Profile: Director Cam Fairfax Shoots With A Passion [PEEP]

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As the clock ticks, the mouse continues to click on Cam Fairfax’s desk. It’s about 2 o’clock in the morning on a Tuesday, but sleep doesn’t appear to be on the horizon for the talented creative director, or “composer of cinematic moments,” as he describes it in his Instagram bio.

The workload is set for Cam, who says he hasn’t slept in three days, but diligently works on eight different projects simultaneously. Of those, five are in post-production, while three remain in the early stages of pre-production.

While working, he takes a moment to express how grateful he is to be in his current situation as Head of Creative Direction for singer/songwriter Eric Bellinger’s YFS (Your Favorite Song) label. Prior to that he was Kalin & Myles’ photographer, before moving on to do freelance work.

“The industry is a crazy place and that’s why I’m so comfortable at YFS, it’s all a family thing,” he shares. “I’ve always heard you can’t mix friends and work, but I think that’s dumb because I want to win with them even more now!”

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Bellinger first met Cam while he was working with Kalin & Myles and admired how focused he was, as well as the quality and consistency of his content. Through their first interaction, Bellinger was able to see Cam’s passion and work ethic, which matched his own.

“I respect Cam’s passion more than most, he’s super creative that goes without saying. But if a project isn’t the best it could possibly be he won’t put his hands on it. He won’t be involved,” explained Eric. “He’d rather not get the job. And if it’s something he is into, even if it’s for someone else he’ll cut his own costs just so the task at hand can reach its maximum potential. Real stand up guy.”

When describing Cam in one word, Eric used the word “brilliant,” saying Cam simply “does it all.” That was quite evident at a recent Eric Bellinger video shoot, when Cam, already having the stressful task of director, additionally took the time to fix the Serato sound for the DJ set.

With a venti Starbucks cup of water in one hand and his phone in the other, Cam used his resources by calling a DJ friend on FaceTime to troubleshoot the issue at hand. In about 10-minutes time the problem was solved.

That situation was a perfect representation of how Cam has lived his life. Upon dropping out of film school, he has juggled “as many things as possible.” While still in school he would take trips to LA from Arizona twice a month, before just packing up and leaving for SoCal.

“Every time I left I felt I was leaving behind opportunities just to go back to AZ and bury my head in a textbook,” he said. “I was never into school. I dropped out, I moved to Compton and drove a Honda Civic from Arizona, no plan or anything.”

Upon arriving in LA he received a call from someone advising him to drive Downtown to meet his favorite director at the time, Taj Stansberry. Having no other plans, he did just that.

“I met him, he was such a cool guy and he showed a lot of interest in me because I’m from the Bay Area and so is he,” said Cam. “From there we started to develop a working relationship and today we’re friends.”

Spending time with friends like Taj is what Cam likes to do on his limited time off. He’s only had a total of 12 days off this year and he’s spent the time talking to his little sister, hanging with friends, and recently upheld his duty as a groomsman by going to Cabo for his friend’s bachelor party.

While we discuss his friendships, Cam looks through his closet and reaches for an old VANS box perched above his collection of jeans. The box contains a significant amount of memories that include old pictures he’s taken and ones he makes appearances in.

Looking through the photos, he begins to reminisce and relive the moments photo by photo. One photo sticks out, a photograph of his younger sister, whom he holds very close to his heart. He tells me that’s the favorite picture he’s ever taken. I ask why and he responds, “me and my sister have always been so close.”

“It’s hard being away from my family,” he utters. “Out of all my friends, I’m the only one whose parents are still together. My sister is turning 16 this year and that’s really scary, especially because I’m not there.”

Cam’s love for photography may be as strong as his love for his sister. On his desk he keeps a Polaroid Wide 300 as a reminder to never get too caught up in work and forget he’s doing it for the passion.

“This film is very expensive and you only have 20 chances, so you have to make the most of them,” he says about the Polaroid. “It’s capturing 1- 1/2500 of a second you’ll never have back again and sometimes I feel like I get lost, but I’ve got to remember I’m doing it for the passion.”

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The passion has always been there for Cam, who in high school took a photography class that was a prerequisite for a video class. He instantly fell in love with the craft and soon purchased his first camera.

As a sophomore in high school he had two friends who rapped and he asked them to let him shoot their music videos. Without hesitation they agreed and Cam began to work on perfecting his craft.

“Everything was so bad, the music, the videos, but it was fun running around town and just shooting,” he exclaimed.

By senior year, he had discovered that he wanted to be a professional photographer in the music industry, as he’s always had a similar interest in music.

Currently Cam is paying for a full functioning recording studio to be installed at Livermore High School, where he attended and discovered his passion. The studio will allow the school to create a new music class and a place for students to find their passion as Cam once did.

“These kids are the future and as far as our future goes, everything we’re doing right now is for the future,” he said. “Everything is calculated and we give ourselves every opportunity to win, that’s why I don’t take days off, because even on days off we don’t take days off.”

The never-ending working, sleepless nights are sure to pay off for Cam, who is already seeing the fruits of his labor.

“He’s a shot away from being one of the biggest Creative Directors in the game,” said Eric Bellinger’s Manager, Nieman Johnson. 

@IAMBNYCE

New Music: T-Pain – “Goal Line” Feat. Blac Youngsta [LISTEN]

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T-Pain is slowly but surely making a comeback in the industry. Following his Young M.A collab on “F.B.G.M.” T-Pain links up with CMG’s Blac Youngsta for the football-motivated “Goal Line.”

Over the thumping production, Teddy raps about his shawty, securing the bag, and references the Cracker-in-Chief, Donald Trump with the line, “I’ll push that weight like I’m weight training / I’ll pull my trump card, I’ma run the whole U.S.A., ain’t I?”

Listen below.

@IAMBNYCE

New Video: Vic Mensa – “Rollin’ Like A Stoner” [WATCH]

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Gearing up for the start of Jay-Z’s “4:44 Tour,” Vic Mensa releases the visuals for his ‘The Autobiography’ single, “Rollin’ Like A Stoner.” Directed by Vic himself, the video shows the Chicago rapper “Rollin’ Like A Stoner, as he goes on a trippy journey, where he travels by car, motorcycle and flies.

Vic will be Jay-Z’s opening act on the “4:44 Tour beginning next month at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Watch below.

@IAMBNYCE

New Music: Tory Lanez – “Skrt Skrt” [LISTEN]

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We’re still waiting on a release date for Tory Lanez’s next album, which he has said is near completion. In the meantime Tory continues to drop new music and doesn’t appear to be taking his foot off the gas. A week after sharing “Shooters,” the Canadian crooner frees “Skrt Skrt.”

“Skrt Skrt” is a freaky, baby-making track, where Tory goes full detail about his sexcapades and how he seduces women that enter his bedroom.

Listen below.

@IAMBNYCE

KYLE Frees Three New Singles Feat. Miguel, Ty Dolla $ign & MadeinTYO [LISTEN]

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Ventura rapper, KYLE, must be getting ready to release an album. After making a name for himself with his chart-topping single, “iSpy” featuring Lil Yachty, KYLE appears ready to follow the success with more by dropping three new tracks today.

On the first single “Sunshine,” KYLE links up with R&B crooner, Miguel. While KYLE freely flows on the track, Miguel puts his touch on it with an infectious chorus where he sings, “I want to bathe in your light / All day, all night.”

Listen below.

From there KYLE mixes with Ty Dolla $ign on the vibey, upbeat single, “Off Of It.” This single has the makings of a chart-topper that is surely to garner a substantial amount of play on not only Urban stations, but Top 40 as well.

Press play below.

For the finale KYLE hooks up with his homie, MadeinTYO on “All Mine.” Listen below.

KYLE will be starring in the upcoming Netflix series ‘The After Party’, which is a comedy about hip-hop that will include cameos from artist like Wiz Khalifa, French Montana, and others.

@IAMBNYCE

New Leak: Torrian Ball – ‘Vibes’ EP [STREAM]

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LA Leakers Indie Pick of the Week alumnist, Torrian Ball has had an eventful year to say the least. The midwest artist has went viral a fair amount of times rapping about various subjects, gaining over 5-million views in the past couple of months.

Today he returns with his new project entitled ‘Vibes’, dedicated to all the ladies across the world. This project shines light on the artist’s versatility and focuses on his strength as not only a rapper but an overall artist and songwriter as well.

The 9-track project will definitely be a favorite for the fall, as the lead single “Fuckboy” has already set the tone for the project. Originally a freestyle, “Fuckboy” calls out every dude that is out here tricking and breaking hearts. (the majority)

Make sure you support Torrian by copping the project on Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and all other platforms.

https://soundcloud.com/torrianball/sets/vibes

@IAMBNYCE

G-Perico, Jay Worthy & Cardo Team Up To Deliver ‘G-Worthy’ Project [STREAM]

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G-Perico, Jay Worthy, and Cardo have teamed up to create the newest collective out of Los Angeles. The newly-formed supergroup flexes their muscle by releasing their first collaborative project, ‘G-Worthy’.

With G-Perico repping South Central, Jay Worthy repping Compton, and Cardo producing, the trio is bringing back that traditional West Coast sound. Every track sounds like a straight banger that will turn heads on your cruise.

The 6-track EP includes features from Diamond Ortiz and Polyester.

Stream below.

@IAMBNYCE

A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie Drops Long-Awaited Debut ‘The Bigger Artist’ [STREAM]

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Dropping mixtape after mixtape is how A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie created a buzz for himself. With the hype there, A Boogie finally releases his long-awaited debut album, ‘The Bigger Artist’.

Loaded with 15-tracks, A Boogie shows his artistry with features from Chris Brown on “Fucking & Kissing,” Trey Songz and Robin Thicke on “Bad Girl,” 21 Savage on “Undefeated,” Kodak Black on “Drowning,” and YoungBoy Never Broke Again on “Beast Mode.”

Production on the album is mostly handled by some of the top producers in the game like Metro Boomin, DJ Mustard, Murda Beatz, and Cardo.

It’s already been a big year for A Boogie, who was elected as a XXL Freshman of the Year back in June. Later this year he will release his final mixtape, a compilation with his label mate, Don Q. He’s also expressed his interest in changing his name to Artist.

Stream A Boogie’s debut below.

@IAMBNYCE

PARTYNEXTDOOR Releases Surprise ‘Seven Days’ EP [STREAM]

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In a few days PARTYNEXTDOOR will hit the road with Halsey for her “hopeless fountain kingdom Tour.” Ahead of the trek, PND unleashes new material to perform with his surprise “Seven Days” EP.

According to PARTY, he made the project in exactly seven days, recording one song a day. The results are a 7-track EP with features from Rick Ross on “Better Man” and with Halsey on “Damage,” a duet that finds the two trading verses about love back-and-forth.

“It’s seven songs I made in seven days,” the OVO crooner told Zane Lowe on Apple Music’s Beats1.

Prior to this release, PND released his ‘Colours 2’ visual project in June and followed that with a plethora of new songs including, “Put It On Silent” featuring Ty Dolla $ign and “Cartier” featruing Jadakiss.

Stream ‘Seven Days’ below.

@IAMBNYCE

New Music: J. Balvin – “Mi Gente” Feat. Beyoncé [LISTEN]

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J Balvin’s “Mi Gente” record is tearing up radio, the clubs, and any area it is played at. The record just got an ultra boost, as Beyonceé hops on it and delivers a killer Spanglish verse, slaying yet again.

Gassing over the Willy William production, Queen Bey brandishes her Spanish by opening her verse by singing, “Con lo mío todos se mueven / La fiesta la llevo en mis genes / Yo soy la reina de los nenes / Mi gente no se detiene aqui nadie se quiere ir.”

Yoncé returns later on the track to spit another tantalizing verse in English this time. “He say my body stay wetter than the ocean / And he say the creole in my body is like a potion,” she sings. “I can be a beast or I can give you emotion / But please don’t question my devotion / I been giving birth on these haters ’cause I’m fertile.”

Staying true to her Philanthropic ways, Bey has vowed to donate her proceeds of the single to hurricane and earthquake and hurricane relief  through CEMA, UNICEF, and Somos Una Voz for Mexico, Puerto Rico, and other Carribbean islands.
Watch the dance-heavy lyric video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=160&v=APHgDFRpCi0
@IAMBNYCE

New Leaks: YMTK – ‘9Song.Wav’ [PREMIERE]

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The Bay Area’s ymtk is ready to take his career to the next level. With his soothing voice and his wordsmith ways, the Bay crooner is quietly making a name for himself as a prolific and influential artist in the modern Bay Area music scene.

Ready to show his musical attributes, the LA-via-Bay rapper/singer drops ‘9Song.wav’. Described as “a funky and ethereal exploration of the different shades of love,” ymtk provides nine solid tracks to vibe out to in any setting.

“I wanted to create a narrative without it being confined to a traditional story method of having a beginning, middle, & end,” explains ymtk. “Almost every song written on 9Song.wav uses entendres to interpret new love, relationships, and situations that accompany those things. From the feeling of having chosen the right one in ‘Confetti’ to becoming a more loving individual and wanting to spread that feeling in ‘Show Love,’ that’s what love can do to you. I explore the honeymoon stage and the impulsive desire that sparks a new connection.”

P-Lo and Ye Ali contribute to the project with a feature each, while P-Lo also handles some production along with Drew Banga and others.

Salute ymtk creating a lane for himself and stream ‘9song.wav’ below.

@IAMBNYCE