Jay Pharoah Quotes

Powerful Jay Pharoah for Daily Growth

About Jay Pharoah

Jay Pharoah, born Jalaine Phillips on October 16, 1987, in Atlanta, Georgia, is a renowned American comedian, actor, impressionist, and writer. Known for his versatile impressions of popular figures such as President Barack Obama, Denzel Washington, Will Smith, and Eddie Murphy, Pharoah rose to fame as a cast member on NBC's Saturday Night Live (SNL) from 2010 to 2016. Pharoah developed his comedic skills at a young age, performing stand-up comedy in local clubs around Atlanta. He later moved to New York City to pursue his dreams, landing roles in various off-Broadway productions before joining SNL. His impressive impressions and unique comic timing quickly made him a favorite among viewers and colleagues alike. One of Pharoah's most notable performances on SNL was his portrayal of President Barack Obama, which earned him critical acclaim. He also regularly impersonated Jay Z, Drake, Chris Rock, and Shaq during his tenure on the show. After leaving SNL, Pharoah continued to appear in numerous films, television shows, and stand-up specials, demonstrating his versatility as a performer. In 2016, Pharoah released his debut comedy album, "Jay Pharoah: More Pablo," which showcased his comedic talent and diverse impressions. He has also lent his voice to various animated projects, including "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy." Pharoah continues to tour as a stand-up comic, performing at venues across the United States. Throughout his career, Jay Pharoah has been influenced by comedy legends such as Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle, and Richard Pryor. His unique blend of impressions, satire, and social commentary has solidified his place as a significant figure in modern comedy.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I just like making people laugh."

The quote emphasizes that Jay Pharoah's primary motivation in his career as a comedian is to bring joy and laughter to others. It suggests a selfless and compassionate individual who values the emotional well-being of those around him, using humor as a means to connect with people and create shared, positive experiences.


"If you want to be successful, you have to put in the work and have a little luck too."

This quote emphasizes that success is a combination of hard work and a dash of good fortune. It suggests that while effort, dedication, and perseverance are crucial factors for achieving one's goals, there is also an element of chance or unexpected opportunities that can contribute to ultimate success. In other words, one must put in the necessary work to be well-prepared for when those lucky breaks arise.


"The key to comedy is timing and delivery."

This quote by Jay Pharoah highlights the importance of two essential elements in comedy: timing and delivery. "Timing" refers to when a joke is presented, particularly in relation to other events or information. A well-timed joke can enhance its impact, while poor timing can dilute or even ruin it. "Delivery," on the other hand, encompasses how a comedian presents their material, including tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language. Mastering both timing and delivery allows a comedian to effectively connect with their audience and maximize the humor in their content.


"Never let anyone dull your sparkle."

This quote by Jay Pharaoh emphasizes the importance of individuality, uniqueness, and personal expression. In essence, it encourages people not to allow others to suppress their inherent shine or brilliance. It's a reminder that everyone has their own unique qualities, talents, and passions – and those qualities should be nurtured and celebrated, rather than diminished by the opinions or actions of others. Embrace your sparkle, and let it light up the world around you!


"Always stay true to yourself and do what makes YOU happy."

This quote by Jay Pharoah encourages individuals to remain authentic, prioritizing personal happiness and self-expression over external expectations or societal pressures. It underscores the importance of honoring one's own values, interests, and feelings, as they provide a strong foundation for a fulfilling life. By following this advice, we can cultivate inner peace and lead lives that are true to our unique identities.


I will definitely drop bars, but that's, like, a few minutes of my show. I do a part of my set where I do that, and then I'll get back to the jokes. All the older people will look like, 'What the hell is happening?' The younger people are cheering, and the older people are like, 'I'm scared. I don't know what's going on.'

- Jay Pharoah

Drop, Show, Part, Bars

You've got to know how to hustle. I got a lot of inspiration from my parents. My father was definitely a hustler. With six kids in the house, you always got to be hustling. And my mom, she's got sick work ethic.

- Jay Pharoah

Father, Mom, Inspiration, Ethic

I went from 250 to, like, 175 in three and a half, four months. And then I ended up graduating with honors. I went from a 2.4 to a 3.06 in a year. It's funny how those two are related. I don't want to say that if you lose weight, you'll get smarter, but... well, it worked for me.

- Jay Pharoah

Year, Three, Half, Honors

Most people think I'm from New York or something. I was, like, 70 pounds heavier than what I am, and I didn't get no girls... I was definitely more on the deep fried crab than I was on the baked chicken side.

- Jay Pharoah

Deep, Chicken, Heavier, Baked

Making people laugh is the greatest gift you can give, so I'm never going to stop that.

- Jay Pharoah

Gift, Give, Making, Greatest Gift

Comedy did a lot of things for me. I mean, 'SNL'? Not too bad. Not too shabby with this comedy thing. I have really worked on my comedy and really upped it some notches.

- Jay Pharoah

Comedy, Bad, Some, Shabby

I met Kanye. I'm starstruck, man, but I stayed away from that guy. I didn't want him to go on a rant, go off on me. He did it at his wedding.

- Jay Pharoah

Want, Away, Rant, Kanye

I've never seen Kendrick Lamar crack a joke, and I've met him, but I'm sure he's hilarious, too, just because he's so good at rapping. J. Cole is a funny guy as well. Drake is funny. But who's the funniest guy I've met who is a rapper? I would say 50 Cent.

- Jay Pharoah

Hilarious, Guy, Cent, Crack

I've been rapping since I was 13.

- Jay Pharoah

Been, Since, Rapping

The best comedians and the best rappers can make you laugh and can make you cry... I believe I've been blessed with that gift to make you do just that.

- Jay Pharoah

Gift, Blessed, Been, Rappers

Snoop Dogg is hilarious. T.I. is really funny. Who else? 50 Cent is hilarious. Jay-Z is funny. I've met him, but he's funny in interviews. He was funny when I saw him, too. Ludacris is funny. Everybody is. Rappers are funny, a lot of them.

- Jay Pharoah

Hilarious, Everybody, Cent, Rappers

I have not heard from President Barack. I've never gotten a phone call.

- Jay Pharoah

Never, Call, Barack, President

Either I'm in the studio creating something, or I'm on stage doing some stand-up somewhere... or I'm creating a parody video flexing my pecs.

- Jay Pharoah

Doing, Some, Studio, Parody

I am the product of hustlers who taught me how to do it. They gave me a hustler's ambition. Not a bad thing to get from your parents. But hustling only gets you so far. You have to trust yourself. And you have to be ready to fall on your face and be okay when it happens.

- Jay Pharoah

Trust, Bad, Your, Parents

My family has always supported me a thousand percent. My sister once sold her jewelry so I could pay for gas money to get up to New York for a show. And that's amazing. But you get too much of that, you start depending on it.

- Jay Pharoah

Amazing, Percent, Show, Sister

I feel like I appreciate and love myself a lot more than I used to. At one point, I would look in the mirror; I just hated what I saw... and finally, when I was 17, I built some confidence, and now I try to keep that confidence going.

- Jay Pharoah

Love, Mirror, Some, Hated

The black comedians meeting? Oh yeah, we hold one every year at Eddie Murphy's house.

- Jay Pharoah

Black, Year, Yeah, Oh Yeah

A rap is a tweaked version of comedy, because comedy came first. People weren't spitting before they were doing comedy. Comedy has been relevant for years. It's the same art form, pretty much. Discovering that and applying it, I think that has made my stand-up better.

- Jay Pharoah

Doing, Been, I Think, Spitting

I'm from the burbs. I've been in the hood, but I don't live there. I have lived in the hood, but I don't live there anymore. I lived in Harlem, and that was crazy, even though Harlem is a lot nicer than it used to be.

- Jay Pharoah

Been, Though, Nicer, Hood

My mom always tells me, 'You need to take a week for yourself and just chill,' but I don't, man. If you want to be successful, I don't think you should take a day off.

- Jay Pharoah

Think, Week, Always, Successful

When I got to the stage, it was like a release, you know what I mean? Because it was like, 'Oh, people like me. People like me. They're listening to what I have to say. They're not judging me on how I look; they're judging me on what I'm saying.' So to me, that's what's worth it, and that's what comedians have.

- Jay Pharoah

Worth, Release, Got, Judging

I'm a chocolate guy.

- Jay Pharoah

Guy, Chocolate

I was raised listening to, like, Jay and Big and Pac, Cassidy, Ludacris, even some of Drake's stuff.

- Jay Pharoah

Listening, Big, Some, Jay

In the clubs, it's all out and you can say whatever as the character. TV has standards.

- Jay Pharoah

Character, Standards, TV, Clubs

I'm known for impressions and family stories.

- Jay Pharoah

Family, Stories, Known, Impressions

I had a twin, and he didn't make it.

- Jay Pharoah

Had, He, Make, Twin

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