Cam'ron 'May' Return

A few years ago, Cam'ron seemed poised to become one of hip-hop's most successful artists. By 2006, he had released five studio albums, including "Come Home With Me," which sold 1.2 million copies, and "Purple Haze," which sold 560,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

But after a falling-out within his Dipset crew -- whose other members are rappers Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, Freekey Zekey -- a public dispute with 50 Cent and his mother's multiple strokes, Cam'ron vanished from public view. Aside from a 2007 YouTube video, which showed him standing next to a kiddie pool with palm trees, warning that it would be a hot summer, he stayed away from the music scene.

It still isn't clear whether Cam'ron was laying low in the Midwest, as some speculated, or whether he spent the entire time with his mother at a rehab center in Florida. But regardless of where he spent the last few years, Cam'ron says his self-imposed exile is over. He's preparing the May 12 arrival of his sixth studio album, "Crime Pays," which will be released on Asylum Records.

Cam'ron is also working on a compilation album with his new crew, U.N. (which includes Lady Byrd and Vado), that is set for a late-August release. There is also talk of an as-yet-untitled album being released in December and a potential film soundtrack that will be released that month as well. "I don't want to clog out everything, so I might wait till I drop my own album and see," Cam'ron says.

He recently turned down offers to record a Dipset reunion album, "Diplomacy Immunity 3," after Jones made a peace offering on Hot 97's Funk Master Flex radio show. But Cam'ron hints that it might happen in 2010.

"My year is booked up. I don't have time for that," he says. "I wish them the best of luck. Maybe next year we can sit down and talk, but no time soon. Right now, I'm focused on 'Crime Pays' and the rest of my 2009 plan." -Mariel Concepcion

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Before her debut IN A PERFECT WORLD. appeared in 2009, Keri Hilson had already established an impressive track record in the industry, writing high-charting hits for Mary J. Blige, Timbaland, and Britney Spears, among others, and contributing ... Full Descriptionher unique, elastic voice on various high-profile cameos. IN A PERFECT WORLD. lives up to its promise by giving her singing and writing plenty of room to stretch out. Club bangers like "Turnin' Me On" and "Get Your Money Up" are Hilson's specialty, but she's no slouch on slow-burn ballads and seductive urban contemporary numbers either. Top-flight production from Timbaland, Danja, and Polow da Don provides the lush sonic backdrop against which Hilson's talents unfurl.


The dynamic songwriter was born in Decatur, GA, only a few miles outside of Atlanta. Addicted to TV talent shows like Star Search and Showtime at the Apollo, she was already plotting out her career in music at age 12. Even though her mother hired a piano teacher to encourage those talents, she mainly wanted to sing; therefore, Hilson converted those sessions into vocal lessons, accompanying the teacher on piano. In her mid- to late teens, her career jumped off as a songwriter and background vocalist, working under producer Anthony Dent (Destiny's Child, Diddy). Borne out of that relationship were two failed girl groups (named Pretty Toni and D'Sign) and, more importantly, a host of connections within the industry for whom she wrote or did backup vocals, including Usher, Ludacris, Kelly Rowland, Ciara, and up-and-coming Southern rap producer Polow da Don. After Hilson graduated from high school, she managed to continue juggling all these tasks when she enrolled into Emory University in Atlanta. She eventually moved on from Dent and began working more with Polow da Don. Attending school while actively advancing her music career put a great demand on her, especially from being a member of the extremely versatile Clutch team. But as luck would have it, Polow introduced her to superproducer Timbaland, who wasted no time in signing the multi-talented songbird to his growing Mosley Music imprint in 2006. Over the next couple years, Hilson's songwriting was practically ubiquitous, responsible for numerous hit singles, including Mary J. Blige's "Take Me as I Am," Omarion's "Ice Box," the Pussycat Dolls' "Wait a Minute," and Britney Spears' "Gimme More." She was also featured prominently on Timbaland Presents Shock Value, including the number three Billboard Hot 100 hit "The Way I Are." With Timbaland and Polow in her corner, Hilson relied on the vast pool of recording artists and producers who needed (and wanted) to return the favor for her Mosley Music/Interscope debut. After a couple pre-release singles and numerous delays, In a Perfect World was issued in March 2009, shortly after one of its tracks, "Turnin' Me On," had reached the Top 20 of the Hot 100. ~ Cyril Cordor, All Music Guide

New Independent Release is 'Gone Ham'

Grand Champ, Big T, & Klear J collective make up the group Certified Grand. Coming from Atlanta (hip-hop music central of right now) they are the group that you really need to follow in the future. This is just the first mixtape that the group has completed and I personally can't wait to see what comes next. I'm surprised by the complete skill that these guys show on every single one of the 19 Tracks that are on the mixtape. They even seem to show the women a what a great time they could have just being in the club with them on "Tonite," which feature an Auto-Tune filled hook sung by Main Event. There is no surprise of their knowledge of the might dollar when you hear tracks such as "Wrist Like Damn" and "I Ball All Week".

I guarantee that you will love this mixtape as I think this is one of the best of 2009...so far. Keep checking up on their progress @ myspace.com/certifiedmuz1k. I know that you will 'go HAM' over this.- Josh Lemons