Nick Cannon

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Lore & Background

Cannon's journey began in the gang-ridden Lincoln Park area of Southeast San Diego, where he was raised largely by his paternal grandfather. He left behind his affiliations with the Lincoln Park Bloods after losing a close friend during his teenage years. His first break came through stand-up comedy on his father's local cable public access TV program. As a teenager, he performed as one-third of the rap group 'Da G4 Dope Bomb Squad,' opening for acts like Will Smith and 98 Degrees. In 2001, he signed with Jive Records, releasing his debut album in 2003 which included the single 'Your Pops Don't Like Me.' His 2003 single 'Gigolo,' featuring R. Kelly, peaked within the top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100. He later formed Can-I-Ball Records in 2005 to release his second album, 'Stages,' which was shelved due to his acting career. In 2009, he established NCredible Entertainment, releasing the mixtape 'Child of the Corn' in 2011 and the album 'White People Party Music' in 2014.

In Their Own Story

In 2005, Cannon created, produced, and hosted the MTV improv comedy series 'Wild 'n Out.' That same year, he hosted a slime stunt on Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards where a human cannonball was shot into slime. He also served as the DJ on Ellen DeGeneres's 'Bigger, Longer, And Wider' show. On December 11, 2009, he hosted the Nickelodeon HALO Awards alongside Justin Timberlake and LeBron James. His career expanded to hosting 'America's Got Talent' from 2009 to 2016, where he eventually cited creative differences with NBC executives regarding his Showtime special 'Stand Up, Don't Shoot.' He was replaced by Tyra Banks. In 2013, 'Wild 'n Out' returned on MTV2, achieving the highest ratings in network history for Season 5. Cannon also hosted 'The Masked Singer,' testing positive for COVID-19 on February 3, 2021, which led to Niecy Nash temporarily filling in; Cannon later returned as a wild card contestant unmasked as 'Bulldog.'

Reader's Guide

Cannon's professional evolution is defined by his transition from music to television dominance. After forming NCredible Entertainment in 2009, he launched the parody character 'Slick Nick' and released the mixtape 'Child of the Corn' on December 6, 2011. His hosting portfolio includes 'Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon' on NBC (2014) and his own syndicated daytime talk show 'Nick Cannon,' which premiered on September 27, 2021, before being canceled in March 2022. In the business realm, he served as chairman of TeenNick in 2009 and was named Chief Creative Officer of RadioShack in December 2015 to launch the NCredible line of electronics. His radio career includes hosting 'Cannon's Countdown' syndicated by CBS Radio and currently hosting 'Nick Cannon Mornings' at Power 106 in Los Angeles, replacing J. Cruz. He also released 'The Invitation,' an Eminem diss track featuring Suge Knight on December 9, 2019.

Did You Know?

• Cannon was affiliated with the Lincoln Park Bloods street gang during his teenage years but left after losing a close friend.
• He graduated from Monte Vista High School in Spring Valley, California, in 1998, where he was president of the African Student Coalition.
• His 2003 single 'Gigolo' featuring R. Kelly peaked within the top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100.
• Cannon hosted the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4, 2011.
• In February 2021, he returned to hosting 'The Masked Singer' after competing as a wild card contestant unmasked as 'Bulldog'.

Developmental Journey

Cannon's music career developed alongside his acting and hosting roles. Following the shelving of 'Stages' in 2005 due to his acting commitments, he formed NCredible Entertainment in 2009. He released 'White People Party Music' on July 26, 2013, featuring collaborations with Afrojack, Pitbull, Future, and Polow da Don. The album's second single, 'Looking for a Dream,' featuring Afrojack, was released on February 11, 2014. He also released his second mixtape, 'The Gospel of Ike Turn Up: My Side of the Story,' on November 16, 2016, preceded by the music video for 'If I Was Your Man' on November 7.

Commercial Performance

Cannon's commercial success is highlighted by his 2003 single 'Gigolo,' which reached the top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100. His self-titled debut studio album was released in 2003, followed by the second studio album 'White People Party Music' in 2014 via his own NCredible Entertainment label. In terms of television ratings, Season 5 of 'Wild 'n Out,' which premiered on July 9, 2013, achieved the highest ratings in MTV2 history at that time.

Artistic Identity and Title

Cannon's artistic identity spans multiple genres and personas. He created the parody character 'Slick Nick' in 2010, releasing songs like 'I'm a Slick Rick,' which attempted to diss Eminem. His album 'White People Party Music' reflected a shift toward party-oriented themes with specific collaborations. In his later career, he adopted a more confrontational stance in music, releasing the diss track 'The Invitation' on December 9, 2019, featuring Suge Knight and rappers Hitman Holla, Charlie Clips, and Prince Eazy.

Label Transition and Legacy

Cannon has managed his own career through various label ventures. He signed with Jive Records in 2001 for his debut but later formed Can-I-Ball Records in 2005 before cancelling it to form NCredible Entertainment in 2009. His legacy includes hosting iconic shows like 'America's Got Talent' and creating 'Wild 'n Out,' which ran for multiple seasons on MTV2 starting with its revival in 2013. He also maintained a presence in radio, currently hosting at Power 106 after replacing J. Cruz.