"I think he likes money more" — Cam'ron thinks Jay-Z "likes" hip-hop but does not love it

In a candid discussion on his sports show, It Is What It Is, rapper Cam'ron voiced his opinion on Jay-Z's relationship with hip-hop. He stated that the artist was not in love with the genre and suggested that while Jay-Z likes hip-hop, he likes "money more."

On June 18, 2024, during a recent episode of the show, he said:

"I believe that JAY-Z, to me – my personal opinion – is not in love with Hip Hop. I think he likes Hip Hop a lot, [but] I think he likes money more."

This came after Antonio Brown, an American former professional football player, took to X to share his thoughts on Jay-Z performing at Tom Brady's Patriots Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

"Jay didn't perform at any Hip Hop 50 concerts last year where the fans would've known every word to his songs, but he makes time to get ignored by rich folks smh. #CTESPN," Brown tweeted.

---

Cam'ron on Jay-Z's priorities in hip-hop

Cam'ron's comments come amid the ongoing discussion about the evolving nature of hip-hop. He elaborated on his perspective by suggesting that while Jay-Z is knowledgeable about rap, he believes he lacks a genuine passion for the genre.

"To me, my personal opinion is this Jay-Z is, he I am not saying he does not, he's not a hip-hop historian, he doesn't know about hip-hop. Listen, he had won a Writers Gill award or some type of award. And he named probably every rapper from 1978 to 2014 or 15 whenever he won an award like every rapper in between that time. I believe that Jay-Z to me – my personal opinion – is not in love with Hip Hop," he said.

He then went on to add that he does not believe the artist loves the genre "as much as somebody like Nas loves it."

Jay-Z (Image via Getty Images)

The New York-born rapper further suggested that Jay-Z likes opportunities that take his name to the next level, and events like the Hip Hop 50 "may not have been up his alley."

"And opportunities to take his brand to the next level and some of the stuff that may have been going on in Hip Hop 50 may not have been up his alley," the rapper continued.

Cam'ron elaborated on his remarks by suggesting that Jay-Z's focus is now on running entertainment initiatives for the NFL. He added that Antonio Brown had made similar comments regarding Jay-Z's priorities.

"When you see him running the entertainment for the NFL, We've never had anybody black running this entertainment for the NFL, we don't even got a black owner," he added.

He continued:

"So, to me it's about taking steps and levels and for him for — when I say for me my opinion of what he is doing and what Antonio Brown said about making strides — we don't know what the play is."

Killa referred to events from 2019 when the NFL inked a deal with Jay-Z, where he served as the league's live music entertainment strategist, as per The New York Times.

Jay-Z has not commented on Cam'ron's remarks as of this writing.

---

Cam'ron and Jay-Z's relationship

Cam'ron and JAY-Z At Webster Hall (Image via Getty Images)

In 2002, Killa was announced as a V.P. of Roc-A-Fella, founded by Jay-Z and Dame Dash. During the announcement, Jay-Z was on vacation, and as per MTV, he did not approve it.

In the midst of Jay-Z and Nas' feud, the latter seemingly dissed Cam’ron, who later released Show You How. The track is a freestyle dis to the instrumental version of the popular Jay-Z song.

In 2006, Killa dropped a track, You Got To Love It, seemingly taking a jab at Jay-Z, claiming that Hov did not let him take the role of V.P. for Roc-A-Fella.

In a 2022 episode of the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast, Cam suggested that he and Jay-Z had silently settled their differences.