Cameron Ezike Giles (born February 4, 1976 in Harlem, New York), better kno… Read Full Bio ↴Cameron Ezike Giles (born February 4, 1976 in Harlem, New York), better known as Cam'ron or Killa Cam, is an American rapper, actor, co-founder of Diplomat Records and of the group The Diplomats, also known as Dipset. He began his musical career in 1994, rapping alongside Big L, Mase and his cousin Bloodshed in a group called Children Of The Corn. The group dissolved after Bloodshed's death in a car accident in 1997. However, Cam'ron continued to rap, and he released his solo debut album, Confessions of Fire, in 1998. He has since released 2000's S.D.E, 2002's Come Home With Me, 2004's Purple Haze, 2006's Killa Season and 2009's Crime Pays.

Cam'ron made his acting debut on the 2002 film Paid in Full, where he played the character Rico, who is based on former Harlem drug dealer Alpo. In 2006, Cam'ron would return to his acting career and make his debut in screen writing in his movie Killa Season. Cam'ron plays a high school basketball player who eventually drops out of high school to begin his own drug ring. The movie was released in 2006, simultaneous with the Killa Season album.

Harlem Streets )
Cam'ron Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dipset man
Aye yo you know I've been all over
the motherfucking world man
But ain't no place like Harlem man
(Let) me break it down man

We tie dynamite to the rhino type
Whine you might find yo sight

Sell the information for a dime a white, that China China
I'm behind the diner, selling marijuana to a minor minor
Elder fella, lookin' for that shine, Ill shine ya
My mind design, you a dime, I dine ya

Madonna momma, body bottle, your fine, I'm finer
Time to climb her, climb behind vagina
Then I hime and grind her, 'til her mom remind her
Diamonds blind her, visions gone, kiss her palm
Turn her on, lift her arm, notice that her wrists is wrong
Gotta get it right ma, we gon get along

Said how don't trip, but yo the trick is wrong
First visit warn, day job tick a tron
Night time, missed the mom, bootleg Kris and Don
Brother Chris and Don, and they sister calm
They sell yay, you'll say yay, this shits the bomb
Im a hit my man, tell em you my bigga pawn

The rest, so yes, you'll be blessed to hit the intercom
You know kisses mom, she gave him wisdom charm
And they father come from a long list a dons
And I get it cheaper, I cop bricks like sneakers
And if the cops come, I just hit amnesia
But I give you an earful, it's tearful
Told my mother I hustle, and she said be careful

[Chorus]
Why I feel like I'm loosin' weight?
Why I ain't got no money? If I'm movin' weight
My life's based upon, what I'm a do this year
Cop a boat, hop a layer
Now the army suits cute wit my chocolate Airs
You ain't gotta stare, go cop a pair
Still the sweet in me, nothing they can do to me
I made sure my mother and girl, is smothered in pearls
When a nigga under the world

Everybody like Cam got the recipe now
Not them three girls I got to be Destiny's Child
Specially equities, wreckin' we smile
In the fear tech the tech and use the tech that we wile
The tech with the septa, receptive affiliates
Hectic, heckle a cock, Helicopters on the set of my sales
Nah, I ain't gon be embedded in jail
Talking to a cellmate in a bed in a jail, dog
I broke bread with the wheel, fled from some seals

And the house, I was the head of the hills, shit
You get a dumb ho, and get dumb happy
Go to the gun show, get gun happy
Stuck, killed, mugged, milt
Tone flint sticks, Bo, Chubs milk
Poochi, Baba, but got the hardest shells
We the Midwest gun cartel, nigga
Ya, well just clap up ya brains, snatch up ya chains
See dog ? rap is my aim

But I'm a hust-ul-a, in my heart, trapped is the game
A test of my frame, tapped to my brain, affects that remains
It wasn't rap, it was crack that got the racks on the Range
Look dog, don't be askin' for dames, see
Playboy, I don't own that man
In any way homeboy, you a grown ass man, shit
And when I rap it ain't no punchlines
I be on the highway dirty, crunch time
No timeouts homeboy, just one time

If they find that stash box, just one time?
Shit, they'll put the dogs in the trunk
Side of the road, holding you up, cold as a fuck
They want that button, lunge it and push it
Soon as they lunge it and push it, I run in the bushes
That's how I play mine, jump over the grapevine
Take my chances, one on one with the K9
Stealin' a clip, for anyone squealin' they lips
Fuck y'all if y'all ain't feeling the dips

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

In Cam’ron’s song “Harlem Streets,” the rapper describes the realities of the drug trade and street life in his hometown. He depicts the ins and outs of selling drugs, including tying dynamite to the rhino type and selling information for a dime to the Chinese. He talks about the dangers of the game, such as getting caught with a stash box or talking to cellmates in jail. He also touches on the desire for success, represented by buying a boat or designer clothes, and the importance of family, with his mother and girlfriend being “smothered in pearls.” Cam’ron uses metaphors, wordplay, and rhymes to paint a vivid picture of his environment and mindset.

One interesting fact about this song is that it is featured on the soundtrack to the popular video game Grand Theft Auto IV. Additionally, the music video for “Harlem Streets” features clips from the 1983 film The King of Comedy starring Robert De Niro. The song heavily samples the tune “Prelude to a Kiss” by Duke Ellington. The lyrics are notorious for their graphic descriptions and explicit content, which has caused controversy and censorship. Cam’ron is known for his use of pink clothing and accessories, which is referenced in the line “army suits cute with my chocolate airs” in the lyrics. The Dipset crew, which Cam’ron was a part of, was influential in promoting the streetwear brand Rocawear. The song has been referenced in other rap songs, including Jay-Z’s “The Prelude” and Juelz Santana’s “Santana’s Town.” Cam’ron has said that his inspiration for the song was the movie New Jack City, which is about drug dealers in Harlem. Finally, the song’s production was handled by The Heatmakerz, a duo known for their use of soulful samples and hard-hitting drums.

Chords: The chords for this song are not known.

Line by Line Meaning

Dipset man
I'm from Dipset

Aye yo you know I've been all over the motherfucking world man But ain't no place like Harlem man
I've travelled a lot but Harlem is still the best place

We tie dynamite to the rhino type Whine you might find yo sight Sell the information for a dime a white, that China China
We use an explosive rhinoceros to distract people while we sell drugs for cheap

I'm behind the diner, selling marijuana to a minor minor Elder fella, lookin' for that shine, Ill shine ya My mind design, you a dime, I dine ya
I'm selling weed and scamming old people for money and women

Madonna momma, body bottle, your fine, I'm finer Time to climb her, climb behind vagina Then I hime and grind her, 'til her mom remind her Diamonds blind her, visions gone, kiss her palm Turn her on, lift her arm, notice that her wrists is wrong Gotta get it right ma, we gon get along
I'm talking about seducing women and stealing their expensive jewelry

Said how don't trip, but yo the trick is wrong First visit warn, day job tick a tron Night time, missed the mom, bootleg Kris and Don Brother Chris and Don, and they sister calm They sell yay, you'll say yay, this shits the bomb Im a hit my man, tell em you my bigga pawn
I'm warning people not to get involved with shady drug deals and introducing people to my drug-selling associates

The rest, so yes, you'll be blessed to hit the intercom You know kisses mom, she gave him wisdom charm And they father come from a long list a dons And I get it cheaper, I cop bricks like sneakers And if the cops come, I just hit amnesia But I give you an earful, it's tearful Told my mother I hustle, and she said be careful
More about selling drugs, but also mentions family connections and how I'm careful with the law

[Chorus] Why I feel like I'm loosin' weight? Why I ain't got no money? If I'm movin' weight My life's based upon, what I'm a do this year Cop a boat, hop a layer Now the army suits cute wit my chocolate Airs You ain't gotta stare, go cop a pair Still the sweet in me, nothing they can do to me I made sure my mother and girl, is smothered in pearls When a nigga under the world
Reflecting on the struggles of a drug dealer, but also an emphasis on taking care of family and treating yourself to nice things

Everybody like Cam got the recipe now Not them three girls I got to be Destiny's Child Specially equities, wreckin' we smile In the fear tech the tech and use the tech that we wile The tech with the septa, receptive affiliates Hectic, heckle a cock, Helicopters on the set of my sales Nah, I ain't gon be embedded in jail Talking to a cellmate in a bed in a jail, dog I broke bread with the wheel, fled from some seals And the house, I was the head of the hills, shit
I'm talking about how everyone wants to be me and how good I am at selling drugs, but also about dodging law enforcement and avoiding prison

You get a dumb ho, and get dumb happy Go to the gun show, get gun happy Stuck, killed, mugged, milt Tone flint sticks, Bo, Chubs milk Poochi, Baba, but got the hardest shells We the Midwest gun cartel, nigga
Glamorizing violence and bragging about being a part of a gun cartel

Ya, well just clap up ya brains, snatch up ya chains See dog ? rap is my aim But I'm a hust-ul-a, in my heart, trapped is the game A test of my frame, tapped to my brain, affects that remains It wasn't rap, it was crack that got the racks on the Range Look dog, don't be askin' for dames, see Playboy, I don't own that man In any way homeboy, you a grown ass man, shit And when I rap it ain't no punchlines I be on the highway dirty, crunch time No timeouts homeboy, just one time
More about selling drugs and violence, but also touches on how I don't care about fame as much as money and how I don't need to use clever wordplay in my raps because my lifestyle speaks for itself

If they find that stash box, just one time? Shit, they'll put the dogs in the trunk Side of the road, holding you up, cold as a fuck They want that button, lunge it and push it Soon as they lunge it and push it, I run in the bushes That's how I play mine, jump over the grapevine Take my chances, one on one with the K9 Stealin' a clip, for anyone squealin' they lips Fuck y'all if y'all ain't feeling the dips
Talking about evading police and the consequences of getting caught, as well as being a part of a tight-knit group that won't tolerate snitches

[Chorus]
Repeating the chorus to close the song

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, FOX MUSIC, INC.
Written by: CAMERON GILES, MIKE POST

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS