Cedric’s gentrified ‘Neighborhood’

kind of saw him fail once. And I was like, I don’t want to run out there and get one season,” said the “Barbershop’’ star. “I kind of felt like that was the right thing for me to do, and it worked out great.”

Currently, the star comedian is on the 23-city “Straight Jokes No Chaser” tour with D.L. Hughley, Earthquake, and DC Young Fly, hosted by Mike Epps. Cedric notes the current politically correct climate hasn’t necessarily changed his brand of comedy, but believes some programs that provided platforms to create star Black comics might not be able to exist today.

“Def Jam was really one of those rare scenarios where we got to truly voice who we were. You didn’t have to change anything about yourself,” said Ced- ric. “I don’t think that that kind of rawness, that kind of honesty, visceral, right-off- the top whatever you’re thinking kind of joke-telling...I don’t think you could get away with that in today’s society.”

And while he coyly says today’s society is “soft as hell,” don’t expect “The Neighborhood” star to get any homeowners association violations.

“I want to come out and make people laugh and have a good time ... I’m not that comic that’s there to challenge you or super offend you,” says Cedric.

“I got the CBS, Paramount shield with me, and we’re doing great. And I employ a lot of people with this show. ... I wouldn’t want to be the detriment of somebody else’s livelihood. So, I’m very careful of it without, at the same time, without being precious.”