Freestyling the Rodeo of Life
ThunderWof, a comedian turned musician, recently opened up about his journey from comedy to music, his latest project, and how his unique identity as a black cowboy shapes his art.
Transitioning from comedy to music was a natural evolution for ThunderWof, who started making music in high school but never took it seriously enough to share with others. "I enjoy telling jokes but wanted to see if I could do both and be good at both. I think rappers are truly comedians who can stay on beat. I like throwing in a few jokes in the bars just because they will catch folks off guard," he explains.
His new project, "Boys Don't Cry, But Wofs Shed Tears," explores themes of duality and self-expression. ThunderWof aimed to showcase the complexity and beauty of human diversity. "No such thing as a person without a story," he emphasizes. He hopes listeners take away the importance of having fun and being authentic in their artistic endeavors, noting that art should come from the soul rather than being tailored to what one thinks the audience wants.
As a black cowboy, ThunderWof embraces what some might see as contradictions in his identity. He considers his album a blend of Hip Hop, Rap, and Country. "Being black and a cowboy aren’t really contradictions, but I can see how they clash. I like to use both to my advantage. My music uses hip-hop and rap to tell the story of a cowboy navigating the rodeo of life and the labels that come with it." The reaction from his audience has been overwhelmingly positive. "It feels like a dream the younger me would have had," he says, appreciating how his unique blend of genres and identities allows people to see multiple sides of him beyond just being a funny guy.
ThunderWof’s creative process typically starts with receiving a beat and freestyling to it for a few days until a song emerges. He has moved away from writing lyrics down because he often loses the paper and dislikes typing on his phone. This results in songs that are essentially edited and rehearsed freestyles. Creating this project posed different challenges compared to comedy. "Rapping is more physical; it's almost like blacking out on stage, and then when I’m done, I snap back like Raven Baxter. I treat comedy like jazz, whereas with rapping, I’m all over the stage and wearing my little asthmatic lungs out," he explains.
The project officially drops on June 18th, with upcoming shows planned, including performances at Soundpony and Steph Simon’s Dreamland Festival this fall. ThunderWof has already headlined shows at Heirloom Rustic Ales and Rabbit Hole and is considering a fun concert at his barn. He is also involved in a merch collaboration with BlackBox and is working with other groups to release more merch and shows before the year ends.
Reflecting on his journey as an artist, ThunderWof describes it as incredibly fun, with both highs and lows. His advice to aspiring artists is to avoid being passive and to dive into their passions. "Set expectations for yourself and don’t give up when you don’t meet them. Just find a different route," he advises. Looking ahead, he hopes to pave the way for the next generation of Tulsa artists to go further than him. He dreams of bringing a new genre of comedy to Tulsa with his writing partner Lacee Rains, creating more opportunities for alternative comics like themselves. In the realm of music, his life goal is to get interviewed by Nardwuar.
ThunderWof’s journey from comedy to music reflects a deep passion for storytelling, creativity, and breaking boundaries. His unique blend of hip-hop, rap, and country, infused with his comedic roots, offers a fresh and dynamic perspective on self-expression and identity. With "Boys Don't Cry, But Wofs Shed Tears," ThunderWof invites listeners to embrace their complexities and enjoy the art of creation.
Catch the comedy and music of ThunderWof on Aug. 22 at Dante’s Pizza Anniversary Party at Heirloom Rustic Ales, 2113 E Admiral Blvd. He will also perform at Summer Jam on Aug. 24 at Queen Rose Art House, 843 N Birmingham Place, and at the Blue Whale Comedy Festival at Chimera Cafe, 212 N. Main St on Aug. 24. Find more details on his Instagram, @apache_thunderwof_18.