Image via Complex Original
The list of rappers who actually succeed at being funny is a short one. Cam’ron ranks right up near the top of that list—without even trying. Whether it's a TV interview gone awry or a camera phone video gone viral, Killa Cam’s a constant source of entertainment even when he's on hiatus from the vocal booth.
Most recently, his Jay-Z impression during a Diplomats interview with Miss Info provided some much-needed comic relief to a discussion of both artists’ strained past. Over the years, Cam's made headlines for all sorts of stunts, from the ridiculous to the sublime.
Just to refresh your memory, we pulled together Cam’ron’s 10 Most Ignorant Moments. Take a look and relive some of the craziest episodes in Killa Cam’s 13-year career. Is he a comic genius or just plain ignorant? Let others be the judge of that. We're too busy cracking up.
Written by Julian Pereira (@Broadway_Jay)
10. Showing Off The Strip Club Inside His House
Date: December 2010
Most Ignorant Line: “Yeah nigga, 17 poles.”
What happened? Holding the camera sideways, King Jaffe Joe gives us a twisted tour of his crib that's too hot for mtv. From the Diplomat logo on his red curtains to his sparking sparkling red floor, Cam captures all the action. “Hold up," he narrates proudly, "my floors is dancing. You see my floors dancing? My fucking floors dance, nigga.” But the best is a yet to come—downstairs there's a private strip club with enough poles and strobe lights to give Magic City a run for its money.
Complex says: Believe it or not, Killa Cam actually has a side-hustle as an interior decorator. We just want to know who his other clients are.
9. Getting A Girl To Make It Clap
Date: May 2010
Most Ignorant line: “Tell them about it, ho.”
What happened? Where does Cam find these ladies to co-star in his videos? After pulling up in a silver Aston Martin Vanquish convertible, Cam hops out and lets us know he's just come from a pool party. Then the young lady in his passenger seat—whom he addresses simply as "ho"—proudly pulls up her dress, turns around, and claps her cheeks together. (Peep the video here).
Complex says: Sersiously, what the fuck was the point of this video?
8. Having His Mom Scrub His Jewelry
Date: November 2010
Most Ignorant line: “They doing the fucking macarena.”
What happened? After filming his mother scrubbing his watch and rosary with a toothbrush, Cam gives them the once-over to make sure her cleaning job is up to par. He’s pleased to report that his diamonds resemble the rainbow. “They dancing," he says. "They doing the fucking macarena...Every loop on the fucking rosary is dancing... The ring dancing. I’m dancing with the fucking stars, man!”
Complex says: Cam seems a little too excited about seeing jewelry he already owns.
7. Going On An X-Rated Walgreens Adventure
Date: September 2011
Most Ignorant line: “What type of ass is that?”
What happened? With his friend Murph behind the camera, Cam’ron eggs on a pantyless woman who's running amok in Walgreens. Exhibiting phenomenal glute strength, she squeezes all types of merchandise between her ass cheeks. Objects being clenched include a bottle of Vitamin Water, a DVD, and a jar of Miracle Whip. (Peep the NSFW video here).
Complex says: We can only hope Cam kept his word to the store security guard and purchased all the items shorty put between her cheeks. Having customers catch a stench of ass in their refrigerator probably isn't good for business.
6. Buying His GED For $600
Date: April 2010
Most Ignorant Line: “I brought my GED when I was 17.”
What happened? After engaging in a debate about education on Twitter, Cam’ron tweeted the truth about how he actually got his GED. "You really graduate when you make it outta of the hood," wrote Cam. "To tell da truth I brought my GED for $600 when I was 17. Just to make my mom happy."
Complex says: Judging by his choice to go with the word “brought” instead of “bought,” we can’t help but think maybe a few more classes would have paid off for Cam.
5. Filming A Woman Peeing In Public
Date: October 2010
Most Ignorant line: “Let me see some piss.”
What happened? While stopping at a gas station, Cam’ron aims his camera phone at a woman urinating in public. Intrigued, he says, “Let me see some piss.” She asks him for $10. “That’s it?" Cam asks, "You ain’t going to wipe your ass?” Then another man helpfully reaches in to do it for her. No wonder the gas station attendant looks so perturbed. (You can see the disgusting video in all its glory over here).
Complex says: What's even more confusing than Cam’s fascination with the woman peeing? The fact that she couldn't walk ten yards to the gas station's ladies room.
4. Cam’Ron On The O’Reilly Factor
Date: November 2003
Most Ignorant Line: “You mad?"
What happened? Any rapper appearing on Fox News has the potential to get ignorant. But Cam'ron going on The O’Reilly Factor with Dame Dash, now that's just asking for trouble. Killa found himself in a debate with school principal Salome Thomas-El, moderated by Bill O’Reilly himself—the man who's lambasted hip hop artists and their corporate sponsors time and time again.
The discussion centered around Cam’s use of coarse language in his raps, with O’Reilly and principal Thomas-El urging Cam to take responsibility for his music's impact on children. Sensing that Dame was getting under O’Reilly’s skin, Cam birthed one of the greatest Internet memes ever, gleefully taunting: "You mad? You maaaad.”
Complex says: This was presumably the first and last time Bill O’Reilly would be referred to as “Doggy.” Cam’s argument might have been suspect, but his nonchalant irritation of Fox News' resident blowhard became the stuff of legend, going down in history as one of the few times where O’Reily was unable to bully his guest into submission. It also lead to what may be hip-hop's greatest GIF. All in all, Cam and Dame made for the best episode of the The O’Reilly Factor ever.
3. Telling 60 Minutes To Stop Snitching
Date: April 2007
Most Ignorant line: “I wouldn’t call and tell anybody on [a serial killer living next door], but I’d probably move.”
What happened? During this legendary 60 Minutes segment, Cam’Ron sat down with Anderson Cooper to talk about the Stop Snitching movement. As Cam broke down his own street code of ethics, Cooper's expression grew increasingly incredulous—especially when Cam explained why he'd rather let a serial killer run free than call 5-0.
Complex says: Cam wasn’t explaining anything hip-hop fans didn’t already understand, but his choice of venue was not ideal. Anderson Cooper wasn't ready for all that Diplomatic Immunity. Cam's 60 Minutes debacle may be the most famous example of "When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong."
2. Making Fun Of Stan Spit’s Mother Being Dead
Date: 2000
Most Ignorant Line: “Hung out with you on Mother’s Day, because your mother's dead.”
What happened? When Stan’Ron dissed Cam—his former mentor—in an obscure freestyle, Cam let off this career-ending diss track, "Dear Stan." The song flips Eminem’s classic about a suicidal male groupie into a lyrical homicide.
Complex says: Saying the meanest shit you can think of just to win a rap battle is one thing, but when you talk about someone’s deceased mother, even if you win (and Cam’ron clearly did), you will always lose.
1. Threatening To "R. Kelly" Nas’s Daughter
Date: 2002
Most Ignorant Line: “Tell your daughter: R. Kelly, have my way with her face.”
What happened? After Nas deemed Cam’ron’s Come Home With Me album “wack” on Hot 97, Cam and Jim Jones responded with a freestyle aimed at Nas over his classic “Hate Me Now” beat. The song appeared on the Diplomats Volume 2 mixtape.
Complex says: Diss records are all fun and games until someone refers to your mom as a "whip-wop head" and threatens to "R.Kelly" your daughter in the same breath. This one was a hop, skip, and a 12-hour plane ride over the line—even by hip-hop standards.