Community Spotlight: Rawkward Is Making Room for Every Side of Himself

Rawkward doesn't fit particularly neatly into one creative category.

The Whittier based rapper, stand-up comedian, writer, and producer lives somewhere between hip-hop and comedy and that's exactly where he wants to be.

“My work lives somewhere between hip-hop and comedy, but it always starts with writing. I love punchlines, wordplay and finding interesting ways to say things, whether I’m being funny or writing from a more personal place.”

One song might be playful and ridiculous. The next might explore heartbreak, insecurity, or what it feels like to chase a creative career.

“I like making things that are fun without being afraid to get sincere, and taking the craft seriously without taking myself too seriously.”

That balance has become a defining part of Rawkward's creative identity.

From Drawing Pictures to Writing Bars

Long before the music or stand up, there was a kid with a piece of paper and a pencil.

“I’ve always needed to create something. As a kid, I was constantly drawing. I was never the kid telling my mom I was bored. I’d ask her for a piece of paper and a pencil and entertain myself.”

Hip-hop eventually changed what went onto that paper.

Rawkward grew up hearing the music his dad listened to, and discovering Eminem became a major turning point.

“At first I was fascinated by multisyllabic rhymes and how much he could make rhyme while still telling a story. I also related to how personally he wrote, so I started writing about my own life.”

“Eventually I was using that paper and pencil to write bars instead of draw pictures.”

Later, Lil Wayne's mixtape era opened another door.

The punchlines and wordplay changed the way Rawkward thought about writing and eventually created an unexpected bridge between hip-hop and another creative pursuit.

Comedy.

When They Laugh, Become a Comedian

Rawkward's explanation for how he got into stand-up is probably best left in his own words.

“The funny thing is, whenever I told people I wanted to be a rapper, they laughed. So I figured I’d play to my strengths and became a comedian too.”

Once he started performing stand up, he realized the connection between the two crafts went deeper than getting laughs.

“Once I started doing stand-up, I realized a lot of the skills I’d spent years developing as a rapper translated naturally.”

Writing. Timing. Punchlines. Performance.

Instead of forcing himself to choose between music and comedy, Rawkward began exploring what could happen when both were allowed to coexist.

Bits, Bars and Putting on a Show

Rawkward recently released two concept projects, Rawkelodeon: The Nicktape and Joker: VaudeVillain, along with She’s Really Something, a prequel EP to the latter.

Now, he's shifting more of his attention toward stand-up and live performance.

He's performing regularly, co-hosting The Gym Open Mic, and developing Bits & Bars, his concept for putting hip-hop and stand up together on the same bill.

It's also pointing toward something bigger.

“Long term, I want to build a one man show that combines my music and comedy with theatrical and variety show elements.”

For Rawkward, simply getting onstage isn't enough.

“I love the idea that a live performance can be more than somebody standing at a microphone. I want people to feel like they came to see a show.”

The Consistency Problem

Ask Rawkward about one of the hardest parts of building his creative career and he'll give you an answer many creatives will recognize.

“Consistency. Procrastination has always been a struggle for me. I have a tendency to start things and have trouble seeing them through. For example… actually, we’ll get back to that.”

There's also the problem of having another idea before you've finished the first one.

“I also have a bit of ADD. I’m easily distracted by new concepts and ideas. Speaking of new concepts and ideas… actually, we’ll get back to that too.”

The jokes land because there's something real underneath them.

Beyond procrastination and distraction, Rawkward says he's learning how to balance ambition with actually being present.

“It’s easy to get caught up thinking about where I should be by now, where I’m trying to go, or opportunities I wish I’d handled differently.”

His approach now is simpler.

“I’m learning to take the lesson, keep showing up, and focus on what I can actually do right now.”

Standing Under the Spotlight

Of everything Rawkward has created, one of the things he's proudest of isn't a song, project, or performance.

It's that he performs at all.

“I used to be the kid who was afraid to raise his hand in class, talk to people one-on-one, or give a presentation in front of the room.”

A lot of that fear came from worrying about how other people would judge him — particularly the creative things he cared about.

Performing eventually became a way to confront that fear.

“I used to hide my creativity because I was afraid people would judge it.”

Now?

“I literally stand under a spotlight and ask them to.”

That's a pretty significant transformation for someone who once hesitated to raise his hand.

The People Around Rawkward

Rawkward is also quick to recognize that a creative career isn't built alone.

“Shout out to my creative family at DeeGaf Univrse, my friends in comedy at Act Right Comedy and The Gym, everybody I’ve had the opportunity to create and collaborate with, and everyone who’s ever given me a platform or a chance.”

He also gives love to his family, supporters, and Team Rawk It.

And because this is Rawkward, even the acknowledgments need a punchline.

“And finally, shout out to the man upstairs for waking me up this morning. It’s always nice waking up to morning sex, even when I’m not the one having it. Shout out to my upstairs neighbor.”

We'll let Rawkward have the last word on that one.

Rawkward + Milk Room

Rawkward's first introduction to Milk Room wasn't through shopping.

It was through a show.

“My first experience with Milk Room was actually being at a live show outside the storefront, so before I really knew much about the brand, I knew it as a place where artists could come together and perform.”

As he learned more about Milk Room, another part of the mission connected with his own experience.

“What Milk Room means to me is making room for creatives.”

For someone who has spent years figuring out whether rapper, comedian, writer, and producer can all exist within the same creative identity, the idea of not forcing creatives into a single category matters.

“I really connect with the idea of giving independent creatives space to be seen without boxing them into one lane.”

“As someone who has spent a lot of time trying to figure out how being a rapper, comedian, writer and producer can all coexist, I appreciate any community that says they don’t have to be separate.”

Maybe that's the point.

Rawkward doesn't have to figure out whether he's a rapper or a comedian.

He's both.

And a writer.

And a producer.

And whatever he decides to make next.

Actually, we'll get back to that.

Follow Rawkward on Instagram at @dontstoptherawk and TikTok at @rawkward.