A New Crop of Black Comedians You Should Know

Although much of it was lost in his nearly three-hour conversation with Shannon Sharpe, Katt Williams did say some positive things about other comedians. Specifically, he spoke about his appreciation for young comics.

He said, “I haven’t seen a young comedian I don’t like.”

He named many talented people including Jess Hilaiours, Desi Banks, Kountry Wayne, DC Young Fly, and others. These are the Black people who are making sure the genre continues to thrive in the social media age.

Kountry Wayne

The first name Katt Williams mentioned was Kountry Wayne. He initially made a name for himself on “Wild ‘N Out” but has since become an accomplished comedian on his own, doing everything from stand-ups to social media skits, movies, and TV shows.

Desi Banks

I know Druski is the man when it comes to social media skits, but Desi Banks has also been in the game for a long time. On top of his skits on Instagram, Banks doesn’t shy away from the stand-up world like other social media comedians.

Karlous Miller

This Atlanta funny man is in his prime. Earlier in his career, he worked hard, appearing on many sitcoms and improv shows, including “Bill Bellamy’s Who’s Got Jokes,” “The Mo’nique Show,” and “Wild ‘N Out.” But has since found a groove as a member of the 85 South crew along with Chico Bean and DC Young Fly. The trio is doing so well that they even scored a Netflix special in 2023.

Chico Bean

As a fellow member of the 85 South Crew, Chico Bean brings his flavor of comedy to the mix. It’s always fun to see how he will play off of Karlous Miller and DC Young Fly.

DC Young Fly

Maybe the most well-known member of the 85 South trio is DC Young Fly, who is quite possibly one of the most popular young comedians out there.

Jess Hilarious

Jess Hilarious has grown in front of our eyes. Hailing from Baltimore, MD., Jess lives up to her name and has created a variety of opportunities for herself. Along with being a full-fledged comic, she often co-hosts “The Breakfast Club” and serves as an emcee for many award shows.

Miss Pretty Ricky

Miss Pretty Ricky is a star in the comedy world that you need to be paying attention to. Although she may have not gotten as many opportunities as others on this list, she’s done more than enough to gain praise from legends including Kevin Hart, Donnell Rawlings, and of course, Katt Williams.

Tacarra Williams

Tacarra Williams is one of the many Black women who Katt Williams has helped over the years. She’s even opened for the legendary comic during his “Dark Matters” Tour.

Although she’s the last name Williams mentioned when talking about the next generation of Black comics, we have many others to recognize.

Druski

Although he wasn’t named by Katt Williams (maybe because he doesn’t do stand-up), it’s hard to not mention Druski. The guy is everywhere. At any given moment he’ll do a skit on social media that will instantly become viral. His ability to channel how people from different backgrounds act in their everyday lives is both hilarious and entertaining.

Jerrod Carmichael

Jerrod Carmichael is one of the more interesting comics on this list. While he’s also funny, he is also extremely thoughtful and intelligent. He’s also a talented writer, as he won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2022 for writing “Rothaniel” and also produced and directed the 2021 movie, “On The Count of Three.”

Ayo Edebiri

Ayo Edebiri is having a moment. She’s appeared in a myriad of movies and TV shows in the last three years and recently won a Golden Globe for her performance in season 2 of “The Bear.” If you’re wondering about her skills as a stand-up comedian, watch the above video.

Jaboukie Young-White

Jaboukie Young-White is another talented comic who gained notoriety because of his presence on social media. To this day, he still is one of the funniest people you could follow on X. But he has since grown into a star in the entertainment industry. He recently starred in the Disney movie, “Strange World,” and is a regular correspondent for “The Daily Show.”

Marie Faustin

Marie Faustin is another Black woman who has been enjoying tremendous success as a comedian. Based out of Brooklyn, she’s a comic who you will continue to hear more about in the coming years.

Jeff Wright

Jeff Wright has gone from making people laugh on social media to making people laugh on TV (like many others on this list). Initially creating skits at home, Wright has appeared on some big shows including “Late Night with Seth Myers,” “Celebrity Game Face,” and “The Amber Ruffin Show.”

Josh Johnson

Hailing from Louisiana, Josh Johnson is an accomplished comedian who has appeared on a variety of funny shows including “The Comedy Lineup” and “The Daily Show.” His most recent comedy special “Up Here Killing Myself” is also a solid watch.