The tidewater lyricist shares strong visuals from his forthcoming collection of sonics.
The rollout for CMRNPRKR’s sophomore album has officially begun. The Virginian emcee CMRNPRKR (Cameron Parker) has effectively built anticipation for ‘AMERICAN RAPSTAR’, set to release this spring, through in-the-field appearances and performances that include a blockbuster performance at Vibe Check Festival, a stage presentation with Chaz French, and an opening for Talib Kweli, followed by an opening for Beanie Siegel and Styles P. This month he launched one of the album’s foundational offerings as a lead single, and provided groundbreakingly complimenting frames that restore the feeling given by the rapper himself, as well as his influences.
Regionality has always been important in music, but especially in hip-hop; whether that means one paying homage to who came before, or another blazing a trail due to lack of current local influence. In each era of rap, there have been areas in America that have dominated airways and headphones, and has worked to artists’ benefits. It’s where, upon being exposed to a new artist, real hip-hop fans will always ask “Where is he/she from?”.
CMRNPRKR is from the city of Suffolk, Virginia. When it comes to Cam’s hometown, if I had to pick a comparison, I would name North Carolina, in that the ones who’ve made out have been few and far between (an “if-you-know-you-know” type of situation). Nonetheless, CMRNPRKR, along with a few standout acts, are here to show that they all are the something’s that are in these Atlantic waters.
“HELLO AMERICA” is the opening scene to AMERICAN RAPSTAR. Aptly titled, it stands not only as an introduction to the album, but lyrically, CMRNPRKR tells the story of his come-up. In the first verse, he addresses the nation, vowing to speak as a man of the people – more importantly, the people of Suffolk, Virginia – and one who recognizes his influence. He raps with a smooth flow and with the confidence of a seasoned emcee, covering the block on which he was raised, and then effortlessly moving to a revolutionary attitude. From this section, one can take away that Cameron is a prideful penman whose flow is polished from years of iron-sharpening. The second verse finds Parker addressing the audience directly to tell how he earned his spot, expressing with great assurance his plans not only to remain, but to overcome. The production is soulful, with a trumpet blare and vocal sample that are sure to leave an ear worm.
The music video for “HELLO AMERICA” is aptly filmed in two locations: the main being his hometown of Suffolk, and Norfolk as the complimentary setting. In Suffolk, Cameron is seen walking down Main Street, visually conveying himself in the most authentic “everyday” way. The more performative frames come in Mermaid City, where Parker is spotted with a few close friends. Behind the camera and in the editing room, is David Kitchcart III, who CMRNPRKR chose to visually encapsulate this moment due to their artistic history together. Back in the 2010’s, Kitchcart III filmed numerous clips for BreezePark, including “Pure”, “Planet Park”, “Drought”, and the anthemic “Reps.”
Overall, the sentiments in this lead single speak to CMRN’s persistence, perseverance, dedication, resilience, and also the foresight of his parents, and his early music mentor, two-time Grammy award winning Teddy Riley. Although this is CMRNPRKR’s sophomore project, the moment feels bigger than just the pressure to follow up the debut. It feels like Cameron is gearing up to claim what’s been waiting for him for almost a decade now. Since his days as the frontman of BreezePark, the grind has been an uphill battle, but the Virginia emcee knows that nothing worth having is easily obtained. Through it all, Cameron leans on his faith, his ALL INDIE RECORDS team, close friends, and family members for support. He also understands how important it is to set a positive and bold example for the next generation of creatives from The Commonwealth.
As of right now, the track list for AMERICAN RAPSTAR sits at nine songs, with a run time of just under twenty-three minutes. It acts, sonically, as a point of growth from his first project, PARK ANGEL. Although shorter in listening minutes, A.R. briefly expands on parts of Cameron’s story discussed on Park Angel, while serving as a springboard to allow the emcee to not only speak for his city, but for his generation and those to come.
Watch the music video here, and tuned for more on CMRNPRKR and AMERICAN RAPSTAR.