Who Shot Cam'ron?

All of it fed the music. The Diplomats released a mix tape called "Who Shot Freaky Zeaky?" Cam'ron laced his songs with expletives and descriptions of killing, guns, sex and drugs. Titles included "More Gangsta Music," "Get 'em Girls" and "Dead or Alive."

Cam'ron has recently gotten spreads in magazines including VIBE and the Source. Only last weekend the Diplomats were named the best rap group of the year at the VIBE Awards.

"He is one of those rappers who has ears for the street," said Erik Parker, VIBE's music editor.

Motive Unclear

Police say that they're looking at a potential suspect in the shooting but that, without Cam'ron's help, the case will probably go nowhere. The motive remains a mystery. So with the police chasing Cam'ron and Cam'ron chasing fame, his friends and fans are trying to sort out what happened.

Juelz Santana said the gunman might have been jealous of Killa Cam's success.

"There are all these people who love us and respect our gangster," he said. "But there are people who want to test our gangster. . . . Some people hate to see you on top."

At Howard, students are wondering whether Cam'ron was asking for trouble that weekend in the District.

"A lot of people thought that he was really stupid driving a Lamborghini in D.C. This isn't New York," said Lauren Poledore, a senior who helped organize the homecoming activities.

Her view was shared by Brian "Fatboy" Young and Derek "Chill" Rogers, hip-hop deejays who said Cam'ron's flamboyant ways might have ticked someone off.

"Truthfully, I think he forgot where he was," said Young, a Howard freshman. "This is D.C. It was definitely a carjacking."

"Yeah, he was probably showing off," said Rogers, a sophomore.

"But this is definitely going to help his sales," Young said.

Staff researcher Bobbye Pratt contributed to this report.