More Than Laughs: Boogie’s Detroit Roots and Surprising Road to Comedy
Most people know Boogie as the fast-talking, high-energy comedian lighting up stages across the country—but behind the punchlines is a layered story with Detroit hustle, discipline, and a few surprises….
Most people know Boogie as the fast-talking, high-energy comedian lighting up stages across the country—but behind the punchlines is a layered story with Detroit hustle, discipline, and a few surprises.
During his sit-down with Mason and Angie Starr on 105.9 KISS-FM, Boogie gave a glimpse into where he came from—and how he got here.
“For those who don’t know,” Mason said, “you went to Northwestern High School in Detroit. And then what college?”
“Western Michigan,” Boogie replied. “Majored in Communication… minor in Japanese.”
That’s right—Japanese.
“What?” Angie exclaimed, amazed.
“Oh yeah,” Boogie said casually. “I think I did it last time I was here…”
He then dropped a few phrases in Japanese that caught the whole room off guard.
Boogie’s path wasn’t conventional, but it was always leading toward entertainment. From his early days in Detroit’s school system to hitting the stage with jokes that merge streetwise grit and relatable life stories, he’s always stood out.
And about that name—Boogie?
“Same thing I told Kevin Hart,” he said. “Black folks don’t ask where your nickname came from. If it’s Booboo, it’s Booboo. That’s your name!”
He picked up the name in high school, and it stuck—so much so that even Kevin Hart had to ask where it came from.
Boogie’s story is a reminder that being multifaceted is the norm, not the exception, especially in Detroit. He’s a stand-up comic who speaks Japanese, studied communication, built his own Netflix special, and still finds time to laugh through life’s toughest moments.
“It chose me,” he said. “Comedy chose me. And I’m thankful.”
