In this first episode of Creators Inc. with Matt Sandler, Nick Cannon and his longtime manager, Michael Goldman, run through their three decades together building Nick's career into one of the most durable and savvy in all of entertainment. From sneaking up to LA as a fifteen-year-old to warm up crowds at The Comedy Store and the Improv, to walking away from the biggest paychecks in network television on pure principle, Nick and Michael trace the through-line of a career built on the idea that ownership and honing instincts are non-negotiables. Together they talk about what it really means to incubate a brand from the inside out: the Wild 'N Out empire, the Masked Singer gamble that everyone said would end his career, and why watching Dave Chappelle say no to $50 million was the most important business lesson Nick ever received. Candid, hilarious and real, this is a conversation about what happens when you stop following others' playbooks and bet on your own.

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:00:16 - LA Comedy Scene In the 90s

00:03:43 - How Nick and Michael Start Working Together

00:07:00 - Nick's Detour Into Rapping

00:09:00 - Getting Drumline Audition

00:12:44 - Developing Wild 'N Out

00:15:58 - Goldman on Importance of Wild 'N Out

00:21:23 - Getting Creative with Revenue Streams

00:28:54 - The Masked Singer Gamble

00:40:44 - Standing on Principal

00:41:47 - Creating with Amazon

00:45:57 - Dream Collabs, Jealousy & Best Advice

00:47:50 - Outro