What's Happenin'

Cam’ron’s not just a rapper, he’s also a businessman.

Words: Roger Krastz

Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in the Winter 2016 issue of of XXL Magazine, on stands now.

Cam’ron has always been known for his personal style. Sure, he spits witty rhymes and can go toe-to-toe with the best of them, but it’s his business sense that has him working overtime lately. Most recently, the veteran MC released his second collaboration sneaker with Reebok called the Reebok Ventilator Supreme Cam, seven months after dropping the first shoe, the Reebok Ventilator Supreme Purple Haze.

While focused on fashion, the Harlem rapper is also gearing up for the release of his new mixtape, The Program: The Road to Killa Season 2, and his seventh solo album, Killa Season 2: The Pink Edition. Here he talks about kicks, his personal style and of course, president-elect Donald Trump.

XXL: Your second collaboration sneaker with Reebok is inspired by your famed early 2000s pink fur coat and hat. Do you still have those items?

I actually still have it, man! I wear it from time to time, you know? When it’s fitting. I get a lot of offers for the jacket. A lot of people want to buy it from me but I keep it for memorabilia.

How involved were you in the creative process of this sneaker, compared to your first release?

To be honest, I don’t really have too much to do in the creative [process]. What they do is give me different options and I’m the one that says yes or no. Reebok has a team that handles the creative aspect of the shoes and they’ll send me different samples and I’ll be like, “No, no, no, no,” and then we’ll finally come up with something that I like. The Ventilator Supreme Cam was the sneaker that resulted from this partnership.

Along with the release of the sneakers, will you drop any matching apparel or accessories?

Yeah. Definitely. I linked up with Stance socks; we did our third collaboration with them. They have a matching camo sock to go with the sneakers. We also hooked up with the rapper Berner who has the Cookies line.

Besides being a rapper, you are known for your different business ventures. What do you want to get into that you haven’t yet?

One thing I want to do is toilet paper. You know, I’ve spoken about it before but I’ve actually done some homework on it and that’s one thing I want to do. A lot of things that people do are things that you don’t have to have. Like, you don’t have to have a Cam’ron sneaker, or you don’t have to buy a mink jacket to look like Cam, or you don’t have to buy a car in New York to live, but who doesn’t use toilet paper, you know what I’m saying? Everybody uses toilet paper; men, women, children. Well, if they’re babies then they use diapers, and if you broke you use newspapers, but toilet paper is a guaranteed 95 percent necessity around the world. I want to do things that people have to have, not necessarily things people want to have.

What’s going on with your next album?

I just been busy and I haven’t had time to promote the album the way that I want, so I’m probably gonna push the album back to February or March.

What’s your opinion on our next president of the United States Donald Trump? And did you vote for him or Hillary?

Y’all voted him in. I ain’t got no opinion. I don’t even vote, so you know...

How do you think the country will do with Trump as president?

It’s kind of scary, you know? I think he didn’t really think he was gonna win. He seems like he’s shell-shocked to me since he won. He seems mad quiet. He’s not talking all that shit he been talking before the election. He been smooth. Either he just wanted to win and be cool, or I don’t even think he really thought he was gonna win.

Check out more from XXL’s Winter 2016 issue including our Travis Scott cover story interview, Lin-Manuel Miranda's success with the hip-hop musical Hamilton, Eye Candy The Real Chela's Way, Wyclef Jean's letter to President Obama, Show & Prove with Rob $tone, Playboi Carti and Saba, Rappers and the 2016 Election and more.