Wild ‘N Out Built Comedian Matt Rife’s Confidence

Matt Rife Reflects on Wild ‘N Out’s Role in Forging His Comedic Persona

The meteoric rise of comedian Matt Rife has been one of the most talked-about stories in entertainment over the past year. While his current global arena tours and sold-out theater shows are the stuff of legend, Rife recently opened up about the formative experiences that helped shape him into the confident performer he is today, with a surprising emphasis on his time on MTV’s hit improv comedy show, Wild ‘N Out.

Speaking on the Club Shay Shay podcast, Rife detailed how the high-pressure environment of Wild ‘N Out, despite its notoriously low pay, was instrumental in building his stage presence and resilience. “The workshops for that show kind of taught me how to like be a man,” Rife explained. He described producer Nile Evans’s demanding approach, which included having cast members like DC Young Fly get in his face, as a deliberate method to instill confidence. “He was really about establishing confidence in me because he was like, if you can’t be confident back here, how you going to be confident in front of a live packed out crowd in front of all these cameras where you get one shot?”

Rife, who was the youngest cast member when he joined, admitted to being incredibly nervous during his early days on the show. “I would go in there with my hands in my pockets and super slouched over,” he recalled. This lack of outward confidence meant that much of his material, even on a show where quick wit is paramount, was cut. “I didn’t deliver it confidently, but I needed that,” Rife stated. “I hadn’t been ready.”

The Audition Grind and the ‘Replacement’ Role

The path to Wild ‘N Out wasn’t immediate for Rife. He revealed that he was turned down during his first audition for the show’s reboot, which featured Carlos and Chico. “I drove down from Ohio, which was like 9 hours,” he said, recounting the audition at the Uptown Comedy Club. “It was an okay audition but didn’t get it.” Ironically, Pete Davidson was cast for that season, and Rife eventually got his spot when Davidson left, continuing a pattern of cast changes. “They just replaced white guy after white show,” Rife noted, highlighting the cyclical nature of casting on the show.

Joining the show at just 19 years old, Rife felt he was barely ready. He described the experience as “nerve-wracking” but ultimately a crucible that “pulled the best out of me.” He likened the intense pressure to the adage that “pressure makes diamonds,” calling the show “an institution for how I developed as a comedian.”

From Comedy Clubs to Arenas: A Measured Ascent

The rapid success Rife has achieved, including selling over 600,000 tickets in 48 hours for his “Problematic World Tour,” has been a whirlwind. His agents suggested pivoting directly to arenas after the initial theater sell-outs, but Rife resisted. “I was like, ‘Yo, I just started selling out comedy clubs. I’m not ready for that,'” he explained. He emphasized the importance of experiencing different performance venues – comedy clubs, theaters, arenas, and stadiums – to hone his craft and gain valuable life experiences.

“If I would have jumped right into arenas, there’s no way I would have been ready. I was barely ready for the theaters,” Rife asserted. “But the comedy club was where I was like just starting to like kill.” This philosophy of “baby steps” and respecting the journey contrasts with a more direct, perhaps less experienced, approach.

The ‘Wild ‘N Out’ Paycheck and the Value of Exposure

Rife also addressed the financial realities of being on Wild ‘N Out. While not explicitly stating the figures, he alluded to the compensation being around $1,000 per episode, with cast members typically appearing in only a few episodes per taping block. This amounts to roughly $3,000 for a month’s work. “Don’t get me wrong, that’s not bad. People pay their bills on that all the time,” Rife acknowledged. However, the exclusivity of the taping schedule prevented him from pursuing other opportunities.

“You can’t go do anything else when I could be going touring. I could be auditioning for other things that are going to pay more,” he said. “So, it’s just an investment. It’s a gamble. You got to hope you’re on these episodes.” Compared to the potential earnings from touring or other television gigs, the Wild ‘N Out pay was “very little,” especially after taxes. Rife concluded that the primary benefit was exposure: “It’s really about the exposure. You’re giving people an opportunity to see Matt… It’s more of a launching pad than anything. The exposure for there is unmatched, man.”

Appreciation for the 85 South Crew and ‘Wild ‘N Out’ Legends

Rife expressed immense admiration for his peers, particularly the “85 South” crew, which includes DC Young Fly and Chico Bean. “I want to go do that show with them so bad,” he enthused. “Those are some of the most talented people I’ve ever met in my entire life.” He praised their ability to “riff a freestyle song and not only is it a good song, but it’s hilarious,” highlighting their spontaneous creativity.

When asked about the funniest Wild ‘N Out cast member of all time, Rife pondered the question, mentioning Prime Katt Williams, Kevin Hart, and Carlos Mencia. Ultimately, he leaned towards Katt Williams, citing his unparalleled ability to “just go back and forth” and engage in the kind of playful, sharp-witted banter that defines the show. He also touched upon the cultural nuances of comedy, particularly the difference between how Black audiences and white audiences perceive comedic conflict. “If you don’t have black friends, you’re not going to laugh. There ain’t no way, man. ‘Cause white people don’t do it. They call it bullying,” Rife observed. He explained that in Black culture, this back-and-forth, often referred to as “Jody,” is a sign of affection and camaraderie, rooted in shared experiences, particularly within HBCU environments. “The more I jones on you, the more I riff with you, the more I try to hurt your feelings, the more I actually with you. Like I genuinely love you as a person.”

A Post-Show Transformation

Beyond the confidence boost, Rife shared a more tangible benefit from his first season: new teeth. “After my first season… Ralphie May took me on tour. I couldn’t wait to get my teeth fixed, man,” he recounted. Describing his pre-transformation smile as “Ohio teeth,” he admitted they were “bad.” Getting his teeth done, he said, “changed everything for me.” He humorously attributed the motivation to his then-girlfriend, who was 30 while he was 19. “I got to give her a reason to stay ’cause it’s not the money for sure. It ain’t the dick. There ain’t no way.”

In essence, Rife’s journey on Wild ‘N Out was more than just a stint on a TV show; it was a crucial developmental period. It provided him with the confidence, exposure, and even the physical confidence through cosmetic changes, to launch the career that has now made him a household name.

Source: DC Young Fly Instilled Confidence In Matt Rife: “Be A Man.” I CLUB SHAY SHAY (YouTube)