Rejection rarely leads to stardom, yet comedian Drew "Druski" Desbordes turned it into rocket fuel. According to the 2025 Forbes Top Creators list, the 29‑year‑old heads 4lifers Entertainment, a $14 million machine followed by more than 20 million fans on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
"We tried too early on to push our stuff out there to the bigger people — like the ones you mentioned [Netflix and Amazon]. It quickly turned into a ‘no,'…," Desbordes told AfroTech recently while unveiling a unveil his "Style in Session" back‑to‑school campaign with street‑wear retailer SNIPES. That setback sparked his self‑funded path into comedy fame.
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Rejections Turn Into Fuel
Rejection by two entertainment giants pushed Desbordes to bet on himself. He bought ring lights, hired three friends, and started filming daily parodies that spoofed talent‑show auditions. Short clips shot on his mother's sofa drew millions of views, turning disbelief into hype.
Momentum then put Desbordes at No. 9 on this year's Forbes list, edging out bigger studios with a 5.8 % engagement rate. Canadian rapper Drake followed the hype, casting him in the "Laugh Now Cry Later" video—an appearance Desbordes called "life‑changing."
Homemade Skits Build Loyal Base
The first sketches took shape in that same living room. The comedian propped an iPhone against picture frames and cracked jokes until friends laughed.
During lockdown, he debuted with "Coulda Been Records," a live parody label that let viewers judge wannabe stars from home. Audience numbers soared, and the nightly streams became must-see viewing.
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Nicole Quinn of Lightspeed Venture Partners soon suggested adding merchandise, and sponsors began testing short ads in the show. One rule never changed: Desbordes kept full ownership, insisting that every choice remain "in the jokes, not the boardroom."
From Viral Skits to Global Stages
Digital demand pushed Desbordes from the screen to the stage. Druski has announced his first-ever international arena tour, the "Coulda Fest Tour," launching in September at London's OVO Arena Wembley. He will later visit major North American venues in Toronto, Detroit, Washington, New York, Houston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
The global run blends comedy sketches, live music performances, and surprise guests—ranging from rappers BigXthaPlug and Soulja Boy to hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg.
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Big Screen And Business Vision
The Hollywood Reporter reported this month that "The Diggers," a feature film co-produced by 4lifers Entertainment, is now in development. Dunkin' has also featured Desbordes in this year's "DunKings 2" Super Bowl campaign, a two-minute mini-film with actors like Ben Affleck and Jeremy Strong.
Druski studies Adam Sandler's "Happy Madison" model—owning a production company and securing film deals under Netflix's multi‑picture agreement . He also examines Kevin Hart's "HARTBEAT" blueprint—merging comedy and production into a studio supported by $100 million from Abry Partners
But Druski is taking a different route. He told Business Insider that he finances and self‑funds his own projects, earning online, touring offline, investing where he controls risk and reward.
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