A few weeks ago, I drew the ire of a few folks on Twitter by saying Vado could very well end up being a better artist than any of the former or current Dips. I still stand behind the idea, considering that even on his best day Jimmy is an average rapper at best. I’m a huge fan of Capo and he’s a great entertainer, but there’s little argument for his mic skills. From Me To You Juelz bests the I Can’t Feel My Face, Weezy-influenced incarnation or the other style adapting versions we hear now.

So that would leave Vado and Cam.

There’s no denying Cam’s ranking with fans who came of age during the Dips prime, as they’ll place him in their top five dead or alive rankings. Outside of 50, no other emcee or crew rode the mixtape wave to success better than Giles. What charismatic Cam had and what most lack is the inventive nature surrounding his presence – the ability to create slang, rhyme styles and, off the mic, influence trends unrelated to music.

The differences between Cam and his protege aren’t glaringly different but still apparent. Early on, I was one of those who considered Vado to be Big L reborn but he’s moved far away from that comparison, at least in my ears. Equally creative as both L and Cam, Vado’s voice and style carry their own level of conviction, adopting a hard-as-nails rhyme style that goes for the jugular instead of dancing around the chance to finish opponents. The young Harlemite’s ability to mesh colorful language together and the complimentary production make Slime Flu one of my top five releases for the year, bar none.

Ultimately, the relationship is equally beneficial to both artists. Devout followers may not admit it but no one was harmed during Killa Season. Therefore, the best thing to happen to Cam is Vado, who pushes Killer to rap with the missing “umph,” the intangible which was needed again. And vice-versa, Vado’s biggest blessing thus far is linking with Cam, whose star still shines bright enough to create a spotlight for young slime as well.

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Camron & Vado – “I’m About Cream”

Swiped: Mr. X