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    Unsuccessful Thug: One Comedian's Journey from Naptown to Tinseltown
    Unsuccessful Thug: One Comedian's Journey from Naptown to Tinseltown
    Unsuccessful Thug: One Comedian's Journey from Naptown to Tinseltown
    Audiobook5 hours

    Unsuccessful Thug: One Comedian's Journey from Naptown to Tinseltown

    Written by Mike Epps

    Narrated by JD Jackson

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    From Naptown to Tinseltown—legendary stand-up comedian and actor Mike Epps finally tells all in this outrageous, hilarious, no-holds-barred memoir.

    Before starring in Def Comedy Jam and Showtime at the Apollo—before the sold-out comedy shows, Uncle Buck, and becoming his hero Richard Pryor in a biopic—there was Indianapolis. And not the good part. Mike Epps is one of America’s favorite and funniest people, but the path to fame was paved with opportunities to mess it up. And mess it up he did.

    Growing up in “Naptown”—what people who live there really call rough-around-the-edges Indianapolis—Epps found himself forced to hustle from an early age. Despite his mother’s best efforts, and the love of his well-behaved brother, “Chaney,” and his beloved sister, Julie, Epps was drawn to a life of crime, but as he quickly discovered, stealing and dealing didn’t really fit his sweet sensibilities. Not to mention he wasn’t very good at it—take, for example, the day he had to call the cops on himself when a dog wouldn’t let him leave a house he was burgling. After several arrests and more than a few months in jail, Epps finally realized that he was an unsuccessful thug, and instead turned to the next most obvious career path: stand-up comedy.

    Heading first to New York, then all over the country, and finally to Hollywood, Mike Epps carved out a unique place in American comedy, combining hysterical tales of his family and friends with a mordant take on life in the Naptowns of America. Comedy saved Mike Epps, and here he reveals exactly how he finally grew up and got out, barely. And when describing how he survived when so many of his friends didn’t, Epps makes clear what he’s thankful for and sorry about. Unsuccessful Thug is about growing up black in America, facing down racism in Hollywood, and ultimately how it feels to fail at thugdom, pull yourself up by the bootstraps, and end up selling out arenas and starring in movies across the country.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateMar 27, 2018
    ISBN9780062798589
    Author

    Mike Epps

    Mike Epps has appeared in the cult hits Next Friday, Friday After Next and All About the Benjamins. Other features include The Hangover franchise, Faster, Hancock, Lottery Ticket, Next Day Air, Roll Bounce, The Fighting Temptations, the Resident Evil franchise, Bait, How High, Dr. Dolittle 2, Talk to Me and Guess Who? He has also starred as the title character in the ABC series Uncle Buck and appeared on the Starz series Survivors Remorse. As a touring comedian, he plays clubs, theaters, and arenas worldwide. Born and raised in Indianapolis, he now lives in Hollywood.

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    Reviews for Unsuccessful Thug

    4.5/5

    106 ratings10 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      More respect for Mike Epps awesome read ! ! !
    • 5/5
      Great rags to riches story. Many lessons learned thatcan be passed on.
    • 5/5
      A great book , especially for anyone who thinks, their lives is not what they want.
    • 2/5
      Everyone has a story ... however I felt the redundancy & reverberation in this book. Just fet like he kept Saying the same
      Thing over and over — sorry I had to
      Give it two Stars ...
    • 5/5
      I live Mike Epps! It was really nice to learn about him and his past! I wish he would’ve narrated though. It was really good book and the narrator did a great job!
    • 5/5
      Didn't think l was going to like it but l loved it. Mike Epps is my number one comedian since Bernie Mac passed away. Very talented and very blessed. He'd make a wonderful Richard Pryor,.
    • 5/5
      Great Book. I gotta know why he's so dam funny I give this book a 19.
    • 5/5
      I love the candid honesty of Mike Epps in this biography. I love the fact that, despite his ups and downs, he always stayed true to self. What a great lesson for others. Highly recommended- especially to those in the ‘Everyday Struggle’. Peace

    • 5/5
      Shooppooo lol , anywho this a good listen very funny n very heartfelt
    • 5/5
      "It's in the hole!" Now I know why I always loved Mike Epps, becau9e we come from similar backgrounds. It is so refreshing to hear success from another perspective, and listening to this audio book made me a super proud fan!