1st of the Month Vol. 1

Last updated
1st of the Month Vol. 1
Cam'ron 1st of the Month Vol. 1.jpg
EP by
ReleasedJuly 1, 2014
Recorded2013–2014
Genre Hip hop
Length17:10
Label Killa Entertainment
Cam'ron chronology
Gunz n' Butta
(2011)
1st of the Month Vol. 1
(2014)
1st of the Month Vol. 2
(2014)

1st of the Month Vol. 1 is the first EP by American rapper Cam'ron. The EP was released on July 1, 2014, by Killa Entertainment. [1]

Contents

Background

In October 2013, Cam'ron announced that he would release an EP and an episode of his web series every month starting on January 1, 2014. [2] In February 2014, he gave an update on the EP plans, saying: "I got the First of the Month project coming out probably next month. Dame put together the A-Trak collaboration which is called Federal Reserve. me and Smoke DZA got a project going on. It’s like five different projects, basically what we’re doing now is just trying to figure out the timing for everything. It’s probably 150 new songs done." [3] In an April 2014, interview with Mass Appeal, he explained why he decided to release a series of EP's, saying: "Just setting everything up. Music has changed and it’s always fun, but I like to make money while I’m making music, so I just had to figure out a new strategy. Things are changing and if you don’t change with the times you gon get stuck in the past. I’ve been working on this thing called The First of the Month. I’m putting out an EP every month with a 30-minute episode so you’re not waiting a year or more for the next album." [4]

In May 2014, in an interview with MTV News, he spoke about the features on the EP's saying: "The people that’s gonna be on this project is Nicki Minaj, 2 Chainz, Wiz Khalifa, Estelle and Gunplay, so far." [5] He also announced the first EP would be released on July 1, 2014, saying: "The first one is July 1 for the visual, July 3 for the music. And we’ll put it out — the visual — every first of the month. So, August 1 will be another visual, September 1. And then, whatever the first Tuesday is of every month, we’ll be doing the music, as well." [5] On June 26, 2014, the music video was released for "Funeral". [6] On July 1, 2014, the first episode of the web series was released along with the EP. [7] On July 2, 2014, the music video was released for "Put It In the Sky" featuring Un Kasa. [8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
HipHopDX Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [9]
XXL Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg (L) [10]

1st of the Month Vol. 1 was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. David Inkeles of XXL gave the album an L, saying "If First Of The Month is mainly more of the same, you might be wondering why, then, should the project earn a listen? Well for one, at only 5 tracks deep there are worse ways to spend your time. But the project deserves a shot for the same rationale behind why the good folks in Charlie Rangel’s district voted him to go to Congress one last time: because we love the same old Cam; and like those voters, we listeners know what to expect when it comes to Cam’ron, and what that is, is pretty damn good and entertaining." [10] Sheldon Pearce of HipHopDX gave the album three and a half stars out of five, saying "The 1st Of The Month EP feels like Cam’ron working his way back into album shape; however, and it is a marked achievement to take two features from perennial placeholders on the Dipset undercard and turn them into salvageable records. The Un Kasa-led “Put It In The Sky” is the most anthemic song on the EP with a chanting refrain that is rousing. It is a prime example of Cam at his showy best, blurring the lines between fact and fiction, confessions and quips." [9]

Track listing

No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Other Side" (featuring Sen City)Superstar O3:42
2."Talk About It"Skitzo3:46
3."Funeral"ADM Beatz & Frank Nitti Beats3:26
4."Put It In the Sky" (featuring Un Kasa)araabMUZIK3:20
5."Homicide"ADM Beatz3:04
Total length:17:10

Chart positions

Chart (2014)Peak
position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [11] 34

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cam'ron</span> American rapper

Cameron Giles, better known by his stage name Cam'ron, is an American rapper. Beginning his career in the early-1990s as Killa Cam, Giles signed with Lance "Un" Rivera's Untertainment, an imprint of Epic Records to release his first two studio albums Confessions of Fire (1998) and S.D.E. (2000); the former received gold certification by the RIAA. After leaving Epic, Giles signed with Roc-A-Fella Records in 2001 to release his third studio album Come Home with Me the following year. It received platinum certification by the RIAA and spawned the singles "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma", which peaked at numbers four and three respectively on the Billboard Hot 100. His fourth studio album, Purple Haze (2004) was met with similar success and likewise received gold certification by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juelz Santana</span> American rapper

LaRon Louis James, better known by his stage name Juelz Santana, is an American rapper and member of East Coast hip hop group, the Diplomats. He is best known for his appearances on group cohort Cam'ron's 2002 singles "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma," which peaked at numbers four and three on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. His guest appearance on Chris Brown's 2005 single, "Run It!" peaked atop the chart for five weeks and received triple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). As a lead artist, he is also known for his 2005 single "There It Go ," which peaked at number six on the chart and received platinum certification by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Jones (rapper)</span> American rapper (born 1976)

Joseph Guillermo Jones II, better known by his stage name Jim Jones, is an American rapper and record executive. He is a founding member of the hip hop collective the Diplomats, which he formed in 1997 with fellow Harlem native Cam'ron.

The Diplomats is an American hip hop collective formed in 1997 by childhood friends Cam'ron and Jimmy Jones in Harlem, New York. The group was originally composed of Cam'ron, Jim Jones and Freekey Zekey, all of whom grew up together in Harlem. In 1999, fellow Harlem-based rapper Juelz Santana joined the group.

Diplomat Records is an American hip hop record label co-founded by Harlem rappers Jim Jones and Cam'ron.

<i>Killa Season</i> 2006 studio album by Camron

Killa Season is the fifth studio album by Harlem rapper Cam'ron. The album was released on May 16, 2006, by Diplomat Records, Asylum Records, and Atlantic Records. Cam'ron was also the executive producer of the album. The album received positive reviews but critics found the production and content lesser compared to Purple Haze. Killa Season sold 114,000 copies in its first week, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cam'ron discography</span>

The discography of Cam'ron, an American rapper, consists of seven studio albums, three collaborative albums, seven extended plays (EPs), nine mixtapes and 25 singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Jones discography</span>

American rapper Jim Jones has released seven studio albums, five collaborative albums, three compilation albums, two extended plays (EPs), nineteen mixtapes and 47 singles. Jones is perhaps best known for being a member of East Coast hip hop group The Diplomats, with whom he recorded several mixtapes with before releasing their debut album Diplomatic Immunity, in 2003. In August 2004, Jones released his solo debut album On My Way to Church, under Diplomat Records and E1 Music. The album was preceded by the release of the singles "Certified Gangstas" and "Crunk Muzik", the latter of which features his Dipset-cohorts Juelz Santana and Cam'ron, and also supported the release of Dipset's second album Diplomatic Immunity 2 (2004).

Teyon Isiah Winfree, better known by his stage name Vado, is an American rapper from New York. He formed the hip hop duo U.N. with hometown native Cam'ron in 2009, with whom he has released two collaborative albums—Heat in Here Vol. 1 (2010) and Gunz n' Butta (2011)—and the Boss of All Bosses mixtape series. As a solo act, Vado signed with DJ Khaled's We the Best Music Group, an imprint of Cash Money and Republic Records in 2013 to release his debut commercial single, "My Bae" the following year. Despite failing to chart, Vado made notable guest appearances on Khaled's studio albums We the Best Forever (2011), Suffering from Success (2013), and I Changed a Lot (2015); he continued releasing mixtapes for the regional New York audience until departing We the Best by 2020.

<i>Gunz n Butta</i> 2011 studio album by the U.N. (Camron and Vado)

Gunz n' Butta is the second collaborative album by Harlem hip hop duo the U.N., which is composed of Cam'ron and Vado. It was released on April 19, 2011 under Diplomat Records and E1 Music. The album was supported by the singles "Speaking In Tungs", "We All Up In Here" and "Hey Muma".

This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in hip hop music for the year 2012.

"I Am Your Leader" is a song recorded by American rapper and singer Nicki Minaj for her second studio album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012). The song features additional rap vocals from hip hop artists Rick Ross and Cam'ron. Production of the song was handled by Fernando Garibay & Chauncey "Hit-Boy" Hollis, with writing coming from Minaj, Garibay, Hollis, Ross, and Cam'ron. Musically, "I Am Your Leader" is a midtempo hardcore hip hop and electro hop song that contains sparse beats, minimal instrumentation, repetitive, high-pitched, off-pitch synth hooks, and a booming, static bass. Lyrically, Minaj "dishes boast-heavy verses about how she’s better than all these other bitches", according to Adam Fleischer of XXL Magazine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smoke DZA</span> American rapper

Sean Joseph Pompey, better known by his stage name Smoke DZA, is an American rapper and songwriter.

<i>Heat in Here Vol. 1</i> 2010 studio album by U.N.

Heat in Here Vol. 1 is the debut studio album by Harlem hip hop duo U.N., which is composed of Cam'ron and Vado. It was released on May 25, 2010, by Diplomat Records, Asylum Records and Warner Bros. Records. The album features guest appearances from Young Chris, Gucci Mane and Felony Fame.

<i>Dream. Zone. Achieve</i> 2014 studio album by Smoke DZA

Dream. Zone. Achieve is the third studio album by American rapper Smoke DZA. It was released on April 1, 2014, by DZA's R.F.C. Music Group record label. The album features guest appearances from Cam'ron, NymLo, Joey Badass, Ab-Soul, Kobe, CJ Fly, Wiz Khalifa, Currensy, Ty Dolla Sign, Bluntsmoker, J. Ivy and BJ the Chicago Kid.

<i>1st of the Month Vol. 2</i> 2014 EP by Camron

1st of the Month Vol. 2 is the second EP by American rapper Cam'ron. The EP was released on August 1, 2014, by Killa Entertainment. The EP features guest appearances from Nicki Minaj, Rod Rhaspy, Yummy Bingham, Jim Jones, and Hell Rell.

<i>1st of the Month Vol. 3</i> 2014 EP by Camron

1st of the Month Vol. 3 is the third EP by American rapper Cam'ron. The EP was released on September 1, 2014, by Killa Entertainment.

<i>1st of the Month Vol. 4</i> 2014 EP by Camron

1st of the Month Vol. 4 is the fourth EP by American rapper Cam'ron. The EP was released on October 1, 2014, by Killa.

<i>1st of the Month Vol. 5</i> 2014 EP by Camron

1st of the Month Vol. 5 is the fifth EP by American rapper Cam'ron. The EP was released on November 1, 2014, by Killa Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Safaree Samuels</span> American rapper (born 1981)

Safaree Lloyd Samuels is an American rapper. He began his musical career as part of the hip hop group Hoodstars in the early 2000s alongside rapper Nicki Minaj, with whom he would begin a heavily publicized relationship around the same time. In 2016, he joined the cast of the VH1 reality show Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood. In 2017, he moved back to his hometown of New York City and joined the cast of Love & Hip Hop: New York. He subsequently joined the casts of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta and Love & Hip Hop: Miami, making him the only Love & Hip Hop cast member to have worked on all four shows.

References

  1. "iTunes - Music - 1st of the Month, Vol. 1 - EP by Cam'ron". Itunes.apple.com. 2014-07-01. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  2. "Cam'ron Talks to Miss Info About His Upcoming Movies and Music #Exclusive". MissInfo.tv. 2013-10-03. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  3. "Exclusive: Cam'ron on the Origins of His Cape and New Projects With A-Trak and Smoke DZA (Video)". MissInfo.tv. 2014-02-17. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  4. Tardio, Andres (2014-04-18). "Cam'ron Details Dipset Status & Monthly EPs In Mass Appeal Cover Story". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  5. 1 2 "Nicki Minaj Is Just One Of The Huge Features On Cam'ron's 'First Of The Month' Series". MTV. 2014-05-15. Archived from the original on May 21, 2014. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  6. "Cam'ron - "Funeral"". HipHop DX. 2014-06-26. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  7. "Cam'ron - First Of The Month Ep. 1". HipHop DX. 2014-07-01. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  8. Frydenlund, Zach (2014-07-02). "Watch Cam'ron's Video for "Put It In the Sky" f/ Un Kasa". Complex.com. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  9. 1 2 Pearce, Sheldon (2014-07-10). "Cam'ron - 1st Of The Month Vol.1 (EP)". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  10. 1 2 "Cam'ron Offers More Of The Same On 'First Of The Month Vol. 1' EP". Xxlmag.com. 2014-07-03. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  11. "Cam'ron Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2014.