Nick Cannon calls Rip Micheals the Don King of “Wild ‘N Out,” credits him for the arena era, talks 50 Cent, Michelle Obama, and new tour | HHV Exclusive [VIDEO]

The Famed Producer Said He Won’t Sign Cast Members to Crazy Contracts: “I Just Wanna See You Win”

Nick Cannon spoke with Hip-HopVibe at Live Nation’s Beverly Hills offices this past week to talk about the new Wild ‘N Out Live: The Next Generation tour. He wore Wild ‘N Out merch and star sunglasses. The conversation moved from tour dates to roasting culture to the people who built the live show with him.

Cannon appeared alongside longtime cast members including Justina Valentine and Conceited. The event was a media availability tied to the Thursday announcement of a 20-city arena run, not a formal press conference with a prepared statement.

He spent most of the conversation talking about the show, the guests he still wants, and one name he credits for taking the whole operation from college gyms to arenas.

Dubbing Rip Micheals as Wild ‘N Out‘s Don King

When the conversation turned to Rip Micheals, Nick Cannon did not hesitate to give him his props. He called him “the Don King of Wild ‘N Out” and “the best promoter I’ve ever really seen ever in life.” Cannon gave Rip this credit for his networking abilities and his skill in booking talent.

Nick Cannon recalled seeing a Katt Williams show in an arena and saying he wished Wild ‘N Out could reach that level. Hearing him, Micheals told him: “say less,” Cannon said. After that, he said the next summer the tour moved from colleges to arenas. “He put it on his back,” Cannon said, crediting Rip’s efforts in growing the brand in just one year.

Micheals is a Chicago-born comedian who has been a recurring Wild ‘N Out cast member since season 6 in 2014. He appeared in the Wild ‘N On Tour spin-off and worked as a supervising comedy producer on Cannon’s daytime talk show. He was hospitalized after a heart attack in November 2023. Cannon closed the thought with a line about it: “If anybody has a spare heart, he still needs one.” Staying true to Wild ‘N Out, Nick closed his Rip commentary with a joke.

Explaining the “No Crazy Contracts” Business Structure of Wild ‘N Out

Discussing the franchise, Nick Cannon described his role as a platform rather than a management business. He said cast members often approach him asking for representation, and he turns it down. As opposed to management, Nick says he’d rather do partnerships. Additionally, he said he’s past the point in his career where he wants a percentage of someone else’s work.

“I ain’t Don King; I ain’t signing nobody’s no crazy contracts,” he said. “I wanna be your partner in that sense of like, I just wanna see you shine.”

When it comes to seeing people shine, Nick used one big example. He pointed to the open-door policy that keeps former cast members coming back and named 85 South as an example of watching people build something relevant alongside Wild ‘N Out. Nick even argued that 85 South is bigger than Wild N Out. He said DC Young Fly, Chico Bean, and Karlous Miller remain part of the cast. “I don’t need a percentage, I don’t need any of that,” he said.

50 Cent, Michelle Obama, and the Guest Wish List

Regarding the guests he would like to have on stage, Nick Cannon said he told 50 Cent to “pull up.” He also referenced “Auntie Michelle,” aka Michelle Obama, when discussing the kinds of names that come up around big or unexpected appearances.

He noted he is now “in y’all age group” and mentioned Dave Chappelle as someone in his friend circle. Asked whether anyone should never be on the receiving end of a Wild ‘N Out roast, he said some people have cooled off over time — “he’s calmer now” — rather than naming anyone off limits.

The guest list for the tour has not been released. Cannon said every artist in each city will be expected to perform, from old-school legends to new acts. “You’re gonna get to see them in a rare form,” he said. “They’re coming to play the games.”

How Crowd Work Impacts the Live Shows

Nick Cannon said the goal is to make the audience part of the experience, comparing it to seeing a live taping of Martin or In Living Color as a kid. The show runs on improv games, freestyle and Wildstyle battles, celebrity guests, live music, and crowd participation.

“You wear your best outfit because we gon’ bring you on stage and talk shit about it,” he said, describing the crowd-work segment. He named “toe up from the floor up,” “star sightings,” and “family reunion” as games audiences want to be inside of.

He said the show has a multi-generational audience and that a new city-by-city tournament-style talent search is looking for “raw and uncut” next-generation cast members rather than going through traditional casting.

The 20-City Run Starts November 10 in Oakland

The tour opens November 10 at Oakland Arena and closes December 17 at the United Center in Chicago. All shows are at 8 p.m. local. It stops at Intuit Dome in Inglewood on November 12, Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on November 14, and Viejas Arena in San Diego on November 15 before heading to Phoenix, Dallas, and Houston.

The Florida dates land November 28 in Miami at Kaseya Center and November 30 in Tampa. Atlanta’s State Farm Arena follows on December 1, with Charlotte on December 2. After that, the final stretch runs through Atlantic City, Hartford, Newark, Baltimore, Toronto, Detroit, and Indianapolis.

Artist presale opens Tuesday, September 22 at 10 a.m. local. Registration closes tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT at livemu.sc/wildnout. General on-sale begins Thursday, September 24 at 10 a.m. local through Ticketmaster and AXS.

What Rip Micheals’ Role Looks Like Now

Rip Micheals was listed in the June 28 Wild ‘N Out Live No Filter lineup at Barclays Center alongside DC Young Fly, Justina Valentine, Conceited, B. Simone, Emanuel Hudson, and DJ D-Wrek. That show also featured Fabolous, Soulja Boy, Boosie, Bobby Shmurda, Young M.A, Beenie Man, and Zeddy Will.

Earlier this year, he and Cannon did joint promotion for that date on PIX11, Angie Martinez’s show on Power 105.1, the TMZ Podcast, and The Breakfast Club. They used that cycle to talk about the show’s growth and the talent search.

The “Next Generation” tour press does not name Micheals or most individual cast members. Cannon’s comments at the Beverly Hills availability are the clearest public statement on Micheals’ role in the arena era so far.

Conclusion

The TV series continues into season 22. The live tour press frames the arena run as a “next generation” chapter while nodding to the performers the franchise helped launch and hosted, including Kevin Hart, Katt Williams, Pete Davidson, and DC Young Fly.

Full city-by-city cast lists have not been released. Ticket prices have not been announced. Cannon said the guest performers will vary by market, with every city getting its own mix of legends and new acts.

The post Nick Cannon calls Rip Micheals the Don King of “Wild ‘N Out,” credits him for the arena era, talks 50 Cent, Michelle Obama, and new tour | HHV Exclusive [VIDEO] appeared first on Hip Hop Vibe.

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