The Community College Dropout

Ify Nwadiwe uses his debut stand-up album to bridge the gap between traditional Los Angeles street smarts and unrepentant nerd culture. Recorded live at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre on Franklin Avenue in Los Angeles, the performance captures a comic comfortable with both his Nigerian heritage and his obsession with video games. He approaches topics like the daily struggles of a self-proclaimed gluten-free gangster or the bizarre logistics of trying to secure a Sub-Zero hookup with a straightforward, conversational cadence.\n\nReleased in September 2017 by Comedy Dynamics, the 53-minute audio-only release came at a time when Nwadiwe was busy writing for Comedy Central’s @midnight and performing with the all-Black improv group White Women. The material shows off those collaborative improv instincts, turning what could be standard complaints about Facebook politics and millennial culture into highly specific scenarios. Whether he is explaining the pronunciation of his full first name (Ifechukwude) or explaining why his history with online dating makes him the John Steinbeck of internet relationships, the set keeps a quick, playful pace. Other tracks focus on his transition into parenthood, balancing the absurd expectations of raising a child with his own lingering gaming habits.