Cam’ron

Cam’ron has already lived quite a life. In the span of his 22 years, Cam’s gone from being a high school All-American point guard to dealing drugs in his native Harlem to becoming one of hip hop’s brightest new stars. All the balling, hustling and rapping have led here, to his new Epic album S.D.E.

“I was just trying to show people that I can rap,” says Cam’ron of his blazing gold 1998 debut, Confessions of Fire. “Back then, I was just showing everybody that I’m multi-talented and that I can flip any style.” With such trend setting hits as “3-5-7,” “Pull It” featuring DMX, and “Horse and Carriage” featuring Mase, Cam’s success helped kick in the door for his label, the Epic-distributed Untertainment. And his signature flow, with its aggressive spurts of stop-and-go tempo changes, created countless carbon copy MCs.

“A lot of people came through, studied me and did what they did,” he says. “I’m flattered. That just makes me want to improve what I’m doing. On this album, I’m getting more personal. I want you to get to know Cam’ron. I’m letting you know what I’m about, where I’m from and what I got into in life.”

Before Cameron Giles became Cam’ron the rapper, he made a name for himself on the basketball courts. After high school, Cam was offered scholarships from everywhere including North Carolina, Syracuse, Duke, Florida and Southern California. Unfortunately, his academics prevented him from attending a Division I program and he enrolled himself into a small college in Texas. Unsatisfied, Cam soon found himself back in his old famed Harlem neighborhood, hustling on the streets.

Then he turned to the microphone and dropped freestyles on some of New York’s legendary mix tapes with his fellow Manhattan Center High School basketball teammate, Mase. Along with Bloodshed (who later passed away), “Killa Cam” and “Murder Mase” (as they were known back then) formed Children Of The Corn. Then destiny ran its course: Mase introduced Cam to the late Notorious B.I.G: Cam rhymed for B.I.G; B.I.G. called his partner Lance “Un” Rivera; Un signed Cam. The rest is history.

Cam’ron shares this same tale on the candid, poignant title track, “Sports, Drugs and Entertainment.” For Cam, it’s much more than just a title for a song: It’s his life. “My sports got me into college,” says Cam. “College didn’t work out. Got into drugs and then I ended up rapping. It ain’t phony. I lived this. ”

Since he made noise with his Magnum P.I. theme-looped hit “3-5-7,” it’s no surprise that Cam uses another familiar T.V. theme for his first single, “Let Me Know.” This time around, producer Digga lifts the music from ABC’s “Monday Night Football” for Cam to spit over. On “Violence,” Cam teams up with Wu-Tang Clan’s Ol’ Dirty Bastard for a rousing collaboration.

Other standouts include the murderous tag-team of Cam and Mobb Deep’s Prodigy on “Losin’ Weight;” and the ragtime piano chords of “Do It Again” featuring Jimmy Jones and Destiny’s Child.

“I’m just happy to be in this position,” Cam says. “But I know I got much more to show. I’m never gonna be satisfied.” Consider yourself warned: Cam’ron has just begun.