Majah Hype talks radio show and staying true to himself

Caribbean King of Comedy is a title that Majah Hype feels honoured to hold and he can recall his mother actually planting a seed that would undoubtedly germinate as he matured. As a child, she would laugh at his antics and tell him, “Majah, you are special.”

Despite all his jokes, Majah Hype takes comedy seriously, recognising that it is “a powerful tool to shed light on serious issues”. He has a fan base of more than one million followers on Instagram, and it is his goal to show them how “important [it is] to spread love and laughter to the world by creating a brand and platforms for us and our culture”.

“I’ve been grinding for years, performing all over the Caribbean, and making people laugh with my unique style and wit. I’ve always remained creative, consistent, and always reinvented myself with a fresh feel of comedy my way. I’ve always kept my comedy authentic and relatable and I always try to use my platform to make a difference and stay truthful to [my] craft,” Majah Hype shared.

Co-existing with his love for comedy is radio, which he has been dabbling in for a while, until he was recently given an offer which he couldn’t refuse from a syndicated Caribbean radio station.

“CaribStar has given me the opportunity to express my talents and performing arts in a great capacity so I’m happy to be back on air. I love to put smiles on faces and comedy and music go hand in hand. It’s a platform to entertain in a different space and my fans, sponsors and fan base have been excited since the press release has been out,” he explained.

It was a dozen years ago that the raspy-voiced entertainer made a huge splash on social media with his “reality comedy”, which would see him dressing up in wigs and costumes, or poking fun using his Caribbean accents. People liked him and his audience grew like wildfire.

Given his view on laughter, it wasn’t a huge surprise. “Laughter is the best medicine! I’ve always said, ‘If you can’t laugh at yourself, you might as well cry’!” the comedian, who is also a musician, and plays seven instruments, told The Gleaner.

Based in the United States, Majah Hype has become a familiar face in places such as Trinidad, Tobago, Jamaica, Guyana, Barbados, Japan, Europe, Canada, South America and The Bahamas. He mainly headlines his own performances but has shared stages with Jason Anders, Michael Blackson, John Witherspoon, Paul Mooney, Cedric the Entertainer, Tony Woods, Brandon T. Jackson, Marlon Wayans and Affion Crockett.

In 2024, a conversation with a comedian has to include the effects of cancel culture. Stand-up comedy has always relied on being edgy and in an era where people are earnestly looking for reasons to be offended, there is little or no space for edginess. When asked how he navigates cancel culture as a comedian, he responded, “You can’t be a comedian and not offend someone!”

“The ‘woke’ thing ... cancel culture, over-sexualised culture ... can all be a good and bad thing. A comedian has to be able to exercise and show his skill by navigating in the right capacity. I’m not changing my style! I’ll still make jokes about the things that need to be said,” he said calmly.

The year 2024 has seen him performing, creating new content, and engaging with fans. “They can look forward to more shows, more laughs, and maybe even a new special,” he added.

BORN IN THE CARIBBEAN

Asked about the “born in the Caribbean” statement in his bio, Majah Hype laughed.

“Ah, the number one question everyone asks. I’ve been waiting for it! Everyone through the years has been trying to figure this out for years and as I watch the debates some have been right and others have no clue. I have a very intricate story behind that which one day I will proudly share with the public, but right now my purpose is to bring more of us together as one! I’ve actually slipped up a few times but most never catch it,” he said.

With Mother’s Day being Sunday, he was asked to share a special memory with his mom.

“I have so many great memories with my mom and we still create a lot as life continues. My mom had me at a young age so we were always close and I was the only child for some time until she bring dem two likkle ones and mash up mi spoilness. But all jokes aside, my mother has always been there for me and supported me through it all; and a memory I always remember is her first time coming to a Majah Hype show and looking at her eyes, seeing how proud of me she was. [It] made me feel like I’ve accomplished [something]. Making my mother proud and being a class clown paid off. Ah nuff lick me get fi dat and she see the results of that now!” the comedian said in between gales of laughter.