Nick Cannon

Performer: Nick Cannon
Artist: Ying Yang Twins; B2K; R. Kelly; Mary J. Blige; Joe; Nivea; Biz Markie; Fatman Scoop
Engineer: Ryan West; Rowie Nameri; Mischke; James Earl Jones III; Chris Carroll; Gimel Keaton; Joe Warlick; Charles McCrorey; Jeff Vereb; Abel Garibaldi; Mark Nathan; Pat Dillett; Sam Thomas; Slam; Steve Bearsley; Andy Gallas; Ian Mereness; Brian Garten
Distributor: BMG (distributor)

Notes: Personnel: Nick Cannon, Biz Markie, Ying Yang Twins, Fatman Scoop (rap vocals); Mario Winans (various instruments); Donnie Lyle (guitar); Abdel Garibaldi (programming); Mary J. Blige, Joe, R. Kelly (background vocals). Producers include: Just Blaze, R. Kelly, Tone, Poke, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. Personnel: Tim Terry, R. Kelly (vocals); Donnie Lyle, Charlie "C Roc" Harrison (guitar); Abel Garibaldi, Andy Gallas, Ian Mereness (programming); Mayhem (scratches). Audio Mixers: Jason Goldstein; Gimel Keaton; Rob Paustian; Kevin Crouse; R. Kelly; Sean "Puffy" Combs; Serban Ghenea; Caleb Shreve. Recording information: B3 Records, St. Petersburg, FL; Battery Studios, New York, NY; Can-I-Ball Studios, Santee, CA; Daddy's House, New York, NY; Hit Factory Criteria, Miami, FL; Larrabee North, North Hollywood, CA; Mad Dogg Studios, North Hollywood, CA; Right Track Recording, New York, NY; Sony Music Studios, New York, NY; Studio 9, New York, NY; The Chocolate Factory, Chicago, IL; ZAC Studios, Atlanta, GA. Arrangers: Tone & Poke; R. Kelly. Halfway into his self-titled debut, this young star of TV (The Nick Cannon Show) and film (Drumline) seems on pace to deliver not just a respectable solo debut, but an exceptional one. However, as the latter half of the album plays out, it becomes increasingly apparent that the priority in track sequencing was loading the front with the heaviest hitters -- and as the big-name songwriters and collaborators vanish, so do the hot songs. The album certainly couldn't have started any better: "Get Crunk Shorty," featuring the Ying Yang Twins and Fatman Scoop, is a supremely punchy opener produced by Just Blaze. Like Blaze's work on Freeway's "Flipside," the arrangement is wholly adaptable to a marching band, making for a sly reference to Drumline. (This works a whole lot better than you'd think.) The strutting "Gigolo," written and produced by R. Kelly, is still the biggest track here, with Kelly delivering yet another instantly memorable chorus to support Cannon's verses. Trackmasters, Guru, and P. Diddy (who brings Mary J. Blige along) also help make the first half of the album addictive. But from there, the album unsurprisingly takes a significant dip, showing that Cannon -- for the time being, at least -- needs all-star support. As an MC, he has all the charisma necessary to be a venerable pop-rapper, but it's going to be a while before he can be in complete control. ~ Andy Kellman The multi-talented Nick Cannon first became known as an actor in films and TV, appearing in DRUMLINE, LOVE DON'T COST A THING, and even his own NICK CANNON SHOW. Somehow, in between acting jobs, he found the time to record a hip-hop album. Despite his camera-friendly image, Cannon clearly has aspirations to be more than just another Will Smith nice-guy rapper. Things get off to a roaring start with the in-your-face track "Get Crunk Shorty" pumping things up (with help from Ying Yang Twins). Throughout the album, Cannon takes a surprisingly hard lyrical stance, frequently proclaiming himself a "gigolo" and a "pimp." On the naggingly catchy "You," Cannon shows his musical roots by making lyrical references to the Grandmaster Flash/Furious Five classic "The Message" and De La Soul's "Me, Myself & I," but doesn't go down the socio-political road of those songs. Naturally, being a film and TV star, Cannon lined up guest-shots aplenty for his debut, including star turns by Mary J. Blige and R. Kelly, but, to his credit, these icons do not outshine him.

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