Eddie Murphy is reflecting on his career and the evolution of the comedy industry since his arrival on the scene. The illustrious actor, 63, became a force to be reckoned with in the 1980s as a stand-up comedian, standing on the shoulders of iconic acts like Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby, Red Fox, and Flip Wilson. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Murphy faced a challenging upbringing after his mother fell ill and him living in foster care for a year. Despite these hardships, he found solace and inspiration in comedy, often performing in local clubs during his teenage years.

Throughout his career, which spans nearly 50 years, Murphy acknowledges how much the genre has changed since his entrance when there “might have been 10 Black comics in all the country.”

“The biggest change is that when I started doing stand up, stand up was still like a fringe occupation,” he exclusively told BET during a press event for his new film, “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.” 

“And even in show business, it wasn't like becoming a singer or an actor. When I started, [it] was like being a magician or a juggler. It was like a fringe vocation, and now it's mainstream.” 

“Comedy is a big, giant multi-billion dollar business,” he added.

The award-winning star also discussed cancel culture's effect in the comedy world. The way Murphy sees it, that which is funny, is sustainable.

“I don't think the woke, cancel culture has anything to do with whether or not something is funny, and ultimately, comedy is either funny or it's not.”

“And I don't think anyone is going to get canceled because they said something that was funny. Usually, the things that people say that ruffle somebody's feathers and start controversial things are really, really not funny. It's like they said something that was edgy, and a couple of people might laugh at them. But something that is really funny, it is what it is.

For that reason, he believes, “No one's canceling funny. You want more. You don't cancel it. You turn it up.”

Murphy is reprising his role as Axel Foley in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise's fourth installment, “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.,” and of the cop detective film, Murphy says he and his character are opposites.

“I’m nothing like Axel. Axel, only has one child, and he's estranged from the one child that he has. I have 10, and have wonderful relationships with all,” he explained. “I'm not like any of the characters that I play,” he quipped.

“I play mostly extroverts on screen, and I'm an introverted guy.”

In the film, one of Murphy’s daughters, Bria Murphy, 34, makes a cameo as an officer who arrests him after he is caught driving recklessly within the famous outdoor shopping plaza, Rodeo Drive.

“Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,” can be streamed on Netflix on July 3rd.