S. Samuel
In light of his Mr. Showbiz stand-up comedy special airing recently, SOHH recently hit up actor/rapper Nick Cannon to get his take on hip-hop's hidden funny bone.
From Cannon’s perspective, artists should embrace their lighter side more often.
“This is really entertainment, what happened to when we were having fun in hip-hop,” Cannon asked SOHH. “If I can wave that flag like, ‘I’m that dude that can have fun in hip-hop,’ then I don’t mind being the corny dude. I have no problems with that. I’ve accomplished everything I’ve wanted to do by having a good time and doing it with a smile. So, I’m just trying to give people an alternative.” (SOHH)
Cannon also credited rap veterans like Slick Rick and Will Smith for having fun with their music.
“All I can be is me, I can’t really do nothing else,” Cannon added. “That’s kinda how I grew up. That’s how I was influenced. I was influenced by Eddie Murphy and Run-DMC at the same time. And that’s kind of how I always came up. Digital Underground was one of my favorite rap groups and I was a fan of DJ Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith [as well as] Slick Rick. Those are the people that were having fun in hip-hop. Being someone that’s a stand-up comic and someone that’s been in the music game for a minute, I just feel like I’m just doing me. I’m putting together the things I know how to do. When you think about it, comedy and hip-hop are the same. It’s just different forms of urban expression.” (SOHH)
Recently, Flipmode Squad leader Busta Rhymes talked to SOHH about always incorporating comedic elements within his music.
“With every one of my albums, I’ve always had some sort of comedy element,” Busta told SOHH. “I’ve had [comedian] Dolemite on my previous albums, Mike Epps and now Chris Rock. I’ve always incorporated that as a balance because sometimes I deal with subject matter that’s a little deep so I feel that balance [is needed].” (SOHH)
Outside of jokes, Cannon and his wife, singer Mariah Carey welcomed twins last April.
It’s official — Mimi is now a mama! Mariah Carey gave birth to twins – a boy and a girl – on Saturday. The 41-year-old singing superstar gave birth at 12:07 p.m. EDT at an undisclosed hospital in Los Angeles, Mariah’s rep, Cindi Berger, told the Associated Press. Nick and Mariah’s baby girl was reportedly born first, weighing 5 pounds, 3 ounces, and was 18 inches long; while her brother was next, at 5 pounds 6 ounces, and was 19 inches. The twins coincidentally arrived on the couple’s fourth wedding anniversary. (Access Hollywood)
Check out Nick Cannon’s “Mr. Showbiz” below:
