He’s in his third season as host of the #1 rated show in cable television, MTV’s Nick Cannon Presents Wild’n Out, he’s starring in three soon-to-be-released movies, the Emilio Estevez-directed RFK assassination pic Bobby, the animated film Monster House and indie release Weapons, he just bought the clothing line PNB Nation and he secured a distribution deal for his Can I Ball records through Motown/Universal, which will release his second CD, Stages soon. Looks like wild’n out has made this 25 year old some serious loot.

I overheard you saying you admire Sammy Davis, Jr. Do you see yourself as an all-around entertainer?

To me people like Sammy Davis Jr. , people who were so extremely talented were my inspiration. I wanted to always just do it all. I used to want to tap. That’s true talent. Harry Belafonte, I had a chance to sit with him recently. People who paved the way doing everything, movies, putting on phenomenal shows at the Copacabana. You had to be able to entertain. That’s what I think the game has lost because it’s become so commercialized. It’s all about making money more than being an entertainer and putting on a good show. I’m just trying to bring it back. And I think it’s a few other people that are doing it well, like Jamie Foxx, Will Smith and Queen Latifah. Those people are entertaining and broadening their horizons. So many people want to box you in or pigeonhole you, but that’s not where I want to go.

Do you like recording an album better than being on TV, or vice versa?

I like it all the same. They say it’s like choosing between your kids. You love them all the same. And even if you do love one better, you don’t tell them. It’s equal to me.

How did you get your start in show business?

I had my first demo tape when I was 8, rapping. That was the first thing I did. I was always that class clown, that silly kid. Stand up is what worked for me. We were shopping my demo at 8. But being in San Diego, we didn’t know who to give it to. Once I started doing stand up that’s when people started taking notice.

Your new album is called Stages. Why?

Stages it’s like, if you have any question about me, you can find the answer on Stages. You really get to know me off of this record. I know that sounds real cliché, but that’s the reason I named it stages- every stage of my life, every stage of my career, every stage that I’ve ever experienced in a relationship. Then it’s an analogy for all the stages that I perform on, from a comedy stage to a film stage to television stage to a music stage. I’m always on stages. Continued on page 2 »