International Courant
After self-releasing three specials and amassing greater than 17 million TikTok followers, Matt Rife is past gratified to have scored a Netflix particular. “You’re employed your total profession to really feel accepted by a community customary,” Rife tells Selection, noting it was each arduous and creatively fulfilling to supply his YouTube specials — “Solely Followers,” “Matthew Steven Rife” and “Strolling Crimson Flag.”
Rife made his tv debut on MTV’s “Wild ‘n Out” and has had visitor appearances on “Brooklyn 9-9” and “Recent off the Boat.” He is at present in the course of his sold-out ProbleMATTic World Tour.
“Pure Choice,” shot at DAR Structure Corridor in Washington, DC, hits Netflix on Nov. 15. In typical Rife trend, the comedian doesn’t maintain again whereas discussing social media trolls, his concern of the darkish and discovering his dad’s porn.
Congrats on getting a Netflix particular. That is an enormous accomplishment after placing collectively all your earlier specials.
MATT RIFE: It is unimaginable. My first two specials I needed to do as a result of I might been doing comedy for 10 and 11 years after I did them, and I used to be sitting on materials. I used to be very happy with it. However I used to be like, I do not know what to do with it. No person desires to offer me a particular. What do I do? So I needed to put them out alone, which was very validating in and of itself. I grew my fan base exponentially. I used to be so grateful for a way many individuals appreciated it. However to have any person come from one other stage to be like, “Hey, we like what you are doing. We like what you have carried out for your self. We need to invite you to work with us.” It feels heat. It feels inviting. Netflix has been nice about the complete inventive course of. They’ve given me the liberty to maintain telling the jokes I need to inform and shoot issues the best way I need to shoot them.
On this particular, you discuss children, faith, discovering your dad’s porn. It goes there. Was there something you had been nervous to debate or frightened would offend folks?
RIFE: I do not actually adhere to this complete sensitivity rumor within the comedy world which you can’t say something anymore. That is bullshit. You possibly can say no matter you need. Now, you must put together for repercussions. However on the finish of the day, all of it comes right down to the way you sleep at night time. You realize what I imply? Different folks’s perspective of you just isn’t your duty. So how are you going to sleep at night time? The best way I have a look at it’s, as a comic all the things comes right down to intention. I do know for me, all the things that leaves my mouth on stage is solely with the intention of constructing folks chuckle. It is by no means any deeper, by no means any extra or by no means any lower than that. That is all it’s to me. Now, I like darkish humor. I do not consider there’s something you’ll be able to’t discuss for those who do it accurately, in the proper manner, on the proper time. On the finish of the day, I believe it’s worthwhile to simply go on the market. It’s a must to be your self and never fear about offending a specific amount of individuals. You may miss out on a joke that you just’re frightened may offend any person, however may make you one million new followers. You do not know what persons are into and that is why you must go on the market and do your comedy and simply lay all of it on the market susceptible to seek out your viewers. It’s a must to be keen to be susceptible and do the jokes you need to inform in your voice, in your comedy, to determine who likes your comedy.
You contact on social media and on-line trolls in your particular. How do you’re feeling social platforms like TikTok have impacted your profession?
RIFE: Oh, it is modified completely all the things. I imply the identify of this sport is publicity at this level. Stand-up is not about being humorous. Not often do the funniest comedians get the popularity they deserve. There are such a lot of amazingly gifted comedians on the market who do not get the proper alternatives to be within the place that I am in proper now. So I imply, TikTok offered that publicity that I couldn’t, for the lifetime of me, for years determine methods to get. That was type of the aim with the primary two specials, like possibly we will achieve a following from this and we did a little bit bit. However TikTok simply has such an expansive algorithm. You possibly can attain so many individuals.
To go hand in hand with Netflix alternative — for years, you do not get this chance to get in entrance of a bunch of individuals since you’re counting on a community to offer you a chance for a particular, proper? Now you’ve got an app that is within the palm of your hand that anybody has entry to your video at any time… it gave me essentially the most confidence in my profession as a result of I used to be so insecure for thus lengthy. For a decade of doing comedy, I used to be so insecure and considering to myself like, am I residing in delusion? Am I not humorous, am I not good at this to be doing it for thus lengthy… and no one appears to be recognizing this? Like possibly I am not humorous.
It took getting on TikTok and other people having the chance to see my comedy to understand like oh, there’s truly lots of people who share the identical humorousness I do.
I first got here throughout you on TikTok and noticed your hilarious crowd work movies. What do you take pleasure in about interacting with the viewers?
RIFE: I like that it is a shock to me as nicely. It is also one thing I have not even been doing for that lengthy… It grew to become one thing that I had enjoyable doing. One factor as a comic, despite the fact that all through your total yr, you are rising and dealing in your materials… you’ll be able to really feel such as you’re getting a little bit of a “Groundhog Day” the place you are telling the identical hour present over and over. Even I get bored with my very own jokes for those who inform them over and over and over. So, crowd work is so spontaneous and distinctive. I like being stunned. When some extremely magical second occurs in crowd work that blows the gang’s thoughts, it blows my thoughts. I get to be stunned by the present as nicely.
Curiously, with each this particular’s crowd work on the finish and out of your crowd work movies on-line, it is clear you should have a broad demographic in the case of your viewers. Sure, there are millennial ladies who describe you because the “Harry Kinds” of comedy, however then there are dad and mom like me (I am 35) or males, of various ages, coming to observe.
RIFE: One of many largest misconceptions of issues I get ridiculed on-line for is persons are like “oh, he solely has a feminine fan base.” At first sure, as a result of I did blow up on TikTok which could be very feminine dominant… So, I get that perspective. However if you come to the exhibits, I imply, it is 50/50. It is {couples} popping out. It is teams of dudes who’re coming. And that is one factor that I needed to sort out on this particular was exhibiting people who regardless of what you consider me on-line, I do not pander my profession to ladies. I might argue this particular is far more for guys.
I needed to make this particular for everyone. I pleasure myself on making my comedy for everyone. It isn’t for a selected demographic. I believe if folks would simply give it the prospect with out going into it and being like “oh, solely ladies like him” or “folks solely like his face.” In the event you give it a possibility, I believe you’d prefer it.
This interview has been edited for size and readability.
Matt Rife Talks Netflix ‘Pure Choice’ Particular
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