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A San Diego native, Nick Cannon began performing at eight years of age after his grandfather left him several instruments as a gift. Through what Nick Cannon recalls as " a lot of trial and failure" he recorded his first song at home on his boom box. Soon after Cannon took the stage to perform his music along with stand up comedy routines. He then founded the San Diego Based Rap Duo " Da Bomb Squad". Members were Nick and his best friend Steve Groves. The duo's hip hop grooves rocked venues such as " Billboard Live", opening for superstars such as Will Smith, Montell Jordan and LFO. Cannon's full time music career, however would have to wait as opportunities in stage and television came pouring in.

Nick Cannon headed for Hollywood when he was 16 years old and landed gigs at world renowned comedy venues including The Improv, The Laugh Factory and the Comedy Store. Cannon went on to share the stage with the likes of Chris Tucker Damon Wayons and Chris Rock. Nick landed his first television gig as a stand-up audience warm-up for the long running Nickelodeon hit show All That. Producers quickly recognized Cannon's calling was in front of the camera. He became a regular on the show as well as the co-host of Nickelodeon's All That and More Music and More (47 City tour), which featured artists such as Bewitched, Blaque, A-teens, LFO, Monica, 98 Degrees and more. Cannon's performances on Nickelodeon's Teen Nick In Concert series enjoyed audiences of over half a million fans. But it's his work as a co-host on Nickelodeons Snick House and as host of the music-based Teen Nick programing block that catapulted to him to leading man status. This path culminated in the creation of The Nick Cannon Show featuring Cannon " taking over" real life situations such as taking over family dinners with Master P and Lil Romeo, a baseball game or lunch time at a high school cafeteria. Through the show Cannon got a chance to "Mix it Up" with celebrity guests such as Eddie Murphy Britney Spears Usher, The Sopranos Joe Pantaliono and Mary J. Blige

Cannon's powerful stage presence has captivated more than just the pint sized audiences.
While he enjoyed tremendous success on Nickelodeon, Cannon has been catapulted to the big screen. He landed his first leading role in the classic feature film "Drumline." In the film he plays a talented drummer from Harlem who receives a full scholarship to a college in Atlanta. The soundtrack on Jive Records includes Nick Cannon's " I'm Scared of You." He also made a cameo appearance as an autopsy agent on " Men in Black II". Television, film and music superstar Will Smith has served as Cannon's mentor, collaborating with him on a television pilot called " Loose Cannon." "Will has been such a positive force in my life" says Cannon. " He told me I reminded him of himself when he was younger. That's the most incredible compliment anyone could ever give me!". Further following in Smith's footsteps, Nick recorded a cover of Smith's "Parents Just Don't Understand" with Lil Romeo and 3LW for the Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon feature film "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius Soundtrack". Cannon has appeared on and even guest hosted MT V's Total Request Live.

Also to add to the list of accomplishments is Nick's Show "Nick Cannon Presents Wild N Out". In one of his weekly drives from Los Angeles to San Diego where his family resides, Nick thought of the Wild n Out show in his head, took his own finances shot the show, shopped it out to various networks and behold the funny MTV Hip Hop Comedy Show Wild N out is born!

Other credits include a guest starring role on UPN's "The Parkers", "Love Don't Cost a Thing" which is a remake of the classic " Can't Buy Me Love" the 1987 James Foley directed film about an unpopular kid who hires a cheerleader to pretend she is his girlfriend in order to improve his social status.

Cannon was also the voice of Louis the Mouse in the Summer Movie " Garfield" and he shared the big screen with Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopezand Susan Sarandonin " Shall We Dance". Nickalso starred in the Feature Films "Roll Bounce" and " Underclassman" in which Cannon wrote the screen play and Executive Produced.