The Funches of Us

Mellowed-out and soft-voiced like a stoner Mister Rogers, Ron Funches describes himself as “a large black man that giggles like an Asian princess.” On his debut album he plays that gentle role to the hilarious hilt. In “Malcolm” he likens his 12-year-old son to a shrunken gangsta rapper, then complains that they disagree on cartoons, with Dad preferring “Muppet Babies.” And in “Wear Yo’ Scarf” he uses the N-word to shame pets—and to remind gang-bangers to dress warm.