The comedian and star is slated to host at the Superdome on Friday night.
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00:00My name is Landi Howard, I am the Vice President of Content for Essence Ventures.
00:06B, I'm so excited to be speaking with you.
00:09You're hosting the Superdome at Essence Festival.
00:12How does that feel just to be in front of New Orleans in that audience?
00:16Oh my God, you know, Essence has been around for years, so I am so excited just to be picking
00:22up the mic and hosting, you know, at the Superdome.
00:26It's going to be such an amazing experience.
00:29It means so much to me that you guys chose me for that night, and I just can't wait.
00:33It's for the culture.
00:34It's black excellence.
00:35It's blackness.
00:36It's the people.
00:37It's New Orleans.
00:38It's the culture, and I'm so, so honored.
00:41I'm so humbly grateful that I'm going to be a part of that culture's biggest night.
00:45Like I said, we are very excited to have you, and obviously, being a big fan of yours, you
00:51know, you hosted the red carpet at Black Women in Hollywood, and then now transitioning to
00:56the big stage at Essence Festival, but how do you just get comfortable for these things?
01:00Like, you did so great on the carpet, and now you're going to be in the Superdome.
01:04What's that comfortability like for you?
01:06I think for me, knowing who I am, we, I've sat, you know, and I've worked so much.
01:12I'm going to go back to it, but really, really knowing who I am, but I've worked so much
01:17over the years, and when you just have that confidence with you and you have that authority,
01:23you're always pumped up for whatever comes your way.
01:25And again, I'm such a believer in God that He qualifies you.
01:29Man doesn't, right?
01:30So it's something that touched you guys to book me for this big moment, and I'm all pumped up.
01:36I'm ready, so I'm always ready when the phone rings.
01:39I'm always ready when it's time, so the confidence comes from just me and my upbringing and just
01:44knowing like, look, God is with me, and I'm so excited, and you just can't stay in one range.
01:49God is just trying to open up those doors, so I just get ready because I'm just, I just
01:53know whatever the phone rings, I just got to be ready.
01:55I feel like, and you can correct me if I'm wrong, but some of your content, you've elevated
02:00it a little bit.
02:01You know, you did obviously do the skits, which is something that we love.
02:05When looking at your page, I feel like every year, you just elevate.
02:08You do bigger projects, you do bigger things, you're in entertainment.
02:13How does that feel for you just to see your career continue to grow?
02:16It feels amazing.
02:17I was just talking about that with one of my friends, and it's all about elevation in
02:21this season.
02:22It's all about all things pretty V, you know?
02:25It's all about taking it up a notch, so I'm just happy that I asked God for it, too.
02:29I said, God, I need you to change my fragrance, change the atmosphere, change the way I'm
02:34moving creatively so I could just elevate on what I already have, so I'm so impressed
02:39on where God has taken me, and I'm so impressed on my elevation of my sketches and my skits
02:44and just the people that's around me that's in the same industry.
02:47We all are all elevated.
02:48Any advice that you could give content creators who may be stuck in that space, you know,
02:54creating content, whether it's social media or online, things of that nature, and looking
02:57to elevate?
02:58Is there any words of encouragement you can give them?
03:01The word that I would tell any influencer, actor, actresses, someone that's trying to
03:06come into the entertainment industry, be consistent, but also keep God first.
03:11Remember that a delay is never denial.
03:13I don't care what note you get, there's always going to be a yes.
03:18God will qualify you.
03:19He will use the fullest things to confound the wise.
03:21Don't ever think that you're not qualified for that home, for that booking, whatever
03:26it may be that your heart is desiring, just know, push forward and keep going, but your
03:31yes is on its way.
03:32God will turn your night into day.
03:33Just stay consistent.
03:34Stay at it.
03:35The breakthrough is on its way, for sure.
03:36Absolutely.
03:37Thank you.
03:38That's definitely encouraging.
03:39I feel like somebody really needed to hear that.
03:40And then just my last question, something fun.
03:41You know, we have Cash Money performing on Friday.
03:43We have Usher performing on Saturday.
03:44We have Janet Jackson, Victoria Monet, Frankie Beverly and Maze.
03:45Who are you excited to see at Festival for Superdome?
03:46I'm excited, sis, to see everybody.
03:47You just don't see Birdman on stage.
03:48You just don't see Frankie Beverly and Maze.
03:49You just don't see Janet Jackson.
03:50Oh my God, Usher.
03:51I've seen him live, but baby, I will see you 10 more times.
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