Cam'ron facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cam'ron
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Cam'ron performing in 2014
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Cameron Giles |
| Also known as | Killa Cam |
| Born | February 4, 1976 Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1994–present |
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Cameron Giles (born February 4, 1976), known as Cam'ron, is an American rapper. He started his music journey in the early 1990s as Killa Cam. Giles signed with Lance "Un" Rivera's Untertainment, a part of Epic Records, to release his first two albums: Confessions of Fire (1998) and S.D.E. (2000). Confessions of Fire was certified gold, meaning it sold over 500,000 copies.
After leaving Epic, Giles joined Roc-A-Fella Records in 2001. His third album, Come Home with Me, came out in 2002. It became platinum, selling over a million copies. This album featured popular songs like "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma", both with Juelz Santana. These songs reached high spots on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. His fourth album, Purple Haze (2004), was also very successful and earned gold certification.
Later, Giles moved to Asylum Records in 2005. In 2006, he released his fifth album, Killa Season, along with a movie of the same name. Cam'ron starred in, directed, and wrote the film. After a break to care for his mother, Giles returned to music in 2009 with his sixth album, Crime Pays. This album reached number three on the Billboard 200 chart. His seventh album, Purple Haze 2, was released a decade later in 2019.
Before his solo career, Giles was part of the hip hop group Children of the Corn in 1993. The group included Big L and Mase and broke up in 1997. He then formed The Diplomats (also known as Dipset) with his friend Jim Jones and cousin Freekey Zekey. He also performed as half of the duo U.N. (Us Now) with Vado, releasing two projects together. Besides the Killa Season film, Giles also acted in other movies like Paper Soldiers and Paid in Full in 2002.
Contents
Cam'ron's Early Life and Music Start
Growing Up in Harlem
Cameron Giles grew up in East Harlem, a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. His mother, Fredericka Giles, raised him. He attended the Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics high school. There, he met his longtime friends Mase and Jim Jones.
Cam'ron was a talented basketball player, just like Mase. However, he couldn't accept college scholarship offers because his grades weren't good enough. He tried college in Texas but was expelled. He then returned to Harlem and explored different paths before focusing on his rap career. His childhood friend Mase introduced him to The Notorious B.I.G.. B.I.G. then introduced Giles to Lance Rivera, who signed him to his record label, Untertainment.
Forming Children of the Corn
Cam'ron began his music career in the mid-1990s. He rapped with Big L, Mase, and his cousin Bloodshed in a group called Children of the Corn. After Bloodshed passed away in a car accident in 1997, the group broke up. The remaining members then started their own solo music careers.
Albums and Success
First Albums: Confessions of Fire and S.D.E.
In 1998, Cam'ron released his first album, Confessions of Fire. It featured songs like "3-5-7" and "Horse and Carriage" with Mase. "Horse and Carriage" became a Top Ten hit on the R&B charts. The album sold well, reaching gold status and making it into the Top 10 on both pop and R&B charts.
In 2000, Cam'ron released his second album, S.D.E., with Sony/Epic Records. This album included songs like "Let Me Know" and "What Means the World to You". It reached number 2 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number 14 on the Billboard 200.
Joining Roc-A-Fella and Come Home with Me
Cam'ron left Sony/Epic Records and signed with Roc-A-Fella Records in December 2001. This label was co-founded by his childhood friend and new manager, Damon Dash. In 2002, Cam'ron released his third album, Come Home with Me. This album was his most successful, featuring artists like Jay-Z and production from Kanye West. It included the hit singles "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma", both featuring Juelz Santana. The album went platinum, selling over a million copies. This success also helped Cam'ron's group, The Diplomats, sign with Roc-A-Fella.
Purple Haze and Killa Season
In March 2003, Cam'ron and his Diplomats group members, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, and Freekey Zeeky, released their first album, Diplomatic Immunity. This album quickly went gold. It featured popular songs like "Dipset Anthem" and "I Really Mean It".
On December 7, 2004, Cam'ron's fourth album, Purple Haze, was released. It featured collaborations with artists like Kanye West and Juelz Santana. The album also achieved gold status and was praised by music critics. After feeling his projects weren't getting enough attention, Cam'ron asked to leave Roc-A-Fella Records.
On April 28, 2005, Cam'ron joined Warner Music Group under the Asylum Records label. His fifth album, Killa Season, came out on May 16, 2006. Along with the album, Cam'ron released his first film, also called "Killa Season". He wrote, directed, and starred in the movie. Killa Season sold well in its first week and became certified gold.
Crime Pays and Later Projects
After Killa Season, Cam'ron took a break from music for three years. He moved to Florida to help his mother recover from health challenges. In 2009, Cam'ron released his album Crime Pays. This album reached number 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. In 2009, Cam'ron also formed a new group called the U.N..
In 2010, Cam'ron released a series of mixtapes called Boss of All Boses with new artist Vado. They also released a collaboration album called Heat in Here Vol. 1. In 2011, their joint album Gunz n' Butta was released. Later, Cam'ron and Jim Jones decided to work together again for a third Diplomats album.
Cam'ron also appeared on songs with other artists. In 2012, he was featured on Wiz Khalifa's album O.N.I.F.C. and Nicki Minaj's album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. In 2013, he released a promotional mixtape called Ghetto Heaven Vol 1.
In 2014, Cam'ron teamed up with A-Trak for an EP called Federal Reserve. They released the first song, "Dipsh*ts", in May. Cam'ron also released a series of EPs called 1st of the Month throughout 2014. He announced that his next album would be Purple Haze 2, a sequel to his 2004 album, and that it would be his final album.
In 2015, it was announced that Cam'ron, Jim Jones, and Juelz Santana were working on a new Diplomats mixtape. In 2016, Cam'ron announced an album called Killa Pink and a line of Reebok shoes.
Other Activities
Directing and Acting in Films
In 2002, Cam'ron acted in the film Paid in Full. He played one of the three main characters in the movie. In 2006, he started making a film to go with his album Killa Season. This movie was special because Cam'ron wrote, directed, and starred in it. Killa Season was released on DVD in April 2006.
Fashion Design
On February 11, 2014, Cam'ron worked with fashion designer Mark McNairy to show their "Cape line" during New York Fashion Week. Cam'ron also has his own clothing line called "Dipset USA". This brand is named after his former record label, Diplomat Records.
Sports Commentary
In 2023, Cam'ron started his own sports news talk show called It Is What It Is. His co-host on the show is rapper Mase. The show's first episode aired on YouTube in February 2023. The show quickly became very popular online. Cam'ron has said he has turned down big offers from people wanting to buy the show. In August 2023, the show officially partnered with Underdog Fantasy Sports.
Personal Life
On October 23, 2005, Cam'ron was involved in an incident in Washington, D.C., where he was injured. He was able to drive himself to a hospital.
Discography
- Studio albums
- Confessions of Fire (1998)
- S.D.E. (2000)
- Come Home with Me (2002)
- Purple Haze (2004)
- Killa Season (2006)
- Crime Pays (2009)
- Purple Haze 2 (2019)
- Collaboration albums
- Heat in Here Vol. 1 (with Vado) (2010)
- Gunz n' Butta (with Vado) (2011)
- U Wasn't There (with A-Trak) (2022)
Filmography
- Paid in Full (2002)
- State Property 2 (2005)
- Killa Season (2006)
- Rap Sheet: Hip-Hop and the Cops (2006)
- First of the Month (2012)
- Percentage (2013)
- Love & Hip Hop: New York (2012; 2016–2017)
- Honor Up (2018)
- Queens (2021)
See also
In Spanish: Cam'ron para niños
