Nick Cannon on Mexican & White People Using the N-Word

Added: 2026-05-10

[00:00:00]And I got and I got a whole lot of smoke also. I I just want to get your insight on this because you know I was dig some wild sex.

[00:00:05]>> I was I was digging through your interviews. How do you feel about non-black people using the n-word?

[00:00:12]>> Say it with your chest like like if you can't hold it.

[00:00:14]>> Does it bother you? Does it make you feel?

[00:00:16]>> No.

[00:00:16]>> I know in San Diego they saying Mexicans out there saying.

[00:00:19]>> Yeah. That's what I'm saying. Like we all know somebody in our community that we grew up with was all the way white.

[00:00:25]They mama white, they daddy white. And that's the coolest thing to spot. You know what I mean? And because they was with us, we we didn't even know that they was white. You know what I mean?

[00:00:34]Like, but there's also there's people that just start putting on the culture and like, nah, you ain't you ain't you ain't live here like that. You ain't really, but it's some I grew up with people that they especially in like you said in California, everybody from >> Filipinos to Samoans to Mexicans, they like, "Nigga, what's up?" And you don't you ain't thinking about >> You don't even think about it like that.

[00:00:54]Well, they went too hard. We from Northern California, it's even worse.

[00:00:57]You know what I'm saying? In Northern California grew up like that now.

[00:01:00]>> Not offended by it.

[00:01:01]>> Yeah. But if I see some kid, you know, streaming or >> But if the energy ain't right and they ripping it, you might be like, "Hey, bro, that ain't you." Like, you know what I'm saying? You might be not fooling with it.

[00:01:09]>> That's like when you see, you know, all these kids now saying dead homies. Like, what?

[00:01:13]>> You ain't even got no dead homies.

[00:01:15]>> You ain't got no alive homies. Like, YOU AIN'T NEVER SAID THAT.

[00:01:19]>> You don't got no friends talking about dead homies.

[00:01:21]>> Yeah. Like, but that's like that's it's that same vibe when you just start, you know, putting on a culture that ain't yours >> and the internet has exacer exacerbated that. You know what I'm saying? Like everybody's just in everybody's from Atlanta, got an Atlanta accent now.

[00:01:33]Everybody's >> I just don't get thrown by because I feel like the word is more of a culture word versus I don't feel like when anybody that's non-black says the n-word, I don't feel like they're saying it with racial connotations.

[00:01:45]>> But you said that you could feel the difference though cuz I asked you like, "Well, there has to be a line." And you're like, "Yeah, if I don't know some white fool and he come up to me and just rip the n word and it don't roll off his tongue, right, I'mma check him about that." So, you do got a line.

[00:01:56]>> But there No, those are two different words, though.

[00:01:58]>> Like, >> no, we not talking hard. We only talking we only >> Yeah, I was about to say because there's a connotation that when they say the er, that's racist.

[00:02:06]>> I've heard the white people, you know, use both of them to get it off.

[00:02:08]>> But they think it's like, well, I can say that because I hear two completely different words.

[00:02:13]>> Hendrick saying, you know what I'm saying? So, I can get it off.

[00:02:15]>> That's like saying negro and negro. You know what I mean? Like it's like it sound >> a color ones and they're trying to try me.

[00:02:23]>> Absolutely.

[00:02:24]>> So, but I mean even with that like it don't like every concert, every festival you see when the rappers on stage and they they saying it they're all saying it. So why you feel so bothered by it?

[00:02:34]So >> but it's like if you feel like you can say it in my presence, >> then there's a little different.

[00:02:40]>> Yeah. Cuz now you're disrespecting me.

[00:02:42]>> So wait, wait, wait, wait. So it's it's not disrespectful if they say it at the concert, but if they say it in front of you, it is disrespectful.

[00:02:48]>> Absolutely. Say that's a is the same thing. If I if if I say, you know, you know, [ __ ] don't act like a you. He's singing it. What's my favorite word? But I be like, hey, your boy a [ __ ] >> Yeah, he's had a problem with you have a problem with that.

[00:03:06]>> Yeah, I do be having a problem with that.

[00:03:08]>> But that's that's the whole thing. So it's like the same way with that word.

[00:03:11]If you sing along, enjoying yourself, say that. But if you say that to me or in my presence and you don't think there ain't going to be no consequences, >> like, >> so if somebody was just walking to you be like, "Hey, my Nick," and it's a white boy that said it's like, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa."

[00:03:24]>> Yeah. Yeah. I'm I'mma tell >> big fan though.

[00:03:26]>> I'm going bring it all the way home. And I ain't going to blow this young man out, >> but it's somebody that we all know that has been on the show and when they was around us and they was feeling comfortable and they >> Oh, they pull out and it was it was some years ago. Okay. It was some years ago.

[00:03:41]>> Yeah, they going to go searching now.

[00:03:43]>> But it was like, yeah, you know, that's why. And I was like, YOU CAN'T SAY THAT.

[00:03:47]LIKE, I'M YOUR BOSS. But as a big bro, I'm trying to protect you out there.

[00:03:53]Don't do that. You're like, man, I said I'm from there. No. Like, because now maybe when y'all actually become brothers and they accept you and y'all have, >> but just being able to hear that word in my presence, you too comfortable, dog.

[00:04:06]So, where do we draw the line where non-blacks can say it? Do do we have to have like a personal relationship? Like, when can they feel comfortable?

[00:04:15]>> See, I think you're missing my point.

[00:04:17]>> Okay.

[00:04:18]>> If you like that, >> say that.

[00:04:22]>> But come with all of the consequencing like you want us, >> you >> you better act like you want us. You going to get we going to jump you in.

[00:04:35]like you don't have to deal with all of the consequences that comes with it really with this. So if you want there's power in that word. We all know it.

[00:04:43]>> If you feel like you got that power cuz some of them like I'mma stand down.

[00:04:48]He's solid. But so I'm not saying say what you want as a comedian. I believe you should be able to say and speak whatever you want to say. Just know it comes with you got to deal with all the consequences with you talking reckless.

[00:05:00]>> You feel the same about artists? Cuz I have a take where it's like I always tell Mexican rappers, you on the come up, you probably shouldn't say the N word in your music cuz it turns more people off of your music than will help your music career.

[00:05:10]>> See, now you thinking business. That's that's bottom line. Like that's you trying to win as many fans over and you don't have to say it. But some people there's there's some rappers that >> that is that gimmick. You know what I mean? They white and they say they Mexican like that's like and and people be like, "Oh, right. Don't nobody say to Fat Joe.

[00:05:28]>> That's that's what I be saying. Nobody says nobody said >> but they got mad when JLo said it.

[00:05:34]>> Exactly.

[00:05:35]>> But but we don't we look at fat Joe is he for us.

[00:05:39]>> He in the hood though with them Puerto Ricans with the black fools. You know what I'm saying? Don't feel like JLo is a [ __ ] >> JLo is a >> Yeah, >> that asser is.

[00:05:51]>> But they got so because she was so mainstream when she was in >> Definitely. Yeah. You're not the street rapper. You like our sweetheart girl up there. But and it's and then because like the same thing with the the Cubans, the Dominicans and me and even like in the Dominican community black you got some people saying >> so it's like it all depends on you know if you really like that or not.

[00:06:13]>> If you really like that. And speaking of music so you know Adam got into a little bit of hot water speaking on your city >> and his music scene.

[00:06:20]>> I did. I saw everybody was going. I want to know. So, as coming from a San Diego native as you are, >> what's up with the music scene over there? Was he wrong with his take?

[00:06:31]>> What did he say? To be clear, yeah, what he said pretty much was he was talking to Sean Cotton, the owner of Say Cheese.

[00:06:36]You know what I'm saying? Big blog. He said, "Yo, uh, Sean Cotton was big enough San Diego." He's like, "It's the best city in California." And Adam said, "I agree. It's a beautiful city, but >> Sean Cotton be signing artists, up and cominging artists." He goes, "You're not going to find many upand cominging artists. is not a music city. You're not going to find up and coming artists in San Diego. The talent pool is lacking, especially as of late. What What's your >> What's your take on that? Is there is there is there a thriving music scene?

[00:07:02]>> I assume it's mostly rap and hip-hop is what he's referring to.

[00:07:06]>> Yeah. Yeah. But I mean, like there always has been and like the thing about [ __ ] is that it's interesting because we're a beautiful mix of the Bay and LA.

[00:07:16]>> Facts.

[00:07:16]>> You know what I mean? But and also it's it's heavy pimping down there. So when you understand a lot of the slang, a lot of the terminology, a lot of way people move and and it's it's weird cuz they even got a strong connection to Atlanta and Texas because it's like it's a military city. So a there's just a lot of game down there. And even as somebody who came up in the music scene down there, >> it's it's almost like they embrace their own in a way, >> right?

[00:07:41]>> And like shouts out to, you know, >> my guy Mitchie Slick, he was just here the other day.

[00:07:45]>> Yeah. Yeah. Like it's like they thrive off of like the way the bay thrive. Like we be having songs and >> that independent way >> and and and getting to it, >> right?

[00:07:56]>> You know what I mean? Like really like almost like they ain't even worried about >> making it anywhere else because they they got a a popping scene down there.

[00:08:04]Now granted it is yet to come. Like you know bottom line I'm the most famous person ever come from San F.

[00:08:13]But it's just honest. But like >> and as a person who was, >> you know, rapping and making music, doing all of that stuff, even since, you know, high school down there, >> it ain't there's never been somebody to come and be like, "Look, we going to build our scene to be mainstream." It's almost like they never wanted it to be that. Like it's like they just like, "Look, we make music for us and we good and you know, people come and, you know, check in and all that type of stuff."

[00:08:37]But it's almost like it's a hidden secret. Like people don't even know like Southeast DO is like just like Compton, just like you know Englewood.

[00:08:45]>> And that's and that's what I was asking Mitchie Slick when he was here the other day. I'm like why do you think because you know LA has their own sound, the Bay has their own sound. Even Sacramento, Stockton, why haven't we received a mainstream artist >> from Diego? We have a few. One I would say Slick, but also even back in the day signed the Death Jam had bangers. Shouts out to Jo Felony like he on his own.

[00:09:10]Even for the Mexicans, Lil Rob, you know what I'm saying?

[00:09:12]>> That's what I was going to say. First of all, that's where we really got to go.

[00:09:15]Rob like our our Mexican community just and that music scene is a ill music scene and it's only going to continue.

[00:09:23]>> It's that same type of feeling though is like they're kind of in their own bubble. They're killing it, making money, but they're not crossing over into that mainstream culture just like how Bay Area, Sacramento is. So, it gets overlooked a lot of the time. They ain't really looking to do it because it was never >> like that wasn't what they was trying to do. Moving through NorCal, I'm always asking fools that are, you know, had success in music, hey, why don't we, you see these? They're like, bro, we go to these labels and they try to us, we making more money on our own. We going to stay hustling in the streets and just do our own thing, then sign and get by the label and, you know, do it like that.

[00:09:56]>> I was talking to Wack, man. I think that that could be a project that could be unified. And maybe we do like a San Diego idol like we find >> find >> find the hip-hop artists in San Diego.

[00:10:07]>> Hey, that could be dope.

[00:10:09]>> I feel like we need that.

[00:10:10]>> But I think every city gets their shot.

[00:10:13]>> Like there wasn't nobody popping from St. Louis before it was Nelly. Was nobody popping from Toronto before there was Drake. Like and when when you become that guy >> then you you got your city behind you.

[00:10:25]The doors open. And that's the thing too to where you got to find like I feel like Slick probably had it the most.

[00:10:32]When your city supports you, that's when you actually that's that's the makings of a star. He was the figure for sure.

[00:10:37]>> Yeah. Yeah. Like and because then you could take it wherever. And that's if you notice all the people that I even just named and everybody like you got to get hot in your city first. There's no like there's no way to have longevity in in hip-hop if your city don't support you. You feel that even today with the internet the whole% I mean what I don't know >> I know it's shaking it up a little bit >> I'm talking but again I'm talking about becoming a mega star a star you got to you you got to put your city on your back and like that's why you know you got to give shouts out to Drake versus him to become as big as he did from a place that >> that we knew nothing from. Yeah.

[00:11:13]>> So I feel like Diego has that same opportunity and there's been a couple of casts I was like okay >> for sure. Yeah. I slap some like the little weirdos, Lil Maru. There's a bunch of dudes I'm slapping from San Diego.

[00:11:23]>> And then you get that opportunity like dang they they put their whole city on their back. City got behind them and they now have become the icon for that.

[00:11:32]>> Exactly. And it's always something new.

[00:11:33]So that breath of fresh air is kind of what people are looking for to uplift and and you know >> because I've done that over the years too because you know being have I got a label had a label um and we signed shoot half a dozen people for from DGO >> and it's just like again >> before you can go to these majors before you can sign them you got to have your city >> you got to get them behind you because if you got two million people who already know you and rock with you it's it's a lot easier to talk to these labels and stuff like that.

[00:12:03]>> If that's your if that's your >> even the rest of the world, they always see, hey, this guy's already doing numbers. I'm going to jump on the bandwagon >> and I want to hear like that's the thing like when Nelly got popping, he was like, I want to see what that you know like when they when you got your own thing like when me like Memphis >> went crazy, you know what I mean? and everybody was listening to music and all of that type of vibe. Like if your if you can put your city on that way and your culture shine through student every I want to hear about what's popping in [ __ ] I want to hear about what's popping in Sack like like who who's the uh biggest rapper from Sack?

[00:12:40]>> Mazy show you know >> even even in like the 90s too cuz it was like >> got X-rated brother Lynch hung but it was more like underground legends for show Mazi mainstream on the Black Panther.

[00:12:52]I'll never forget when I went when I went to go watch the Black Panther movie and at the end of it when sleepwalking came on, >> my eyes got watery. Like that's a