Ali Siddiq

Siddiq Nassir Abdullah Ali (born October 17, 1973), known professionally as Ali Siddiq, is an American stand-up comedian, writer and former radio personality based in Houston, Texas. He debuted his comedy album in 2010, his half-hour television special in 2016 and his hour-long TV special in 2018. Siddiq was the winner of Comedy Central's inaugural Up Next competition in 2013 and was a finalist on NBC's competition TV show Bring the Funny in 2019. He was the co-host of R&B afternoon radio show Uncle Funky Larry Jones & Ali Siddiq on KMJQ (Majic 102.1) in Greater Houston from January 2021 to January 2024. and grew up primarily on Hillcroft on the southwest side of Houston. At age 10, Siddiq was almost run over by a car, which resulted in his mother and aunt getting into a fight with the driver after she refused to apologize.

He began selling illicit drugs at age 14. and was arrested four days after he turned age 19 for cocaine trafficking. He was convicted of "delivery of a controlled substance" and served six years of a 15-year sentence, primarily at Darrington Unit in Rosharon, Torres Unit in Hondo, Bill Clements Unit in Amarillo and Ellis Unit in Huntsville. He worked at Sharpstown Mall following his release, first at a department store and next at Sunglass Hut. It was during his incarceration, while telling jokes to fellow inmates to lighten the mood, that he discovered his ability to make people laugh. While in prison, he worked in the prison laundromat, and his workmates were his captive audience.

Career 1998–2009 Siddiq first performed stand-up at the Just Joking comedy club in Houston in December 1997, where he entered an open mic during "Apollo Night" which tended to attract a college crowd. Siddiq recalls that he was booed his first time on stage because he was wearing a suit. He waited two weeks to perform again in denim jeans and a T-shirt this time. By February 1998, Siddiq was hired to be the co-host of the show. Other local venues he performed for included The Secret Group comedy club, Red Cat jazz club, Cardi's 2000 rock club, and The Horn where he would go on to become a host. The first comedian Siddiq went on tour with was Lavell Crawford.

He performed on BET's Comic View a few times between 2000 and 2003, Siddiq performed as the opening act on the second and final annual Centric Comedy All-Stars which aired on Centric on March 15, 2014.

2015–2019 In 2015, he performed on the Comedy Central television series This Is Not Happening on the second episode of the first season which aired on January 26. The video of his story recounting his experience during a prison riot where he learned the meaning of the phrase "Mexican got on boots!" became viral on YouTube.

In 2017, he began production on his hour-long special It's Bigger Than These Bars, which was filmed at the Bell County Jail in Belton, Texas. Siddiq released his comedy album The Prison Manual through 800 Pound Gorilla Records on September 20, and appeared in the feature film The Workout Room which released on October 8.

2020–2024 Siddiq headlined Laff Mobb's Laff Tracks on the 11th episode of the second season which aired on TruTV on January 17, 2020. In January 2021, Siddiq joined as co-host on the Funky Larry Jones afternoon drive show on urban adult contemporary station KMJQ (Majic 102.1), with the program being renamed Uncle Funky Larry Jones & Ali Siddiq and carrying the tagline "The Funky and the Funny". The FM radio show concluded on January 26, 2024, after Jones was given notice a day in advance of its cancellation after being on the air since 2014.

In 2022, Siddiq performed an hour-long special on Epix series Unprotected Sets on the fourth episode of the third season which aired on February 25, and released his next special Domino Effect on YouTube on May 19. He appeared on HBO variety show Pause with Sam Jay on the second episode of the third season which aired on June 3, guest-starred on Showtime series Flatbush Misdemeanors on the second episode of the second season which aired on June 26, and appeared on the Dark Side of Comedy on the fifth episode of the first season which aired on Vice TV on September 13.

Siddiq performed on the second episode of DL Hughley's Speakeasy, a three-part stand-up comedy series, which released on Hitkor in early 2023. He appeared on Vice News and The Marshall Project's documentary series Inside Story on its seventh episode "The Rise of Life-Without-Parole Sentences" which released on March 16. He released his special Domino Effect 2: Loss on YouTube on June 4.

In a July 2023 interview, Siddiq revealed he had recorded two comedy albums, The Missing Piece and Dope Without Association. He released his comedy special Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover on YouTube on November 20, and appeared in the feature film This Christmas Chance which released on December 10.

In 2024, he released his special Domino Effect 3 on Moment.co on March 10, before uploading it on YouTube on May 11. Siddiq released his special Domino Effect 4 on Moment.co on April 18, before uploading it on YouTube on June 15. Both specials were shortlisted for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) on June 24 but failed to be nominated. On July 9, Siddiq announced he would be recording his next two TV specials My Two Sons and I'm Not Handy on October 5 and 6, respectively.

2025–present In 2025, he released his special My Two Sons on Moment.co on March 9, before uploading it on YouTube on May 11. Siddiq released his special Rugged on March 26, before uploading it on YouTube on June 15. He filmed his next two specials in Detroit. Ali Siddiq graced the cover of Sheen magazine for its September–October issue, becoming the first male comedian to do so. Siddiq participated at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, which spanned September 26 to October 9, an event Human Rights Watch characterized as an effort by Saudi Arabia's government to whitewash its human rights abuses.

In 2026, Siddiq's special My Two Sons was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Variety – Series or Special on January 12, becoming the first independently produced stand-up comedy special to do so, which he won on February 22. He released his special My Father on his official website on March 22, before uploading it on YouTube on June 22.

Influences Siddiq had described watching Carol Burnett, Rodney Dangerfield, Don Rickles, Benny Hill, Phyllis Diller, Bill Cosby, Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor growing up. He also watched Hee Haw, Diff'rent Strokes, Sanford and Son, Good Times and The Cosby Show as a child, and credits Def Comedy Jam as giving him "the drive to start" doing stand-up comedy.

Siddiq's stand-up comedy tends to be in the storytelling style, versus the more common setup/punch-line style. Siddiq's sets involve stories from his personal life, as well his observations on current events, sociopolitics, and race.

Filmography and discography Stand-up comedy releases +Solo albums and TV specials Title Release date Debut medium Talking Loud Saying Something May 22, 2010 Audio streaming Freedom of Speech August 5, 2013 Audio CD Enjoy Your Life August 18, 2013 Damaged Goods September 16, 2016 Audio streaming The Half Hour: Ali Siddiq September 16, 2016 Television (Comedy Central) It's Bigger Than These Bars February 23, 2018 The Prison Manual September 20, 2019 Audio streaming Unprotected Sets: Ali Siddiq February 25, 2022 Television (Epix) Domino Effect May 19, 2022 Streaming TV (YouTube) Domino Effect 2: Loss June 4, 2023 Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover November 20, 2023 Domino Effect 3: First Day of School March 10, 2024 Streaming TV (Moment.co) Domino Effect 4: Pins & Needles April 18, 2024 My Two Sons March 9, 2025 Rugged March 26, 2025 Mondays December 21, 2025 Streaming TV (YouTube) My Father March 22, 2026 Streaming TV

+Collaborative albums and TV specials Title Release date Debut medium Bill Bellamy's Ladies Night Out Tour February 22, 2013 Television (Showtime) Centric Comedy All-Stars 2014 March 15, 2014 Television (Centric) Just For Laughs: Premium – Volume 11 November 23, 2018 Audio streaming Comedy in Color 3: Volume 5 July 22, 2022 The Jive Turkeys: 20th Anniversary Special May 10, 2026 Streaming TV (YouTube)

Acting cameos +Television, film, and music videos Year Title Note Ref. 1999 4 Deep Film; Re-released as Death of a G in 2006. 2005 "Back Then" Music videos for Who is Mike Jones? "Flossin" 2006 "Chunk Up the Deuce" Music video for Minor Setback for the Major Comeback 2019 The Workout Room Film 2022 Pause with Sam Jay Episode: "I Know Why The Caged Homie Sings" Flatbush Misdemeanors Episode: "Obiageli" 2023 This Christmas Chance Film