By Cody Yarbrough, Contributing Writer
Detroit can be a hard place for comedy. Even a certified comedic legend like Dave Chappelle has suffered the wrath of a hostile Detroit crowd. Needless to say, this reputation has made entertainers somewhat hesitant to record their live shows in the Motor City like they do in other towns. So when a comedian decides to record not just one but two of their specials here, it’s not just a sign of confidence, but it’s also a sign of a connection to the people of the city.
Ali Siddiq is a veteran comedian who has been all across the country. Hailing from Houston, Texas, Siddiq’s comedy has always focused on one consistent thing. Realness. Everything from the stories he tells to the way he chooses to tell them is inspired by a place of authenticity that his fans connect with. This attitude of realness is also reflected in the kinds of cities he selects to film his specials in. Gritty metropolises with large Black populations like DC, Philly, Houston, and, come April 4th and 5th, Detroit.
“I choose to record in places where I think the audience is all very real and can relate to a lot of different scenarios of what I got going on.” Siddiq said in a recent interview with the Michigan Chronicle, “And ever since Martian, I’ve wanted to record in Detroit! It’s a hardnosed town man, and I’ve always liked performing in places like that, you know, that’s that’s my niche Because I’m a I’m a hardnosed person. So why not go to where the people understand?”
If you listen to Siddiq’s comedy, you’ll understand why he prefers an audience from a tough environment. Much of his subject matter can be light, like when he jokes about being a Black man in a suburban neighborhood or being a father to his young children. However, when he delves into his traumatic past as a drug dealer or his time in prison as he does in his Domino Effect series, his specials could be overwhelming to an audience that isn’t familiar with the realities of street life. In the Shadows, the new standup series that he’ll be recording in Detroit, explores the time in his life when he tries to reintegrate into society after being released from prison and begins to pursue his goal of becoming a standup comedian.
“I think that the public wants to kind of know what did I end up doing after I came home [from prison]. And then how did I jump into comedy from that? I ain’t gonna spoil it, but there may be three parts to In the Shadows because of the journey. It wasn’t an easy journey. Some things happen in the course of coming back to society, where you have to make a decision about where and how you’re going to actually deal with certain things. Because it’s not easy, it’s definitely a long road.
“I’ve been doing standup for 27 years, and it’s now people who’re just now getting to know I even exist. I’ve been on all of these major shows that they never even recognized. I mean, when you’re on the finale on Def Jam, you think like, ‘Okay, it’s happening after that!’ or you’ve been on Comic View for three seasons, and you’re like, ‘It’s happening after that!’ And then Comedy Central, in 2013, you’re named the number one comic to watch. ‘Oh, it’s happening after that!’ No happenings.
“I think that that’s one of the parts of the journey that I want to tap into. People think that it’s one thing that’s going to catapult you to the next level. No, it’s a lot of steps. And some of the steps are like a makeshift [rope] bridge where you got to go across a pond and some of the planks are broken or cracked. You’re like, ‘Should I step on that?’ But you ain’t got no choice. You gotta balance yourself. So the journey continues.”
The hard work Siddiq has put in over the last three decades is undeniable, but the true fruits of his labor didn’t blossom until his explosion on social media in the mid-2010s. He generated tens of millions of views for Comedy Central across multiple platforms with stories such as Mexican Got on Boots and Mitchell. He then took that momentum and began releasing his own specials independently on his YouTube channel, which currently has more than 143 million views.
Despite the viral success of his self-owned projects, Siddiq still has a fire inside him that causes him to work year-round. Most comedians would be satisfied to release one new standup special every year. Ali Siddid released 3 in 2024 and just came out with another one this month. He also plans to film another special in Philly after he’s done filming in Detroit. This is the kind of drive you’d expect to see from a young comic trying to get his name out there, not a seasoned vet known by millions. However, according to Siddiq, this drive to outwork the rest of the industry goes deeper than simply generating ticket sales and brand building.
“When you from Houston, you gotta kind of prove that you’re better than, than, than Hollywood, you’re better than New York, you’re better than Atlanta. I’m a home-based guy; I never left my city. So, a lot of times, people think that you’re not what you are because you live in a certain place. I’m the first one ever to do a series of specials that are connected, but if somebody from New York or somebody from LA or one of these industry guys does it, they will act like they’re the first.
“…I just feel like I’m better, and not in an arrogant way, in an efficient way. And I, and I know they’ll never reward me or recognize me for it because they never, they didn’t make me. When the industry don’t make you, they don’t feel the obligation to reward you. Regardless of if you’re better than better than everybody else or not. I watched people say, ‘Oh, I never cried and laughed in a special before’ and I was like, so Domino Effect 2 didn’t come out? Or you didn’t see it? Or you decided to look over it because it wasn’t an industry thing? So I think me doing what I’m doing without popularity is better inspiration for young comics and independent artists period.”
The example that Siddiq is setting for artists is one of someone who puts his foot on the gas and never lets up. As he continues to sell out show after show on his latest tour and gain millions of views with every special, Siddiq is showing people that there are more paths to success than begging the industry for a shot. In many ways, his attitude reflects much of Detroit’s identity. To still shine regardless of struggle, lack of support, and a long journey is at the core of the city’s vibrant culture. In order to feel comfortable performing here, those traits have to be in you.
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