One of Kevin Hart’s Plastic Cups Boyz, Spank Horton, stepped out on his own to headline a show at the DC Improv on Sunday, January 8th. Before breaking into comedy, Mr. Horton used to heckle comics he found unfunny. Unlike most, though, Horton put his money where his mouth was and is now an in-demand comic. I’ve had a chance to see Spank numerous times in the past when he opened for Kevin Hart, along with the comedic trope, the Plastic Cup Boyz. OF the four Plastic Cup Boyz, Horton usually leaves a lasting impression.
The night was MCed by a comic whose name escapes me. She began her set with a fake British accent that won the crowd over before. Next was Lawrence Killebrew, who also delivered a robust set with a tremendous knockout joke involving side chicks. The last opener was Shanell Renee, who kicked out her jokes with rapid succession and a social commentary style that would make Moms Mabley proud.
Mr. Horton took the stage around 8:00 pm and delivered joke after joke focusing on everything from COVID to dating in your forties and even his recent divorce for the next seventy minutes. One of the funniest bits involved commentary on the fight that took place in the stands of the Gervonta Davis/Ryan Garcia the night before. Those who have been to the DC Improv know how low the ceiling is. In addition, if you are a fan of Horton, you know how tall he is. A joke like that can write itself, but shockingly Horton never brought it up.
Outside of one joke, in his set, Horton shied away from a ton of material centering on his friendship with comedic superstar Kevin Hart. The two first crossed paths as teens playing basketball while growing up in Philly and later developed their working relationship. I commend Horton for making a path out of Hart’s shadow and straying away from the Plastic Cup Boyz brand. The Plastic Cup Boy’s name originated from their drinking habits while hanging out, but there was never a moment in the show where Horton enjoyed an adult beverage while on stage. Displaying unabashed confidence and never having any jokes that didn’t land, Spank Horton is a comic worth seeing if he’s in your city.
Final Grade: B +
For more on Spank Horton, check out his official website: SpankHorton.com.
You know the voice. The moment Michael Marshall starts singing the hook in Luniz’s “I Got 5 on It,” anyone who grew up in the nineties knows exactly what time it is. However, nearly a decade before that 1995 hip-hop classic, Marshall was already responsible for another instantly recognizable vocal.
There are some albums you revisit because of nostalgia, and then there are albums you return to because they remind you just how high the standard used to be. Anita Baker’s Rapture falls into that second category. Released in 1986, the album did more than make Baker a star. It helped define what sophisticated, grown R&B could sound like without losing any soul, sensuality, or personality.
Gwen Stefani had already established herself as a significant force with No Doubt when she released her debut solo album, *Love. Angel. Music. Baby* in 2004. This week, while my iPod was on shuffle, one of my favorite songs from that project, “The Real Thing,” came on. Although the original version has an upbeat new-wave feel, the Slow Jam Mix takes it to another level and is the perfect choice for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday.