Despite all the recent negative criticism, Dipset chief Cam’ron is back with Public Enemy #1 (Diplomats). This latest offering, in the form of a double mixtape, boasts thirty eight tracks of mostly unreleased material. Silent and seldom seen since his well publicized beef with G-Unit kingpin 50 Cent, Cam is finally ready to recant all the rumors, introduce a few associates, and reclaim his spot as New York’s swagger king. The pink loving leader of the Dips kicks the album off with a six minute verbal g############ (no beats no rhymes), addressing all the of the yentas, rumors, naysayers, NYPD intel, his feelings on the rap industry, and last but not least his hypothetical beef with close friend and Co-CEO of Dipset Jim Jones. Following the rumor fueled diatribe, Killa goes straight into “Why They.” The track is lead by a sped up sample fused with thunder clapping drums, which is reminiscent of The Heatmakerz glory days. Affirming his relationship with the former Roc-A-Fella CEO’s, Cam goes in with his unorthodox style of rhyming: “$100 million club me Dame and Biggs/Shotta like Wayne and Biggs/No need to explain ya dig/Someone come claim this kid/he a fraud/ the city morgue gonna claim his wig.”Moving forward he goes straight into the raucous “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” Powered by a sinister piano loop and the cocking of a firearm, he spits “All of us got goals/Mines are different ducking pot holes/Not to mention glock holes/You cannot doze/Not when your rocks are froze/Here come officer Rizzo, snot nose.” From there, Cam straddles the line between his playfully boisterous King Jaffe Joe persona on tracks like the Rod Stewart sampled “Just Us,” and “Hot Mess” and his Mafiosi alter ego Killa Cam on “Dead The Funeral” and the southern twanged “Ain’t like Us.”The second half of the mix tape kicks off with Cam humorously chatting over the breezy horns of Sister Nancy’s reggae riddim “Bam Bam. ”I’m a loco head/That leave you so so dead/Black caddy/Beef patty for that cocoa bread.” Unfortunately, minus the single “Glitter,” the next ten tracks serve as a podium for his new rap allies Tom Gist and Penz.Void of Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, and any blatant dis tracks, Public Enemy #1 serves its purpose by cementing that Harlem’s golden boy still has some fight left in him.SOUNDCHECK:Cam’Ron “Hot Mess”Cam’Ron “Calm Down”
