By Odeisel

Cam’ron and Vado form Harlem’s biggest one-two punch since Tyson put the beats on Mitch Green in front of Dapper Dan’s. Their collaborative work on the album Gunz N Butta takes their work from the Boss of All Bosses series and sharpens it, with better production and more hunger.

The album is unapologetically Harlem. Not gentrified Harlem, but police tower on Lenox Ave  Harlem. The production bears close resemblance to that mid-2000’s Dipset run with no string-driven atmospherics and hard, plodding drums at times. When they stretch themselves, beatwise, it gets interesting.

Cam’ron  lost steam at the end of that run with nursery rhymes far beneath his established bar, but he’s back here with strong connectivity in his punchlines, seasoned with his trademarked irreverence, wit and chickenhead preoccupation. Vado continues his advancement as an emcee with added energy and fluidity. His presence on tracks is noticeable and no longer is he Juelz lite.   

Their dynamic plays no better than on “Put A Bird Up,” where the duo trade verses like Pokemon cards. Vado’s overall energy has inspired Cam who was outperformed by his protege on BOAB 2.5.

The highlights of the album are the adrenaline-fueled “Killa,” a formless, open ended rhymefest built for headphones and good speakers. “American Greed” is a walk in Harlem drug dealing arrogance with Cam spitting tales of Madoff, money and merking. Vado dubs himself Julius Serving and goes hard in the paint. He goes for broke on “Breathe” with clever lines and a tough, confident delivery. Cam ups the ante with a back and forth phone convo with himself a la Biggie on “Gimme the Loot.” Cam gets slick on “Fuck-A-Freestyle” against a sped up soul vocal sample with lines like “Getting big ‘Ms’ uh uh I’m lovin’ it.”

On the downside,”Monster Musik” is a slow, plodding return to the dummy flow that drags in comparison to the high powered tracks elsewhere. Ditto “Lights Camera Action,” a weak club crossover with a baby talk, hey mama chorus. “Hey Muma” may introduce new slang but the song is hood drivel.

“Stop It 5″ is more of that Dip flavored flow,” sprinkled with boxing allegory and reference to Rocky movies, while ” Speaking in Tungs” features a hard boom clap with a repetitive background is built for the clubs.  “We All In Here” falls in the same vein with repetition and low bass, setting the ass shaking mood.

“They Don’t Like You” finds a sensitive Cam and Vado boo-loving the next chick. Tricking is acceptable, as is taking care of the next man’s seed. Of course the fam, the crew and your own baby momma wouldn’t piss the flame out if she was ablaze, but you can’t win them all. The album closes with “Be With Me.”  Cam’s baby momma saw the booty pics on the iPhone and is wilding out on him. He sweet talks his ass out of the fire with together forever talk.

The duo shines when they get away from elementary rhymes. Cam’s charisma and Vado’s growth make Gunz N Butta an enjoyable listen. When they revert to the simple rhymes or pander to the females, the album falls flat.

Camron & Vado – “Killa”
3.25 out of 5

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