Kevin Hart is known for being one of the most promising up-and-coming comedians of our time. After winning some comedy contests, he decided to make a career out of his undeniable talent and has never looked back since. With various movies under his belt (like Soul Plane, Along Came Polly, The 40 Year Old Virgin, and Death at a Funeral to name a few) and being featured in several comedy shows, Hart also has his own comedy specials that are not to be missed, such as 2009’s I’m a Grown Little Man and 2010’s Seriously Funny. Not showing any signs of slowing down, he is currently on tour performing brand new material in Laugh at My Pain. Down-to-earth and affable, Hart visibly works hard to be one of the best comedians in the business, and fortunately for all of us, he has succeeded admirably.

TS: So you’re from Philly and you used to be a shoe salesman…what drove you to go into comedy?

KH: Just being the funny guy with the personality around my friends. I’d always be entertaining people and people would always say, “Kev, you should do something with it, you should do comedy…” After you hear it so many times, you think “Hey, maybe I should do this,” and that’s how I got into it.

TS: You’ve obviously made it in the world because you have your own Wikipedia entry. It’s stated there that you’re known as "The Shortest Comedian Ever To Touch a Damn Microphone & Hit The Stage."

KH: [laughs] That’s hilarious. There’s gotta be someone out there smaller than me.

TS: How did you get dubbed that? Or is this news to you too?

KH: Man, I don’t know. Could’ve been anybody! I mean, if you ask me, I’m average height. I mean…I’m not, but if you ask me, I think I am.

TS: Who are some of your idols or people that you look up to that influence your work?

KH: Bill Cosby is one for sure…Eddie Murphy, the Chris Rocks, the Dave Chappelles…the list just goes on and on. There’s so many of us, too many to name. Even like, Jerry Seinfeld, George Carlin…there’s so many different talented comedians who opened up the doors for me and influence me and my work. It’s hard to pick just one.

TS: In reading some reviews of “Seriously Funny” and “I’m a Grown Little Man”, you tend to get comparisons to Eddie Murphy and Bernie Mac, but I think at the same time a lot of people appreciate your self-deprecation and the fact that you seem really down-to-earth. You actually seem like you’re having a good time yourself when you’re on stage. How different is your stage persona from you in real life?

KH: It’s not. That’s what makes me the comedian that I am. When you get to a certain point, you realize that you can be yourself and still be funny. I realized that at a young age. With like, Eddie Murphy and [other great comedians], they’re all honest and they talk about themselves. They’re real. That’s what I do and I think that’s why people can relate to me more.

TS: You’ve been in quite a few movies as well, and you were also part of “The Big House” [short-lived TV show]. Do you prefer doing stand up or acting?

KH: Stand up is always gonna be first. Acting is bonus. It’s like having sex with a guy and you really like him and then you find out he has a big penis. You liked him anyway, but that’s just a great bonus.

Acting…it’s nice, but it’s like, I really really really enjoy doing xyz, which is stand up comedy. Nothing’s gonna get past that.

TS: How do you come up with your material for stand up?

KH: Pretty much through everyday life. I look at my life and see things that are funny and say “wow this is good, this is good…” What I do is I take pain and turn it into comedy. Things that happen that are negative at the time, if you look back and analyze what happened, there may be many funny moments that you can use as comedy. That’s my talent, I guess. [laughs] I’m good at having bad things happen to me, look back and break it down, analyze it, and turn it into comedy.

TS: In watching your stand up, you make a lot references to your family – you talk about your wife and your kids….and of course your now-iconic uncle. I have to ask - Is the uncle that got knocked out at the family reunion picnic the same uncle that told you to “Say it wit ya chest!”?

KH: Of course it is!

TS: Does your family mind that you use them as jokes?

KH: Nah, as long as you change the names. I do protect myself legally. [laughs]

TS: There’s a famous line that’s attributed to the legendary Ed Wynn: “A comic says funny things; a comedian says things funny.” So how do you see yourself according to that? Do you identify with being a comedian or a comic?

KH: Well I’m definitely gonna have to go with “comedian.” The reason why is because I study the craft. I take it very seriously. The craft being comedy. I’m a student of comedy. You know, doing comedy to be the best at it, to go down in history as one of the best. I’m in love with having that talent.

TS: What does it take to be a good comedian, in your opinion?

KH: Well, that’s difficult….I don’t have the answer. For me personally, it takes hard work, persistence, constant practice…I don’t take it lightly at all.

TS: What are your plans for the future?

KH: I just started my own production company, HartBeat Productions. So directing, writing, and starring in my own productions.

Kevin Hart performs at The Beacon Theatre in NYC on November 4^th, 2010.

Click here to buy tickets and/or see when he’s coming to a town near you!