Harlem’s Cam’ron is the undisputed king of out-there, freaky rappers, having paved the way for weirdo individualism in hip-hop with his wardrobe of ankle-length mink coats and head-to-toe, bright-pink get-ups, his idiosyncratic slurred flow, his numerous public feuds with all sorts of rap stars, and his incredibly tense on-air confrontation with Bill O’Reilly in 2003. Rising rap stars like Young Thug and Lil Uzi Vert have borrowed some of his antics and aesthetics for their own personas. In November, Cam released his first proper solo effort since 2009, The Program (it’s working title was Killa Pink, in honor of his favorite color of clothing). It embodies everything that’s made him great since he first emerged in the 90s: his rough voice, with his signature behind-the-beat cadence, plus hard-as-hell beats, hilariously raw skits, and just the right touch of eccentricity. The most Cam’ron moment of The Program’s rollout came in the form of his October single, “Dime After Dime.” Sharing a rare glimpse into his sensitive side, he raps about selling cocaine over the smooth, soft-rock of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time”; it’s perfect in its brilliant bizarreness. v
