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Cameron Giles (born February 4, 1976) better known by his stage name Cam'ron, is an American gangsta rapper, actor, and musician of Afro-Puerto Rican descent. He's also the founder of the hip-hop group The Diplomats, commonly known as Dipset.

Biography

Cameron Giles was born in Harlem, New York of Afro-Puerto Rican descent. He went to school at Manhattan Center High School, where he would meet his long time friends Mase and Jim Jones. He began his musical career in the mid 1990s, rapping alongside Big L, Mase and his cousin Bloodshed in a group called Children Of The Corn. The group dissolved after Bloodshed's death in a car accident in 1997 and Big L's death in 1999. However, Giles continued to rap, and he eventually was introduced to Notorious B.I.G. by Mase,¹ who was so impressed with his skills that Biggie introduced him to his manager.

Early career

Cam'ron signed to Rivera's Untertainment label distributed by Epic/Sony, releasing his first solo album, Confessions of Fire, in July 1998. The album featured songs like "357" and "Horse And Carriage," featuring Mase. Untertainment folded in 1999, and Cam'ron was absorbed into Epic Records. Cam'ron achieved notoriety for his 2001 release from Sony Records under Tommy Mottola.

With Roc-A-Fella

With his release from Sony Records, Cam'ron moved on to sign with his childhood friend¹ Damon Dash in 2001, who had already been managing him and Roc-A-Fella Records. In 2002, he released his third and most successful album, Come Home With Me, along with the biggest hits of his career, "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma," both featuring Juelz Santana.² He went on to appear in the Damon Dash produced film, Paid in Full, in 2002. Cam'ron then teamed up with his fellow Diplomats Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, and Freekey Zeeky to release the Diplomats' debut album, Diplomatic Immunity, in 2003, which was quickly certified platinum by the RIAA. On November 23, 2004, a year later, the Diplomats released their second album, Diplomatic Immunity 2. Although not as successful as The Diplomats' first group album, it still was boosted to gold status. Cam'ron's fourth album, Purple Haze, was released on December 7, 2004, on Def Jam/Roc-A-Fella Records. It reached gold status.³ In December 2004, Cam'ron requested his release from Def Jam/Roc-A-Fella Records, feeling his projects weren't receiving the attention they deserved.

Asylum Records

On April 28, 2005, Cam'ron officially joined the Warner Music Group under the Asylum Records imprint.⁴ Cam'ron began work on what would be his first project for Asylum, shooting a direct to video movie titled Killa Season. The film would mark both Cam'ron's screenwriting and directorial debuts, as well as his return to acting. Killa Season was released on DVD on April 25, 2006, after a special two-day theatrical release.⁵ Cam'ron's fifth studio album, also titled Killa Season, was released on May 16, 2006. Despite selling 114,000 units his first week and debuting at #2 on the charts, Killa Season failed to have the same staying power as his previous releases, making it the lowest selling album of his career & first album not to reach gold status. As of November 1, 2007 Cam'ron officially stated that he had been released from Asylum Records.

Other music projects

Children of the Corn

Main article: Children of the Corn (group)

Cam'ron first started rapping as a member of the rap group, Children of the Corn, alongside Mase, Big L, Digga and his cousin Bloodshed. The group split up after the death of Bloodshed and before they were signed to a deal, but a collection of the group's songs was released in 2003 entitled Children of the Corn: The Collector’s Edition.

The Diplomats

Main article: The Diplomats

Cam'ron is the leader of the Harlem rap group The Diplomats, known as Dipset. When the group's debut album, Diplomatic Immunity, was released, the group became a financial success and was expanded to include three new members: Hell Rell, JR Writer, and 40 Cal.

Other ventures

Diplomat Records

Main article: Diplomat Records

Cam'ron founded Diplomat Records (distributed by Koch Records, Asylum Records, Warner Bros. Records, Def Jam Recordings, and SRC Records) in 2002 with Jim Jones, shortly after being dropped by Sony Records. He later expanded his label to form Killa Entertainment.

Acting career

Cam'ron made his acting debut on the 2002 film Paid in Full, where he played the character Rico, who is based on former Harlem drug dealer Alpo.

In 2006, Cam'ron would return to his acting career and make his debut in screen writing in his movie Killa Season. Cam'ron plays a high school basketball player who eventually drops out of high school to begin his own drug ring. The movie was released in 2006, simultaneous with the Killa Season album. It was shown at a few theaters in New York City and is now available on DVD.

Shooting & "Stop Snitchin'"

On October 23, 2005, Cam'ron was leaving a nightclub in Washington D.C., having performed the day before at Howard University, and stopped at a traffic light at the intersection of New York and New Jersey avenues.⁶ Shortly after midnight, a passenger of a nearby car threatened Cam'ron to "give up" his car, a 2006 Lamborghini. Cam'ron resisted, and the gunman then shot him. Cam'ron was struck at least once as he was holding the steering wheel, but he was able to drive, going the wrong way on streets and flashing his lights, trying to get a police officer's attention because he didn't know his location or that of a hospital, until a fan drove him to Howard University Hospital. The gunman and passenger fled and crashed into a parked car and a home, then fled the scene. D.C. Metro Police recovered a cell phone from the scene of the crash, which they tried to use to trace the suspects. On April 22, 2007, Cam'ron was interviewed on 60 Minutes about the incident. He stated that he does not know who shot him. He also stated that he would "not help the police" try to locate the shooter saying he is "not a snitch" and helping the police would probably hurt his record sales.

Cam'ron was also questioned on 60 Minutes about the "Stop Snitchin'" campaign. When asked if he would tell the police if a serial killer was living next to him, Cam'ron replied "I would probably move," but wouldn't inform the police. Cam'ron has had contact with the police in the past. According to The Smoking Gun, New York Police Department records indicate that he cooperated with police after he was assaulted at a Harlem playground in 1999.⁷

Discography

Main article: Cam'ron discography

• 1998: Confessions of Fire
• 2000: S.D.E.
• 2002: Come Home With Me
• 2004: Purple Haze
• 2006: Killa Season
• 2009: Crime Pays

Filmography

• 2002: Paper Soldiers
• 2002: Paid in Full
• 2005: State Property 2
• 2006: Killa Season

References

External links

• Diplomat Records
• Asylum Records
• Cam'ron at MySpace
• Cam'ron at the Internet Movie Database