Nick Cannon
Nick Cannon
This isn’t the record you’d expect from teen actor Nick Cannon. It’s more Justin Timberlake than it is Bow Wow, more Fabolous than it is B2K.
Cannon’s a competent MC, but he’s still a beginner and it’s his guest MCs and producers who make this debut bump. R. Kelly represents as both a producer and collaborator throughout, and although his B2K collab “Feelin’ Freaky” comes off as immature and lackluster, Kelly’s Warren G.-esque “Gigolo” leads the disc on the radio and is a veritable Hpnotiq-downin’ hit. The Diddy ballad “Whenever You Need Me” is solid, Mary J. Blige-rooted R&B, but “I Used To Be in Love,” which features Joe, is a more soulful jaunt. Take away: Best guests.
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale (cdipasquale@tribune.com) and Joe Knowles (jknowles@tribune.com)
