Somethin’ ’bout that rapper…
[Video][Website]
[6.00]
Crystal Leww: A-Trak was Kanye’s DJ for a while, and here he samples his former employer/collaborator and gets with Cam’ron. This style is suited for A-Trak; dude was always a fan of his scratches, and this lets it sound retro and cool. Cam’ron tries really hard to string something together. It comes off sounding like a Kanye circa-2005 track, which is fine, but I’d just rather be listening to Late Registration.
[5]
Anthony Easton: These one liners are so old that they might as well come from Henny Youngman and are about half as funny.
[3]
Will Adams: Such a lively beat, unfortunately occupied by someone who is constantly running out of things to say.
[5]
Patrick St. Michel: The way Cam’ron pronounces “hadouken” here is really special, and the whole song is very relaxed, if not particularly memorable.
[6]
Megan Harrington: I have to dock Cam a couple points on “Humphrey” because I’ve heard Purple Haze, and though this is probably one of my early favorite songs of the year for sounding like a return to form (bloodsucking nostalgia mosquitoes!), it’s also only two minutes long. It’s an ageing man who throws his back out lifting a heavy box just to prove he’s still strong.
[7]
Brad Shoup: He’s even more of a teddy bear in his middle age, rocking a smoker’s delivery and a carefree rumble. He could be rapping over anything — that’s how it goes — or maybe anything would bang under his tone control and two verses of eloquent shrug.
[8]
Rebecca A. Gowns: I tend to dislike Cam’ron’s lyrics when I scrutinize them on the page(/screen), but when he tosses them out there he always makes them sound so clever. He’s got an affable voice, and he’s great with picking the right producers to work with, too. On its own, the A-Trak instrumental would be snooze-worthy; on his own, Cam’ron might seem like he’s nothing but pure braggadocio. Together, they’re a rum and coke.
[8]