The best direction to move is onward and upward. The pandemic slowed the world down and brought some things to a screeching halt, but these days are still about progress. 

This track is a night vibe. And a cool breeze. I slapped the instrumental over and over on the road. DJ Pain 1 created a sound that felt like a scene off Afro Samurai. That’s what I thought about as I was finding the flow. 

I’m an old soul. I reference classic music and movies all day. You hear the shoutout to Curtis Mayfield. 

On ‘MOU’, I end my verse by saying, “move on up.” That’s a little Easter egg about the title of the record. 

MOU stands for memorandum of understanding. It’s a document with the terms for exchanging services or goods between businesses. 

This is me pledging to deliver on a high level. Lyrical potency without the ego trips.

The tempo is at a cruise. The music ice cold. The low end is groovy. 

It had me rhyming like I was outside in a bubble coat and some timbs. Like Bas in the Golden Goals video. 

The entendres got entendres. Listen closely. This is one of those records that ages like wine. 

Pour you some and put on ’MOU’.

Cam One - MOU 
Prod. by DJ Pain 1

https://unitedmasters.com/m/cam-one-mou

All Good is for anyone in the middle of tribulation. Play it and look in the mirror. 

This record is encouraging you to step into your power. 

It’s too easy to let others dictate what you do and how you move in life. An empath has to realize living for others ain’t it. 

Even when things seem bad, it’s all good. There’s a blessing in every lesson if you have enough energy to receive it. 

Chaos is part of the plan. The order of life is found in it. The abstract. 

Stepping into consciousness gives us the ability to influence the chaos. 

All we have to do is speak life to a glass of water and every drop changes. Human beings are no different than the glass. 

The music is introspective. I wanted the lyrics to match. 

It’s not realistic to think that everything is positive. But it is beneficial to feel that everything will work out. 

Attitude determines altitude. You gotta be able to look the enemy in the face and say, “it’s all good.” 

And there it is.

Cam One - All Good
Prod. DJ Pain 1

https://unitedmasters.com/m/cam-one-allgood

All Good

Any time you hear “say it loud,” the next thing coming after that is, “I’m Black and I’m proud.”

You may even be the one who says it. 

During the past few decades, Black people have researched their heritage. finding indigenous family ties. Many discovered connections to the native peoples of America. 

‘OGF’ is an ode to those natives. It’s also an affirmation for Black Americans. 

Around the time this record launched, criminal charges against Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend were being dropped and the trial for Derek Chauvin (Police Officer who murdered George Floyd) was starting.  

It’s no surprise to anyone. Police brutality causes static between citizens and public officers. Time after time the justice system failed to deliver. 

The relevancy of the lyrics makes ‘OGF’ significant. A sample by Con Funk Shun gives you that classic sound. It didn’t take long for me to write this song after listening to it.

I wanted to speak to the resilience of the Black people. Our ability to turn tragedy into triumph is unmatched. It’s poetry in motion.

Since coming into knowledge of self, I feel led to use my platform wisely. I want to continue conversation around good, bad, and uglier aspects of my community. 

In my own fantasy world, this record is another anthem playing right after To Pimp a Butterfly. Unity is essential for progress. And we gone be alright.

The new “say it loud,” is “Original Forever.”

Cam One - OGF
Prod. by Erik The Dawn

Watch the Official Music Video
https://youtu.be/0sMKD7h1YUE

https://unitedmasters.com/m/cam-one-ogf

The intro to Black On Both Sides is a great way to sum things up. 

(Where do you think Hip-Hop is goin'?) 
I tell em, "You know what's gonna happen with Hip-Hop? 
Whatever's happening with us" 
If we smoked out, Hip-Hop is gonna be smoked out 
If we doin' alright, Hip-Hop is gonna be doin' alright 
People talk about Hip-Hop like it's some giant livin' in the hillside 
Comin' down to visit the townspeople 
We are Hip-Hop 
Me, you, everybody, we are Hip-Hop 
So Hip-Hop is going where we going 
So the next time you ask yourself where Hip-Hop is going 
Ask yourself: where am I going? How am I doing? 
Till you get a clear idea 

‘I Feel It’ is about a Sacramento emcee and his ongoing relationship with Hip Hop. 

What starts out as small infatuation becomes full commitment, roller coaster included. 

Growth had to happen. The young emcee wouldn’t have as much investment in Hip Hop. He had to spend time with her. 

He had to realize loving Hip Hop meant embracing her for who she is. She’s multi-talented. She’s versatile. She’s even multi-cultural. 

The record moves into a space where the emcee is at a crossroads with Hip Hop. This is a moment of truth. He may or may not dig it, but he feel it. 

He chooses H.E.R. 

Hip Hop in its Essence is Real 

Cam One - I Feel It 
Prod. by Epik The Dawn

https://unitedmasters.com/m/cam-one-ifeelit

I Feel It

Flying Lotus - Your Screams (Cam One Remix)

Yasuke inspired raps over Flying Lotus production

via #Bandlab

Flying Lotus - Your Screams (Cam One Remix)

What's a Rhyme

In a string of weeks, Hip Hop lost several legends. DMX, Black Rob, and Shock G passed away April 2021. 

Each time was unexpected, and each time hurt just as much as the last. 

I had been thinking about artists and their impact posthumously. It started when I heard ‘I Get Around’ on the radio. I ended up slapping Picture Me Rollin’ during the week. All that was my second inspiration for Slidin’. 

The instrumental was another catalyst. It’s vibes perfect to listen to with the windows down. 

Cue this up around sunset. Even sunrise. Play this record for the late night hype. The chill evening flow. 

I wanted to create a vintage mood. Something nostalgic that feels good like how 2Pac did on a lot of his albums. 

Slidin’ sounds like California. The music is warm. It fills you up. 

On this record my goal is to have you feeling light. I want the lyrics to get you high. 

The marathon continues. Some keep rolling. I’mma keep slidin’.
credits


Cam One - Slidin’ (Prod. by PK)


https://unitedmasters.com/m/cam-one-slidin

What's a Rhyme

wako_

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