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No, Burd is simply self-assured to an extreme degree.
In 2013, while still holding down his day job, he began releasing one song a week online.
Burd soon quit his job and hired a music-industry manager, pivoting to hip-hop entirely.
But I was certainly aware I had zero resume in this space.
I had no experience and didnt know what I was doing.
Its like a totally new genre.
So what qualified you to do this?My whole life, I wanted to be a comedian.
I grew up idolizing the Larry Davids, the Adam Sandlers, and the Seth Rogens of the world.
I loved TV shows.
I found that very validating.
Then how did Lil Dicky come about?I knew nobody in the entertainment industry.
I had no connections.
So I initially conceived Lil Dicky with the hope of being noticed for being funny.
I didnt necessarily even take myself seriously as a rapper.
I started rapping because I wanted people to notice my comedic sensibilities.
I realized by accident I was actually capable of being a legitimate rapper.
How confident were you as a rapper at the start?
But I feel like every rapper does actually feel that way.
That said, I was always confident, but it was not necessarily about being a rapper.
It was about being an entertainer.
The character in the show rap for him was what comedy was for me.
How do you seeDavein relation to your career as Lil Dicky?
I totally understand if someone would look at me as a rapper and have an opinion.
But I wouldnt be happy with it if it felt like an average TV show.
That would have been a huge loss.
Ive always totally believed I was capable.
And deep down I do belong there.
you’ve got the option to definitely do this.
Its like my first concert.
Before I did my first concert, Id never performed a rap in front of anybody my entire life.
And then all of a sudden I had to do a show in Philadelphia in front of 2,000 people.
And that day I had no idea what I was doing.
It was the most stressful day of my life by far and the most nervous Id ever been.
And then I went onstage and I did great.
I learned then and there,Oh, youre a natural at this.
And then I was never nervous again.
Theres not an episode I dont like.
In my mind, they range from really, really good to different levels of really good.
Ive known I was going to make a good TV show.
I dont know why I never even took that into consideration, but I didnt.
I never felt the need to do training.
But Im acting like myself.
Some people just cant do that.
You worked for years before putting out your first rap mixtape.
I dont know why I believed in myself as a rapper the way I did back then.
Because I really dont think I was making good music.
But I think my floor as a comedian was much higher than my floor was as a rapper.
Your character freestyles forYGin a recording studio … and crushes it.
[Spoilers ahead] I think its important we talk about episode three.
In fact, hes so embarrassed by it that his girlfriend has never even seen it up close.
And just do it to its full potential.
Anyone who has a deep-rooted insecurity, I think, can relate to this episode.
So, um, is this episode autobiographical?[Pauses.]
Whatever… okay, so my penis has always been a big issue for me.
Even as a child.
Theres no way to tell my lifes story without talking about my penis at some point.
Thats why my rap name is Lil Dicky.
I literally had surgeries on my penis as a child.
Ive had the most lucky, privileged life ever.
And I think my penis is probably at the root of it.
That kind of combination is who I am at my core as a person.
So thats always going to be ever present in my art.
Though theres a fine line between them being effective and frivolous.
But also every moment is so glamorous and you cant turn a corner without a beautiful woman walking by.
And I wanted to show the non-moments as opposed to just big-ticket moments.
I wanted to show the gritty reality of life.
Where does your acting career go from here?I have nothing but confidence now.
Im so absolutely confident that the general public is going to love this show.
The thought of Is this good or not?
is not even in my head.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
