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Star Spotlight
26-year-old Nick Cannon started his career as a writer for Nickelodeon's comedy team Kenan & Kel. But it wasn't long before he made his mark—this time as a cast member—on another Nickelodeon show: All That. Next came The Nick Cannon Show, and feature films including Drumline, Love Don't Cost A Thing, and Underclassmen. Today, he has two shows on MTV, Nick Cannon Presents: Short Circuitz and Nick Cannon Presents: Wild N' Out, and just bought a clothing company for which he is the head designer. We recently sat down with this busy star. Here's what he told us:
Q & A
Q:
Of all the things you do, you seem most proud of being a businessman. At what point in your career did you discover your entrepreneurial interests?
Nick Cannon: I started out as a stand-up comedian, where you have to be your own businessman. You have to go out there and promote yourself, write your own material, and book yourself at venues, so that gave me an independent mindset. And I've tried to take control of every project that I've done since then.
Q:
What would your advice be to teens who are thinking about a career in this industry? How should they prepare for it?
Nick: Don't wait for someone else to make things happen for you. Make it happen for yourself.
Q:
Was math one of your favorite subjects in school?
Nick: I love math! Math is always cool—because it makes sense.
Q:
Tell us about your clothing line.
Nick: The line is called PNB Nation. I am the head designer of the line. It's just a passion of mine. I always thought fashion was really fun.
Q:
What other projects are you working on right now?
Nick: I still have an MTV show Wild N' Out that I created. And I created another show for MTV called Short Circuitz, a sketch comedy show. I have a few other films that will be out next year, and my music label too.
Q:
If there was one person in history that you could meet and talk to, who would it be?
Nick: Probably Dr. King. They just did a memorial groundbreaking for him in Washington, D.C., and his impact on history is amazing.
Q:
What advice would you give to kids about writing and songwriting?
Nick: Just get all of your ideas down. To me, writing is therapy and a way to clear your mind and step into a different world.
Q:
Which writer do you most admire?
Nick: Maya Angelou.
Q:
Do you remember the name of the very first song that you wrote?
Nick: It was called "Cars" and I was eight. I just wanted to write about cool cars that I had seen around the neighborhood.
Q:
What would you most want kids to know about you?
Nick: I'm just a regular guy who enjoys having fun and doing things in a positive way.
—Interview by Marie Morreale
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Nick Cannon
(Photo: Fred Hayes/Wire Image)
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STAR STATS
Star Calendar
April 5, 2007
MTV’s Nick Cannon Presents: Short Circuitz premieres
June 2007
The fourth season of MTV's Nick Cannon Presents: Wild N' Out begins
Star Stats
Name: Nicholas Scott Cannon
Birthday: October 8, 1980
Birthplace: San Diego, California
Star Faves
Music: Rap
Entrepreneurs: Jay-Z and Russell Simmons
Car: Rolls Royce
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