Charlamagne Tha God, the best-selling author, comedian, and radio host returns to the city that played an integral role in his broadcast career when he takes the stage May 23 to discuss his latest book at Greene Street Friends in Germantown.
Charlamagne, who co-hosted a Philadelphia radio show with famed TV personality Wendy Williams in the 2000s, will discuss "Get Honest or Die Lying: Why Small Talk Sucks" with scholar/author Marc Lamont Hill, owner of Uncle Bobbie's Coffee & Books in Germantown, which is sponsoring the discussion.
During his 14 years as co-host of iHeartRadio's nationally syndicated morning radio show "The Breakfast Club," Charlamagne landed squarely in the center of water cooler chatter with moments such as his famous "You ain't black" exchange with President Joe Biden and discussions with Jay-Z, Candace Owens, Vice President Kamala Harris and Soulja Boy.
Born Lenard McKelvey, the popular radio host who calls himself "the ruler of rubbing people the wrong way" adopted the name Charlamagne early in his radio career. He based the moniker on Charles the Great, who ruled much of Western Europe circa 800 A.D.
While controversy has raised Charlamagne's profile, the radio host who also calls himself "the architect of aggravation" has also been fired because of it. In Philadelphia, Charlamagne was let go from a stint on 100.3 The Beat after an interview with Philadelphia hip-hop artist Beanie Sigel during which the rapper dissed fellow artist Jay-Z. Several days later, Charlamagne was fired and told during a meeting that the station wanted to go in "a different direction." He discussed the incident in an earlier best-seller, "Black Privilege: Opportunity Comes to Those Who Create It."
The discussion is at 7 p.m. (Doors open at 6 p.m.) Tickets are $7.50 to $32 (the $32 ticket includes a copy of the book). Greene Street Friends is at 20 W. Armat St. For information, visit unclebobbies.com/events.
