July 9, 2016 - July 15, 2016, The Afro-American
ARTS & CULTURE
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Cam’ron – Harlem’s Most Popular 21st Century Celeb By Maliik Obee Special to the AFRO Cam’ron will be performing in Baltimore on July 12 at Rams Head Live. New York’s Harlem neighborhood has birthed & housed some of the world’s most prominent Black figures. In terms of entertainment, there are few places whose residents compare, with names like James Baldwin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Sean “Diddy” Combs. But arguably Harlem’s most popular homegrown celebrity of the 21st century is Cameron Ezike Giles, better known as Cam’ron. Harlem is renowned for its rich culture in arts and entertainment (Harlem Renaissance) and the area has played a major role in the evolution of Hip-Hop and R&B. Artists like Doug E. Fresh and Kurtis Blow established Harlem as a force in the early days of hip-hop and acts like Combs and Big L that followed the success throughout the 1990’s. But it was Cam’ron whose charismatic style and alluring sound set the hip-hop world ablaze throughout the 2000’s. Cam’ron has left a lasting impact on rap, from his music to films to fashion, but his success came through trial-and-error. As a teen, Cam’ron enjoyed a propitious high school basketball career at the Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics teaming with friend and rapper Mase. The fastpaced run-and-gun squad found success in a crowded market of good teams, even defeating former NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury’s Lincoln High School in 1992. The team went undefeated in 1994, before losing on a last-second heave by Cam’ron against Louis D. Brandeis High School in the New York PSAL Playoffs. Cam’ron enrolled at Navarro Junior College in Texas, before injuries and off the court issues forced him to leave the school. Despite his hoop dreams deflating, Cam’ron quickly established himself in the underground New York rap scene. Along with childhood friends Mase, Big L, Mcgruff and cousin Bloodshed, the Harlem super group Children Of The Corn was formed. While the group generated buzz on the streets, Mase was blowing up on Bad Boy Records. Mase introduced Cam’ron to the late The Notorious B.I.G., who helped land him his first deal at Epic Records. After receiving a Gold plaque for his 1998 debut Confessions of Fire, Cam’ron’s 2000 follow up S.D.E (Sports, Drugs & Entertainment) failed to duplicate the success despite reaching Number 2 on the Billboard Hip-Hop charts.
Courtesy Photo
Cam’ron After a falling out with Epic and Mase, Cam’ron sought a fresh start, signing to Roc-A-Fella Records in 2000. Cam’ron reinvented himself at Roc-A-Fella, losing weight and adapting a more flamboyant style of dress. He also brought along The Diplomats, a group of childhood friends featuring acts like Jim Jones and Juelz Santana. After bombarding the mix tape scene, Cam’ron scored two Top 5 Billboard Hits in 2002 with “Oh Boy” and “Hey Ma.” 2002’s Come Home With Me album is his most successful to date, peaking at No.1 on the Billboard Hip-Hop charts and being RIAA Certified Platinum. The success of the album propelled Cam’ron to new heights, as his superstardom caused a riff with label mate and boss Jay-Z. In 2003, Cam’ron introduced The Diplomats to the world, scoring another Platinum album with Diplomatic Immunity Vol.1. The group released the sequel in 2004, selling over 500,000 copies, while Cam’ron’s Purple Haze went Gold. A big contributor to Cam’ron’s success was his image, fearlessly endorsing the color pink, an anomaly in the hiphop community at the time. With his unconventional flow and persona, Cam’ron challenged top-tier rappers like Lil Wayne, Jay-Z and T.I. for the crown of hottest rapper.
Celebrities Slam Kanye West’s ‘Famous’ Video Kanye West broke the internet during the last weekend in June after striking controversy with his bizarre and provocative new music video. On June 24, the video for his song “Famous” was released on Tidal, and it featured several celebrity doppelgangers sleeping in the nude with Kim and Kanye. The look-alikes include West’s ex Amber Rose, Kim’s ex Ray J, Chris Brown, Rihanna, Donald Trump, Bill Cosby, Anna Wintour, Caitlyn Jenner, George W. Bush and Taylor Swift. West has spoken out about all of the celebrities, in the video, in the past. This includes Taylor Swift who he both bashes in the song and infamously interrupted during her acceptance speech at the VMA’s in 2009. On June 25, Kanye West announced on twitter that the video would be displayed throughout the city of Baltimore. This surprise showing occurred on North Charles Street
her defense. “Seeing a woman I love like Taylor Swift…a woman I admire like Rihanna or Anna, reduced to a pair of waxy breast made by some special effects guy in the Valley, it makes me feel sad and unsafe and worried for the teenage girls who watch this” she wrote in a Facebook post. “I know that art’s job is to make us think in ways that aren’t always tidy or comfortable. But this feels different,” wrote Dunham. Ray J, who was featured in the video, said he wasn’t pleased with being dissed by the song’s lyrics and being placed next to ex Kim Kardashian. “Man, I’m just trying to stay positive,” Ray J told ET’s Kein Frazier “I’m engaged. My marriage is all messed up ‘cause of craziness. I’m not a part of nothing crazy.” Although Ray J infamously made a sex tape with West’s wife Kim Kardashian, he just wants to put the past behind him. “Can I grow up?” he told Frazier. According to several media outlets, George Bush denied that he was in the video. “In case there was any doubt, I’ll
and West Centre Street, Art Museum Drive, Water Street and South Calvert Lombard Street and South Howard Street and Eutaw Street and West Camden Street. These pop up viewings are also happening across the country and internationally. Some say the piece was inspired by artist Vicent Desiderio’s painting “Sleep,” as simply a metaphor. West told {Vanity Fair} that “It’s not in support or anti any of [the people in the video]. It’s a comment on fame.” However, the celebrities who were exposed are less than amused. Although Taylor Swift has yet to comment about the debacle, her close friend Lena Dunham quickly came to
state the obvious: That is not President Bush. He is in much better shape,” his media spokesperson wrote in an email. Singer Chris Brown also took the video lightheartedly, joking on Instagram by posting “Why I gotta have the plumbers butt/crack showing WAX figure? This nigga KANYE CRAZY, talented, but crazy.” Although Rihanna, Caitlyn Jenner, Amber Rose, and Taylor Swift have yet to respond, many are wondering if they will be taking legal action against Kanye West. However, West does not appear to be afraid of any backlash. On June 25 he tweeted “Can somebody sue me already #I’ll wait,” but it was later deleted from his account.
By Jerica Deck Special to the AFRO
After appearing in the 2002 urban hit film Paid In Full, Cam’ron starred in his own movie Killa Season in 2006. An album of the same name was released, earning Cam’ron his third RIAA Gold plaque. Arguably the biggest rapper of the time, Cam’ron publicly feuded with several of the game’s top emcees, including his boss Jay-Z and 50 Cent. At the top of his game, Cam’ron abruptly disappeared, aborting his rap success for nearly three years. In 2009, Cam’ron made his whereabouts public, revealing that his mother had suffered three strokes in a day and he moved to Florida with her to care for her. By 2009, Cam’s and his Dipset crew had publicly fallen out, and his projects since haven’t had the impact of his earlier works. While still creating music, Cam’ron turned to business ventures, creating a clothing line (Dipset U.S.A), a web series (First Of The Month) and even his own cereal. In 2016, Reebok even released a limited sneaker for the Harlem native, specially designed to commemorate his hit album Purple Haze. Cam’Ron’s influence can be seen today in not only New York rappers like A$AP Rocky and Joey Bada$$, but in the fashion realm of hip-hop. Cam’ron’s career managed to survive several obstacles, including label disputes, multiple rap beefs, and a 2005 shooting in Washington D.C. Through it all, Cam’ron remains one of the most celebrated rap artists of the 21st century.
Omari Hardwick Tells Blacks to Banish Poverty Mentality By James Wright Special to the AFRO jwright@afro.com One of the entertainment industry’s hottest rising stars recently said that Blacks need to rid themselves of a poverty mentality and embrace their own individuality to be successful in life. Omari Hardwick was the guest star of the “Icon Talks” Empowerment Tour June 30 at the Arena Stage in D.C. Hardwick is best known for his current role as James “Ghost” St. Patrick on the popular Starz television network show Power. He told an audience of 200, in an interview format managed by “Icon Talks” co-founder John Burns, that Blacks have thought processes that justify lacking resources. “Too many Black people have a poverty mentality,” Hardwick said. “We think too much of our limitations and not what we can do. We think if we can just get by instead of prospering.” The “Icon Talks” is a performance-based platform that gives a platform to celebrated individuals ranging from professional athletes and music moguls to CEOs and political activists. Burns was pleased to have Hardwick as a performer. “We were excited to have a talent of Omari’s caliber to join us for this event,” he said. “His story is incredibly amazing and he will definitely inspect and inspire the audience.” Hardwick, a native of Atlanta, attended the University of Georgia on a football scholarship and studied acting and poetry, and minored in theater. After graduation, he Continued on C5
Photo by Rob Roberts
Noted actor Omari Hardwick cites poetry at the ICON Talks event on June 30.