One of the Good Ones

The tension between what the industry expects of a biracial comic and what he actually wants to talk about makes this debut album stand out. The centerpiece of the set is an anecdote about auditioning for Madam Secretary, where the casting directors expect him to play a terrorist named Atif who orders a latte at Starbucks and stares death into the eyes of a barista. It is a highly specific, dryly delivered critique of Hollywood’s racial casting that feels grounded and real.

Released by Comedy Dynamics on December 1, 2017, One of the Good Ones was recorded at the Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington, Vermont. Prior to this release, Adam Mamawala was best known for his heavy touring schedule on the college circuit and his work as a freelance writer for Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update. The record marks his step into more mature, adult material.

The set leans into the smaller, everyday indignities of a comic transitioning into domestic life. Mamawala jokes about wedding prep, why his wife chose to keep her last name, and a detailed bit about public humiliation titled ‘Poop Shaming’. Upon its release, the album debuted at number one on the iTunes comedy chart.