Cam’ron has always been one of my favorite rappers out of New York, especially coming up in high school. Not necessarily because he’s a great lyricist, or hit maker, or even because his albums were particularly great. He’s been my favorite because he just oozes charisma and personality both on and off record, and you can’t help but be drawn to whatever he’s doing. So when, to my surprise, he dropped his first project in forever, The Program, I just had to check it out.
“Kanye got on stage, what he do? Played Jay-Z out
What he do next? Check into the crazy house?
Fuck that you made a living talking greazy
Besides that, man, you Yeezy with the Yeezy’s
Be yourself, you ain’t gotta go AWOL
And fuck that ‘Ye, I been this way since yay tall
If you regret it then dead but if you said it, you said it”
Although he hasn’t dropped any new music in years, he picks up right where he last left off and the whole project feels like he never left. There’s nothing new he adds to his arsenal and the mixtape’s formula is the same formula he’s been using his whole career (a mix of hard, gritty NY production and a few surprising samples), but that personality and almost comedic demeanor is as endearing as ever. Cam’ron’s never been afraid to speak his mind and The Program is full of blunt commentary about the things he’s seen and been through these past few years, including the rift between Kanye and Jay-Z; because you know he’s not going to miss a chance to dig at that. While The Program doesn’t bring anything particularly new to the table, it does remind us that we could all use a bit more Cam’ron in our lives. Here’s to hoping this is just the start of a more consistent output.
Have you heard The Program? What’d you think about it? Was it a good return for The Diplomats head honcho? Let me know in the comments below and be sure to leave your own ratings and reactions to the mixtape.
