When it comes to celebrity impressions, there are few more gifted or versatile than Jay Pharaoh and Jamie Foxx. Both men have plied their trade as stand-up comedians and has actors on sketch shows where they were called upon to play different characters on the regular, frequently caricatures of famous folks, especially names from the hip-hop industry. To the delight of the in-studio audience and everyone watching on their TV's, both Pharaoh and Foxx put those gifts to good use on a recent episode of Ellen, where they helped to raise money for a good cause with each completed impression.
The concept was pairing well-known personalities and putting them into a scenario that they probably wouldn't find themselves in together. For example, Pharaoh and Foxx became Barack Obama and Beyoncé at a nude beach (for what it's worth, I also don't think that anyone can say no to the "Presidential package") or Ryan Seacrest and Pharrell on a haunted hayride. As fun as those were, the crowning moments of the comedy bit were undoubtedly Pharaoh's deft impressions of Jay-Z and Kanye West, with the latter being exceptionally funny. Once again, he's not wrong: there's no way you're getting Yeezy into a Ford Focus. You can watch the segment in its entirety below.
The added bonus of the impressions was the fact that, for each one they got through successfully, Cheerios would pledge $1000 towards Jamie Foxx's hurricane relief efforts, which have already helped better the lives of many people who are still reeling from the destruction left by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. After getting the total rounded up by Ellen herself, a total of $20,000 went towards those in need, which is another incredible gesture on behalf of the show and, by association, Foxx's organization that is helping disperse the funds. Also, Ellen was impressed by Pharoah's dexterity when it came to hopping from impression to impression, something that he has been known for over the course of his career, which included a stint on Saturday Night Live. For those unfamiliar with his work, check out the following appearance on Shade 45's Sway In The Morning, where he impersonates Drake, Meek Mill, Nicki Minaj and host Sway:
