The new mixtape cover.
Rap music in the new millennium is fueled by personalities and events. Why else are there a dozen or more awards shows annually? It’s not like people are doing more things artistically. It’s just that we are celebrating mediocre art more frequently. At these events we see personalities. Some will be dressed in tophats with tails, while some will opt for white tees.
In a year that has seen some G.O.O.D. music come out of the rap genre we are still dominated by discussion of one of the greatest mediocre rappers evar. CAM’RON GILES has spent the last six months of 2007 in an undisclosed location while the rap world, er, the internets, has speculated on what his future recording career might be. Are we that bored? Yes, and no. The truth is that CAM’RON is one of the rappers who understands the cult of personality disease that plagues most Americans.
Why else do we care about Foxy Brown? Let’s face it, Foxy is a more compelling personality than Lil’ Kim. I could care less about the music output from either lady, but I find myself anxious to hear about Foxy’s latest dustup in the county lockup. CAM’RON applies the same principles for marketing his personality. He has become a character that can possibly say anything at anytime. From his laughable interviews on the Bullshit O’Reilly show to his embarrassment to the entire African American collective on 60 Minutes it’s obvious that CAM’RON knows what to say to push our buttons.
Why else would we even care about his whereabouts? Last week was further proof that CAM’RON still has a buzz with the folks that live in their parents’ basements. A media event was created at the idea of CAM’RON giving away his latest mixtape in front of the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. This is the first music being released by him since his pre-summer squabble with Fifty Cent, another fellow media whore savvy rapper.
Suffice to say, CAM’RON didn’t show, but enough people did show up and report on the scene that ensued. Everyone seemed to be in awe of the pink colored Range Rover. I would venture to argue that even if CAM’RON hadn’t distributed his mixtape on that night just the appearance of a pink painted Range Rover would have satisfied the crowd. The events have exceeded the art that created them. Where in the world is CAM’RON? He’s thinking up his next media event.
I’ve always hated Cam although “Killa Season” was entertaining as fuck. I throw that in when I want to watch a new milleniun blaxploitation flick its as entertaining as “Dolemite”. I gained a further appreciation for Mr. Giles when Rafi threw it in overdrive with the Camborghini (one of the funniest things I ever read on the interweb). But I find myself actually rooting for this fool now. Not that he’s gonna make good music but for the simple fact his dudes left him blowing in the wind and went to cavorting with his enemy. I mean I know n*ggers ain’t shit but GOD DAMN. I wish Cam had the sense to lock himself in the studio and go Makaveli on dudes but we’ll probably get another album of failed attempts at strip club anthems…
Real talk I was their and tried to drag Dallas out with me…
Cam embraces being an entertainer …he is entraining
Their a lot of rappers who do bullshit , but don’t get nearly as far as cam does,,,,,,
Because with cam you got to think ,,,,Is he joking or is he being serious?
Cam is the black Andy kufiman or Andy Warhol , he creates art out of his persona…..
Also people forget Cam’ron can and does rap very well
Public Enemy 14 best original songs would be a great cd….
Also cam was in a group with big L and was going to be signed to biggie smalls…
(Cam wrote Crush on you)
He has also done three different styles of rapping and been able to adapt better then most rappers…
An also he one of the few rappers who created a crew and let them all shine and release albums …
Cam deserves more respect …
I am from the Bx and as a kid people would try to rap like cam or rap like jada …
so he very influential l to me and a generation of rappers…
Straight talk, Cam’s new mixtape is nice! Rhyming skills are intact. Never sleep on Mr. Giles.
He can spit….I just can’t get past a grown man wearing a pink fuzzy sweater.
“From his laughable interviews on the Bullshit O’Reilly show to his embarrassment to the entire African American collective on 60 Minutes it’s obvious that CAM’RON knows what to say to push our buttons.”
Never will I forget that O’Reilly interview.
“We need more parent-teacher conferences!”
Aw…Cam. Like a poodle that got its fur dyed pink. So naive, and so funny looking. At least I shouldn’t have to worry about him coming around DC so much anymore.
Get the pool in the back.
cam on bill orielly was classic
U MAD….I GOT DIRT ON YOU DOGGY….lmao
dude is a beast because he is original