Wait. Surely that can’t be the same Nick Cannon from Nickelodeon — the one who comes across as a nice, polite, and somewhat goofy young man.
And yes, it was the very same Nick Cannon — still nice, still polite, and still slightly goofy. But there was no mistaking the look in Cannon’s eyes that suggested that his success wasn’t some stroke of luck. It was a look that confirmed that hard work and resilience had sustained him since the early years and led to his current status as one of Hollywood’s most successful black men.
During his time with rolling out, a variety of topics were covered — ranging from his desire to be respected by his peers, to his constant battles with the media over his wife of two years, Mariah Carey. Here’s Nick Cannon — uncut.
You have quietly been making some major moves, and in the process earning respect from your peers. Are there specific actions you can point to that have earned you this clout?
I’m still earning clout daily, so I’m not sure. In this game, you constantly have to prove yourself. But I definitely have a couple of notches on my belt for various things; whether it’s movies like Drumline or Bobby, or me creating and producing a show like “Wild’n Out” and a couple of other shows. But I would definitely have to say that my work in television and being the youngest chairman in television history with my own network [have] helped. So those are a few things that give me clout, but I’m still working on earning respect from my peers.
Tell us about your current musical pursuits as both an artist and a businessman.
When it comes to music, I’m kind of taking a back seat when it comes to being an entertainer. I’m more into producing, and I have a record label that has various acts called Incredible Entertainment. So I’ve been more in the role of producer and executive producer working with various acts, whether it’s artists or writers … I have a bunch of people signed up under me right now, so that’s where I’m at when it comes to the music.
How do you maintain your squeaky clean image without succumbing to all the evils that make an entertainer ‘cool?’
At the end of the day, I’m just me. I’m not trying to be cool or squeaky clean, I’m just trying to be me. I think that people can appreciate someone that’s just trying to be real, and not putting on a front and trying to be something that they’re not. If you think I’m corny, then I’m corny. If you think I’m cool, then I’m cool. It’s just that at the end of the day, I go to sleep real comfortably being who I am.
If you were to reveal one secret to success, what would that secret be?
You have to understand that success is a journey. Success is one of those things where it’s not something that’s the end result of something. It’s a way of life, so you have to live your life successfully.
Where or to whom do you turn when you’re confused or challenged?
I turn to God more than anything, because prayer changes things. Other than that, my wife is my best friend, so we talk about any and everything … [it] always helps to have a companion that no matter what’s going on, you can always go to that person and share everything.
What role does spirituality play in your life?
Spirituality is the most important thing in my life. Being in touch with the creator is important. And of course, I come from a long line of ministers, so it’s been embedded in me from early on to always put God first. I’ve always understood that everything that has been given to me is a blessing, and to whom much is given, much is required. So I love my life … [I’m] always giving thanks for the things that have been given to me.
Does the media attention ever interfere with the harmony at home?
No, we don’t pay any attention to the media. Once we are in the confines of our home, all of that other stuff just goes out of the window.
Is the age difference ever an issue in your relationship?
When it comes to the age difference, my wife and I don’t even pay attention to that. I think at some point, everyone obviously recognizes that there is an age difference, but it’s just like anybody else’s relationship. You don’t really think about how old your spouse is when you’re dealing with them every day. We’re both on the same page and we both have a youthful spirit. … I’ve always been around people that were a lot older than me. All of my best friends are a lot older than me, and I’ve always been attracted to people that were a little more mature than myself.
Why do you think that the public is so eager to see you take on fatherhood?
I actually appreciate people wanting me to be a father. I don’t think that people understand that we have our own lives, and that we are going to do it when we want to do it, instead of when they want us to do it. But I appreciate everyone being so eager about this process between me and my wife.
As a married man, what advice would you give to guys on being faithful,
and keeping the romance alive?
Before you get married, get it all out of your system. Don’t do it until you’re ready, and make sure that the person that you’re with is worth your faithfulness and worth your time … then you won’t even have to think about doing anything because no one will be on your wife’s level. You’ll have so much love for that person that there’s no way that you can be tempted, you wouldn’t want to lose it. It’s a simple fact. If you’ve got a 1985 Nissan Sentra, when a Bentley drives by, you’re gonna want that Bentley. But if you didn’t settle, and you make sure that you’ve got your own Bentley, then you won’t even think about any other cars when they drive by.
By contrast, what advice would you give to women to keep men engaged in the relationship?
 |
| Click Here For More Photos |
If I had to give women advice — not that I know anything — but I would just say that you should strip away your man’s ego. You have to cater to who he is as a person, and understand that we’re emotional as well, and that [the] main emotion is ego. So if you can strip away that, then everything else will be good.
