Nick Cannon Says His Pro-Life Song No Statement on Abortion

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jul 28, 2005   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Nick Cannon Says His Pro-Life Song No Statement on Abortion Email this article
Printer friendly page

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
July 28, 2005

Hollywood, CA (LifeNews.com) — Nick Cannon’s latest hip-hop single "Can I Live" has generated a nationwide buzz in the pro-life community because of its very direct appeal against abortion. The song tells of Cannon’s near abortion death, but Cannon says he’s not necessarily standing up against abortion.

In the song, Cannon shares the story of how his mother walked away from the table at an abortion facility minutes before she was scheduled to have an abortion.

"Mommy, I don’t like this clinic. Hopefully you’ll make the right decision, and don’t go through with the knife incision," he sings.

His lyrics tell the story of his life — before he was even born.

"I will always be a part of you. Trust your soul know his heart is true. If I could talk I would say to you. Can I live? Can I live?"

The words sound like the kind of song a pro-life advocate would put together, but Cannon insists he just wants to tell his own story.

"I didn’t make the song to make a political statement," Cannon tells USA Today. "I’m just thanking my mom for being strong."

"I’m not pro-life or pro-choice. I’m pro-Nick. I’m just happy to be here," he said.

Cannon’s song is feature on his upcoming CD "Stages," set to release in September. The rapper, a former Nickelodeon television star and actor, has several movie projects coming out soon and his own comedy show, Nick Cannon Presents: Wild’N Out, that makes its debut Thursday on MTV.

The video for Cannon’s song depicts his mother as a teenager, lying in an abortion facility, as Nick’s spirit pleads for her not take his life, saying, “That’s life inside you, look at your tummy … What is becoming Ma, I am Oprah bound … You can tell he’s a star from the Ultrasound."

Despite Cannon’s reasons for making the single, pro-life groups say it helps the cause.

Brandi Swindell of the youth pro-life group GenLife says the tune "represents the emerging passion in this generation speaking out on the issue of abortion."

"This is the first wave of a post Roe v. Wade generation telling their side of the story," she added. "No one knows what it’s like to be open prey in your mother’s womb unless you were born after 1973."

To see the music video for “Can I Live?" go to https://www.nickcannonmusic.com/index_main.html