Nfared Reviews:

Cam'ron, Purple Haze



Some rap artists are consistent. Cam’ron would have to be a shining example of
an artist who is never really full of surprises. His group has not changed
(Dip-Set). His flow has not changed (who is slower, him or pre-minister Mase?)
About the only thing about Cam that is different is his clothing. This change
though, has some wishing for the days where girls where purple and pink and
boys, well-- didn’t wear purple and pink. Fashion critiques aside, after a
major hit with “Come Home With Me”, Cam is back with “Purple Haze”. This
title is appropriate perhaps, seeing as how when listening to this CD, the haze
just never seems to lift.



If nothing else, Cam’ron never lets the ball drop in production. “Purple
Haze” is filled with tracks that compensate for the fact that Cam is not
lyrically interesting. What does not complement the production though is the
fact that a lot of the production is a mix match because it does not fit with
his irritatingly slow and amazingly monotone style of rap. There’s the second
track on the CD, More Gansta Music, for example. Produced by Heatmakerz for
Heatmakerz music, this was the best choice for opening song. The up tempo track
is instantly likable because of its energy. However when Cam comes in on the
last verse, it just throws everything off balance. Cam can’t seem to catch the
beat, which is the way he raps, which for a track like this is just disturbing.
Julez Santana does a much better job of matching the energy of the track on his
verses. It is not just this song though. Cam’ron for the most part ruins tha
majority of the album rapping at a snails pace the entire
album. Killa Cam? Not hardly.



Though there is more sampling going on then at your local grocery store, the
production here is solid though not matching Cam’s flow. “Get Down”,
produced by Chad Hamilton for One Day Entertainment, is definitely an ear
catcher. Though this mid tempo track reminds you of a Kanye West produced song
with its sampling from “Life’s Opera” by Marvin Gaye, the track is still
fun and one of the memorable ones from the album. Then there is the Kanye
produced track “Down and Out”. Another mid tempo track, this one samples
from “Strung Out” by William Bell. Though Kanye has suffered from over
exposure, he is still on the job when it comes to production as he shows here.
However, Syleena should have had more of an opportunity to showcase her
beautifully distinctive voice. “Harlem Streets”, produced by Ty- Tracks for
OOh Way ENT, may sound familiar because it borrows from the “Harlem Nights”
theme song. “More Reasons” is one of the better samples, borrowing from,
you guessed it, “Reasons” by Earth Wind and Fire. With the addition of
Jaheim’s old school voice, producer Chad Wes Hamilton seems skilled in giving
this old school track a molding for a rap song.



To lyrically enjoy “Purple Haze” would call for a stretch of the imagination
one could not possibly fathom. The versus on this CD go from pointless; “I
rock bugattes with hoodies/itz like extra goodie/I couldn’t break dance
ya’ll/or electric boogie/I was obsessed with cookie/I want to sex her
cookie/she said forget it nigga/wipe my nose go get them boogies” (from
“More Reasons”), to confusing; “I been coppin them pieces/maybe that’s
part of the reason/feel like a boxer/bobbin and weaving/but um, yeah/I bob and
I’m weaving/I’m grabbin her neck to stop her from breathing” (from Dip-Set
Forever), to not even necessary; “Get the R. Kelly tape and see how we piss
on you” (from More Gansta Music). This project is full of mid sentence topic
changes and versus that are plain, not congruent, and strange.


Final Grade
Cam’ron obviously thought he had a hit here, making “Purple Haze” a
24-track album that ends of being a 24-track disaster. Too many pointless skits,
Cam’s flow, which raises the question of whether or not there is a difference
between rapping and talking, and too few original tracks tosses this CD into the
pile of rap artists that are devaluing rap music. Final Grade: F







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