Cam’ron – Purple Haze 2 (Album Review)

One of my favorite rappers of all time returns to the hip-hop scene with “Purple Haze 2.”

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TOP 5

5. THIS IS MY CITY/KEEP RISING

I’m not going to lie, I cried the moment I pressed play on both “This Is My City” and “Keep Rising.” Not only because I’m one of those cryers that cry when other people cry (Max B cries his ass off on the hook to both tracks), but the combination of the two tracks features trill, sly, playful, and classic versions of Cam’ron (Damn, I really missed this n***a!).

I’m not going to lie, the way Cam switched to the nostalgic-sounding “Keep Rising” after “This is My City” finished was tight as s**t.

4. K.O.P.

Based on his singing in “K.O.P.,” Cam should consider trying out for The Masked Singer.

In “K.O.P.,” you have the opportunity to listen to crooner Cam as he melodically reminds both his girl and the world that at the core, he’s still a drug dealer/reckless individual who would pay for dome.

If Cam thinks drug-dealing, when you don’t have to, is smart, he needs to think again.

3. Fast Lane

“Fast Lane” serves as a reminder that Cam’ron is one of the best storytelling rappers in the game.

“Fast Lane” is a captivating track that kicks off with Cam’ron recounting a story of standing his ground when confronted by Suge Knight on a gloomy club night. The Harlem rapper then delves into tales of hanging out with Jay-Z, attracting attention from eager admirers, and navigating the challenges of making money through less conventional means. While the song may lose some of its initial intrigue as it progresses, it undoubtedly showcases Cam’ron’s storytelling prowess.

I feel like Suge has had some type of beef with everyone that has ever picked up a mic (Suge even had beef with Vanilla Ice).

2. I Don’t Know

If I were to guess, Cam’ron is a big fan of Wale (Wale is the only feature on “Purple Haze 2” that I would consider random). Whatever the case may be, in “I Don’t Know,” the two rappers show outstanding chemistry with one another.

“I Don’t Know” features serene production that reminds me of something you would hear on a late Sunday morning. Unfortunately, the topics both Cam’ron and Wale discuss in the song are things you would hear on an early Sunday morning (To sum it up, both Cam and Wale come across as straight-up pimps in this song).

I appreciate Cam’s wordplay and cleverness, as well as Wale’s ruthlessness on this song.

1. BELIEVE IN FLEE

“Believe In Flee” is definitely one of Cam’ron’s best tracks to date.

In “Believe In Flee,” you get a juiced-up version of Cam that is slick with the flows, braggadocios as hell, and most importantly, street-personified. When you add the soulful instrumental that gasses Cam up to the overall equation of the song, what you end up with is a gem that only bolsters my favorite rapper’s catalog.

SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN

1. Toast To Me (3.5/5)

2. Medellin (3/5)

3. Losin’ weight 3 (4/5)

4. K.O.P. (3.5/5)

5. I Don’t Know (Ft. Wale)(4.5/5)

6. Big Deal (3.5/5)

7. Fast Lane (4/5)

8. The Right One (3.5/5)

9. This My City (Ft. Max B) (3.5/5)

10. Keep Rising (Ft. Max B) (3.5/5)

11. The Get Back (Ft. Mimi) (3.5/5)

12. Just Be Honest (Ft. Mimi) (3/5)

13. Ride The Wave (3.5/5)

14. Killa Bounce (Ft. Disco Bounce)(2/5)

15. Believe In Flee (4.5/5)

16. Straight Harlem (3.5/5)

OVERALL RATING

In Purple Haze 2, Cam’ron reminds the world why people in the hood see him as a triple OG. In the album, he tells believable tales about everything you can find in a hood encyclopedia. What makes the tales the Harlem MC talks about on the album even more riveting is that they are accompanied by bars that sound bonafide and instrumentals that sound nostalgic.

In my eyes, Cam’ron remains an undervalued MC, often not receiving the recognition he deserves for his exceptional talents. His adeptness at weaving clever punchlines, experimenting with deliveries, and embodying an OG persona is, in my opinion, overlooked. Purple Haze 2 provided an experience where I absorbed and resonated with the majority of Cam’ron’s lyrics, even when some tracks fell a bit flat. While past cringe-worthy moments like “Computers computin'” come to mind, such egregious instances are notably absent on this album.

My appreciation for Cam as a rapper extends to his choice of instrumentals, contributing significantly to his unique appeal. Purple Haze 2 offers a selection of old-school beats that might resonate with your grandparents, yet, as a young listener, I find an unexpected enjoyment in them. Cam skillfully navigates these instrumentals, delivering bars in distinctive ways that make every word stand out.

Examining the features on Purple Haze 2, they were both scarce and seemingly random. While familiar names like Jim Jones, Wale, and Max B may ring a bell, others like Mimi, Disco Black, or Shooter might not be as recognizable. Nevertheless, each featured artist effectively embraced Cam’s gangsta/savage energy, with the exception of Max B, whose contribution on the two featured songs left me puzzled.

Despite my glowing remarks, I refrained from granting Purple Haze 2 an A+. My personal reservations lie in the perceived lower quality of some tracks, a sense of similarity among certain songs, and Cam’s hooks failing to leave a lasting impression. While the album does well in delivering compelling narratives of hood tales, my grading criteria demands a level of dynamism that, unfortunately, I found lacking.

Purple Haze holds a special place among my favorite rap albums, and though Purple Haze 2 didn’t quite reach those heights, it did serve as a nostalgic reminder of why I cherished the original Purple Haze.