Go to school and get your education and follow your dreams.
— Cam'ron
The thing is, with me, my life is a catwalk.
I don't mess with Mase no more, because me, personally, I just go by a different standard than people.
When I do a song, it is more or less for the radio because I've got to do it - that's what I have got to do to win - I always go home and write two street songs.
They treat my stuff like wine. It just gets better with time.
I stay dapper.
What people have to realize is this: You have rappers who are popular or whatever for the time being, but that don't mean you necessarily want to dress like them. You may have a guy who sells five million records; do you want to dress like him? When you see me, you think you may want to dress like that guy because that guy is fly.
Where I come from, once word gets out that you've cooperated with the police, that only makes you a bigger target of criminal violence. That is a dark reality in so many neighborhoods like mine across America. I'm not saying its right, but it's reality.
There was a time when only athletes had sneakers. Entertainers having sneakers, on any level, is a blessing.
I grew up in New York City: Harlem, New York. I played ball for probably two of the biggest amateur basketball organizations in the city.
I loved Muggsy Bogues when he was in the league.
I sell bikinis. I sell comforters. I sell Cam'ron pillows. I sell a bunch of things off my likeness, and it all came from music, so it's definitely a blessing.
I won't talk to the D.C. police.
If you just freestyle, everybody is gonna go, 'Freestyle.'
They didn't know what to do with rap music. You walk into Epic, and they're wearing straight-leg khakis with creases, Prada shoes with tassels. They couldn't comprehend where I was coming from.
When we did Diplomats music, it was all genuine, and I think that's why people love it so much, because they seen a group of kids from Harlem that had almost nothing come up to be platinum-selling artists, and people rode that wave with us.
People are foolish if they think I'm going to lose my head and give up anything to anyone just because someone threatens me.
With music, you've got to find ways to get paid again, 'cause all the cool kids in junior high school and high school, they think you're wack if you pay for music.
Me, I don't really have time to do nothing with Mase.
You know what's dope about social media, the Internet, and stuff in general? It's that you never really realized before how much love you get, and now you can see people around the country wearing your stuff or wearing your face.
They've got a great tool in the Internet. If you've really got a good movement, you can see who likes you.
If you don't stay up with technology, you're gonna fall out of the loop and not make any money.
The movies that I've done in the past, everybody's been like, 'Cam always gets away in a movie playing Cam.' So, like, I'm trying to step outside the box a little bit just to show my range in acting.
I think I'm the best at everything that I do. I may be biased because it's me. But if you ask me that, that's what I'm going to tell you.
I wanted to stand out and look different. It wasn't nothing that was done purposely, or I was going to be the guy who wears pink forever. It was something for me to stand out.
I wear pink whether the public sees it or not. Whether I had a sneaker or not, I'd still be wearing pink.
I went to Manhattan Center High School.
I'm just a Harlem dude that can rap, and people dig my style and persona.
I just do hip-hop because I love to do it.
There is nothing that will be bigger than a Michael Jordan tribute.
Dipset is Dipset, but it's over.
I'm not gonna sit back and listen to somebody who listens to 3LW all day.
I always grow, every album.
That's what I love about the Internet - instead of having to wait on radio to play your song or TV to play your video, I can use the Internet as a tool to get my music out earlier.
Everything is a catwalk for me. I walk to the store, and that's a catwalk.
I never dissed Mase.
All-Star Weekend always treats me great. I love the atmosphere that comes with it.
To be honest, the real money is in merchandising and performances.
You like me, or you hate me. There's really no in between.
You gonna ask me who I compare myself to? Nobody. I don't think nobody can really mess with me as far as flyness or anything that I'm doing.
I'm a fashion icon.
It just feels good when I give people sneakers.
Jay Z and Nas is probably my favorite rap beef because Nas was kinda quiet for a while.
You can't be going through life expecting everything. You gotta have discipline.
I didn't want to be a rapper full time. You know, Big L kinda - God bless the dead - influenced me to do that.
I've never really dissed Ma$e - I just tell you the truth, and if you think he's a sucker for that, it ain't my fault.
I'm from the building where the wave was invented. Downstairs, under me. Ask Bigavel. Y'all call him Bigavel, Max B. I know him as Charlie Rambo. I'm from the building where the wave was invented, and it was invented after I was born.
To me, any publicity is good publicity.
I'm happy to see somebody from the urban community that could go out and make a half-a-billion dollars.
It takes more than a botched carjacking to keep me down.
