It’s been a long road since Comedy Central ordered The New Negroes back in 2017, but Baron Vaughn and Open Mike Eagle’s hybrid stand-up/music live show is finally heading to TV next month. The eight-episode series features stand-up sets as well as original music videos with Open Mike Eagle alongside a guest recording artist. The list of comedians slated to show up throughout the first season is pretty impressive: Hannibal Buress, Chris Redd, Lil Rel Howery, Sasheer Zamata, Dulcé Sloan, Sam Jay, George Wallace, and Donnell Rawlings, as well as musical performances from Method Man, Lizzo, MF Doom, Danny Brown, Phonte, Father, and Sammus.
“Our series gets its title and its mission from a book named The New Negro by Alain Locke. That book was a collection of essays, poetry, fiction, and music from a generation of emerging artists credited with launching the Harlem Renaissance,†the co-hosts said on the project. “In other words, it was a place where black people shared their lives, their perspectives, and their ideals. It was a place where black people could define themselves instead of being defined by others. Our show aspires to do the same with stand-up comedy, music, and music videos. We’re paying homage to that original movement by inviting comedians and musicians to do what they do best: speak.â€
Check out the trailer for the series above, then catch the rest when it debuts on Comedy Central Friday, April 19, at 11 p.m. The series premiere will also be simulcast on BET.