Jay-Z Calls Cam's Dis Track 'Trash' And A Cry For Attention

[$do11a biLL$]

MTV News 01.24.2006

MC admits he's torn between knowing he should ignore it and wanting to respond.

The two biggest questions rap fans want answered right now are: What does Jay-Z think about Cam'ron coming at him on wax? And now that Nas is on Def Jam, how do God's Son and Hova plan to smash the rap game?


First things first -
Cam is holding a press conference Wednesday (January 25) in New York to
discuss what the streets are calling his "beef" with Hova. As for Killa Cam's "You Got It" dis record (see "Cam'ron Attacks Jay-Z With Dis Track 'You Got It' "), Jay said he's not sure he'll respond with his own dis record. Jigga said he's never had any problems with Cam, though he admits the two never bonded while Cam was on Roc-A-Fella.

"My thing is, it's such an obvious ploy for attention and to get people to talk about it and for [Cam to] sell albums," Jay said Tuesday, speaking to MTV News from a company retreat.

Even though Jay says he knows Cam's master plan, he's conflicted. On one hand he feels he's too big to stoop to Cam's level, but on the other hand, the MC in him is itching to retort with battle raps.

"I'm torn," he admitted. "I feel like I would be stupid to even pay that any attention, because it's such a ploy. ... N---as is holding press conferences behind [the dis record]. The MC in me is like, 'That's too easy [to come back at him.]' That's not even a good dis record. That
sh-- is trash. I'm torn. We'll see what happens. Maybe on my time we'll deal with it, but I'm not really pressed. I'm inspired by good artistic sh--. Cam's sh-- is not artistic. There's nothing good about it. Everything about it is an obvious ploy to get attention. Nobody wants to get used. You're just using me. Of course he had to go that far."

One of the brow-raisers in Cam's song comes at the beginning, when he says part of his disdain for Hov came about because Jay had wronged former partner Dame Dash in their business dealings. Speaking to New York radio station WQHT-FM, Cam also said Dame had tipped him off that Jay would be coming at him during last year's "I Declare War" concert (the show turned out to be all about peace; see "Jay-Z And Nas Put Beef To Sleep In Onstage Show Of Unity").

Jay called Dame's involvement in the equation "shocking" and said he hasn't spoken with his once close friend about Cam and has no plans to. "To be honest with you, that's the most surprising thing," Jay said calmly. "I'm still in shock, to be honest with you."

No one was really surprised this week when it was announced that Nas had signed to Def Jam (see "Nas Signs With Jay-Z, According To Report"). The two had been in talks for a while and performed two nights of shows in October. Hov said there probably will not be a Jay and Nas album, but he does expect to do at least a song with Nas.

"I'm guessing like September, fall, so we can do it right," Jay said of when he expects Nas' LP to drop. Nas has been recording material for months, but Hov thinks he'll start fresh with his new deal in place. "I didn't hear the stuff he did before, but I'm guessing it'll be a new slate."

Jay added that he hopes Nas will connect with some of the best producers in the game, such as Kanye West, DJ Premier, Just Blaze, Dr. Dre, Timbaland and Pharrell Williams, though he hasn't ruled out Nas teaming with some up-and-coming beatmakers. He said his former rival is in such a great headspace, he wouldn't be surprised if Nas made the best album of career.

"[I'm proud to have him on Def Jam] for so many different levels," he said. "One, he's been at the forefront of hip-hop since he's been out. [Illmatic] is arguably one of the best albums ever made. To have that down with the team, it's just a beautiful thing. Two, it says so much about the culture. It shows another way. [The media] always portrays us like we're ignorant. It shows another ending. I think it's bigger for the culture."

While the Nas album isn't due for several months, Jay is so excited about the albums coming out on Def Jam this year — including Ghostface Killah and LL Cool J — he contemplated dropping an album himself, but he's since rethought it and will continue to play the executive role.

And it's a part he's been playing to the fullest. Jay's team is on the brink of adding one or two more major players, but it's too early to name names, he said.

[Mac 10 †]

He basically calling Cam shit.

Can see where he is coming from. 

[eKardz]

jay z is the most overrated person in hip hop EVER.

[T-Dogg]

"I feel like I would be stupid to even pay that any attention, because it's such a ploy. ... N---as is holding press conferences behind [the dis record]. The MC in me is like, 'That's too easy [to come back at him.]' That's not even a good dis record. That
sh-- is trash. I'm torn. We'll see what happens. Maybe on my time we'll deal with it, but I'm not really pressed. I'm inspired by good artistic sh--. Cam's sh-- is not artistic. There's nothing good about it. Everything about it is an obvious ploy to get attention. Nobody wants to get used. You're just using me. Of course he had to go that far."

That's right Jay! I'm right on the same page with him on this one.

[westkoastanostra]

i agree w/ jay-z 100% on wut he said about camron....

[UKnowWhatItIs: welcome to my traps....game over]

  What happened to the Nas & Premier project???

jay z is the most overrated person in hip hop EVER.

[Ðøšïå]

stop being a bitch you damn camel and respond or else you lose by knockout. and i dont even like dipset.

[BacktoWacko]

stop being a bitch you damn camel and respond or else you lose by knockout. and i dont even like dipset.

why so he can do 50 on him lol....I would say just ingore him cuz look where jay at and where cam at...

[One Eyed Willy]

one thing we can all agree on..... nas lost

[J Bananas]

this nigga wears open toed snadals around new york

[macknlatin36]

one thing we can all agree on..... nas lost

hahahahahaah i found the dumest kid in the forum

[Jome]

hahahahahaah i found the dumest kid in the forum

lol, the irony. 
Be quick with the modify button, you might escape the "edited by" tag.

['EclipZe]

hahahahahaah i found the dumest kid in the forum

lol, the irony. 
Be quick with the modify button, you might escape the "edited by" tag.

LMAO

[UKnowWhatItIs: welcome to my traps....game over]

^lol yeah, its always the ones calling everyone dumb & stupid that make the most mistakes.

hahahahahaah i found the dumest kid in the forum

[africas seed]

jay should just ignore the bitch. like he said theres no point in stooping to his level. its like if some sadass NBA player dissed jordan and said he was better than him. jordan wouldnt accept the challenge and play the sadass, he'd just ignore the lil bitch.