Confessions of Fire

The story goes that when Biggie Smalls first met Cam'ron and heard him rhyme, Biggie said he wanted Cam'ron to be the next King of New York. In a crowded field of contenders after Biggie's death, Cam'ron makes an admirable bid for that title with Confessions of Fire. As is typical of the post-Biggie era, thuggishness is acceptable, but only when accompanied by a wink and a grin--and Cam'ron certainly smiles, whether it's in the anthemically tongue-in-cheek "Horse & Carriage" or in the knowledge that his mistress's boyfriend is "too cheap for caller ID." Though often plagued by a serious case of New-York-pseudo-gangster-beat-itis, Cam'ron comes through with personality, style, and enough juice to own the town--this week. --Jon Caramonica