Darhyl DJ Camper Jr., widely known by his stage name "Camper," was born in Atlantic City on May 25th, 1990. He grew up in Mays Landing where his musical journey began at the tender age of 6 when he first touched the keys of a piano. He graduated from Oakcrest in 2008 and now stands at the forefront of the new school of R&B producers and really music producers in general.
In 2010, Camper signed his first publishing deal with Sony EMI. The following year marked a pivotal moment in his career as he co-produced Marvin & Chardonnay for Big Sean and secured his first number #1 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop charts. Just to go through some of Camper’s production credits because we only have so much time Brandy, her single Love Again with Daniel Caesar earned Camper and also my cousin Charles McAllister a Grammy nomination. Camper has also worked with such luminaries as Ne-Yo and Drake. I think we actually met for the first time after a session with Ne-Yo. Even though Drake may have lost the beef with Kendrick, I mean it is still Drake. So to have someone from South Jersey let alone Oakcrest producing for him is a big deal. Shout out to Mike Zombie from Willingboro, who also produced Started From The Bottom. I remember when we were helping document the making of Brandy’s B7 album Camper was wearing this really cool OVO jacket and my photographer, Reji Berrouet, was a big Drake fan at the time too. Additional production credits include Mary J. Blige, Nicki Minaj, JAY-Z, Kanye aka Ye, Ty Dolla $, John Legend, Pusha T, Mariah Carey, Keyshia Cole, Jesse J, Maeta, 6lack, Usher, H.E.R., Coco Jones, Syd, Tank, Christina Aquilera, The Backstreet Boys, Teyana Taylor, Justin Timberlake, and Elle Varner just to name a few. I actually did not even realize that Camper produced Refill for Elle Varner, which was also nominated for a Grammy. I love that song. Camper has been Grammy-nominated over 20 times, clinching his first win for Best R&B Album with H.E.R. in 2018 for her self-titled album H.E.R. and he earned his second Grammy award for ICU with Coco Jones, which won Best R&B Song earlier this year at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. Justin Timberlake is also featured on the remix too. In 2019 Camper was given the Keys to Atlantic City along with Luke Witherspoon III and Ronny Flippa Colson.
It took us a couple of years, but with over 100 million records sold and a fantastic new single I Need It out now with Syd and Tank, it gives me great pleasure on behalf of the Oakcrest Alumni Association and the class of 2001 to induct Darhyl DJ Camper, Jr. or just Camper of the Class of 2008 into the Oakcrest High School Community Wall of Fame Class of 2024. Keep pushing boundaries and shaping the sound of R&B. You make me proud to say I was born in Atlantic City but grew up in Mays Landing and went to Oakcrest. Congratulations!
