Cam’Ron, 1999 ONYX (MIAMI, FL) photo by j lash
In 1998 Cam’Ron was perhaps one of the most hyped new artists in Hip Hop. He was golden boy Ma$e’s childhood friend. He was from Harlem. He was supposed to be in a mega group with Biggie, Jay-Z and Charlie Baltimore. Love him or hate him, Cam has been one of the more colorful and innovative voices in Hip Hop. You can call him the first rapper to market his music as a “movement.” You can say he’s the reason why Roc-A-Fella appealed to rap fans who didn’t live on the East coast. You can say he’s the guy who invented the worn-out phrase “no homo.” You can say he’s the man who had dudes rocking pink in 2003 and purple in 2004. You can say he’s the reason why his now-distant friends Jim Jones and Juelz Santana are stars today. Unfortunately now, you can also say that he’s missing in action.
64 // OZONE MAG