Being a class clown doesn’t always pay off.
In fact, the funniest kids in school are often scolded by teachers for being disruptive in the classroom. That didn’t stop Gerard Rankin Sr., a Charlotte native who has traveled the world and back because of comedy.
“It didn’t go well at first,” said Rankin, co-host of the “Drank on the Rox” morning show at WJMH-FM (102 Jamz) radio in Greensboro. “I got kicked out of class a lot. Kids laugh, teachers don’t, but I knew I was funny. I just didn’t know where it would go.”
Rankin, commonly known as Osama Bin Drankin – or “Drank” for short – is coming home to headline the Comedy Zone’s monthly “Too Funny Tuesday” event, May 13 at 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd.
Rankin, 48, says performances in his hometown tend to be where he gets most nervous because he wants to put on a great show for family and friends.
Rankin describes his job as a blessing because it feels good to make people smile. His favorite moments come from being stopped while shopping or at the end of a show about how he’s turned someone’s day around.
Ranking, who grew up in a family of six in west Charlotte, recalls the nerves of his first performance on a cold December night at the Comedy Zone in Greensboro 15 years ago. It’s still a familiar feeling.
“Unless they come already come from money or a world of attention, I don’t see how people get to where they are and treat people the way they treat people,” he said. “Me and my brother used to share clothes. … Canned goods, paper plates, food stamps, roaches. So what? So, I’m going to get on the radio, the podcast and on-stage starting comedy and act funny towards people? Nah, man. I remember. I remember when. That’s what keeps me humble because I remember.”
As a reminder of such humble beginnings, Rankin has a tattoo on his arm: “704 raised me, 336 made me.” He was convinced to give standup comedy a try after it being suggested he pursue a career. By the age of 20, he fell in love with the craft.
“Comedy is important to me because it’s me,” he said. “I’ve always been silly and funny, so I think it’s always dope when you can tap into a natural talent that God gave you and make a career out of it.”
Rankin learned how to warm a crowd from his mentor Simpli Net, a Greensboro comedian whose work he’s came to admire. She gave advice he’d never forget: “Be yourself, do the time they gave you and when you get up there have a joke that’s going to hit them hard,” he said. “…At the end hit them again so then they remember you when you leave the stage.”
He did.
After the show, Rankin joined four other comedians who are known today for their work in media – Chico Bean, B Daht, Darren “Big Baby” Brand and Comedian Burpee, co-host of the Charlotte show.
“From that moment on I was consistent,” Rankin said. “It was something I wanted to do so I had to do it.”
Together, they formed a group to promote themselves by attending open mics and shows when available. At the time, Rankin’s day job was at Food Lion, and he owned a side landscaping business. Still, he did comedy to sharpen his skills.
Originally, Rankin’s goal was to be a fitness trainer after studying kinesiology at North Carolina A&T State University. It wasn’t until he started getting paid for comedy that Rankin saw how far his talent could take him.
A&T alum Darren “Big Baby” Brand was a familiar face to Rankins when he first joined the group. They now co-host “Last Few Hits,” a podcast on YouTube.
“Yeah, it’s a dream, but it can come true,” Rankin said. “Continuously grind for what you want and even if you don’t reach it at least you won’t ever have that regret saying I didn’t try at all. That’s the worst kind of regret, saying I should’ve, could’ve, would’ve.”
