The Big Questions: Michael Dapaah on Big Shaq, the early days, and how the death of a friend pushed him to follow his dreams-Rachael O'Connor-Entertainment – Metro

Welcome to Metro.co.uk‘s The Big Questions, where we ask, well, the big questions (and the smaller ones too) and this week, we’re diving deep with Michael Dapaah.

Michael – or to be more specific, his alter ego Big Shaq – became a household name in 2017 as parody rap Man’s Not Hot went mega-viral around the world.

Since then the star has performed to massive crowds and created and appeared in multiple online series, dealing with everything from fitness to entertainment, often both intertwined.

Now Michael is back with new series Michael Dapaah’s Break Time, in which he interviews major athletes about the things we might not usually get to hear them speak about, including mental health and struggles they’ve had off the pitch.

His first episode features England legend Raheem Sterling, in a deep delve which Michael says the footballer found ‘therapeutic.’

And speaking to Metro.co.uk, Michael has hinted at even bigger projects on the way in the future – as well as reflecting on how he got to his position.

LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 13: Michael Dapaah attends the EE British Academy Film Awards 2022 at Royal Albert Hall on March 13, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)

You’re an all-rounder – comedian, actor, interviewer. When you were growing up did you always have an interest in this?

‘I always had an interest in it, however it wasn’t something which was, let’s say encouraged in my household.

‘My father is a doctor so he took education very, very seriously. That’s what helped him and set him up, so you were encouraged to go down the doctor, lawyer, journalist, any route that was very secure and you’d get a good salary and be able to live.

‘My mum’s dream for me, I remember one time when I told her this was what I was going to get into, she was just like “You need to get yourself a job that pays £1500 a month, so you know on the 28th of every month you’ve got some money coming in. Even if you go into overdraft, at least you know you’ve got some security there and that’s always going to come in.”

‘And I was like, “OK. But that’s not what I want to do.”

‘It was definitely something that developed later on and I had to prove that this worked.

The comedian and actor’s parents were keen for him to make a ‘safe’ career choice (Picture: Shutterstock)

At what point did you realise you were making a career of it?

‘I would say 2017. I had a really good friend of mine that sadly passed away, he took his own life at the end of 2016. His name was Nathan.

‘Nathan was the first person that picked up a camera to film me. He was someone I found quite inspirational. He was really active behind the scenes when it came to media stuff and ideas. When I was [working at] Vodafone he was doing his thing, he was doing an apprenticeship at Channel 4. I felt I wanted to pursue my dreams and visions but I almost felt stuck because I thought “How am I going to make this work? How am I going to make this jump?”

‘I was contemplating for a good 18 months, and when Nathan’s passing came I told my manager “I’ve got to pack this in.” And I literally left and started figuring it out. I had a bunch of ideas around that time but I wasn’t really active in anything. It took his passing, which is so significant to me.

‘That was the point where I thought “You know what, I’m just going to go for it.”

Michael has enjoyed a stunning career in content creation since his big break in 2017, most recently interviewing Raheem Sterling for his new series Break Time (Picture: Michael Dapaah)

Of course, 2017 saw Man’s Not Hot go mega-viral – what was the craziest moment from that time?

‘I’ve got too many! I wouldn’t be able to pinpoint the craziest moment. But I think the most interesting thing for me is I didn’t know [how big it was]. I would say I’m a bit slow sometimes with understanding what’s going on.

‘I wasn’t taking everything in. I really wasn’t taking everything in. One of my managers used to say “This is not normal! This is not normal!” And I was like “Uhh, yeah yeah yeah.”

‘But my father, he was going into work and people didn’t believe that he was my dad. I had a performance at the Capital Jingle Bell Ball and I brought him, and I bigged him up as I finished my set. Everyone was screaming for him, and when it finished he was like “That was so special, man.” That was definitely a nice moment.

‘And in Australia, when I was touring, I came off the plane in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and there were people waiting for me at every airport. I was mad confused. There was press and there was normal people, and they were waiting for me!

‘I’m naturally saying hello to everyone, I’m thinking they’re part of airport staff. But oh my goodness, every airport. And I thought “this is just getting ridiculous now!”

Big Shaq became so iconic, but he’s an alter ego – do fans confuse the two of you?

‘Yes, definitely. My fan fans – or my supporters, I don’t really like calling them fans – they don’t, but people that don’t know the origins of the characters do.

‘[Big Shaq] came from the series Somewhere In London, but sometimes people get confused. And you meet them and they’re like “Oh you’re mad chill and you’re mad cool. I didn’t think you were like this!” But yeah, that’s a disparity but a nice surprise.

You said you want to amplify positive voices in your new series, Michael Dapaah’s Break Time – why is that important to you?

‘Entertainment is influence. I want to be able to make sure we’re sending the right message to the viewers and the audience that all these people influence, including myself.

‘With all the work I’ve done from the beginning, there are four core value points that run through it – whether it’s inspirational, motivational, entertaining and representing some form of hope. If you go back and look at all the work I’ve been blessed to do, those are the threads that run through it.

‘So with Break Time, apart from it being entertaining and insightful, I want it to also be something which influences people positively because I know people who are in sports… they are positive role models and it’s about making sure we’re able to get that out there, that at the end of the day they deal with the same things we all deal with. It’s for people to be able to see them in a different light from how they see them all the time.

‘I just want to do my bit.

Michael talks to some of the biggest names in sport in his new series Break Time, in his quest to ‘amplify positive voices’ (Picture: Michael Dapaah)

Any advice for young people trying to make it in comedy or content creation?

‘Yes! The most important thing I say is you have to believe. Even when times are difficult and people might not be receptive of what it is you’re doing, you have to believe. I’m someone that has a great deal of faith in God and in the abilities I’ve been blessed with.

‘But one of the key things that have gotten me here is faith, just faith, and just believing. It will get difficult, it does get difficult, you will face challenges at every level. Sometimes people think once you’ve crossed into a level or you’ve made a bit of money then everything’s good but no, you’re going to continually face challenges.

So it’s important you believe and you stay focused and stay believing, because regardless, these things are going to happen and sometimes people don’t tell you that. But it’s very important to believe.

More: Trending

What’s next?

I have a really big project coming. And a bunch of other projects about to roll out as well. Season two of my YouTube series, Belly Must Go, is gonna launch very soon. Something else is launching in March that I can’t say yet but it’s coming.

There are some really good things happening at the moment!

Michael Dapaah’s Break Time airs weekly on YouTube

MORE : Michael Dapaah proud of ‘big brother’ Mo Gilligan following Brit Awards presenting gig

MORE : Why Raheem Sterling isn’t in Chelsea’s squad for Newcastle clash

Entertainment – MetroRead More