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Brick Wall Comedy
Brick Wall Comedy

Adele Givens

Unfiltered profanity and absolute authority delivered with regal elegance.

6 specials · 1992–2002

Start with The Queens of Comedy, the breakout (2001 · 79 min · Showtime)

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She expects a room’s attention. Adele Givens walks to the microphone with upright posture, dressed impeccably, and delivers intensely explicit material. Her rhythm is built on declarations. She leans into the mic, lowers her voice to a steady boom, and states a hard truth about sex. When she hits her signature line, “I am such a fucking lady,” she pauses to adjust her hair or check her nails. The audience sits in the contrast between her regal physical presence and her vocabulary.

Specials

On stage

She bridges the 1990s urban comedy boom and modern internet culture. As a veteran of Def Comedy Jam and The Queens of Comedy, she helped build the template for unapologetic, adult-oriented standup. She reached an entirely new generation when Kanye West built a hit record around an old clip of her explaining why she refuses to fake orgasms. She tours relentlessly, packing clubs with crowds who want comedy delivered without a filter.

Her act hinges on an aggressive demand for self-acceptance. She tells audiences to embrace their physical flaws not as a gentle suggestion, but as a mandate. She talks about the indignities of getting older and the specific arguments couples have when the romance wears off. She plays the role of someone mildly exasperated by the world’s foolishness, glaring at the front row to explain exactly why they are living wrong.

That survival instinct comes directly from the West Side of Chicago. She grew up in a massive family where being heard required volume and conviction, a dynamic she brought to the stage and never abandoned.

Turning points

  1. 1989–1990

    Crown Royal Comedy Contest Victory

    Givens won the Crown Royal Comedy competition at Chicago's Regal Theater, launching her professional standup comedy career.

  2. Starring in The Queens of Comedy

    Givens joined Mo'Nique, Sommore, and Laura Hayes for a historic 13-date sold-out tour that produced a Showtime special and a Grammy-nominated album.

  3. Vocal Feature on Kanye West Single

    Her comedic voice sample was prominently featured on Lil Pump and Kanye West's hit single 'I Love It', which was performed on Saturday Night Live.

At a glance

Born
, Chicago, Illinois
On stage
since 1989
Style
observational, storytelling, dark comedy
Breakout
The Queens of Comedy
Topics
Elsewhere
Wikipedia

Fans also like

  • Sommore

    Both were headlining performers on the landmark Queens of Comedy tour and share an unapologetic, sophisticated adult comedy perspective.

  • Mo'Nique

    As co-stars on The Queens of Comedy, both share an unfiltered, high-energy stage presence that addresses sexuality and relationships.

    Photo: Thomas Attila Lewis / CC-BY-SA-2.0

  • Laura Hayes

    Both came through the 1990s urban standup circuit and toured together nationwide as part of The Queens of Comedy.

  • Sheryl Underwood

    Both are prominent veterans of the 1990s Def Comedy Jam era sharing bold, risqué material focused on adult relationships.

Podcasts

  • The Adele Givens Morning Show · host

    Morning radio show broadcast on WGCI 107.5 FM in Chicago.

    Spotify · Apple Podcasts

Also on screen

Martin Nurse Johnson
Moesha Police Officer, Usher #1
The Steve Harvey Show Odetta
1998–1999
Tracey Takes On... Hellura
The Players Club Tricks

A clip to start with

Don’t Waste Your Money on Designer Clothes - Adele Givens

5 min · 658K views · on Comedy Central Stand-Up