Cipha Sounds
Cipha Sounds
Cipha Sounds got his start carrying crates and opening for Funkmaster Flex at legendary New York nightspots, the Tunnel and the Palladium. Eventually his talent for song selection and infectious personality brought him to Hot 97 (New York’s #1 Hip Hop station), where he moved up the ranks—from Flex’s intern, to running his own show “Cipha Saturdays,” and finally to hosting the coveted morning spot. During his 17 years at Hot 97, and as a host for Eminem’s Shade 45 on SiriusXM, he helped launch the careers of Rihanna, Rick Ross, 50 Cent, and Sean Paul. His keen ear also led him to work as an A&R executive for Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Fella and Pharrell Williams’ Star Trak record labels. Jay-Z, Rihanna, J.Lo, Mariah Carey, Lil Kim, and Yasiin Bey (fka Mos Def) are just a few artists he’s worked with as a live DJ.
Whether on the radio, as a VJ for MTV, or as a live DJ, Cipha always maintained a sharp sense of humor on the mic. He first emerged on the comedy scene as the official DJ for Chappelle’s Show and has worked with the eponymous host ever since. Despite persistent encouragement from Dave to pursue comedy, it wasn’t until well after the iconic series ended—when Cipha attended his first improv show—that he was fully inspired towards a career in comedy.
He came up studying improv at the original UCB while practicing stand-up throughout NY. He created the critically acclaimed UCB show Take It Personal – The Hip Hop Improv Show, which featured guests like Questlove, Zoe Kravitz, Donald Glover, 2 Chainz, and Fat Joe. He went from being a regular DJ at SNL afterparties to opening for Michael Che on international tours, appearing in his Netflix special and in That Damn Michael Che for Max. Ciph is known for hosting the TruTV series Laff Mobb Laff Tracks and more recently garnered critical acclaim as the host of A&E’s Hip Hop Treasures alongside producer LL Cool J. His earlier on-screen work includes a small role in Spike Lee’s 25th Hour and Wild-N-Out, which he served on as a consulting producer.
When not traveling the world to do stand-up with Chappelle, Che, Michelle Wolf, Mo Amer, Ronny Chieng, and others, you can catch him at New York’s Comedy Cellar or headlining celebrated clubs around the country. You can listen to him Monday through Friday on New York’s 94.7 The Block and on the beloved Hip Hop podcast Juan EP Is Life (with Hot 97 and ESPN’s Peter Rosenberg). In 2023, Cipha became a key player on Bert Kreischer’s long-running Fully Loaded Festival Tour. He also performed at SXSW, New York Comedy Festival, and Just For Laughs.
Throughout Cipha Sounds’ many career turns, two elements have remained at the fore: comedy and hip-hop, his two biggest passions. On the radio, as a VJ for MTV, and as a Live DJ, he has always maintained a sharp sense of humor on the mic. He combined both fields as the official DJ for Comedy Central’s Chapelle’s Show, and has continued to work with Dave Chappelle ever since, joining him on tours as a DJ and opening comedian. He has been a regular DJ at Saturday Night Live after parties, and appeared in Michael Che’s Netflix Special. He is now Che’s go-to DJ and opening act on the road. Cipha provides an essential link between music and comedy in New York and beyond. He performs standup comedy at clubs around the city, including the legendary Comedy Cellar, ands hosts “Take it Personal – The Hip Hop Improv Show." Take it Personal has featured many celebrity guests, including Questlove, DJ Premier, The Wu-Tang Clan, Zoe Kravitz, Donald Glover, and 2Chainz.
All sales are final. Refunds and exchanges are offered only when a show is canceled or rescheduled.
Admission Policies
- Patrons must be 18 or older to attend events or classes at the DC Improv. Any exceptions are clearly noted in the event descriptions.
- There is a two-item minimum per customer. This can be any combination of food items or beverages. Bottled water and soft drinks count as items. (The two-item minimum does not apply to comedy classes.)
- Coupons or passes for free admission cannot be used for a show listed as a "special event."
Seating Policies
- All shows in our lounge showroom are seated by time of arrival. The earlier you arrive, the more options you'll have. Please note that the size of your party can affect what options are available to you, as certain tables and areas are designated for larger parties.
- If your party does not fill an entire table, you may be sharing a table with other patrons.
Cipha Sounds got his start carrying crates and opening for Funkmaster Flex at legendary New York nightspots, the Tunnel and the Palladium. Eventually his talent for song selection and infectious personality brought him to Hot 97 (New York’s #1 Hip Hop station), where he moved up the ranks—from Flex’s intern, to running his own show “Cipha Saturdays,” and finally to hosting the coveted morning spot. During his 17 years at Hot 97, and as a host for Eminem’s Shade 45 on SiriusXM, he helped launch the careers of Rihanna, Rick Ross, 50 Cent, and Sean Paul. His keen ear also led him to work as an A&R executive for Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Fella and Pharrell Williams’ Star Trak record labels. Jay-Z, Rihanna, J.Lo, Mariah Carey, Lil Kim, and Yasiin Bey (fka Mos Def) are just a few artists he’s worked with as a live DJ.
Whether on the radio, as a VJ for MTV, or as a live DJ, Cipha always maintained a sharp sense of humor on the mic. He first emerged on the comedy scene as the official DJ for Chappelle’s Show and has worked with the eponymous host ever since. Despite persistent encouragement from Dave to pursue comedy, it wasn’t until well after the iconic series ended—when Cipha attended his first improv show—that he was fully inspired towards a career in comedy.
He came up studying improv at the original UCB while practicing stand-up throughout NY. He created the critically acclaimed UCB show Take It Personal – The Hip Hop Improv Show, which featured guests like Questlove, Zoe Kravitz, Donald Glover, 2 Chainz, and Fat Joe. He went from being a regular DJ at SNL afterparties to opening for Michael Che on international tours, appearing in his Netflix special and in That Damn Michael Che for Max. Ciph is known for hosting the TruTV series Laff Mobb Laff Tracks and more recently garnered critical acclaim as the host of A&E’s Hip Hop Treasures alongside producer LL Cool J. His earlier on-screen work includes a small role in Spike Lee’s 25th Hour and Wild-N-Out, which he served on as a consulting producer.
When not traveling the world to do stand-up with Chappelle, Che, Michelle Wolf, Mo Amer, Ronny Chieng, and others, you can catch him at New York’s Comedy Cellar or headlining celebrated clubs around the country. You can listen to him Monday through Friday on New York’s 94.7 The Block and on the beloved Hip Hop podcast Juan EP Is Life (with Hot 97 and ESPN’s Peter Rosenberg). In 2023, Cipha became a key player on Bert Kreischer’s long-running Fully Loaded Festival Tour. He also performed at SXSW, New York Comedy Festival, and Just For Laughs.