On this follow-up to his gold debut album, Cam'ron seems no more skilled then when he first started out. His sophomore album, entitled S.D.E. for sports, drugs, and entertainment fails to entertain. Cam'ron's lyrics often fall short, however some prove fairly deep. The beats on this album were pretty bland, with the exception of those he sampled from other artists, including Sting's "Roxanne" for his catchy track "What Means the World To You," the theme from ABC's "Monday Night Football" help propel "Let Me Know" to hit status last year. Cam'ron is taking on a fake appearance, as the majority of his hit singles have been backed by recognizable samples including the Magnum P.I. & Night Court themes. Cam'ron needs to start putting together his own act before he becomes known as a Puff Daddy protιgι.

The best tracks were "Sports, Drugs & Entertainment," "Do It Again" featuring Destiny's Child, "Let Me Know," and "What Means The World To You." Apart from these, the rest hover below average.

Overall, this 'S.D.E.' was a bit disappointing. Cam'ron's producer, Digga, proved that he is very good at sampling beats, but his originality needs some work. This album is not a worthy investment unless you enjoy albums built from samples. The 'E' in 'S.D.E.' needs some improvement before Cam'ron can put himself on a high level in the rap game.

www.brockwayent.com

(Originally posted on HipHopCanada.com)

This review was written October 9, 2000