4 The Hard Way with Cedric the Entertainer

Cedric the Entertainer had to think on his feet for “4 Hard Way,” a rapid-fire segment built to catch guests off guard. Cedric handled every question with the timing that made him a comedy fixture.

What is The Blackest Thing You Own?

“Oh, straight in,” Cedric said, before giving an answer many listeners would recognize from their own bathroom shelves. “I got some Murray’s grease and a wave cap.”

Asked what it came in, he answered with one word: “A kit.”

For generations of Black men, Murray’s pomade and a wave cap have been part of the grooming routine, and the answer landed immediately. The conversation also drifted to another cultural staple: the torn-out “Beauty of the Week” from Good Times, which one mother apparently kept on hand.

A Cigar Fit for a King

Cedric and Hughley are both known cigar smokers, so the talk turned to their best smoking experiences. Cedric pointed to the El Septimo, a brand he said was “curated from the old king of Saudi Arabia.”

“Very special cigar,” he added. The studio responded with jokes, including one comparison to “smoke in a mortuary.”

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The Hat Rivalry

The liveliest exchange came when the hosts asked whose hat collection was better. Both men are known for their headwear, and the rivalry started before the microphones went on.

Cedric admitted that he went backstage ready to compete, then saw Hughley’s selection. “I said, foiled again,” he joked.

He also shared a detail from his arrival. “I got a memo about my hat on the way in,” he said. The message was simple: “No wide brim hats.”

The two eventually traded compliments, though neither fully gave up the title.

Dr. Cedric

The segment closed with a pointed question about Cedric’s honorary doctorate from Lincoln University of Missouri. With college admissions scandals in the news, the hosts asked how much he paid for it.

“Gave them a couple of cigars,” Cedric said.

He then explained the real story. Both of his parents attended Lincoln University, a historically Black institution, which made the honor personal. “As a legacy thing, they wanted to just do that,” he said. “That was pretty cool.”