be fired. Live. And I made sure that's the one thing I did. Right. I went out with a bang because I said, well, they don't get two headliners on this show. They don't even know it. And now they're adding one. Yeah. Yeah.
So we have, you know, Bill had a great situation going on and we got along super well and things started happening. And I was like, you know, I got to go and in a different direction. It had to end at some point. So I'm glad to be able to just rock with him and now, you know, doing some other stuff. Y'all cool, right? Yeah, we good. We ain't got to have therapy in court one.
Nah, I'm going to let him step on the couch. We good. We good. Ain't no furniture being moved. We good. Everybody good. So speaking of being good, is there anyone else That we need to say, Ruth. Oh, nah. You know, there's a few people who say my name and don't say it to my face.
And I would never confront them because unless you say it to me, I don't know that you really do have a problem with me. But, you know, there's a gentleman who works with Bill. And, you know, they're going to get on me with this again because I said something on, you know, Goffrey has a podcast. I went on Goffrey's podcast and he was talking about joke thieves and all this other stuff.
And this gentleman was stealing my jokes. And I'm saying that now. That's joke stealing. It's a thing. Because, you know, I got the stage before you. Hey, I just borrowed it. You can still use it. So this is the thing for me. I mean, let me explain my position because I'm not the aficionado. Like, I'm not the police or the jokes dealer.
And I'm never... 30 years, I've confronted... This is the second time. The first time I was... Maybe 22 when I said something to somebody, you know, and I heard my feelings too. I didn't steal your joke, man. It was a family reunion. I wanted to just say, you did your thing out there. I was like, he stole one of my lines on the first episode.
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Chapter 6: What lessons did Rudy learn from his experiences in the entertainment industry?
Because I do, I mean, anyone that has seen Rudy live, when he brings it, which is all the time, you hurt. Your jaws hurt, your stomach hurt, your neck hurt. You're probably sitting beside somebody, so your shoulders hurt. But there's an art, man. I do a lot of speaking, and I tell people that are speaking or one of these speakers, man, speaking is nothing but stories and points.
Yeah.
Les Brown taught me never tell a story without making a point and never make a point without telling a story. And I think that's also some of the art to joke tell, storytelling on that side. Because one of the things that I know as a speaker, I've seen you do this with different bits that you have. You've got to know how to tell stories.
a bit a story in 60 seconds maybe the 3 minute version of that story and if the energy is good maybe the 5 minute or how to make that and keep coming back to it you do that man like better than anyone that I know talk to us about just the art Man, the art of comedy I had to learn through the fire in New York City, you know, one of the hotbeds of comedy and a time where it was the Def Jam era.
So everything was on a high level. I mean, any night you can be on stage with Chris Tucker. Dave Chappelle, anybody could be walking through that club. Monette's days, Tracy Morgan, just to name a few. And so I learned by just watching, you know, I always still have the habit. I watch every show.
Like I, you know, even when I'm the headliner, I watch at least if we're doing a weekend, I got to watch the first couple of shows just to get the rhythm, see what the crowd, how they're breathing in and out. You know what I'm saying? That's a real important thing to me. That's why I'm so successful because I watch the crowd and I'm like, okay, they like that. Oh, they don't like that.
Or I would have done this that way. Even though you've got a thousand personalities, there's some common thing that makes them move together. And I know I sound a little crazy saying that, but that's really what it is. It's like a quarterback who could slow down the field while all of these 400 pound dollars running at a hundred miles an hour trying to knock your block off.
You take a breath and you breathe. You know what I mean? I never learned how to breathe being an actor. I always felt uncomfortable in that space, you know. But as a comedian on that stage, I am grandmaster. I know what I'm doing. Yeah. So what's Rudy's top five today? Where are we going? You know, we talked about working with Claudia Jordan.
And I'm going to do the top five women who I approached today. to work with me and they said no. Work. Yeah, work. To be my co-host. Oh, all right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, no, no. At the time, I was in a relationship so I couldn't. Yeah. These are the top five. Number one. I don't know if you remember, she used to work on Ricky Smiley's show, Ebony Steel. She was great on the air. Very funny.
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