you're disappointed in Cam'Ron

I always appreciated how up front the two speakers were in Cam’Ron’s song “Hey Ma.”  Clearly, these are two strong, responsible adults, clubbing in some public venue, and they both understand themselves well enough to have such a succinct and open dialog, especially as they are two strangers.  Notice that he calls her “ma” because he doesn’t know her name.

Cam’Ron: Hey ma.
Ma: What’s up?
Cam’Ron: Let’s slide.
Ma: All right.
Cam’Ron: All right.

He asks, she accepts, and this cheers him.  The next line is said together, which I always took to be a unison of thought.

Together: And we go’n get it on tonight.

They reach a consensus as far as goal goes, and with that in mind, he takes it to the next, considerate level.

Cam’Ron: You smoke?
Ma: I smoke.
Cam’Ron: I drink.
Ma: Me too.
Cam’Ron: Well good.
Together (mentally): ‘Cause we go’n get high tonight.

Again, everything lines up quite nicely for these two.  He wants to make sure that they have similar sensibilities.  I’m glad it’s working out.

Cam’Ron: Got drops.
Ma: Got Coups.
Cam’Ron: Got trucks.
Ma: Got juice.
Cam’Ron: All right.
Together: ‘Cause we go’n take a ride tonight.

This verse eludes me.  Are they going on a road trip now and need provisions?  It explains the need for vehicles and juice boxes, right?  I mean, I guess it’s good that they’re both still on the same page at least.

So I cheer for them, and I want this to workout, only by the next verse, I find out that Cam’Ron’s met someone else at a club with an entirely different sort of discussion.  First, he’s the only one speaking.

Yo, now I was downtown clubbin’, ladies night
seen short she was crazy right

So she was insane.  This does not bode well already.

And I approach, baby, like
Ma, what’s your age and type?
She looked at me and said “You’s a baby right?”
I told her, I’m 18 and live a crazy life.

You certainly do Cam’Ron.   First, you were drinking under age with ma?  I gave you points for being responsible adults.  And what happened to her anyway?  You were on the same page with your car trips and juice boxes?  This woman already looks down on you, and she’s also older, so much so that you need to justify your legality.

Plus, I’ll tell you what the 80’s like,

and I know what ladies like.

Need a man that’s polite, listens, and takes advise.

I could be all three, plus, I can lay the pipe.

Come with me and come stay the night.

I can't help but admire his tactic.  He too was born in the same decade, lady.  The age difference isn't that bad, but what happened to that understanding Cam’Ron who had a proper discussion with a lady of interest, rather than this bossy, imprudent whipper snapper?

She looked at me laughin’, like boy your game is tight

I’m laughin’ back while I show you right.

The problem’s right here.  There’s no real communication, just assumptions of optical translation and guffaws.  How would Cam’Ron know what her laugh means anyway?  He just met her!  It gets worst.

Get in the car.

And don’t touch nothing.  Sit in the car.

Let’s discuss somethin’

either we lovin’ or I’ll see you tomorrow.

Who is he to give her an ultimatum?  Clearly his success with that first girl has gone to his head.  He’s now acting chauvinistic and won’t let her touch anything in the car.  I mean, I know how some people can be with their radio stations, but even then, that’s not a great way to spark any interest from her.

The next verse about a rendezvous with a woman, maybe this one, goes into lascivious rhyming detail, until I realize that, Cam’Ron’s also talking about his boo who’s real, or genuine.

They all say I’m rotten and rich

But not her, boo be real.

High heel do be feel, plus got them Gucci nail.

You a cutie still, and this my down girl too.

Ain’t no groupie deal.

He finds other women attractive what with their designer nails and shoes, but he values his boo.  I take this to “boo” to be Ma from the beginning who Cam’Ron had a real connection with.  He even admits that this is real, rather than a “groupie” deal, which he clearly considers this ladies' night woman to be.  He takes this more seriously and values this relationship than what he can pick up on the road.

I see my boo be grinnin’.
She looked and said, “Cam, I know that you be sinnin’.”
Naw, I’m a changed man, look at the range ma’m.
I got a whole new game plan.
Looked and said “that’s nothing but game, Cam.”
She was right; she was up in the range man.

So boo/ma gives him an opportunity to come clean, and he still tries to save face, clearly his head's bloated by the older woman he's won.  I'm just glad that boo be real and can call his bluff easily.  Only, he later on drops her off somewhere, and Cam'Ron doesn't really learn a lesson.

Cam'Ron: Yo L.
L: What's up?
Cam'Ron: I hit.
L: What else?
Cam'Ron: Plus dome.
L: Say word.
Cam'Ron: And we got it on tonight.

He calls to brag later to a friend, who's clearly bored by this news because Cam'Ron just gets away with everything doesn't he?

I expected more from you Cam'Ron.  You started out so well with ma.

Here's the song and its music video.