Left: Shawn (Son) – Right (GheeFunny)

Eric Lawton, also known as GheeFunny, stars alongside his son, Shawn, in comedic videos made for social media. He’s not trying to be the picture-perfect father. His image looks nothing like the dads in Norman Rockwell paintings, nor the stereotypical type often seen in television for teens. Eric writes one-minute sketches where he and his 9-year-old trade jabs laced with adult humor.

Fans of the pair appreciate the blend of subversive African American comedy traditions with father and son’s satiric ability to capture the challenges of everyday parenting, economic realities, and social commentary.

Unlike his on-screen persona, Eric is laid back with a calm tone of voice, his goals are positively ambitious: He wants Shawn to be able to make the leap from digital-shorts novice to professional actor. Lawton sees it as showing his son something other than playing ball.

After reaching a million followers on their Instagram page, Respect Magazine had the opportunity to talk with Eric about his journey and accomplishments.

How has living in Philadelphia influenced your comedy?

Well growing up in North Philly you had to be Funny or play basketball I felt like lol. Everybody respected someone that hooped or Could make them laugh. So growing up in philly made it easy to do comedy I would say.

Who are some of the comedians (if any) that inspired you?

My Favorite always has been Martin Lawrence. Watching his show coming up drove me to comedian. Also “IN LIVING COLOR” those comedies inspired me as well.

You started out posting comedic videos on Facebook, when did you know it was time to develop more content on Instagram?

Well I didn’t even know what it was to be honest. My girlfriend told that if I wanted to make something outta these videos I needed to be on instagram or YouTube making them. So she made me an account and it’s a rap after that lol

What is the biggest obstacle you’ve faced when creating skits? How often are you writing new skits?

Umm I would say Getting the timing Perfect. We be doing this for a while but sometimes the timing of our back and forth is tough to get on point Even now!

What was the first skit you did with Shawn? Obviously you have a father-son bond, but would you say you two had to develop a chemistry as a comedic duo – or were the skits always smooth?

Our first skit was the one when Shawn asked me “Where do baby’s come from” lol. Our Chemistry has grow over the last Year but it was rough at the start with Shawn only being 6 when we started.

You did a really funny skit with Shawn some weeks ago about your car getting repossessed, and dealing with struggle. However, this is also a serious topic. Can you talk about the importance of not only being there, but providing a better life for your son?

At the end of the day, that’s what this is all about right? My son’s future is very important to me. If I can use this platform to better positioning him to be successful then that’s what I do. Being there for you kid and is easy at least in my eyes. Doing comedy is my passion but the fact that I can share this passion with my son make it a dream

How does it feel to be recognized by stars like Paul George, Kevin Durant, Chris Brown and more?

It’s an unreal feeling. Those guys are superstars right? The fact that Im giving them the opportunity to be fans is awesome. They really appreciate what we do and not afraid to let us know it.

Now that you are over a million followers, how have you tried to broaden your comedy, if at all?

Umm yea, we’re looking to show the world how versatile we are in every aspect of comedy. So doing more of the YouTube skits longer skits coming soon.

Within the last two years, comedians have received more backlash for jokes than ever before. Are you more conscious of this when writing skits? If not, why?

Nah. Doesn’t affect me and I’ll tell you why. Negative energy is going be around every thing we do no matter if I conscious of it or not. So what I do is let my mind take over and whatever i come up with I go with it. Funny is Funny sometimes people doesn’t have the sense of humor for that type of comedy

When did you know your phrase #DoItLookLikeIGiveAF**k was catching on?

When I seen everyone mentioning it over and over in the comments lol. Then asking if there was any merchandise with this slogan on it.

Where do you see Shawn and yourself in five years? Movies, television?

TV and movies for sure. If not both of us definitely Shawn. My kid is extremely gifted and will get his shot someday I’m sure of it. As for me standup is also an option. Tv show is my number one goal not gone lie.

Thank you for your time. We wish you and Shawn nothing but the best!

Thanks Guys.

Suggested Articles:

RESPECT. Interview: Brian Brown Talks About His Upcoming Project ‘Journey,’ Nashville Urban Scene and More

RESPECT. Interview: Author Dr. Crystal Morris-Newsom Pens Life Guide for Teenage Girls with “How To Get Your Grown Woman On”

The post RESPECT. Interview: Philadelphia’s GheeFunny Talks Doing Comedy With His Son, Reaching A Million Followers & Future Goals appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Paul George and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Photo Credit: Eric Salvary/Get Fit Radio TV

RESPECT Magazine’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson chatted with Ben Troupe and B.J. Bennett on Southern Georgia’s ESPN Coastal “Three and Out.” Press Play Below To Listen!

The NBA season is here and we’ve seen a ton of injuries. The Boston Celtics’ Gordon Hayward and Brooklyn Nets’ Jeremy Lin are done for the season and the Houston Rockets’ Chris Paul is sidelined for two to four weeks.

Kyrie Irving and LeBron James embrace after Tuesday’s opening night at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo Credit: USA Today

Lonzo Ball did not come out hot in his debut at Staples Center against the Los Angeles Clippers and LeBron James and the new look Cleveland Cavaliers had something to prove in their home opener against former Cavalier, Kyrie Irving. Carmelo Anthony got revenge with his new team the Oklahoma City Thunder. He and his new teammates, Paul George and Russell Westbrook aided the former Knick in his victory over his old team.  Also click here to find out why I believe the Knicks should still retire Carmelo Anthony’s jersey.

My picks for this season:

6th Man of the Year: Lou Williams, Houston Rockets

Most Improved Player of the Year: Jusuf Nurkic, Portland Blazers

Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gorbert, Utah Jazz

Coach of the Year: Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics

Rookie of the Year: De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings

MVP: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

NBA Finals: Cavs vs. Warriors (Cavs win in 6)

Suggested Articles: 

The Next Big Showcase’s Cliff Po & DJ Tarzan Making Dreams Reality in NYC & NJ

Scoop B Radio: Turner Sports’ Steve Smith Talks Career & More

The post Scoop B: OKC Thunder’s Paul George & Russell Westbrook, The Cavs & More With ESPN’s Ben Troupe & B.J. Bennett appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

NBA 2K senior producer Rob Jones. Photo Credit: Hoops Hype

NBA 2K’s Rob Jones Dropped By Scoop B Radio With Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson & Discussed His Personal Journey and the new NBA 2K18

Unless you’re the man upstairs, nobody knows the interworking of the popular NBA 2K video game better than Rob Jones.

Jones, a senior producer of visual concepts at 2K has been part of the game since it was only available on Sega Dreamcast and the game boasted Allen Iverson as their cover athlete.

On Friday, NBA 2K18 was released on a day marked as 2K day. Although you can go head to head with your friends at the house or online, NBA 2K18, the 19th game of the NBA 2K series, features an all-new new Neighborhood feature.

In simpler terms, Neighborhood ties together game modes and allows for virtual interaction with other people playing the game. You can text message Lavar Ball, TNT’s Ros Gold Onwude and others. “The neighborhood is big because basketball is about competition and we’ve always known that but it’s also the lifestyle and it’s also social,” Rob Jones told me on Scoop B Radio. “The neighborhood is this open environment where we’re all together and socializing and doing things together and I’m still competing in basketball in different ways whether it’s mini basketball in the 2K zone or playing in the park, or playing in pro-am, or playing NBA games.

Added Jones:

“We’re giving you these different ways to play but instead of compartmentalizing it like well I got to go to the pro-am instead it’s all in one place and it’s unified so all of your rewards are the same. I mean the ultimate reward is I start with my guy at a 60 and I want to be a 99, the only way to do that last year was to play My Career this year it doesn’t matter you play whatever you want to so we are letting you dictate the way you want to play our game.”

NBA 2K producer Rob Jones discusses NBA 2K18’s Neighborhood game mode with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Photo Credit: Brian Mazique

In between his busy schedule of navigating folks through the new version of NBA 2K18, Jones discussed his journey of being with the company since 2011.”It’s big because it tells me that people appreciate our game and it shows me how far we’ve come,” he said.

“We go back and look at the older games some days and we’re like: ‘man basketball was in sad shape back then.’ Even though for people who were playing it, it was like they were phenomenal, but we’re way ahead of where we were when we first started.”

Speaking of past to present, being part of the 2K family for some time, Jones said he has a few favorite installments of the game.

The floor is yours Mr. Jones:

“2K7 because it was the first game that gave me a glimpse of fluid basketball and 2K11 with Mike [Jordan] on it so it’s hard to top those two,” he said.

“The next one would be 2K14 with the story LeBron and I think ’18 is about to sneak in. I think we’re breaking the odd year curse when people would say we only put a good game out in odd years but I think 2K18 is going to be pretty good.”

Ahh yes, the odd year NBA 2K NBA curse.

For years, folks talked about a ‘Madden curse.’

Now it seems that a NBA 2K curse is ‘a thing’ for cover athletes too! 

Kyrie Irving’s Boston Celtics alternate cover. Photo Credit: Gamespot

Most recently,  Kyrie Irving, an NBA champ with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 is now a member of the Boston Celtics. NBA 2K18 had been promoting Irving as the game’s cover athlete, donning Cavs garb. This is the first time that a player on NBA 2K has been traded before a game has been released, but it’s not the first time conspiracy theorists have put together their theory.

It all started in NBA 2K14 when LeBron James left the Miami Heat to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014. The following year Kevin Durant graces NBA 2K15 and goes to the Golden State Warriors in 2016. Paul George lands on NBA 2K17’s cover and heads over to the Oklahoma City Thunder this summer. “I think it’s coincidental first of all,” Rob Jones said. “Secondly I think that free agency in the NBA as we know it has changed dramatically over the last three years and I think you’re going to see more of it.”

Jones thinks that the trend will continue and he likes the real life attention that it brings. “We just happen to be picking  the guys who have the most to gain by leaving,” he said. “For whatever reason they are making these choices, so it’s not a curse. It’s just that the ‘loyalty’ aspect is just no longer the way I came up on it. So I think you’re going to see more players making these choices to go to different teams every year.”

Suggested Articles:

The Next Big Showcase’s Cliff Po & DJ Tarzan Making Dreams Reality in NYC & NJ

Scoop B Radio: Turner Sports’ Steve Smith Talks Career & More

The post Scoop B: NBA 2K Senior Producer Rob Jones Names His Favorite 2K Games & Discusses NBA 2K18’s New Neighborhood Mode appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.