As usual, The Joe Budden Podcast came through with a spicy take recently that got hip-hop fans into a strong debate. Moreover, the cohosts seemed to refer to how some Southern scenes, including Atlanta and others, only got popular due to New York co-signing them and letting them in on the fun. They brought up a couple of examples, such as Jeezy and Fabolous, but the most controversial point was that Dipset (also known as The Diplomats) were the ones who broke Lil Wayne into the rap game. However, Budden was quick to note that he has all the respect in the world for Atlanta, and seemed to acknowledge that this commentary is something that fans could easily mischaracterize.
Well, he wasn’t wrong… Or perhaps more accurately, folks still disagreed with the core of his and his cohosts’ actual argument. Debate quickly ensued in the replies, and went in all sorts of directions. But this is a sentiment that even Dipset themselves, namely its member Jim Jones, would definitely agree with. He claimed that Lil Wayne took inspiration from The Diplomats’ style after spending a summer with them.
But even though this debate around how Lil Wayne became a superstar brings regional debates into the fold, the core of his Cash Money family still rides behind him. “I been with him, that’s my dude,” Juvenile said while calling Weezy the best rapper of all time during his Breakfast Club interview alongside Mannie Fresh. “I saw the whole process of him, just seeing the whole development of Wayne and where he’s at right now.” It would be interesting to hear Tunechi’s take on all this, considering that he would definitely show love to both groups for very different reasons. Check out reactions to The Joe Budden Podcast‘s take down below.
Meanwhile, in other Lil Wayne news, he recently sought to dismiss an assault lawsuit against him from his former bodyguard. As for Dipset, their impact on the game should never meet disrespect, even if the specific details of its extent can cause debates like these. Perhaps the next episode of The Joe Budden Podcast will explain their take more clearly. But either way, Cash Money and The Diplomats have plenty of reason to admire each other.
Cam’Ron has been a force in East Coast Hip Hop since the early 90s. The Dipset founder’s career spans both TV and music, with his third studio album, ComeHome With Me, featuring the iconic singles “Oh Boy” and “Hey Ma.” However, Cam’Ron seems to have a secret extra talent: making interviews go viral. The Harlem legend has left quite a few interviewers dumbstruck over the years, and he’s recently done so again. In a now-viral interview with Abby Phillip on CNN, Cam’ron visibly drank a jar of his sexual enhancer, Pink Horse Power, and shared that would be going to get “some cheeks” after the interview. There have been other times when Cam’ron has been at the center of a wild interview, and the following seven are worthy of note.
On the carpet for the 2003 Source Hip Hop Music Awards, Cam’ron and the rest of Dipset were left a bit dumbfounded. During an interview on the red carpet, a young interviewer named Andy held a fake petition for Cam’ron to sign. The petition, titled “B*itches are people too,” was as a result of the “negative music about females.” Not one to be pranked, Cam’Ron held his face straight and asked no questions as he reached for the petition and added his signature. Andy then promised to frame Cam’ron’s signature.
Cam’ron Flips The Tables On Bill O’Reilly
In 2003, Bill O’Reilly, the conservative firebrand, faced off against Cam’ron, during an interview on “The O’Reilly Factor.” The topic was: the impact of rap lyrics and other elements of Hip Hop culture on young people. O’Reilly, with his characteristic intensity, grilled Cam’ron and Damon Dash about their responsibility towards the content they produced. A third guest on the show was Principal Salome Thomas-El, who was also there to argue how the new Hip Hop was bad for children.
It didn’t take long for things to start going sideways. During the interview, O’Reilly began asking Cam’ron pointedly rude questions about his music and lifestyle. These questions were fielded by Dash for a while. However, in a hilarious turn, Cam’Ron, cool and collected, responded. He looked at O’Reilly with a smirk, and mockingly laughed, saying: “You maaad…I got dirt on you, doggy!”
The host, taken aback by Cam’Ron flipping the script, attempted to regain control. But Cam’ron’s composure remained unshaken. Dash would also try to return the interview back on track by talking about artistic freedom and questioning the framing of O’Reilly’s arguments. However, it was too late, and the interview was awkwardly wrapped up after a few minutes. Cam’ron had left the entire interview astonished.
On October 23, 2005, Cam’ron, on his way from a D.C. nightclub, had his blue Lamborghini showered with gunfire during an attempted carjacking near Howard University. Cam’ron was shot once in the arm. In a subsequent news interview after his discharge, Cam’ron, with a rolled blunt in hand, recounted the ordeal to the press. With a curious mix of humor and nonchalance, he said, “I felt disrespected ’cause nobody’s gonna take a quarter million dollar car from me. Let alone a five cent piece of chewing gum.” He also used the opportunity for a quick promotion: “I got shot three times and my album comes out November 22.”
Cam’Ron also boldly told the press he would not be cooperating with the police. “I won’t just give up anything to anybody because they’re waving a gun around,” he said. Moreover, when asked if the attack was related to his career, Cam’ron showed more of his trademark humor. He insinuated that the robbers just didn’t like that he was successful. “It’s nothing. I’m all right. It’s just a flesh wound,” he said. “It’s just one of those things that happen when you live that kind of life.”
60 Minutes With Anderson Cooper
On April 19, 2007, Cam’ron met up with Anderson Cooper for an interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes. During this meeting, the rapper made some of his most controversial statements till date. Cam’ron explained to Cooper, how “There’s never a reason to help the police,” when Cooper questioned his “No Snitching” creed. Then, when asked if there were exceptions to the rule, such as a serial killer neighbor, Cam’ron continued by saying that even if he had a serial killer neighbor, he would not report them to the authorities. Instead, he would simply just move away to another neighborhood.
Furthermore, he shared that there would always be repercussions if he ever broke this code. He mentioned the carjacking from 2005, and why he chose not to report. According to him, any form of cooperation with the police would have cost him his “street cred.” Additionally, he would become a target. “Where I come from,” he said. “Once word gets out that you’ve cooperated with the police, that only makes you a bigger target of criminal violence.”
The backlash to the interview was immediate and intense. Cam’ron’s comments were met with criticism from various quarters, including those who had suffered personal tragedies or worked in law enforcement. Recognizing the impact of his words, Cam’ron issued an apology on April 26, 2007. He clarified that his comments were a reflection of his frustration with his circumstances, and not intended to be harmful.
The Angie Martinez Show
On February 1, 2007, on The Angie Martinez Show on Hot 97 Cam’ron made yet another iconic interview appearance. 50 Cent was the guest on the show, promoting his third studio album Curtis. He was taking calls when Cam’ron and Koch Records’ GM Alan Grunblatt dialed in. The conversation took a sharp turn when 50 Cent called Koch Records a “graveyard” for artists.
Cam’ron, defending his label and artists, challenged 50 Cent’s comments, leading to a back-and-forth over record sales and industry clout. The Harlem rapper questioned the success of G-Unit artists, compared to those under Koch. The back-and-forth then escalated as Cam’ron began to repeatedly taunt 50 Cent with his now-iconic jeer, “Curtisss! Curtiss! How much did the mob sell Curtiss?!”
Angie Martinez, found herself in the middle of the confrontation and tried to mediate to no avail. As tensions rose, she was forced to cut the call short. Despite the abrupt end to the on-air argument however, the feud continued off the air for some time. Nine years later, on August 9, 2016, 50 Cent and Cam’ron publicly ended their feud, sharing photos on Instagram and seemingly sharing a laugh together.
Drink Champs & Neighbor 29C
In a candid episode of Drink Champs, aired on April 3, 2021, Cam’ron shared the bewildering story of his neighbor, a woman now known to the world as 29C. Although he had shared a few clips on his Instagram before the interview, Cam’ron recounted to N.O.R.E how his simple interaction with 29C spiraled into bizarre territory. It began with the neighbor filming him from her terrace and escalated after a personal encounter. She allegedly also sent a direct message to Cam’ron stating what she actually wanted from him: “to have my Black babies,” a request he would consider.
After their hookup, the stalking situation allegedly took a turn for the worse. The neighbor’s behavior became obsessive, prompting Cam’ron to record the incidents and post on his Instagram, “just in case shit go left,” as he put it. Despite the tension, Cam’ron mentioned that he and 29C were on good terms at the time of the interview. The incident, while unsettling, was also leveraged by Cam’ron as a marketing opportunity for his product, Pink Horsepower. Three years later, in a CNN interview, Pink Horsepower made a grand appearance.
Cam’ron’s interview with CNN’s Abby Phillip ended with a bag of mixed reactions and raised eyebrows. The interview, which occurred on May 21, was intended to discuss a recent graphic video involving Diddy assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. Things quickly veered off course after Cam’Ron got a series of leading questions from Phillip. Specifically, she asked if Cam’Ron “recognized” Diddy’s aggressive behavior.
This, and a few other questions made Cam’ron unwilling to continue the interview. “I don’t know him like that, what do you mean did I recognize him?” he asked. “I’ve seen him. What you mean my experiences?” As the interview continued, Cam’ron took a moment to chug his sex enhancement product, Pink Horsepower. After that, he made a crude remark about his plans after the show. “Sorry, I’m gonna get some cheeks after this HorsePower joint.”
He then directed a question off camera: “Who booked me for this joint?” he asked, visibly irritated by the direction of the conversation. “You think I be sitting watching what Diddy do all this? I didn’t know this was a Diddy joint that y’all invited me to.” The segment was abruptly concluded and Phillip thanked him for appearing, and Cam’ron responded with a curt “thank you” before reiterating his earlier question about who booked him for the interview. He would later confirm on his podcast that he was intentionally uncooperative with the interviewer: “You call me on CNN for the bullsh*t, I’m gonna give you the bullsh*t.”
ASAP Rocky and Rihanna have been going out more. The couple stepped away from the spotlight for a couple years to start a family, but it looks as though both of them are ready to drop new music and regain their popularity. The couple went out for a date night on May 15, and appeared to be having a great time. Footage of the two of them went viral, but the real standout moment came when ASAP Rocky decided to do karaoke. The Harlem rapper stepped up and serenaded the mother of his children with a classic rap single from Cam’ron and Juelz Santana.
ASAP Rocky took the mic and ripped off some of “Oh Boy” while Rihanna stood next to him. A fan captured the whole thing on their phone, and Rihanna looked directly into the camera during Rocky’s rapping. “That’s my baby daddy,” she mouthed amidst the chatter in the club. The pop star mouths the words she knows alongside Rocky, but both of them run out of steam. “I don’t know the rest, y’all,” the rapper says while laughing. The club didn’t care, and cheered on Rocky’s performance.
Rihanna wasn’t the only one who was proud of her partner that night. In a separate video, ASAP Rocky can be seen warning a man not to hit on his baby mama. “Don’t be romantic to my girl like that,” he told him. There was a split second where it seemed as though the interaction was going to get serious, but the rapper diffused the situation with some humor. “I’m playing with you, man,” he assured the stranger. The two then shook hands and continued to have fun.
ASAP Rocky picking Cam’ron’s “Oh Boy” was no accident. The rapper is an enormous fan of Cam and the whole Dipset crew. During a 2013 interview with Google Play, Rocky picked the album with “Oh Boy” on it, Come Home with Me, as one of his all-time favorites. “At that time,” he explained. “Dispet was my everything. I used to wear the bandana like Juelz Santana. It was just really flashy, flamboyant, gangsta sh*t and I f*cked with it. That was a good a*s f*cking album.” Cam’ron has shown love in return, praising ASAP Mob for continuing the Dipset legacy.
It’s been a long time since Cam’ron dropped new music. The New York rapper has rebranded himself as a podcaster on the popular series It Is What It Is, but fans are still waiting for him to pick the mic back up. Fans can rejoice, because he finally did. Cam’ron decided to give fans a taste of new music on April 22, with a freestyle meant to commemorate the release of It Is What It Is season 4. Rather than get fans buzzing about new episodes, however, it fueled rumors of Cam getting back in the studio.
Cam proved that he hasn’t lost a step on the untitled freestyle. “Heck my shoes before I put them on, I don’t trust a soul,” he raps over Hitmakerz-esque production. Cam credited the beat to Goddams, who’s worked with Masta Ace, Mobb Deep, and the “Purple Haze” wordsmith himself among countless others. The freestyle drew rave reviews from users, who pleaded with Cam’ron to get back in the studio and bless the world with more Dipset magic.
Cam’ron has comfortably settled into his role as podcaster, but he like to tease fans every once in a while. During a February episode of It Is What It Is, Cam claimed he and co-host Mase have multiple collabs in the vault. “It’s up to Mase to decide when to drop them,” he added.
Cam’ron didn’t have the prodigious output of a Lil Wayne, but he was one of the most consistent rappers of the 2000s. He dropped five solo albums and a ton of Dipset mixtapes/compilations. He’s slowed down his output, however, over the last decade and a half. He waited a decade to follow up Crime Pays (2009) with Purple Haze 2 (2019), which remains his last official release.
Cam talked about the decision to stop recording during an interview with Complex. He claimed that he wanted to pursue different ventures like podcasting and screenwriting, and urged others to do the same. “Rappers who came out in the ’90s or early 2000s, [rapping] shouldn’t be the main thing you’re doing,” he noted. “Like when you say Jay-Z is a billionaire, it’s not all for music.”
Cam’ron has officially come back around to rapping. He dropped the mixtape The Lost Files, Vol. 1 in 2023, and dropped a guest verse on J. Cole’s “Ready ’24.” There’s no project title or release date in sight, but it’s nice to know the NYC legend has still got it.
Cam’ron, a rapper, actor, and entrepreneur, has made significant waves in the hip-hop world. Known for his influential role in East Coast hip-hop, Cam’ron has accumulated an impressive net worth, but what is it in 2024?
Cam’ron Net Worth
The rapper has a net worth of approximately $6 million US Dollars as of 2024, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Music Career Contributing To Cam’ron’s Net Worth
(Photo by Kaitlyn Morris/Getty Images)
Cam’ron, born Cameron Ezike Giles, stepped into the music industry with his debut album Confessions Of Fire. His subsequent albums, Come Home with Me and Purple Haze, were commercial successes and played a significant role in building Cam’ron’s net worth.
His involvement with the hip-hop group The Diplomats (or Dipset) also contributed to his financial standing. The group’s hits, combined with Cam’ron’s solo work, have left an indelible mark on the hip-hop landscape.
Acting Roles Adding To His Net Worth
(Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Cam’ron has also ventured into the world of acting. His roles in films like Paid in Full and Killa Season have expanded his income streams, further contributing to Cam’ron’s net worth.
Entrepreneurship
(Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Cam’ron’s net worth isn’t solely tied to music and acting. The rapper’s entrepreneurial ventures, including his fashion line “Dipset USA,” have added to his earnings. His ability to diversify his income sources has been a key factor in his financial success.
Cam’ron’s Net Worth And His Influence In Hip-Hop
(Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Cam’ron’s influence extends beyond his net worth. He’s played a significant role in shaping East Coast hip-hop, with his music and his work with The Diplomats influencing a new generation of artists.
His stylistic contributions, unique lyrical style, and commitment to the hip-hop genre have solidified his standing in the music industry, impacting both his financial and cultural worth.
Conclusion/TLDR
In conclusion, Cam’ron’s net worth in 2024 stands as a testament to his successful career in music, acting, and entrepreneurship. With an estimated net worth of $6 million US Dollars, he has proven that talent, versatility, and the ability to diversify income streams can lead to significant financial success.
As Cam’ron continues to influence the hip-hop world with his unique style and entrepreneurial spirit, his story serves as an inspiration for upcoming artists navigating their own paths in the music industry.
In the bustling urban landscape of Harlem, New York, LaRon Louis James, better known by his stage name Juelz Santana, found his calling. Born on February 18, 1982, Santana’s foray into music started early. By age 12, he had already formed the duo Draft Pick, catching the eye of influential figures in the hip-hop community. Juelz’s fiery lyrics and unmistakable swagger were destined to leave a mark on the music scene. His journey from these early days to the iconic status he would later attain set the stage for a net worth of $1 million in 2023, according to Fresherslive.
A Diplomatic Rise: Career Highlights & Accolades
Kanye West, Kevin Liles of Def Jam and Juelz Santana (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Juelz Santana’s breakthrough came as a member of the East Coast hip-hop group The Diplomats, known to fans as Dipset. His debut album, From Me to U, showcased his lyrical prowess and marked him as a rapper to watch. But his sophomore effort, What the Game’s Been Missing!, solidified his reputation. With tracks like “There It Go (The Whistle Song)” and “Oh Yes,” Santana captured the zeitgeist of hip-hop in the mid-2000s.
Yet, Santana’s career has not been without its turbulence. Legal troubles and label disputes occasionally overshadowed his musical output. Despite these challenges, his influence and style have remained imprinted on the fabric of hip-hop.
Life Beyond The Lyrics
Jim Jones and Juelz Santana ** EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE ** (Photo by Marc Andrew Deley/FilmMagic)
Santana’s personal life has been as vibrant and complex as his music. Known for his flashy lifestyle and charismatic public appearances, he has often been a fixture in celebrity gossip columns. Relationships, fatherhood, and encounters with the legal system have painted a picture of a man navigating the trappings of fame. Behind the scenes, Santana’s story is one of resilience, adaptation, and continual striving.
Beats, Business, & Giving Back
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 08: Jim Jones, DJ Drama and Juelz Santana attend DJ DRAMA Content Piece For New Album “I’m Really Like That” on February 8, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
While music remains at the core of Santana’s identity, his business interests have extended into fashion and film. Partnerships and endorsements have allowed him to diversify his portfolio. Although not always highly publicized, Philanthropy has been part of his approach to community engagement. Santana’s desire to give back resonates with his roots and reflects an awareness of the power and responsibility that comes with fame.
Conclusion
Santana’s net worth, standing at $1 million in 2023, may seem modest by some celebrity standards. But the figure cannot encapsulate the cultural richness of his career or the lives he has touched through his artistry. In Juelz Santana’s story, we find the echoes of Harlem’s vibrancy, the pulse of hip-hop culture, and the portrait of an artist who defies conventions.
As one of the biggest and best crews to come out of New York in the 2000s, Dipset took the hip-hop game by storm. Recently, one of its members Jim Jonessat down with N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN on Drink Champs and addressed whether the group would ever come back together for a reunion album. Moreover, their last official release as a group was the 2018 album Diplomatic Ties, which was their first in 14 years. When considering whether he, Cam’ron, and Juelz Santana would hop on wax together again for a full-length, Capo brought the financials into play. However, he made it clear that it wasn’t all about the money.
“I ain’t gonna lie, if it was a perfect world and I could have things my way…” Jim Jones remarked. “For me this is just how I see it. Partnering up with the right person, whether it be a label or person who has an invested interest to see us win. And once we have a sound blueprint of that, and not to say it’s about the money. But money makes this s**t move when it comes to doing music.
Jim Jones Theorizes Potential Dipset Reunion Album
“There’s a certain aesthetic that we wanna see and a type of sound the people wanna hear,” Jim Jones continued. “We ain’t trying to cheat the people with things like that. I think a lot of that has been going on in the past years of us doing this Diplomat installments because we’re so used to this whole independent layout. But I think that we put so much work in things like that that I think the people deserve a real Diplomat.”
Meanwhile, this would be a new chapter in a history that resulted in tensions between the Roc-A-Fella-signed group and the label. However, there’s also plenty to look back on and reevaluate when it comes to avoiding those past mistakes. Jones himself recently reflected on how the falling out between the Roc’s heads, Jay-Z and Dame Dash, could’ve been avoided. On that note, log back into HNHH for the latest news and updates on Jim Jones and Dipset.
Recently, Jim Jones sat down for a Roc Nation roundtable interview on Wednesday (June 28) and revealed how the legendary Tupac Shakur inspired Dipset. Moreover, Capo stated that the West Coast icon was instrumental in synthesizing rap beef as an effective promotional strategy for MCs. Still, it’s an unfortunate thing to commend, as rap beef is supposedly why Tupac met the early fate he did. Regardless, when the Diplomats were blowing up on the East Coast and beyond, they took cues from his biggest points of success. Jones is by no means the first to remark this, but it just goes to show how influential Tupac’s legacy is, for better or worse.
“The beef inside of hip-hop is not a mixtape thing,” Jim Jones remarked. “It’s a hip-hop thing. It’s a lot of n***as that got a lot of ego, puttin’ them in the same room, and s**t is bound to happen. But the mixtapes heightened a lot of situations, because now, it could be totally unfiltered. At that time in hip-hop, we was watching Tupac and all of them, and watching how successful they was gettin’ goin’ cr*zy on everybody. It was a whole era right there where this was a marketing tool that was working for major labels and artists at the time that had the upper hand.”
Of course, this rings especially true these days because the New York rapper started some beef of his own. For those unaware, he just launched a diss track against Pusha T, who had some subliminal bars for Jim Jones on an unreleased Clipse track previewed at Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton show at Paris Fashion Week. The whole beef started when Jones dismissed Push’s placement on Billboard‘s list of the 50 best rappers of all time. We’re still in the early stages of that beef, as the Virginia native has yet to make an official diss record.
Meanwhile, for as many subliminals and sneaks disses Push could throw, it’s impossible to determine a “winner” until we have two released tracks to compare. Not only that, but Jones also called it more of a rap battle of skill than it was actual beef. Either way, there’s more conversation around him than there’s been in a while, so clearly it worked. For more news and the latest updates on Jim Jones, stay logged into HNHH.
Cam’ron, a rapper, actor, and entrepreneur, has made significant waves in the hip-hop world. Known for his influential role in East Coast hip-hop, Cam’ron has accumulated an impressive net worth, but what is it in 2023?
Cam’ron Net Worth
The rapper has a net worth of approximately $6 million US Dollars as of 2023, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Music Career Contributing To Cam’ron’s Net Worth
(Photo by Kaitlyn Morris/Getty Images)
Cam’ron, born Cameron Ezike Giles, stepped into the music industry with his debut album Confessions Of Fire. His subsequent albums, Come Home with Me and Purple Haze, were commercial successes and played a significant role in building Cam’ron’s net worth.
His involvement with the hip-hop group The Diplomats (or Dipset) also contributed to his financial standing. The group’s hits, combined with Cam’ron’s solo work, have left an indelible mark on the hip-hop landscape.
Acting Roles Adding To His Net Worth
(Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Cam’ron has also ventured into the world of acting. His roles in films like Paid in Full and Killa Season have expanded his income streams, further contributing to Cam’ron’s net worth.
Entrepreneurship
(Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Cam’ron’s net worth isn’t solely tied to music and acting. The rapper’s entrepreneurial ventures, including his fashion line “Dipset USA,” have added to his earnings. His ability to diversify his income sources has been a key factor in his financial success.
Cam’ron’s Net Worth And His Influence In Hip-Hop
(Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Cam’ron’s influence extends beyond his net worth. He’s played a significant role in shaping East Coast hip-hop, with his music and his work with The Diplomats influencing a new generation of artists.
His stylistic contributions, unique lyrical style, and commitment to the hip-hop genre have solidified his standing in the music industry, impacting both his financial and cultural worth.
Conclusion/TLDR
In conclusion, Cam’ron’s net worth in 2023 stands as a testament to his successful career in music, acting, and entrepreneurship. With an estimated net worth of $6 million US Dollars, he has proven that talent, versatility, and the ability to diversify income streams can lead to significant financial success.
As Cam’ron continues to influence the hip-hop world with his unique style and entrepreneurial spirit, his story serves as an inspiration for upcoming artists navigating their own paths in the music industry.
This year marks the 21st anniversary of Cam’ron’s third album, Come Home With Me. The album was released on May 14, 2002. Though it was not his first successful album, Come Home With Me is easily Cam’ron’s most monumental album in terms of rapping, production, and success. The album signified an era not only for Cam’ron and The Diplomats but for hip hop in the 2000s. More specifically, New York Street Rap was on top at the time. Cam’ron’s third album is full of classic songs that have stood the test of time. Here is a look back at the album for its anniversary.
A Prime Era For Street Rap
Cam’ron’s first two albums, Confessions of Fire and S.D.E. were released through Epic Records. Cam’s third album, on the other hand, was released through Def Jam, JAY-Z’s Roc–A–Fella Records, and Cam’ron’s own Diplomat Records. The album being released under another major label that was closely associated with hip hop, as well as his own imprint and partnership with JAY-Z was the recipe for a classic. In the early 2000s, Def Jam had been in one of its most prominent runs, releasing high-profile albums from the likes of Ludacris, DMX, Ja Rule, and Ashanti. Come Home With Me was yet another prolific release in Def Jam’s arsenal, especially in a slew of many New York rap releases. Come Home With Me was also crucial for the development of Roc-A-Fella Records.
Until Cam’ron’s third album, Roc-A-Fella had only released albums from JAY-Z and the other artists on the label. They had not yet partnered with pre-established artists. Come Home With Me helped build the careers of Cam’ron and Dipset and Roc-A-Fella and JAY-Z’s business careers. After Come Home With Me, Roc-A-Fella was an unstoppable force in hip hop and grew to even larger heights once they expanded beyond their own group.
Come Home With Me Helped Put Dipset On
Cam’ron’s first album, Confessions of Fire did not feature any features from Dipset members. His second album, S.D.E. consisted of six Dipset features. The third album featured ten looks from Dipset members. The album’s most popular songs featured Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, Freekey Zeekey, or a combination of different Dipset members.
Come Home With Me helped build The Diplomats as a group and brand. The album laid the foundation for Dipset’s takeover of hip hop in the 2000s. The momentum started by this album catapulted them to the top, with their Diplomatic Immunity album being released the following year, going down as one of hip hop’s best double albums. Come Home With Me helped introduce the hit-making power of Cam’ron and The Diplomats, leading to many classic records.
Classics On Classics
Come Home With Me consists of most of Cam’ron’s best and classic songs. The historic third album starts with an intro from DJ Kay Slay, an essential stamp of approval during Slay’s run as one of hip hop’s most well-respected DJs. Most notably, the album features songs like “Oh Boy” and “Hey Ma,” certified hip hop classics.
“Oh Boy” is one of Cam’ron’s biggest hits, featuring a bouncy yet soulful instrumental from Just Blaze. The megaproducer was creating nonstop classic songs at the time. Cam’ron cleverly incorporates the vocal sample of Rose Royce’s “I’m Going Down” into his verses, making different uses for the word “boy.” That same year, Mariah Carey remixed “Oh Boy” for a song called “Boy (I Need You).” Another major hit on Come Home With Me that was even bigger than “Oh Boy” was the irresistible “Hey Ma.” Even more than “Oh Boy,” “Hey Ma” appealed to a broad audience, which is one of the main reasons it is still Cam’ron’s biggest song.
On top of the hit records, Come Home With Me was the epitome of the state of New York hip hop at the time. The production was polished but consisted of rugged street raps and inspirational success stories. Cam, alongside Daz Dillinger, spits over 2Pac’s “Ambitionz Az A Ridah” on “Live My Life.” The album’s title track is a career highlight for Cam’ron, Juelz Santana, and Jim Jones as the three spit their best verses. The song’s cinematic production and vivid imagery in the verses make for one of the album’s best tracks. Songs like “I Just Wanna” and “Boy Boy” consist of anthemic production and energetic verses. Dipset’s Roc-A-Fella connection is evident as JAY-Z joins Cam’ron and Juelz Santana for the Just Blaze-produced “Welcome To New York City.” Also, Memphis Bleek and Beanie Sigel spit hard verses for “The Roc.”
Cam’ron’s Biggest Album To Date
Cam’ron’s third album remains his biggest album to date, with its hit songs performing well on charts and achieving certifications from the RIAA. Come Home With Me sold 226,000 copies during its first week, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Furthermore, the album soared to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. By the end of the year, the album achieved Platinum status. The album was also certified silver in the UK and performed well in Canada. “Hey Ma,” still Cam’ron’s biggest single, was certified Platinum in 2018.
