Cam’ron’s Sixth Installment Of ‘1st Of The Month’ Ends The Series WIth A Bang
On the 10th anniversary of his Purple Haze album (Dec. 7), Cam’ron released the sixth and final installment of his First of the Month series. Like the pervious efforts, Killa treats fans to a respectable yet brief EP. Despite only a six-track, 35-minute offering, the Harlem native manages to supply listeners with enough witty and semiautobiographical material to satisfy fans. In fact, Vol. 6 has become that more special since Cam hinted at retirement after the release of his next album Purple Haze 2 in 2015.
The EP begins with the Gunplay and wifey Juju-assisted, “All Dat There Mine.” Over thumping synths and drums, Gunplay, Juju and Killa channel their inner dope dealer personas. Gunplay’s bouncy and catchy hook meshes well with the lively southern backdrop. To hear Juju's raunchy lyrics about Cam eating her p***y on the first night they were together and hitting him off with "work" are memorable and will entertain listeners.
If Purple Haze 2 really is Cam’s last album, hopefully he’ll hit fans off with those hilarious skits—such as the "Phone Interlude" on Cam'ron's debut album Confessions Of Fire—of women that call his phone. Those skits should replace songs like the Sen City-assisted record “Devestated.” Over dark piano-riffs, Cam and Sen find themselves trying to get away from deranged, lovelorn woman. It's mediocre and doesn't mesh well with the rest of EP's content.
But, Cam'ron's falter is brief. The soulful “Easier Said” is reminiscent of Cam’s Dipset days when he would spazz out over soulful production by the Heatmakerz and Kanye West. Killa is at his best when he mixes his Harlem streets tales—he talks about rehabilitating his paralyzed fingers from a shootout—while flexing on haters, which is he perfectly executes on “Easier Said.” The next two tacks—“Just How It Goes” and “Million Dolla” are brief, but prime Cam, which is bittersweet since Killa Season may be ending for good.
Overall, Cam’ takes a thugged out bow on Vol. 6, which is arguably the best of the First of the Month series. With impressive lyricism over stirring production, you can imagine that fans are now in fiend mode for Purple Haze 2. Killa Cam is back.—Darryl Robertson
Read our reviews of Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, Vol. 4 and Vol. 5.