Nick Cannon, DTLR Concluded HBCU Talent Tour

The tour visited various campuses to scout new talent for the comedy series Wild N' Out.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Hip-Hop and Rap

Gouache-painted illustration of a saxophone and microphone on a wooden stage, evoking the creative atmosphere of a college talent audition. — Nick Cannon and retail partner DTLR concluded their national HBCU tour, which scouted new comedic talent for the television series Wild N' Out. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Nick Cannon and DTLR have wrapped up an HBCU tour that scouted students for the comedy series Wild N' Out. Aspiring entertainers auditioned through the Wild N' Out Freestyle Booth at stops across the country.

Why it matters

The initiative aimed to identify fresh comedic talent by directly engaging with students at historically black colleges and universities. It provided a platform for participants to potentially earn a spot on the live tour for the long-running show.

The tour visited 10 institutions including Howard University, Bowie State University, and Alabama A&M University. Nick Cannon, who graduated from Howard University in 2020, spearheaded the recruitment effort.

The players

Nick Cannon

He is an entertainer and host of the comedy show Wild N' Out who graduated from Howard University in 2020.

DTLR

This retail chain partnered with Nick Cannon to facilitate the talent scouting initiative across multiple campuses.

The details

Participants performed at various locations, including Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, and Spelman College. The tour concluded at Alcorn State University after visiting campuses such as Morgan State University, Florida A&M University, and Jackson State University.

The HBCU Welcome Back Tour occurred between August 2026 and October 2026.
The tour visited Howard University on August 20, 2026.
The tour concluded at Alcorn State University on October 5, 2026.

Industry Dynamics

This tour functions as a direct talent pipeline for the ongoing production of the Wild N' Out franchise. The move mirrors a broader trend in entertainment where established franchises increasingly leverage campus outreach to secure organic, emerging comedic talent.

Students who participated in the freestyle booths now await potential invitations to join the Wild N' Out live tour. Fans can follow show social media channels for updates on whether new talent scouted during this tour will appear in upcoming live performances.

The takeaway

The tour highlights a strategy of engaging directly with university audiences to cultivate new entertainment talent. Aspiring comedians can benefit from monitoring similar outreach programs to find entry points into major television productions.