The stage name of American rapper, actor, and businessman Cameron Ezike Giles is “Cam’ron.” In addition to having a successful solo career, Giles is also well-known for his work with the East Coast hip-hop group “The Diplomats” (also known as “Dipset”) and as a member of the duo “U.N.” (also known as “Us Now”). His streetwise and combative rap style is frequently compared to that of Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs of Bad Boy Entertainment, and both cult and mainstream music fans enjoy it. His third studio album, “Come Home with Me,” had his biggest Billboard hit to date, “Oh Boy,” for which he also shared a “Grammy” nomination with fellow Diplomats member Juelz Santana. This is when he first gained popularity. A new record from “The Diplomats” will be released alongside his seventh studio album, “Killa Season 2: The Pink Edition,” which he is currently working on. In the movie “Killa Season,” he also contributed as an actor, writer, and director.
Early Childhood & Life
Cam’ron was raised by his lone mother Fredericka Giles after being born on February 4, 1976, as Cameron Ezike Giles in New York City’s Harlem district. He went to school at the Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics, where he became friends with Jim Jones and Mason “Mase” Betha.
Alongside Mase, he was blossoming into an All-City and All-American point guard, but due to his subpar academic performance, he was unable to take advantage of scholarship offers from prestigious universities. Despite enrolling in Navarro Junior College in Texas, he quickly dropped out and returned to Harlem, where he briefly dealt drugs. He did not complete his education.
Career of Cam’ron
When he joined forces with Big L, Mase, and his cousin Bloodshed to establish the underground rap group “Children Of The Corn” in the middle of the 1990s, Cam’ron began his rapping career. But after Bloodshed passed away unexpectedly in a vehicle accident on March 2, 1997, the remaining band members made the decision to split up and pursue solo careers.
The Notorious BIG, who was introduced to him by his friend Mase, was so taken with him that he scheduled a meeting with Lance “Un” Rivera and signed him to his label, Untertainment. His debut album, “Confessions of Fire,” which was rated gold by the RIAA and featured smash singles including “3-5-7” and “Horse and Carriage,” was released in July 1998.
In 2000, he worked with Tommy Mottola, a music industry entrepreneur, to release his second album, “S.D.E.” (Sports Drugs & Entertainment), through Sony/Epic Records. With songs like “Let Me Know” and “What Means The World To You,” the album, which also included Destiny’s Child, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, N.O.R.E., and producer Digga, peaked at No. 2 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums list.
He and Jim Jones created the hip-hop group “The Diplomats” in 1997, and in 2001, they got a record deal with Jay-Roc-A-Fella Z’s Records, which Damon Dash, a boyhood buddy, also co-founded and manages.
His third album, “Come Home with Me,” which was released in 2002, included Juelz Santana, the band’s newest member, on the hit singles “Oh Boy” and “Hey Ma.”
He played one of the three leading roles in the 2002 movie “Paid in Full,” which was produced by Damon Dash.
He released the Diplomats’ debut album, “Diplomatic Immunity,” in 2003 alongside Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, and Freekey Zeeky. It featured the lead hit, “Dipset Anthem,” and the street anthem “I Really Mean It.”
The group’s second album, “Diplomatic Immunity 2,” which was somewhat successful and was able to obtain gold certification like its predecessor, was released the following year. Cam’ron, who at the time was known as the pink-purple rapper due to his love of those hues, put out the well-received “Purple Haze” album in December 2004.
He quit Roc-A-Fella Records in 2005 to negotiate a record deal with Warner Music Group because he thought his most recent album wasn’t properly promoted. In addition to his film of the same name, which he also wrote, directed, and starred in, his first album from the label, “Killa Season,” was published on May 16, 2006.
With only roughly 150,000 units sold, his subsequent album, “Crime Pays,” which was released on Asylum/Diplomat Records in 2009, had the lowest sales of his career. Although none of the singles were successful, the album earned its highest position on the Billboard 200 at No. 3.
Along with rapper Vado, he co-founded the record label Dipset West in 2009, and the two later collaborated on the albums “Heat in Here Vol. 1” (2010) and “Gunz n’ Butta” (2011). Even though a whole album has been overdue, he also reconciled with Jim Jones at this time and got back together with the other Diplomats members to work on new singles.
He made appearances on the songs “The Bluff” from Wiz Khalifa’s second studio album, “O.N.I.F.C.,” and “I Am Your Leader” from Nicki Minaj’s second studio album, “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,” both released in 2012.
He collaborated with A-Trak on the EP “Federal Reserve” in 2014, the first song from which, “Dipshts,” was released in May.
Cam’ron, who owns the “Dipset USA” apparel brand, worked with fashion designer Mark McNairy on their “Cape line” at the beginning of 2014 and released “Ebola mask” in October of the same year.
He has put out six volumes of his “1st of the Month” EP series in recent years, and he is currently working on his seventh studio album, “Killa Season 2: The Pink Edition.”
Bigger Works of Cam’ron
His most popular album to date is Come Home with Me from 2002, which was produced by Just Blaze, Kanye West, and The Heatmakerz and featured Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel, and Jay-Z. The album was certified platinum, hit the top of the charts for the top R&B/Hip-Hop albums, and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
Recognition & Achievements
The “Grammy” awards nominated Cam’ron twice, in 2002 and 2003. For “Oh Boy” and “Dipset (Santana’s Town), he was nominated alongside Juelz Santana for “Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.”
Personal Legacy & Life
Due to his mother’s health, Cam’ron took a three-year break from music after the release of his fifth studio album, “Killa Season,” and took her to Florida for therapy and rehabilitation. After three strokes left his mother paraplegic on her left side, he stayed with her until she recovered.
He first met Juliet “Juju” C., star of “Love & Hip Hop,” in 2002, and although they initially got along as friends, they soon started dating. However, the couple chose to break up in November 2017, reportedly due to Cam’ron’s suspected involvement with another woman.
Cam’ron Net Worth
American rapper and actor Cam’ron has a $6 million dollar fortune. Over the course of his 20-year career, Cam’ron has released a number of critically praised albums that have earned him RIAA Gold and Platinum certification. Additionally, he has acted in many movies, such as “Paper Soldiers” and “Paid in Full.”
Trivia
Cam’ron has battled with many well-known musicians during his career, including Jay Z, 50 Cent, Kanye West, and even his boyhood friends Mase and Jim Jones. The most noteworthy of these was his conflict with Jay-Z, which gained notoriety after his disc track “You Gotta Love It” was released.