Donnell Rawlings
A boisterous club veteran delivering exasperated arguments at maximum volume.
2 specials · 2022–2024
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Donnell Rawlings works at a furious volume. He paces the stage looking sharp in a tailored suit and bright red socks, but he acts entirely exasperated. He treats a comedy set like an argument that has gone on too long. When a premise starts to land, his voice pitches up into a defensive squeak. He leans into the microphone, widens his eyes, and dares the room to disagree with him. He doesn’t build quiet, delicate setups; he generates a wall of sound and attitude.
Specials
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Snoop Dogg's F*cn Around Comedy Special with Snoop Dogg, Katt Williams & 4 more
Snoop Dogg hosts a smoky late-night variety show with his friends.
Netflix · 67 min
On stage
After three decades in comedy, he occupies a specific space as a tireless road dog. For a massive segment of the public, he is permanently frozen as Ashy Larry or the guy yelling catchphrases on Chappelle’s Show. Inside the comedy world, however, he is the workhorse who never stopped running weekend club dates. When his first solo Netflix hour dropped in 2024 under Dave Chappelle’s banner, it functioned less as a breakout moment and more as a delayed trophy for a comic who has kept crowds laughing through sheer stamina.
His material relies heavily on the annoyances of getting older. He complains about toxic relationships, the physical indignities of aging, and the logistics of co-parenting. He works best when he plays the victim of his own choices, acting completely baffled that society expects him to act his age. He prioritizes momentum over intricate writing. If the energy in the room dips, he will happily abandon his prepared material to browbeat the front row, using pure charisma to wrestle the laughter back.
Turning points
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2002–2008
Dramatic Transition with The Wire
Portraying Damien 'Day-Day' Price on David Simon's HBO series The Wire established Rawlings as a legitimate dramatic actor alongside his comedy work.
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2003–2004
Breakout as Ashy Larry on Chappelle's Show
Rawlings achieved national recognition for iconic sketch characters like Ashy Larry and his signature closing catchphrase 'I'm rich, biaaaaatch!'
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Solo Netflix Special Produced by Dave Chappelle
After touring arena stages with Dave Chappelle, Rawlings taped his first solo Netflix standup special during the New York Comedy Festival with Chappelle serving as producer.
At a glance
Fans also like
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Dave ChappelleChappelle is Rawlings' long-time touring partner and producer who shaped his landmark comedic breakout on Chappelle's Show.
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Earthquake
A peer from the urban standup circuit known for an equally unapologetic, commanding, and punchy stage presence.
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Bill Bellamy
Fellow veteran standup who emerged from 1990s showcase comedy and shared panel time on Chelsea Lately.
Podcasts
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The Donnell Rawlings Show · host
Donnell Rawlings riffs weekly with co-host Nicki McElroy on current events, pop culture, cancel culture, relationships, and fatherhood.
Also on screen
- The Corner
- 2002–2008
- The Wire
- 2003–2004
- Chappelle's Show
- Spider-Man 2
- 2011–2012
- Guy Code
A clip to start with
Donnell Rawlings: "I Abuse the Race Card"