Kevin Hart covers the January issue of VIBE Magazine where he explains why he avoids dealing with "race" in his comedy career. Plus, he dishes on working with Ice Cube in Ride Along. Highlights inside....
In VIBE's January "race" issue, Kevin Hart shares the dual cover with rapper Drake as both discuss race and its impact on their careers. Kevin, who'll star with Robert De Niro in "Grudge Match" (December 25th) also discussed how his film, Ride Along, may catapult him to Eddie Murphy status. Here are the highlights:
VIBE: You don’t make race the nucleus of your routine. Why?
KEVIN HART: No, I don’t need to. I get that racism exists, but it’s not a catalyst for my content. I don’t need to talk about race to have material. My style of comedy is more self-deprecating. I think that makes me more relatable. When you deal with “topics”—race, white versus black—you’re not separating from the pack. You’re doing what everybody else is doing. It’s easy to take those subjects and make them personal. You show more depth when that’s not your shtick.
Talk about raising kids in this post-racial society.
My kids are coming up in a different time then me. Interracial couples are of the norm. With me, it’s about making sure my kids understand the importance of education and having opportunities that I didn’t. My goal as a parent is to make sure they don’t take what they have for granted. You definitely want your kids to understand their heritage, but I don’t want my kids to just focus on being black. They are people. I don’t want them to judge other people or to be judged. I want them to be good people, so good people will treat them accordingly. I preach that to my kids and everything else falls into place.
A lot of critics are blown away by Ride Along. It feels like a Beverly Hills Cop moment for you.
Ride Along can catapult me into a different level of stardom. First and foremost, Ice Cube is amazing in the movie. Our chemistry is amazing. It’s a great movie for the both of us. Tim Story, Will Packer. Universal had a concept and allowed us come in and bring what we felt we should. I’m excited about it; January can’t get here soon enough. I think this movie is going to exceed expectations. I’m trying to get what the Will Smiths and Eddie Murphys of the world got. I want to do it to a point where I understand the business. I want to be in a position where I own my material. This is a movie that can put me in a place to accomplish a lot of things.
Do you have any experiences with everyday racism?
Even if I did, I don’t give it the attention. I don’t welcome negative energy. The time it takes to harbor, reap, bitch and complain is time that you can be doing something else. Have I gotten into situations with people that could have been racist? Of course, I am human. I’m a young black guy in Hollywood. You chalk it up and you move on.
BONUS:
Watch Kevin try to ball with NBA stars Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Andre Iguodala and Chris Paul.
Ha!
And he and his girlfriend Neeki are currently at the White House for a Holiday party.
Nice!
Photos via VIBE/Kareem Black/Neeki's IG