Cam'Ron hasn't been on a major label since he left Epic way back when.
Cam, who just dropped Purple Haze 2, his first studio album in nine years, explained how the late Mac Miller helped him solidify his indie inklings.
"Since I left Epic Records, I’ve never had a regular deal. Every deal was a joint venture. I don’t ever mind splitting money. I won’t ever be signed to anybody. I’ll do joint venture or distribution deals. So I wouldn’t be against it, because I still do business with people like that. But as far as being signed with somebody, nah," he told Complex.
I remember, God bless the dead, Mac Miller used to come over all the time before he passed away, here and at my other crib in Fort Lee. He used to spend the night in my crib and all type of shit. He was like, “Cam, I’m never going to get no regular deal. If I do a deal, it’s got to be for 30 million or better. They got to give me the Michael Jackson [deal.]” That’s what he used to tell me. And he’s like, “It don't make sense. I’m going on tour, getting 40, 50, 60 thousand a show, 60 dates, and I’m making 80 percent off my music now. Why would I sign to a label?” And I was like, this is a smart young man. We used to have these conversations all the time. Like I said, everybody has a different situation."
Miller, whose 2011 debut album Blue Slide Park was the first independently-distributed debut album to top the Billboard charts in 16 years, did eventually sign a major label deal. He didn't get $30 million, but he did get eight figures for the deal.
Mac and Cam were always tight, and once discussed doing an entire joint project together.