Darren Brand, North Carolina A&T graduate and self-proclaimed “Big Baby,” is about as easy to spot on stage as a giraffe in a phone booth. Raised in Southern Pines, N.C., he’s made quite the career out of his knack for making people laugh—because when you’re born and bred in a small town, a big personality is practically required. After gracing platforms ranging from BET to Nick Cannon’s Wild ‘N Out (yes, that’s right, over 80 episodes!), Brand has surely carved his niche in the comedy world, often crediting God for lighting up rooms like they’re on an electric company’s watch list. He recently discussed his journey with Caitlin Leggett on Changing Channels—because who doesn’t love two people reminiscing on humble beginnings while sipping overpriced coffee?
Brand, having first come onto the scene in 2008, built his comedy empire like a kid stacking blocks—cheerfully wobbling until something inevitably topples. His crew, dubbed Freestyle Funny, might sound like a group of renegade hip-hop artists, but they were actually just a handful of aspiring comedians. Along with Chico Bean, BDaht, and Osama Bin Drankin (yes, you read that right), they hustled up a storm, transitioning from local gigs in Greensboro’s Comedy Zone to selling out venues across the nation. Who knew that a van ride for 17 hours to split $200 five ways could be considered a “good ol’ time” in comedy?
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Brand reflects with palpable nostalgia on his time at North Carolina A&T, claiming it to be the best choice he ever made. That’s a bold statement coming from a man who likely once thought “eating cereal for every meal” was a solid life plan. “Walking into orientation and seeing 3,000 Black students from all over the globe was a culture shock,” he admits. Yeah, well, that’s what happens when you accidentally enter a convention for Black excellence instead of wandering aimlessly through life.
Now aiming for an impressive goal, Brand hopes to perform at every HBCU—even if it means picking his way through campus-wide grocery stores in the process. “I’m at about 90%,” he cheerfully reports, listing the few schools left untouched. Apparently, he’s got a better chance of landing on stage than they do of actually catching him!
When reminiscing about Freestyle Funny Comedy Club, Brand paints a picture of brotherhood and camaraderie that looks a lot like a sitcom pilot waiting to happen. “We didn’t care about money, just our bond,” he muses. Isn’t that adorable? Naïve, maybe, but adorable. Sitting through three years of monthly performances where no one—yes, not even a single friend—showed up took some serious star power, proving that iron sharpens iron. Or at least, comedy buddies do.
And speaking of comedy, when asked about today’s social media stars, Brand’s advice seems as lighthearted as a stand-up special he’d probably nail. “Get your bag!” he quips. Yet, his take on respecting the stage is deeply foggy. If you’re going to label yourself as a comedian, he says, “make sure you can do it in a physical form.” So, no more pretending you’re a comedian just because you’ve made your dog go viral, right?
Finally, in true comedic fashion, he wraps up by reminding us all that he isn’t paying too much attention to the future. Rather, he’s savoring the present as if he’s just discovered a buffet. “Everything I’ve ever dreamed of has happened in one way or another. Everything else? That’s a God-given bonus.” He surely strikes the perfect balance between ambition and laid-back gratitude, making him as difficult to pigeonhole as a mime in a debate.
