Cam’ron Announces New Label, Roster, And New CEO, Omar “Iceman” Sharif
After leaving the Dipset crew, Cam’ron returned in 2009 with his first solo album in three years, Crime Pays, and a new movement The U.N. and Dipset West. Originally a co-founder of Dipset, Cam’ron calls his new company, The U.N. and its subdivision Dipset West, an expansion of the Dipset brand which now includes the music, film, and DVD sub-divisions. “When we started Dipset, it was more than just a crew, it was a movement. The U.N. is a continuation of that movement. Our new roster: Charlie Clips, Byrd Lady, Vado, Fly Boyz, Begetz and Young Hustle were all selected by me and my business partner, Omar “Iceman” Sharif. He has made his name in the music and film industries brokering and securing multi-million dollar deals, merging hip-hop with Hollywood. His experience is exactly what we need to make strategic connections at the next level,” explains Cam’Ron.
Omar “Iceman” Sharif, CEO of The U.N. and partner/co-owner of its subdivision, Dipset West made his name brokering multi-million dollar deals in the film and music industries. In his career, he’s executive produced over 40 albums with artists such as Onyx, ODB, Mariah Carey, Trey Lorenz, AZ, Sheek Louch, Hell Rell, Killah Priest, RZA, Sunz of Man, Loon, Slim Thug, and Xzibit. In 2000, before Koch Records (now E1) became a major independent recording powerhouse, Sharif secured a deal for Onyx member, Fredro Starr, one of the first deals for the newly formed label. In 2002, he brokered a ground-breaking multi-million distribution deal for Suge Knight’s Death Row Records catalog to be distributed through Koch.
In film, Sharif made his name executive producing the longest running hip-hop documentary to date, American Rap Stars (2002) featuring Jay-Z, Run DMC, Russell Simmons, Rick Ruben, and Ludacris to name a few. In 2005, he released the follow-up Female American Rap Stars featuring Missy Elliot, MC Lyte, Eve, and more. Sharif also secured the $2 million dollar deal with Lions Gate for director/actor/rapper Sticky Fingaz’s directorial debut, A Day in the Life featuring an all-star cast of Hollywood’s elite actors such as Mekhi Phifer, Omar Epps, Michael Rapaport, Bokeem Woodbine, Drena De Niro (Robert’s daughter), Tyrin Turner, Faizon Love, Fredro Starr, Troy Garity, Treach, Mike Williams and Malinda Williams just to name a few.
No stranger to the big screen himself, Cam’ron made his acting debut on the 2002 film Paid in Full, where he played the character Rico, based on former Harlem drug dealer Alpo. Fascinated with the creative process, in 2006, Cam’ron made his screenwriting and directorial debuts in the direct to video movieKilla Season. He played a high school basketball player who eventually drops out of high school to begin his own drug ring. The first installment sold over 200,000 DVDs.
While he sets his eye towards Hollywood, Cam’ron keeps a timb in the streets with several upcoming studio releases: The Gangsta Grillz Mixtape with DJ Drama, U.N.’s debut album, solo albums for Vado, Begetz and ultimately a solo album from Cam himself. “We got a movie coming out called The Bakery and then we’ll drop the second installment of Killa Season. We’re also discussing the release of The Guy Fischer bio-pic.” Guy Fischer is the convicted racketeer, once part of The Council, a notorious African-American crime organization, who controlled the heroin trade in Harlem from 1972-1983. “In between films, we’ll keep the streets hot with The Gangsta Grillz Mixtape and we’ll most likely release Vado’s album immediately after. Vado got the streets on smash, and in Harlem, he’s got an unbelievable buzz. Everybody in Harlem already knows what it is,” expresses Cam’ron. “Between the films and the music coming soon on U.N. and Dipset West, we gonna keep the ‘hood in a frenzy!”
