Ali Siddiq possesses a rare and hard-won trait among comedians: wisdom. The 52-year-old Houston native started comedy in 1997, less than two months after serving a six-year prison sentence, after his life of drug dealing caught up with him. A master storyteller with a comforting rasp, you might remember his poignant and humorous story about a prison riot that went viral on YouTube. With a keen voice and sharp observational skills, Siddiq can talk about anything and bring it to life in vivid, comedic detail. – Joseph Gonzalez
