Cam'ron
Cam'ron |
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Cameron Giles, (born better known as Cam'ron or Killa Cam, is an African American rapper from Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. Cam'ron is the head of the hip-hop group The Diplomats, commonly known as Dipset.
Biography
1990-1998: Early life and career
Cam'ron was born and raised in Harlem, attending Manhattan Center High School, where one of his basketball teammates was Mason "Mase" Betha, who became a successful rapper. Though his playing earned him scholarship offers from top colleges, Cam'ron was unable to take advantage of them because of his poor academic record, and he enrolled at a small college in Texas instead. He quickly dropped out and returned to Harlem, where he became a drug dealer before turning to rap[1]. Cam'ron began his musical career in the late 1990's, rapping alongside Big L, Ma$e and his cousin Bloodshed in a group called "Children Of The Corn". The group dissolved after Bloodshed's death in a car accident in 1997. However, Cam'ron continued to rap, and he eventually was introduced to Notorious B.I.G. by Ma$e[2], who was so impressed with his skills that Biggie introduced him to his manager, Lance "Un" Rivera. Cam'ron signed to Rivera's Untertainment label distributed by Epic/Sony, releasing his first solo album, Confessions Of Fire, in July 1998. The album featured songs like "357" and "Horse And Carriage," featuring his former friend, Ma$e. Unfortunately, Untertainment folded in 1999[3], and Cam'ron was absorbed into Epic Records (his distribution label).
2000: Sports, Drugs, and Entertainment
Cam'ron achieved notoriety for his 2000 release from Epic Records under Tommy Mottola. Reportedly using unconventional methods such as physically assaulting and threatening numerous Sony Records (Epic's parent label) employees, Cam'ron sought an end to his contract due to his record company's lack of promotion for his second album released in 2000, entitled S.D.E. (Sports, Drugs, and Entertainment). It featured songs such as "Let Me Know" and "What Means the World to You." The remix of the latter featured an all-star line-up of Southern rappers such as UGK, Trina, and Ludacris. Juelz Santana also made his first appearance ever on S.D.E.
2002-2004: Roc-A-Fella
With his release from Sony Records, Cam'ron moved on to sign with his childhood friend[2] Dame Dash in 2001, who had already been managing him and Roc-A-Fella Records. In 2002, he released his third and most successful album, Come Home With Me, along with the biggest hits of his career, "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma," both featuring Juelz Santana. These hits catapulted Cam'ron to a Platinum album and in the process, he became the highest selling Roc-A-Fella artist outside of Jay-Z.[4]
Due to his unexpected success, Dame Dash even went as far as to propose naming Cam'ron Vice President of Roc-a-fella, but Jay-Z rejected the idea. He went on to star in the Damon Dash produced film, Paid In Full in 2002. Cam'ron then teamed up with his fellow Diplomats: Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, and Freekey Zeekey, to release the Diplomats' debut, Diplomatic Immunity, in 2003.
By this time Cam'ron was was credited with starting the trend of men wearing pink. He claims that it was already popular in urban New York. In early 2004, Cam'ron announced plans to work with scientists to develop a new color and patent it for his trademark use. This eventually manifested as a purplish color that he used to design a hat in conjunction with the baseball cap company New Era.
2004-Present: Purple Haze and Killa Season
The follow-up from Cam'ron's group, The Diplomats, Diplomatic Immunity 2 was released on November 23, 2004. Cam'ron's frequently stalled fourth album, Purple Haze, was released on December 7, 2004.
In December of 2004, Cam'ron requested his release from Def Jam/Roc-A-fella Records, feeling his projects weren't receiving the attention they deserved.[5] Regardless of business setbacks Purple Haze still managed to reach Gold status due to the support of many Dipset loyalists. Many critics and fans believe this is arguably Cam'rons best solo effort as of yet. Purple Haze was not a commercial success like his last album but it had received a lot of critical acclaim to the extent that Pitchfork Media named it as a top-ten overall album and second best rap album of 2005.
As of April 28, 2005, Cam'ron joined the Warner Music Group under the Asylum Records where he would receive $8.50 per/album imprint.[6] In August of 2005[7], Cam'ron began work on what would be his first project for Asylum, shooting a straight to video movie titled Killa Season. The film would mark both Cam'ron's screenwriting and directorial debuts, as well as his return to acting. Killa Season was released on DVD April 25, 2006, after a special two-day theatrical release.[8] Cam'rons fifth studio album, also titled Killa Season was released on May 16th, 2006, and flopped on the charts.[9] Several tracks off of Cam's new album include the first single "Touch It Or Not" aka "Suck it or not" (feat Lil Wayne), "Do Your Thing" as well as "I Love My Life," "Something New", and "Wet Wipes".
In April 2006, Cam’ron announced that he will also be releasing a DVD in the 2006/2007 season warning against the dangers of child molestation by predators that stalk via the Internet.
Shooting
In the early morning of Sunday, October 23, 2005, Cam'ron was shot three times after a botched carjacking in Washington, D.C..[10] Cam'ron was leaving a popular nightclub after performing earlier Saturday at Howard University and stopped at a traffic light at the intersection of Kenyon and Warder streets in Northwest D.C. Shortly after midnight, a passenger of a nearby car threatened Cam'ron to "give up" his 2006 Lamborghini. Cam'ron resisted and the gunman then shot him. Cam'ron was struck twice in his right arm and once in his left as he was holding the steering wheel, but he was able to drive himself around going the wrong way on streets and flashing his lights, trying to get a police officer's attention because he didn't know where he was at or how to get to the hospital, until a fan finally drove him to Howard University Hospital for treatment. He caught a plane back home the next day.
The gunman and passenger sped off in and crashed into a parked car and a home and then fled the scene. D.C. Metro Police also recovered a cell phone from the scene of the crash, which they are trying to use to trace the suspects. Cam'ron continually refuses to cooperate with police with helping to identify his assailants who are presently still unidentified.
Feuds
Feud with Ma$e
In 2004, Cam'ron came into headlines after a dispute with his former friend Ma$e. After returning to the music industry after a five year religious hiatus, Ma$e conducted an interview on the New York City radio station Hot 97 where he described his falling out with Cam'ron and the current status of their relationship. Ma$e claimed that confusion over $50,000 he asked to receive for an appearance in the "Horse and Carriage" music video caused the demise of their relationship. This fueled a heated on-air debate between Cam'ron's right-hand man Jim Jones and Ma$e. [11]Jim Jones declared that Ma$e was "fabricating" in the autobiography he wrote in 2001. Also, Jim Jones was upset that Ma$e used people's real names in his book, exposing them without giving them their proper publishing fees. Furthermore, Jones said "you wasn't giving us no money, so we went out and got money" when Jim Jones and Cam'ron went on tour with Ma$e, and that now they don't need Ma$e anymore because they are the "Sizzurp boys, quarter billion, ya ain't heard?", in reference to The Diplomats Purple Sizzurp liquor business. Jim Jones went on to reveal that Ma$e actually left Harlem not because he was answering a higher calling to become a reverend, but because he was scared out of town by the murder of his two friends, Pop Lotti and Baby Mane. Jones claimed Ma$e was "ran up out of Harlem" because there was "money on him," meaning someone had put a bounty on Ma$e's head. Jones goes on to tell Ma$e that "you need to be nervous to be in Harlem still, cuz I'm here" and threatens that Ma$e better "have them boys with the badges on them" (police) with him when he next encounters him, because "I [Jim Jones] will do it to you, [Ma$e] Duke." Jim Jones informs the audience that he never liked Ma$e, as he crudely refers to him as "Betha," Ma$e's last name. Subsequently, Ma$e and Cam'ron engaged in a verbal debate that ended in Cam'ron hanging up the phone, disgusted by Ma$e's alleged lies and insincerity.
Feud with Jay-Z
Cam'ron also has a current feud with Jay-Z. In 2006, Cam'ron released a diss track called "You Gotta Love It" [12], in which Cam accused Jay-Z of stealing Roc-A-Fella records and Rocawear clothing from Dame Dash. He also claims Jay stole Kanye West from Dame, since Kanye left Dame to follow Jay. In addition to this, he also claims that his shooter was an associate of Roc-A-Fella, and that Jay-Z was in love with female rapper Charli Baltimore. He also ridicules Jay-Z for wearing sandals with jeans in a New York newspaper. In the March issue of XXL magazine, which features Cam'ron on the cover, the Harlem native sheds light on where things began to fall apart with Jay-Z. "The real problems began when Jay went away and Dame was talking about making me president. When Jay came back, he had an attitude," Cam told the publication. "He said to Beanie Sigel something to the effect that he didn't feel comfortable with what Dame was trying to do." Released simultaneously with "You Got To Love It" was a second track, "Swagger Jacker." In this track created originally by DJ DAT of the Bronx, Cam'ron outlines numerous instances where Jay-Z has performed lyrics originally recorded by a bevy of other rappers, most notably the late Notorious B.I.G. In the song "What More Can I Say," Jay-Z states, "I'm not a biter, I'm a writer/ For myself, and others/ I say a Big verse, I'm only bigging up my brotha." He is referring to the fact that he has referenced several lines from deceased rapper Notorious B.I.G. (I say a Big verse), and that he is not trying to copy or emulate Biggie's style, but rather to just glorify his admiration for one of his favorite rappers and one of his closest friends, Biggie (I'm only biggin up my brotha). However, there have been moments where Jay-Z has mimicked Biggie's (including his famous I'm A Hustler line) or once good friend Big L style on many tracks and has even used rhymes once spoken by his former nemesis Tupac.
In 2006, Cam'ron held a press conference to discuss his possible jail term and addressed the Jay-Z beef.[13] Since he was convicted on a weapons possession in 2002, he needed permission to leave the state. Cam stated that he always gets permission but his trip to D.C. was a last minute decision. When asked about the reason behind the whole Jay-Z beef, he said the final straw was the Jay-Z "I Declare War" concert. He went on to say that Jay was attempting to find Jim Jones's Catholic school pictures and footage of Cam and Jones getting jumped. He also went on saying that part of his agreement from being released from Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam, was that he could not talk badly about the label or its employees or he would be fined $100,000.
It is said that Jay-Z responded to Cam'ron, although he never mentions his name, in the remix of the Rick Ross' song "Hustlin", which also features Young Jeezy. In the "Hustlin" remix, Jay-Z refers to his style of dress on island resorts as well as mentioning the circumstances in which Cam'ron was injured in the car jacking. Cam'ron responded with a verse from an unofficial remix of Yung Joc's "It's Goin' Down". Rumor has it that Cam'ron will address Jay-Z's decision to pull Foxy Brown from the Mary J. Blige track, Enough Cryin' (for which Blige invented an "alter ego", Brook Lynn) on a future track.
Feud with Lil Cease and Junior Mafia
In 1998, Cam'ron and Jim Jones were involved in an altercation with associates of Brooklyn emcee Lil' Cease, cousin of the late Notorious BIG, and members of his crew at the Rucker Basketball Park in Harlem, NY.Watching the video, it can be seen that the men walk up to Jim Jones, one blindsides him with a punch and two of them attack him while others keeps Cam'ron out of the scuffle , then jim jones slamed lil cease on the ground and stomped him 3 times. Cam'ron leaves and then comes back with the pump shotgun sayin that he won't be kept away again. All this was documented on a TNT televised basketball game. In 2005, Lil' Cease later released the video footage of the altercation, narrating and naming the people he knows in the video.
Awards and nominations
Grammys
- 2003: Nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Oh Boy" with Juelz Santana
- 2004: Nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Dipset (Santana's Town)" with Juelz Santana
Other
- 2005: Pitchfork Media names Purple Haze 9th Best Overall Album, 2nd Best Hip-Hop Album of 2005
- 2005: Vibe 2005 Best Group
Discography
For more information see Cam'ron discography & RIAA.com.
| Album cover | Album information |
|---|---|
 |
Confessions of Fire
|
 |
S.D.E.
|
 |
Come Home With Me
|
 |
Purple Haze
|
Killa Season
| |
 |
Shade of Black
|
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 | US R&B/Hip-Hop | US Rap | |||
| 1998 | "Horse & Carriage" (feat. Ma$e) | #41 | #9 | - | Confessions of Fire |
| 1998 | "Feels Good" (feat. Usher) | - | #54 | - | Confessions of Fire |
| 1998 | "357" | - | #88 | - | Confessions of Fire |
| 1999 | "Let Me Know" | #99 | #22 | #2 | S.D.E. |
| 2000 | "What Means The World To You" | #83 | #30 | #34 | S.D.E. |
| 2000 | "My Hood" | - | - | #44 | S.D.E. |
| 2002 | "Welcome To New York City" (feat. Juelz Santana & Jay-Z) | - | #55 | - | Come Home With Me |
| 2002 | "The Roc (Just Fire)" (feat. Memphis Bleek & Beanie Sigel) | - | #77 | - | Come Home With Me |
| 2002 | "Oh Boy" (feat. Juelz Santana) | #4 | #1 | #1 | Come Home With Me |
| 2002 | "Hey Ma" (feat. Juelz Santana) | #3 | #7 | #4 | Come Home With Me |
| 2002 | "Boy (I Need You)" (Mariah Carey feat. Cam'ron) | - | #68 | - | Charmbracelet |
| 2004 | "Girls" | - | #77 | - | Purple Haze |
| 2004 | "Get 'Em Girls" | - | #99 | - | Purple Haze |
| 2005 | "Down And Out" (feat. Kanye West & Syleena Johnson) | #94 | #29 | #20 | Purple Haze |
| 2006 | "Touch It Or Not" (feat. Lil Wayne) | - | #62 | #25 | Killa Season |
| 2006 | "Weekend Girl" | TBR | TBR | TBR | Shade of Black |
Movies
- 2002: Paper Soldiers
- 2002: Paid in Full
- 2005: State Property 2
- 2006: Killa Season
- 2007: Killa Season 2
References
- ^ "Camron". Camron: Interview. vh1.com. 2002. Retrieved 12 November.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "Camron.. He Shoots, He Scores". Camron: Interview. AskMen.com. 2002. Retrieved 04 October.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Muhammad, Tariq K. (1999, December). "Hip-Hop Moguls: Beyond The Hype". Black Enterprise. Retrieved 04 October.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Strong, Nolan (2002-12-23). "Cam'ron Strikes Platinum". AllHipHop.com. Retrieved 04 October.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Kye, Stephenson (2004-12-11). "Cam'ron Lensing Shootout Scene For "Killa Season"". AllHipHop.com. Retrieved 04 October.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Strong, Nolan (2005-04-29). "Cam'ron Leaves Roc-A-Fella For Asylum/Warner". AllHipHop.com. Retrieved 04 October.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Stephenson, Kye (2005-08-25). "Cam'ron Lensing Shootout Scene For "Killa Season"". AllHipHop.com. Retrieved 04 October.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Cam'ron's Killa Season Hits Big Screens in Limited Engagement". XXL. 2006-03-30. Retrieved 04 October.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Rogulewski, Charley (2006-05-24). "Chili Peppers, Cam'ron Top the Chart". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 04 October.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Schulte, Brigid and Harris, Hamil R. (2005-10-24). "Rapper Shot in Alleged Carjacking in D.C." Washington Post. Retrieved 04 October.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Reid, Shaheim and Steible, Chris (2004-09-13). "Mase, The Fine Line Between Preacher and Playa". MTV. Retrieved 04 October.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Reid, Shaheem (2006/1/18). "Cam'ron Attacks Jay-Z With Dis Track 'You Got It'". MTV. Retrieved 04 October.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Reid, Shaheem (2006/1/25). "Cam'ron Says Attack On 'Old Man' Jay-Z Wasn't Unprovoked". MTV. Retrieved 04 October.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help)