Jay Pharoah is a comedian, actor, rapper, and impressionist. He's been a Saturday Night Live cast member since 2010 and is in the midst of his first stand-up comedy special, Can I Be Me? premiering August 1st at 10pm on Showtime.
Chances are you've seen the funny man impersonating President Barack Obama, Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Chris Rock, Stephen A. Smith, Kanye West and Chris Tucker. Pharoah visited BuzzFeed ahead of the comedy special and shared with us some hilarious impersonations that proved to us that this will not be a comedy special to miss.
First, we challenged him to an impression-filled photo shoot.
Barack Obama:
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Jon Premosch / BuzzFeed
Kanye West:
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Jon Premosch / BuzzFeed
Jay-Z
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Jon Premosch / BuzzFeed
Uncle Denzel:
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Jon Premosch / BuzzFeed
Eddie Murphy:
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Jon Premosch / BuzzFeed
Bill Cosby:
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Jon Premosch / BuzzFeed
Chris Tucker:
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Jon Premosch / BuzzFeed
Himself:
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Jon Premosch / BuzzFeed
Next, it was time to get Pharoah's opinion on the important topics of our day: Drake vs. Meek Mill, Donald Trump, Kimye, and more:
Ice-T and Coco Austin are no strangers to television — Law & Order SVU, anyone? Ice Loves Coco? — and now they're headed to daytime with Ice And Coco. We caught up with the prolific rapper and model to question them about their fifteen-year relationship, game-style. All's fair in love and war — just don't EVER call out Ice's spelling.
What is Coco's drink of choice?
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Ice-T: "Vodka & Cran" / Coco: "Wine"
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Ice-T: Oh, I know that one.
Coco: Why are you writing long?
Ice-T: All right, I'm wrong.
Coco: When I go to a club that's my favorite.
Ice-T: And you said wine!
Coco: Wine is my home drink.
Ice-T: Once again, I'm right and she's wrong!
Coco: They're both right, actually!
What is Ice's favorite movie?
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Ice-T: Reservoir Dogs / Coco: Reservoir Dogs
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Coco: Oh! Oh! I don't know how to spell it, though.
Ice-T: OK.
Coco: That's so cool when you get it right!
What is Coco's favorite word?
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Ice-T: "OH MY GOD" / Coco: "OMG"
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Ice-T: It's more than one word.
Coco: It is?
Ice-T: Yes, it's three words!
Coco: Oh!
Ice-T: You think that's one word?
Coco: O-M-G. ...Kind of. It's a blonde moment.
Ice-T: It's my wife.
Coco: We got it, though!
What is Ice's most DVR'd TV show?
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Ice-T: Power / Coco: Daredevil
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Coco: We DVR a lot.
Ice-T: Did you put Daredevil?
Coco: That was hard!
Ice-T: Well, I finished watching Daredevil and now I've been watching Power every night.
Coco: Yes... I love Power.
Ice-T: That was a close one.
Coco: Darn it!
Who is Coco's celebrity crush?
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Ice-T: Charlize Theron / Coco: Charlize Theron
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Ice-T: Oh I know this one.
Who is Ice-T's celebrity crush?
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Ice-T: Coco / Coco: Coco
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Coco: Trick question.
Ice-T: Divorce question.
What is Coco's biggest pet peeve about Ice-T?
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Ice-T: "Putting my napkins in my glass" / Coco: "Put paper towels in cereal bowls or his drink"
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Ice-T: I know what that is. I eat cereal in the bed, and when I'm done I put the napkins in the bowl or in the glass...
Coco: In the glass!
Ice-T: Just to throw it away.
Coco: But it could be easily just...thrown away.
Ice-T: When she washes the dishes she got to pull the wet thing out.
Coco: And by the next day it's all soggy and it smells like milk and it's nasty.
Ice-T: All right. But look... when I'm finished I take my stuff and put it in a cup! So it's all together.
Coco: OK.
What is Ice-T's biggest pet peeve about Coco?
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Ice-T: "She sleep in pitch dark" / Coco: "I need complete darkness to sleep"
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Ice-T: I know her weirdness.
Coco: I don't know how to say this.
Ice-T: She sleeps in pitch darkness. I can go to sleep and I wake up and she'll have put towels over the clocks, over the cracks in the table, block it all off, total vampire.
Coco: Totally vampired out.
Ice-T: You can't see your hand from your face; this woman needs it dark. And can't wear a mask, because that bothers her face.
Coco: Exactly, can't wear anything around my head!
Ice-T: Pitch darkness.
Coco: He knows!
Ice-T: Wonder what it's like to be dead or live in a coffin?
Coco: Yes. Total blackness.
What is one item in Coco's closet that Ice-T would like to throw in the garbage?
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Ice-T: Uggs
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Ice-T: Oh, I got it.
Coco: Would I know this? Or have you kept this in the back of your head and never told me!
Ice-T: Yeah, you probably know this. You have no answer?
Coco: Yeah, I don't have an answer.
[Ice shows Coco his answer.]
Coco: You don't like my gold, shiny things?
Ice-T: I hate Uggs.
Coco: But they're so sparkly and ug—
Ice-T: Ugly? That's why they call 'em Uggs!
Coco: I do hate Uggs but I found some sparkly, gold Uggs that I had to wear to the dog park because I was ruining my heels! So instead of wearing plain old Uggs, why not get sequined Uggs?
Ice-T: Yeah, she got cute Uggs but I had to pick one thing. My girl's a shoe freak. We also agree that Crocs are pussy repellant.
Coco: Yes.
Ice-T: You never heard a girl say, "Wow, you look hot in those Crocs."
Coco: And you know, people say, "It's cause they're comfortable."
Ice-T: Yeah, that doesn't count. Fashion is pain, OK?
What is Ice's pet name for Coco?
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Ice-T: "Monkey Neck" / Coco: "Monkey Neck"
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Coco: He calls me "Monkey Neck"!
Ice-T: 'Cause when I'm playin' my video games or I'm watching TV or something like that—
Coco: I like to distract him.
Ice-T: She wants to get in my way. So she'll get in front of me and I'll be playing, so she'll move her hand around [my neck].
Coco: And I climb on him.
Ice-T: And thus, the Monkey Neck.
Coco: He's like, "Coco, Coco! I'm playing!"
Ice-T: "I'm about to get KILLED, move ya Monkey Neck ass!"
Coco: I asked him, "Could you pick a cuter name than Monkey Neck?"
Ice-T: Like Slut Bucket or something?
Coco: And he calls me that, too.
Is there a name you call Ice?
Coco: I never call him "Ice" or "Ice-T." I always call him "Honey," "Baby," "Boo."
Ice-T: See, she's a sweetheart. I'm the asshole.
What's Coco's favorite brand?
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Ice-T: "Christian Lubeton" / Coco: "Louboutin"
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Ice-T: And please, I hope anyone watching this... if you diss my fucking spelling you're a fucking nerd. Nerd fucking troll-ass bitch! I'm not trying to spell this shit right, aight?
Coco: L-O-U-B-O-U-T-I-N
Ice-T: L-O-U... fuck it.
Coco: I actually don't have a favorite store. I internet shop. I call myself an Instagram shopper. Most of the people I follow on Instagram are boutiques. That's the new thing: They don't have a store — they have an online boutique and I shop there.
What's the biggest purchase that Ice-T has made recently?
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Ice-T: "House" / Coco: "House"
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Ice-T: You better get this.
Coco: Yeah!
Ice-T: That's right.
What's Ice's favorite part of Coco's body?
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Ice-T: Booty / Coco: Booty
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Ice-T: Shit, I think it's everybody's favorite part.
Ice T and Coco's new daytime talk show Ice & Coco on Fox Television Stations starting Monday, August 3rd.
Kevin Winter, Gilles Toucas, George Pimentel / Getty. Andrew Richard / BuzzFeed
What's the wallpaper on your phone and/or computer?
1) It's this dude in the desert, looking at a vast sky, streaked by a plethora of stars. It's dark, except for the lamp he's holding, as he stares out into Space and the distant horizon. and 2) "Don't chase people.Be an example.Attract them.Work hard and be yourself.The people who belong in your life will come find you and stay.Just do your thing."
When you walk into a bar, what do you typically order?
Did somebody say shots!?
a) Whatever she's drinking.
b) Old Fashioned or Red lounging.
c) Beer or Vodka Water dancing (squeeze the fruit, don't drop -you think bartenders wash those first?)
What's the one word you are guilty of using too often?
Maybe 'like', maybe 'sex'.
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What is the last thing you searched for on Google?
The schedule for my Mixed Martial Arts gym."Bye Felicia" on urban dictionary. '9 Things you didn't know about Shailene Woodley' (She doesn't own a phone).
Who is the last person that called or texted you?
Call: Lena Lamoray, for a magazine interview. Text: My youngest sister <3
What was the last awkward situation you were in and how did you handle it?
An elder man was struggling to get his Mother out the back seat of his car, a 2 door. I hesitated to help, no one wants to be made to feel incompetent. I went over and they obliged.
I pulled on her arm and her Son on the other. He was struggling as he was a Senior himself now. I got nervous - I could feel her bones crackling as she tried to heave herself out the back seat. I asked her to turn her hips because they were getting caught between the door and the seat. She wasn't quite getting it and I was worried her arm would strain a joint or something because her arms were making brittle sounds under my hands.
I gestured to her left cheek on her hip and said "May I?" She said yes. I turned her buttocks with my hand and out she popped.
When is the last time you went to a theater?
Last Monday. It was really great. But if you mean the cinema - last night. Mad Max!
What TV show should everyone should be watching?
Avatar The Last Airbender.
And what is your TV guilty pleasure?
The Ultimate Fighter… but tell Kaitlyn Bristowe I'm ready to accept the rose.
What's the first CD you bought?
"Just Jinjer (All Comes Round)" of South Africa. Check them out.
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What music are you currently listening to?
You sent me on a trip down memory lane so Just Jinjer - 'She Knows' (unplugged).
What is the one food you cannot resist?
My Dad and Mother's home cooking. You really miss the simplest home dishes when you move out. No one else quite has that touch.
What movie makes you laugh the most?
I dunno about the most but some favourites would be: Mrs. Doubtfire, Mary Poppins, Harold & Kumar, American Pie, Tropic Thunder, and Zoolander.
What drives you absolutely crazy?
People who blatantly litter and act like it's nothing. Or leave their gum somewhere thinking they're better than the person who has to pick that out for them. People saying 'Retarded’. People who slap the bar thinking it gets service quicker.Guys grabbing girls they don't know, or being too forward. Racism and narrow mindedness.
What was your first online screen name?
It was either Little_Buddha or Stud_Muffn
What's your favorite emoji?
A good ol' Wink.
Pick one: Kittens or puppies?
Puppies. I like kittens too,but you can't beat puppy breath.
New York or Los Angeles?
New York. Even though I haven't been. And I have to L.A...
Comedy or drama?
Dramedy.
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Bacon or Nutella?
Nutella!!
Coffee or tea?
Depends on my mood and time of day...
Tea in the morning. Strong. English. Honey/Agave.
Coffee in the afternoon. Blended with a tablespoon of Coconut Butter. No cream or sugar. (I do Green Tea, Lemon, Honey, Ginger and Cayenne Pepper on an empty stomach when I wake up.)
'80s or '90s?
90's yo!
NSYNC or BSB?
It was for sure BSB .But then N’Sync had the moves. They killed it.
Beyonce or Rihanna?
I b'n drinkin...Watermelons. (surfboard!)
Hannah Montana or Lizzie McGuire?
I've watched neither, but Hilary Duff. You can see me in her movie The Perfect Man sitting behind her in the library. Much longer hair those days.I still miss doing Background. More fun than working retail that's for sure.
And finally: tell us a secret.
I felt my babysitter's boob once ...I tricked her. There was thunder & lightning, and I was very little. She has no idea.
Rachel Murray, Jason Merritt, Angela Weiss / Getty. Andrew Richard / BuzzFeed
What's the wallpaper on your phone and/or computer?
On both of them I have a still from a movie I just finished last October called ONE NIGHT.
What's the one word you are guilty of using too often?
Two words - “for sure”
What is the last thi.ng you searched for on Google?
“Owl Onesie”
Who is the last person that called or texted you?
Called: Kyle Allen, texted: Mom.
What was the last awkward situation you were in and how did you handle it?
My best friend invited me to her mom’s wedding and I guess she forgot to tell her mom because when my friend and I arrived there was no room at the dining tables, so we satin the car until it was safe to crash the party.
When is the last time you went to a theater?
Last week to see INSIDE OUT for the 3rd time.
What TV show should everyone be watching?
Masters of Sex (Obviously) and THE BACHELOR/ THE BACHELORETTE and of course, BACHELOR IN PARADISE.
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And what is your TV guilty pleasure?
The entire Bachelor series but I decided two years ago that I wouldn’t feel guilty about loving them. Best social experiment ever.
What's the first CD you bought?
Hillary Duff’s CD for the Lizzie McGuire movie.
What is the one food you cannot resist?
Food. Food in general. And my mom’s soup!
What music are you currently listening to?
The Head and The Heart, Ed Sheeran, Vérité, Halsey, George Ezra, Bastille, Mumford and Sons, and a lot of classical recently.
What movie makes you laugh the most?
Tie between Talledega Nights Ballad of Ricky Bobby and I Love You, Man.
What drives you absolutely crazy?
Flakey people.
What's your favorite day of the year?
Today.
What was your first online screen name?
Can’t tell you because I still have it ;)
What's your favorite emoji?
The bitmojis my mom sends to me on a daily basis.
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Pick one: Kittens or puppies?
Puppies.
New York or Los Angeles?
Los Angeles.
Comedy or drama?
Dramedy.
Bacon or Nutella?
Nutella.
Coffee or tea?
Both.
'80s or '90s?
I wasn’t really around for either...
Britney or Christina?
Hit me baby one more time.
NSYNC or BSB?
What does BSB stand for?
Beyonce or Rihanna?
Beyonce for when I’m getting dressed in the morning. Rihanna when I’m driving.
Hannah Montana or Lizzie McGuire?
Lizzie McGuire hands down.
And finally: tell us a secret.
I am Iron Man.
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Catch Isabelle on Masters of Sex, Sundays at 10PM ET/PT on Showtime.