¶ Building a Thriving Business and Brand
Welcome to Vegas Circle podcast with your hosts , Paki and Chris . We are people who are passionate about business , success and culture and this is our platform to showcase to people in our city who make it happen . On today's podcast , man , we got something super special . Man , we got a legend with us bringing them back to the podcast .
We're going to delve into the art of building a thriving business and a comedic brand with legendary comedian and businessman Mr TK Kirkland .
Man , so welcome back to the circle Love in the room , love in the room , that's right .
This man . I've been tracking him down for years , but we connected about three , four years ago . He was able to come on one of our episodes a couple years back during the pandemic .
It's been that long ?
Yes , it's been two years , man , but a little over two years , about two and a half man time flies and 63 years old , which I still don't believe .
Yeah , 63 , yo .
So what you been doing , man ? You've been running around man Probably 200 tours a year around the world , but what you been doing I wake up every day and I'm just truly blessed , you know One being a great dad .
That's the most important thing to me , and then just health I could get up early in the morning , like we talked two years ago . It's always about health .
I push that more than ending the work , because so many people don't take care of their health , don't get they checkups and all that , and I'm glad that I really started that lane because a lot of people don't talk about it . So I talk about it in my stand-up , I talk about it in interviews .
So , with that , because everybody pushes for success but don't stay around long enough to enjoy the money . So I want people to take care of their health so you can live long enough to get whatever you want .
That's all . Yeah , it sounds like important , Because a job like yours is very demanding right Day in day out you're traveling , it's easy to find opportunities to do unhealthy things .
Right , that's true , whether it's drinking or eating out . Yeah , I have no vice , I don't gamble , I don't drink . Oh lucky .
Yeah , I do what .
I'm supposed to do . Yeah , I do what I'm supposed to do .
Yeah , how you'd not be able to do that . That's crazy . So you just very disciplined , and do you think that started with being an athlete ? Right , because you were a runner ? Yeah , yeah , yeah .
I was a track star . I was just disciplined and as you get older you really understand and I learned from mistakes . I've seen people not just in entertainment , just walks of life , Drinking the alcohol and things that people do that damage their bodies . I love life too much to even mess it up , so I do what I got to do .
I think I feel when you get to the universe , the universe is good to you . If you avoid negative and crazy situations , you have an absolute better chance in life . So I avoid all those things and all my past experiences have taught me to be the man who I am today too .
But you're , like you know , going town to town . You know what are you doing in those locations , that you're not going to party , you're not drinking . I go to bed . Yeah , yeah , I go to bed .
I don't like talking , so I stay in my room pretty much all day I'm a workout , and then when I get on stage , because I've been quiet all day , I'm excited to talk . That's the strategy . Yeah , Like don't talk to me Like I stay quiet all day and then I get on stage Ta-da , that's what's up ?
Yeah , so talk a little bit about , like back in the day , right , you had seven comedy clubs , right , yeah , about seven . Why did you get into that business ? Was it something that you were just looking at ? You saw that we were missing it , or what ? No , no , no , well , michael .
Williams had the first club . It was called the Comac Theater , ok . And then everything else . Like everything else , I'm like well , he's been at the right place at the right time . So , one opportunity leads to this and I just really love and I was just ambitious . So I would go to club owners and say , hey , let me do a comedy night here .
And the next thing you knew , I had like seven throughout the city the palace in Hollywood , the Burlant , weston , long Beach , California , the Golden Tale , paradise 24 , if I didn't say that already . So we just like doing it .
So all the comedians here had to come through me the Robin Harris's , the Tommy Davidson's , the when DL first got started , jamie Foxx then got started . They all came through all my clubs . That's what's up . These were all in LA , these all in Los .
Angeles , ok , yeah , these all in LA , ok . So what was it that ? So you connected with DL , right ? Yeah , you mentored to DL and Jamie Foxx and Mike Epstein . What did you see in them that made you say , ok , I'm going to come up .
Well , dl wasn't even doing stand up , he was just outside talking to me . That shows you how long ago that was . Yeah , he was a boss at LA Times .
He was a he had an office , had people working for him , he was corporate . Yeah , he was corporate DL was corporate .
Yeah , ok , yeah , dl was an awesome guy from the beginning . Ok , dl was going to make it in life , no matter what he was doing .
I can see that Very intelligent .
Yeah , whether it was stand up comedy or in LA Times . I really feel he's been in LA Times . He's probably been owning LA Times because he had . When I went to his office and I saw the people the way they you can tell leadership . He had great leadership skills .
So he was on his way .
So I took him under my wing , you know , tore him again . He learned very quick and then boom , the rest is history Went on to be very successful .
Yeah , it's kind of crazy because you know , part of comedy is that leadership and that confidence and to be able to stand up in front of the room and kind of command the people right , right , right , right , it seems like one of those business translates to comedy and vice versa .
Yeah , everybody's different . You know , like Mike Geppes is different , Goughry is different , All these are my personal handpick people that I took and made them better , but they all listened . That was the key . They all listened , yeah . And the rest says and there's a lot of other people , you know Ricky Smiley , who used to open up for me back in the day .
Oh man , this is long .
Yeah , this is long , so you also have your own successful podcast , right ? Yeah , let's go to TK Kirk , but I don't do no video .
That's what makes it audio Audio . Yeah , because when we first started was Collins and then what I did was I had people hit me in my DM . They tell me their personal problems . I give them my advice . Okay , and the reason why I can't do studios like this ? Because , like you guys , you're patient . I can't be in one spot like that .
You look so weird , that would drive me insane .
Yeah . So Charlemagne , the guy who was there to do something yeah , charlemagne , and he created an app for me to do my event . So , no matter where I'm in the world , I could interview the people I want and I never want to do celebrities , because I knew the complication of celebrity Schedule in conflict the same way you had with me , yeah , you know .
So I never want to deal with this . I just deal with regular life , regular people , okay , and I've given them so much knowledge . Like the last episode guy was crying , you know , he got caught up with the wrong girl and he lost his soul .
So this week got baptized and he was looking for me for help and I explained to him that if he didn't listen to me , that he was going to die . And I said so , listen to me . So what I'm going to tell you got to do , and he said he was on . So we'll see . I wish you the best .
You have that kind of like you know , commanding demeanor about you , right when people want to listen to the feedback that you get . Yeah , where do you think that ? Kind of stems from ? Is it like personal confidence , trials and tribulations ?
I'm just a fly motherfucker . You know what I'm saying and it's in my DNA . You got to throw it out there and it's in my DNA . It's in my DNA . It's a Kirk , I mean , it's a Kirkland thing . Yeah .
Yeah , that's exciting . You know you kind of you know you touch on celebrity right , celebrity is hard to navigate a lot of different situations . You know how do you navigate your personal life with that celebrity . Do you get people that kind of try to dig into your family and personal situations ?
No , I don't move like a celebrity , though . I think it's all mental . I think people act like they're celebrities or people who never had nothing , never had a fame before in their life or attention . And I've been fly since I was like 13 years old . You know what I'm saying . So I'm doing this because the money's good .
I'm doing this because I got to travel the world . There was a time in my life where I was going to throw that dick tour . You know what ? I'm saying so . I don't know if you could curse on him . No , you could you know , and the reason I said it because I thought it was funny , and then the look in your eyes is hilarious too .
So just that alone is funny . I'm cracking up Me . I'm like is that the name of the house , the name of the two ? That's what I was having .
I was just having sex with everybody . You know that was an entertainment . That's the thing that I wish I could have control the best , but throw my dick tour .
This is always a trick man .
You know what I'm saying yeah , because you know , and I sit back now like man . It's just too much responsibility and I wish one woman had my child instead of that , I wish one , I wish I had one mother I wish I had one . And you learn through these . You deal with it .
You know I tell men play the hand that you dealt , hold yourself accountable and you'll be okay . You know some men wish they had somebody else's life and that's when the depression comes in .
I think that's what social media is kicking everybody's behind .
Yeah and you have to be strong , you know . That's why they call me .
Yeah , I get it . So when you start an off , right Did you , because you're not like a goofy guy like I know . You've mentioned that multiple times .
Yeah , yeah .
I like a Exactly and .
I remember the first time I saw you . I think maybe 13 or 14 years ago was the first time I seen you Actually stand up . You like a motivational speaker , man , right , that's what I got to now .
Yeah , yeah , that's what I've got to now .
¶ Comedian's Career Journey With TK Kirkland
You came to see me the fourth of July and I'll see you at the exact . Yeah , and what people don't know . That day I was so sick I wouldn't even know , yeah , I was playing it all well , yeah because if you ever knows my stand up , my stand up flows and on that day it felt like I had a boot on my voice .
Oh , sure , because I wasn't able to flow the way I like to flow , so I was still able to maneuver a little bit . But , that's a calm on my live nation tour coming up , we coming back to Vegas ? Oh , you are . Oh , yeah , I'm coming Vegas every year with live nation . Okay , so to come .
I'm truly excited To redeem myself in the sense , because people have been waiting for me come to Vegas for years , and last time I was here , prior to that , you hit getting one of those hard rock . Yeah , yeah , I can't show my big shows with my gaps at the palm .
That's the one we want to 12 , 12 , 13 years ago . Yeah , it's been a minute . Yeah , that's why I had kids . Yeah , yeah , so .
So to be on this level now is awesome to me .
I'm excited , yeah where do you get your content from you ? Just paying attention , yeah , just paying attention , yeah .
Yeah , a lot of people have that ability to make everything funny . I , I can take something funny . I could take something serious . Make a funny . Well , I could just take something serious and put my little twist on still make it serious , but deliver a message in to the world .
So I like that we were to do the podcast the other day . We were talking about comedians and it was like you know , you have to be a Philosopher in a sense , right ? Yes , you have to identify and pick things apart . But right the message in a funny way .
That's so true .
And you know , to me it's like you take , these content is very polarizing and you have to make it relatable and a lot of times , for better or worse , right , you love it , people who hate it right , that's true how do you like navigate that polarization ? You just don't give a shit .
I don't give a fuck , yeah , yeah , whatever , but I'm so good at it that I know it's gonna win , yeah , like . And then that's that's where the confidence comes in , because even if it doesn't work , because you have the confidence , you project Like . I don't know what you talk about , I know what I'm saying . It's not so much conviction , yeah , but it wins .
I've been , I've been consistent for 40 years in this business and you see , like a big shift , though now that seems like everything people are saying is like so over the edge is so controversial . I've never had that problem .
Yeah , I never had the problem . The thing that's happened for me is , every day , every week , every month , my star gets bigger , like it's a new birth because of social media and I knew years ago in the 90s that my career was gonna go where it needed to go .
But the people who was gonna help me there were young y'all were kids at the time because I couldn't get on the David Letterman show . I couldn't get on our senior hall . So when the young kids invented podcasting , when you invented social media , it was the perfect thing for me . And yeah , the rest is history .
So now in the world is finding out about me .
So you know , that's a good thing you big on like Basically live in life , right ? Yes , not like it's short , I've talked a lot about it . Can you share just kind of your perspective ? I love how you break it down .
I believe Pat words are very powerful . Mm-hmm and when I was coming up in the hip-hop world , hung out with everybody . But if you take these two examples , when Biggie did his album , he always talked about death .
When Tupac talked about , it is always about death , but Jay-Z and Diddy talked about money and women , and Two people talked about death , the dead and people talked about money and women . One is in trouble because of women , but everybody still got money and I just believe what comes out of your mouth is powerful .
So I think that every time you say life is short , well , the universe hears you and I think you take time off your life because I think words are powerful , because I'm really 62 I would say I'm 63 because I Project that I have to make that . So that's my goal , was always day ahead .
Let's just , you know , have my own little tricks if I listen to it , is it correct ?
Were you ? Were you there with Biggie when the day he died and when I was there , the whole day was together , the whole day and Biggie went to go to get Tattoos done me and Puffy's assistant late note , late note .
The note a black . Nor who was Puffy's assistant to time . We all went out to glass stones in Malibu . We came back tonight we all split up because we was going to the party this is Biggie's thing and me pup big . We was all hanging and I had a comedy show at the comic theater that same night .
But I saw all the hustlers you know , because you know I know the street guys and I saw I was gonna be some problems here . I could see it coming just felt the energy , yeah but I left to go do my party , me loving women .
I took some women with me , we drove down to do my comedy show and we came back we saw all the police and all that but I sort of didn't know what was going on . It wasn't talking about it . But then somebody said to get big , you got shot . I was like , yeah right , whatever went up to . It was a club on sunset , because I'm outcast is there .
I was friends with them too , so I want to open it up for them Outcast . And I went into the other room and looked out the window on sunset and I called the load day but her phone was off and something just told me go to see the Sinai Hospital . I drove there and she told me a big year pass , and then . A year before that it was with Tupac .
We was all here in Vegas hanging out and because I worked out a lot , still learning life , I took some fat burners the little . Why ? Still this day ? Don't know why .
I took some fat burners .
Yeah , I can't even imagine . You know , I had cardiac arrest man .
I drank alcohol . They're still doing it today and it did something to me and I wound up going to my hotel . I was so sick I stayed in my hotel for seven days . I saw everything on the news about Tupac . Yeah , I saw the Situation news . I mean pain and the day he died was the day I was catching a flight to go to Charlotte , north Carolina .
It's crazy .
Yeah , sorry .
I remember that and that's crazy . So it's those two and the night that general avert died , we was doing a show in that's cross , the South Carolina , so we had to cancel it . This is years later , this is late 90 , but Me , he was doing a show at the same time and he passed away . We couldn't do the show .
Did Tupac really come up with your name or give you a name ? Yeah , we got that ejector rapper . Oh . Yeah , yeah , just ejector rapper Okay , playing around Okay .
So then , the guy who produced um House party was a house party . No , no house .
We're kidding playing them . Yeah , house party . Yeah , we're kidding , there's a guy who's a producer .
He died , I don't know . So , it's Michael's , I've got his name . If you like somebody get a chance , let's Google who is the producer for house party , okay , and . He said to me one day he said TK , t to the motherfucking K . He said TK Kirkland is the philosopher . I see that , and T to the motherfucking K is my philosophy . That's what you said .
No , that's , oh , that's what he said , of the house of blue . You took that brand with it .
So that's what ? Yeah , so the some to park to that ? Yes , it's history .
And this was years ago .
This is early 90s . Yeah , early 90s .
You've been moving in some big circles of big names for a long time , right ?
Oh yeah , you know you've been in these places with people that I'm sure a lot of personalities big personalities and you know , have you found it just easy to like intermingle in those kind of and you know , with all those people , those names , those Interactions , and you know how important you think , well , I knew all these people before they were famous .
Okay so we all came up together , so to speak , you know . And then I was famous before most of them . I had a little stardom before a JZ had a little stardom before 50 cent . I've seen everybody come up . So I pretty much had like a little edge , a skyrocket , a skyrocketed Pass me , which is great .
But when I talk about my career the thing that's awesome I've seen people go up , become halfway down and some people get locked up , but with me I'm what you call a steady fix .
Consistent , yeah 40 years and no one could say that yeah . Be consistent how important you think that networking is to your success , the fact that you can , you know , hang out these people . I Don't you know .
Put yourself well back in the day he was hanging out networking , you had to be everywhere . Now I stay away . I don't even want nobody see me . Why I'm tired like I want to enjoy my home smokers , cigar , do a little shopping , have sex . If I can , you know , play with the kids , I'm good . You know that's what happens when you're 63 ?
I'm about to you stay out the way , man .
Yeah , what's the biggest thing ? Like do you think you've learned me ? You would do a lot . What's , what's the biggest thing that you think you've learned ? That you've pretty much adapted , you know and and made it like your own respect and honesty .
Okay , I think respect and honesty is that is it's key and know how to communicate extremely well .
Okay , communication things can get you could be a straight-up , honest person , you could be thorough , but miscommunication can change everything that to make you look like you look right full of it or and that's bad , I had situations like that happen and because I stand on being a great man and little things can make the world Think that you're not , and when I
when I have that , I tried my best to try to fight it to Convince people . But then you realize in life , you , you really can't convince everybody , so you , you let people think what they think and you actually did .
You get your master's degree in communications .
Yes , it's speech communication . I'll say no through his 1984 . That's what's up .
Yeah , yeah , yeah , I think more people should actually get that . Degree is what you're talking about as far as communication , because it seems like with social media , oh , they don't know how to interview .
Oh , my god .
It's hard , but they don't know how to communicate because everything is this versus BRB . And I'm curious what your perspective is on I text you , you'll be like .
I was in Detroit and . Give me , do an interview , thanks , give me weekend and I'm sitting in the green room and they
¶ The Importance of Communication and Mentorship
actually . The next episode was a Professor at school . Okay , they are starting a class . The teach kids how to communicate with each other . Shut up in college and college and Communicate .
Yeah , because we don't forget me .
Social media destroy that and my daughter was saying that not too long ago about in college people Don't talk no more . And just like when you go to clubs , people get dressed to go hold their phones . You know , I'm not dancing . We went out back and down .
I'm much older than you . I'm 44 .
Oh yeah , you still yes , it yeah .
Yeah , but back in the day we got dressed to dance . Yeah , people go now get dressed to go school , hold a phone or stand on furniture . So you got a room from Chicago region today . Yeah , yeah .
So that's what I was used to seeing . Right , right and we communicate on . My dad raises like better . Talk to me , man , he texts me right .
Yeah , I got rules about that , you already know . Yeah , I know , text me .
I think that's probably why we clicked is because of that . Right , you're communicator but , yes , you teach a lot , of , a lot of Regeneration and they're paying attention and a lot of a hard-headed . What would you say to them about communication of what you've learned , like how they should move or whatever scenario ?
What's the gym that you can leave for them just by communication ?
I think if you don't know how to talk , you lose in this game . Yeah you got another talk , got to know what you want , especially when it comes to women . What I find most men are liars , right , yeah , most men lie to be with the woman , most woman , most men and women now to have become habitual lies because they don't have accomplishments .
And I was talking some other day started laugh . I said they should have never got rid of the draft .
Military drama . Military draft why ?
No , because it gave people structure . It made you understand life , that this game was for real . Yeah and it would have saved . It would have killed a lot of people , but it would save a lot of people as well , and it gives them a foundation too . I think a lot of people aren't built on a foundation .
They're kind of just learning , running out there and figuring shit out as they go .
The reason why I'm taking off , because the kids look at me as this uncle I never had a dad and they're like yo , who's this guy ? And I'm shocked . I'm like nobody's what . Like y'all , y'all don't notice . This is insane to me , but I'm just being something that I've always been and I've learned through trial and error . So I'm self-made , so to speak .
So I'm here to do whatever I have to do .
That's so amazing . How important is that to you at this stage in your career . You know to pass on that information . You really helped develop these kids that are looking you as that inspiration or that figure in their life . That's important . That they may not have , I don't care , if I'm , it doesn't change .
Like your perspective you say that no , I don't care , I don't care . And let me tell you why I don't care .
Because , it's too much shit to worry about in life . And I ain't going to take all this like I get so many messages from them because I deal . Put it like this I'm in Washington DC and the gentleman saw me working out .
He saw one of my episodes on Facebook and he thought I was this brilliant guy and he was talking about these events that they put with some of the biggest speakers in the world and I can't remember them . but I do remember Mads Johnson and he said take care , we want you to come talk Because I put people on how to make money in my own little way .
That's phenomenal Information . That's right in front of you . And I explained something to him . He was blown away and he said how did you come up with that ? I said most people want to get successful . They talk to the 1% . I talked to the 99% .
That's a good way of looking at it . Yeah , I say .
I talked to the 99 . Because if people follow me on my Instagram or come to my shows , in 20 years I can make almost anybody listen to me , and I mean this , this is self-proven . I could make anybody anywhere between $200 to $500,000 . Easy , in 20 years . Now most people get in the stock market , Most people .
I tell people you're going to rock with the stock market , no more . What I got is so it's right in your face that it will blow you away . And that's just what I tell people . Also is that America has truly let a lot of us down . See , when you travel the world , you know that people talk to three , four languages . They sure do . We don't .
My kids do , which I wish I did learn .
Yeah , you look helpless when you travel , because when we were young , you didn't care .
You're right , you were forced to take it , but you weren't really learning . It took Spanish class . You didn't have somebody else do your homework or something .
It's really one of the most things that we all should know . I talk about history . Like everybody should know history , like I also have people and maybe you know I always ask crazy questions . I say a lot of . You all even know who Gladys West is .
All right listeners , take a break from the podcast to talk about something that's been a real game changer for both Pacquiao and myself Magic Mind Productivity Shot . I've been using it for a while now and it truly is a game changer .
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It's packed with organic matcha adaptogens , new tropics . It really helps me cut down on my personal to-do list and just overall , not get that in mid-afternoon jitters , the power through the day , yeah .
Hey . So for all the Vegas Circle listeners , if you're looking to change your daily routine without compromising , definitely check out Magic Mind . So let's get back to the podcast he's looking around . I don't think I can do that . I'll just say I don't have to do that . I didn't go loud . I don't know who it is .
Gladys West is the lady . Everybody knows her because she's in your hand . Gladys West is the lady who invented the GPS .
You kid me yeah old black woman .
That's what's up . She created the GPS , so I put people up on that .
I knew it was a black woman who created it , but I didn't know that was her name . Yeah , yeah , gladys West . So , yeah , that's what's up .
So I put people up on that all the way down to the teach people other than Black Wall Street how there was other things going on .
I knew about Black Wall .
Street . Yeah , but it was other just as big racial riots in this world other than Tulsa Black Wall Street , so I teach people about all the other things you remember Chicago Connection by any chance . I talk about all that stuff that's my pops was was part of Chicago Connection . Yeah , and other than the Black Panthers . So that's what I get on people about .
That's what's up , and I love that . Yeah , yeah , I love that . Talk a little bit about the crazy stuff that happened right in the news , right Starting with Deja Pell , people coming on stage Right , charleston White coming up you know dealing with this situation . How would you handle the situation ?
What's your perspective on somebody coming up and how you would handle that if somebody was heckling ?
I had a situation once where a guy tried to come on stage and we actually fought on stage . You kidding me ?
Yeah , we actually fought , and recently , Because this must have been a long time ago .
Yeah 12 , 13 years ago and we finally settled our differences because I realized I was up against someone that was never going to truly tell the truth .
So I ran up on a radio station and we talked it out and we shook hands and I told them we will leave it alone here because people will put you in situations to make penitentiary chances and that's what you have to stay away from in life .
You have to love you so much that you avoid things to get you locked up , because people can be tough all they want . But they got a place for you 1,000% . They got it . You could have tough all you want , I'll tell you something .
I'm talking to my kids right now .
They got a place for you when I saw the situation with Mr Charleston . To this day I still love Charleston . We had a little situation earlier this year .
¶ From Comedy to Corporate
Then , through the things I've gone through in life , I never want to wish anybody any pain . I don't want no man to have trouble . I don't want no man not to have inner peace .
I don't want no man to have obstacles that can take him off this planet or destroy his life and I just hope everybody you any man , women just can go through the rest of their life , making good choices to stay here as long as they can , because life is amazing .
You can't take no risk , whether hitting somebody with a plant , hitting somebody with a microphone . Learn to diffuse the situation so you can continue to eat . Because at the end of the day , you've got to get that money .
You always have the bag .
Yeah , you've got to get that money .
I was taught at a young age you don't want to grow old and be broke . You don't want to do it . That's a sad situation . Yeah , it's sad , and my people don't . My people , they're not ready . It's coming , y'all .
It seems hard . You know you have a lot of people that just you know . Get out there , get too intoxicated , get too drunk , they start heckling , going crazy , talking all this nonsense . How do you keep your composure ?
Yeah , you got to one . You got to be funny . Yeah , two , you got to stay controlled . I did a cash money tour once and Lyok Owen Leonor , what's his name ? I sounds Leo , yeah . Leo , yeah .
He was in the audience he does all the stuff by the music . Yeah , yeah , with Jays . I can't think of Jays' company With Jays' and all them . Yeah , nori and all them . I can't think of his damn name .
And shout out to him . Anyway , he said I remember this to this day . I was hosting the tour and he gave me the biggest compliment . That's .
Def Jam .
Yeah , he was working with Def Jam and this is the hard knock life tour DMX , the Cash 20 Millionaires Eve . It was a great concert and I held it down . A lot of people don't know how difficult it is to hold down a concert and he said man . He said you got the most hardest job on the tour , he said because you got to control the climate of the room .
And when I see people not controlling the climate of the room ? So you can make a choice . You can make a choice to be violent and create a riot or you can diffuse it . The goal is get the money , get out , because today somebody can hurt you . Today it can really go to the left if you really don't put yourself together .
But other than that I normally don't have problems .
This is Chris . Probably I don't think you've seen him live before , but he is so funny with the control of the room . He has people raise their head to go use the restroom .
Oh yeah yeah , yeah , I had never seen that before in my life .
It's quiet . You can hear a pin drop . I don't know how he at , but it's hilarious .
I've been in the drive , watch a ton of them , because people get up to use the bathroom and I'll be talking to somebody . I had never seen no one do this before , because they don't see it coming . It's shit , as hilarious I was like excuse me . Can you have a seat for a second ? No , I got to go back .
No , no , no , no , wait , have a seat . And I look around and say let another man come out and don't raise their hand . I said I'm here to deliver a message and it's funny and it's different , it's unique , it's never been done before .
And I love that . It's a good diffusion Because it makes you feel like you're in a partnership . But this is the most funny People will be raising their hand Right , right , right , yeah , it's hilarious . It's hilarious , it's hilarious , but talk a little bit about so you've been doing a lot on your own . Everything is on TK Network right ?
Yes , tk .
Curcum Network .
Have you always been independent ? You never had Always been independent until this year .
And that's how I come to sign with Live Nation . And Live Nation of course corporate . You know when you get corporate you don't get your check right away with corporate . That's the only thing about Live Nation . But they take care of you Counts payable .
You gotta wait , yeah .
And it started because I was trying to do an event with improv and one of the execs over there wasn't giving me what I want because I get 90% of the door and they wasn't going to give me that . So a guy named Jiru Tillman , who is my connect to Live Nation they have been after me for three years .
I kept saying nah , nah , nah , okay , because I'm thinking independence is the way to go and the world has changed . And what I mean by that is people don't do good business or just aggravating . And I'm at a point now I'm tired . So when improv didn't give me what I wanted , I called Jiru . I said , yo , I'm ready .
We did a couple of cities that I wanted to do where at the improv's I was going to do , but I wound up making probably 15 , 20 times more than about to win with the improv . And I actually sent a later email about two , three months later thanking her for not giving me the deal that I wanted because , I would have never signed with the nation .
Okay , and the rest is history . So Live Nation gave me a seven year deal 42 cities for the next seven years .
So , we start the last week .
We start the last week of February . I get 90% of the door and I'm doing my thing . So that's why I got staying shape , that's why I got to take care of myself , you know , because in seven years I'll be 70 . So I really want to be getting that bread , and that's what's happening , travelling the world laying on the beach , you know .
My kids , you know , get my back row One of my women's , so I live
¶ Jamie Foxx, Netflix Special, and Advice
.
Did I hear that Jamie Foxx was going to be doing your Netflix special ? Did I hear that right ?
Well , we were supposed to do it . We feel Jamie got sick . Okay , and we have been talking to him , me , him , michael King . This is when Jamie was in Paris , when he was shooting this movie , and all I kept saying on that phone call was Lord , please let us live Like are we all getting older .
Yeah .
And bam , a month later Jamie had got sick . Wow , and I haven't talked to him since . You see he's got better , yeah , but I'm quite sure him directing a show with me now is the last thing on his mind Trying to get here .
But I was thinking the other day I got some things happening and one I've always done my own specials , but in two years I'm going to have my Netflix special and I'm only going to do it because the people want it .
I want it . I want it Me personally .
And it's going to be something unique . You know , because I've seen the what people have put out there and what I'm gearing for in my career and the knowledge See , the longer the way I just become more knowledgeable . So by the time in two years , the stuff that I'm going to drop on the world is going to be so amazing .
They're going to be like wow , yeah , and I'm excited about that .
Yeah , I can't wait to see that man ? Yeah , I can't wait to see that . I'm looking forward to it . What else do you focus on , ram ? Just I know coming up 22 . Because you always a way ahead , man . Like I've talked to you before You're like five , seven years ahead . I've never seen nobody as strategic as you are .
I'm far out there , Like right now . I think I'm on 20 , 33 .
Damn 10 years .
Yeah , I always say I've been like that my whole life .
But you actually have it in your calendar , like you have it in my head . Oh , ok , ok , yeah , I have it in my head , yeah .
And it gives you stuff to do , because a rule of mind is you have to be better than you was last year Mentally , physically , financially and spiritually . You , you . It's mandatory Me I have to be better than I was last year . So that's what's up ?
Yeah , so what did you think about this puffy situation , man , what he's dealing with ? Because you dealt with a lot of powerful people and women coming back and talking crazy about you . Man , what would you say ?
I'd tell any man and woman that has seen Puff , or any man that would go through any kind of crime or pain , wish that person the best and hopefully they can get out of it and become a better person from this .
Yeah , sometimes you got to go through something to make you a better person , right , and when you see all the stuff about Puff so many bad things coming out so that means he's been truly a bad person for years , right , and I've been on that side of the coin . I've been , I've been in court .
That's why I wanted to hear what you're going to say . Yeah , I've been in court .
I've been humiliating in a sense Just for social media . Worst case scenario with me I was on um photo the Week in Jet magazine . That was our social media back in the day and um , I don't wish nobody no problem when I see what Puff went through , and if you watch this Puff , I wish you the best , you know .
I just think that men who have information shouldn't come out on social media now and put their foot on your , on your neck while a person is down . That's not how men move , you know , um , you keep it moving .
You wish that person the best , because even when I went through my trouble what was crazy , fly brother , I was in Atlanta and , um , I was at an event . It was Shaquille O'Neal , okay , yeah . And he said you okay . And I said , yeah , I'm a man . No one else , when I was going through , I was going through took that approach .
He , I could tell his you okay , was sincere . And Shaq looked at me and said , yo , are you okay ? And I was like yeah , and I just love that . And today , and you talk about 1996 , 97 , that's how long ago it was and I remember that to this day .
So let's wish people the best and not just keep throwing stuff at them , because what people don't realize them tables can turn Like 50 , I know you knew and I don't want to make this negative , but 50 is crazy , if you live on this planet long enough , man . Anything is possible , bro . That's a real .
That's a real thing If you stay here , if you , on this planet , 70 , 80 years , I'm telling you as as God's my witness , we learned having this podcast .
We had a podcast for five years Right , and one of the things that I was honestly learning from from you is being consistent . We've never took a break for five years Right . Consistence whole time . But you're right . You start meeting so many different people . A lot of people know everybody . They know our brand and know the people .
But if you do one person wrong , they're going to know .
Yeah , yeah and there's two different things . You can't help to make somebody upset , but it's a difference when it's crime Fair enough . So what the ?
tough situation is is a crime .
That's a crime ?
Yeah , it's an actual crime .
And that's between him and the women the situation . So whenever you see somebody go through something , just say I wish you the best , my brother , you ain't got to throw more on to it .
You know , that's not gasoline .
Men move a certain way . Men move like you know , like it ain't that serious to me . I'm not benefiting anything by putting you down these things I've learned in life . I'm not benefiting . 50 is a whole different situation . 50 is hilarious man . I love 50 . I know , you know who he is . He's my guy .
I'm going to prove everything he does . You know a bunch of videos and stuff with it .
I've done a lot of stuff with him . So I could never say nothing bad about him . 50 is purposes . That's his purpose . That's the best thing . You got a bastard in the heck of it , yeah , yeah yeah , yeah , it's something else .
Yeah , talking a little bit about business advice , right , us being a business show . What would you tell somebody that maybe they want to be a comedian because there's a lot of business and a lot of ROI and that ?
What would you tell them for whatever dream they're trying to accomplish , what would you tell them for somebody that wants to be their own business owner ?
Well , one . You got to get money , but you got to know stages in life . Okay , yeah , comedy , if you could start young , it's an excellent situation because you're not a man yet . Let me explain to you what I mean . Most men , when they get into this game , they go chase women . So now you got a girl in your life , you start having sex .
You might have a child . That girl is working . But you have felt all these dreams that you're going to be this big star but you're not working . Years go by . She's been footing the bill because she believed in your dream , but you're not a man . You're not helping paying the bill , you're not bringing food on the table .
So you kind of destroyed this woman based on your dream , because it was your dream . And what I mean by that is if you know , by a certain time you're not where you want to be . You got to go get a job . You got to be a man .
You have to contribute to the household of the family and the woman that you're living with , because I tell people all the time , sex makes babies , not love . Most men don't know the difference in that and you put yourself in bad situations because you out here being careless you out here on your dick toy type thing .
That's straight up true . That's straight up true .
That's the advice I would give , because a lot of comedians are not funny . They're not putting the work in . I travel 40 years . You've seen a lot . I see people who want to be funny and when I come back the following year , the year after that , I say they're not putting the work in , they just go on our stage . Nobody is putting the work in .
Would you recommend that you work a job and build a side hustle then ? Because you do a lot of side hustling , I believe , a certain time .
A lot of people are not businessmen . That's why most people got to have an agent or a manager . They don't know how to speak for themselves . They don't know what they're worth . They don't have the confidence to talk up . I do deals all around the world All around the world but I've been quiet about life . We live in an era you tell your business .
It's sad that basketball players and football players they have to announce how much they make , Such as $700 million . Back in the day , you never knew what a person would make . I think people should stop talking about how much they've made . It doesn't matter . We need to go back to that . Stop telling our business .
Dana White's been talking a lot about that with the UFC . None of their salaries or whatever they sign or deals or sponsorship . None of those athletes are brought up on the UFC .
That's the only athlete that I know of . I think their situation is different because I think they're robbing them .
Yeah , probably not . Yeah , that might be a strategy . Yeah , that's right .
I've heard that before , but I didn't know how true it is . No disrespect to their business deals .
I get it .
I'm up at three in the morning in my living room , candles , sipping on tea , and I read a lot . That story has come across Plenty times . Yeah , they robbing them guys .
So that's the reason why they don't now and every time they talk about what they make , then they get bashed and kicked out of the UFC and can't fight no more . That might be a strategy . That might be a strategy . They get robbed yo .
Okay .
For the kind of money that the UFC is bringing in them . Boys getting robbed yeah , they sold . Yeah , it's crazy yeah , they get robbed .
We always ask I know you didn't answer this last time about restaurants , man , but give us a gym , give us a great restaurant in Vegas that somebody should check out . I know you don't have a favorite one , as you showed us last time , but what would you say if somebody wants to check ? I'm going to go out in Vegas . Oh , that's what it is .
You stay home .
Yeah , well , I'm never home , I'm never Vegas . You ain't lying because you're freaking . Yeah , I've been here 20 years . I couldn't tell you where to go because I'm always going . I'm here maybe out of the year , maybe 40 days . Damn for real , Maybe 40 days out of the year ? Oh jeez crazy . I didn't sleep up a lot of days . You didn't leave that .
Traveling that much yeah , I traveled that much , Are you probably ?
right , because every time I talked to you on the phone , you were here damn .
Yeah , yeah , I've been moving , yo , I've been moving . I love it , though Switch up a little bit , then what's your ?
favorite thing to cook or have somebody cook for you at the TK Kirkland house .
I eat a lot of salmon . Okay , I eat a lot of fruit but nothing special .
That's your pretty Unless . My kids are there and they cook .
My kids can cook Okay . So I'm looking forward to my oldest son . He's a great cook because I have grandchildren now , so I'll be in LA with my grandbabies for the first time .
I'm excited about that that's what's up , man .
Congratulations , man , but I'm really looking forward to my son's food . You're a grandfather now . I just caught that .
Okay , yeah , so I'm going to Congratulations , man . I'm looking forward to just laying with the grandkids eating my son's food , but also bringing something to the house . I'm that kind of man I'm looking forward to stopping at the store , picking up something , bringing something .
It gives me meaning , another meaning in life to be with my grandkids and my son and my kids .
I love it . It's a traditional vibe . Yeah , exactly , and I told them that too .
I said now I know what I'm doing every Christmas . So , I love that Coming to them yeah .
That's what's up , man , and you have seven children .
Yeah , I got seven yo .
That's great you were playing around back in the day .
The thing in my life that's the most complicated , Because when you get older , you realize that either you should have one or two , but not that many , and you shouldn't have that many women in your life , that you have a child . But everybody is at fault in a sense , and that's why I tell men if you have sex with a woman , you don't have a condom .
She controls your life for the rest of your life and it's something to think about , because when you get older and you really understand life , you go damn . That's the I know , I do .
¶ Business Ownership and Fatherhood
One of the first questions I forgot to ask you . I just want to step back for one second . What was the first business you owned ?
Well , I have a lot of business .
So let me tell you what I did . Let's go open up everything .
Let me tell you I stayed quiet while I learned in life because of baby mamas right , and when you have the kind of kids mothers I had in my life , I'm broke .
So they tell you yeah , I had a thing you said that year .
I don't have anything . I don't have anything .
Man , I'm broke , even though my kids are grown . My kids is grown . My youngest is about to be 17 .
Oh , was that right Okay .
Yeah , so they all kind of they all pretty much grown . My oldest daughter is a surgeon . My son is executive in LA music industry .
Oh , that's what's up . All my kids are doing very , very well , that's beautiful .
Very well , so no complaints . And I say it's me because you can't be seven , everybody consistent . So I got seven . I know it all from daddy , so that's awesome .
Yeah , yeah . What do you want to leave us out on , man ? What would you want to leave us out on the podcast , man ? Anything we forgot to ask you .
No , no , no . I just , if anything to the world that's listening , be a man of your word , because I kept my word with you .
And I appreciate you and I think that is more valuable than anything I've said tonight on this show , and it's to keep your word , because I know you've been wanting to get me the all year and I kept like we're going to do it , we're going to do it . I was like , nah , I can't do it , can't do it .
And the day when I was getting ready , I said yeah , I'm good , I'm going to make this happen for my man . And when you I keep my word , blessings happen . So I love doing stuff for people because I know the blessings come down the line , and that's I'm in line with the universe , so I love that .
Yeah , I was appreciate you for sure . No , that's one thing , and it's funny you said that I was one of the first things my pops had told me when I was a young man . He was always just say that , and he's always talked about doing business with a handshake Right . That's that old school mentality .
Yes sir .
Yes , sir , I like it there . Yeah , 82 years old , yeah 82 years left .
I'm moving into Vegas ? Okay , great .
But um 82 years old , and he would always talk about that man Like if you tell him something , if you don't do it , he or you're here , yeah , yeah .
That's very important . Yeah , I go , cause all you have to do is shut up . But most men have this , this , this weakness of talking so fast that you put yourself in the hole , and in women too , in emotions . Yeah , so you got to slow down , take your time to think . Or if you can't get a good answer , always say can I get back to you ?
And it's nothing wrong with saying get I got to get back to you , cause now you got tired of thinking . And then you talk to the person next day . You go . I looked at my calendar . I see the situation . I can't make it happen , but maybe we can do it on this day , like I did .
Yeah , that's exactly what I was going to say . That's the strategy , I get it , I get it , I get it . Yeah , so just up over time .
So yeah , just up over time yeah . But yeah , I'm doing a big event here for um , for the Super Bowl um , with the NFL alumni . That's what was having the meeting . That's what's up . I'm doing here um some great things happening and then um I stopped my live nation tour , so make sure you get your tickets .
When you come to Vegas , you know the date . I don't know the dates . We got the city , we got 43 cities .
So what we're doing now is they get in the venues . I should have that before um Martin Luther King weekend . Okay , before . I do something big in LA and I talked to them yesterday and they said I will have the . We got the buildings . Okay , now we got to find the actual dates and then , we'll make
¶ Appreciation and Contact Information for Fans
the announcement . Okay and um , just excited man .
Yeah , gk doing his thing . I know I'm paying attention every day . Yeah , we watch you around the world , man Doing my thing , yo , well , I absolutely appreciate you , man , seriously , you're man of your word man man .
I really appreciate it , man . That's important to me .
Um where can I reach y'all ? Give your social handles and all that good stuff .
Yes At tk , underscore Kirkland . Ladies and gentlemen , if you got situations , hit me on my DM um and tell me what's going on and I hit you back . Yeah . We could discuss it . Yeah , um other than that . I wish everybody the best . Yeah , that's the best thing .
I could tell you . I wish everybody the best yeah . Well , I appreciate you , brother . Thank you , my man . Yeah , I appreciate you too , you too yo Thank you .