Be Happy

Tabari McCoy approaches his debut hour stand-up special with the self-proclaimed attitude of a hater, reacting to the daily irritants of modern life, dating apps, and the state of American education. Standing on stage at his home club, Go Bananas Comedy Club in Montgomery, Ohio, McCoy relies on a casual, conversational style to point out the absurdities of texting errors, pandemic logic, and why children are almost too honest for comfort. Released in May 2023 by Cincinnati-based production company Four by Three, the special serves as a milestone for the local favorite, who previously released two albums and appeared on the FOX stand-up series Laughs. Rather than chasing coastal trends, he keeps his focus grounded in the realities of the American Midwest, building to a cynical take on arming schoolteachers and a personal reflection on what it actually takes to find happiness.