Cam'ron and Mase Dismiss NYC Accent Fade Claims
The rappers pushed back on a February survey that ranked New York City No. 12 among accents Americans say they use less.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Hip-Hop and Rap
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Rappers Cam'ron and Mase dismissed claims that the New York accent is fading among young people during the November 5 episode of It Is What It Is. Their comments came in response to a question from Treasure 'Stat Baby' Wilson about NYC accents.
Why it matters
The debate reflects a broader question about whether regional speech patterns survive in an era of mobility and changing workplaces. Mase attributed the accent to New Yorkers' temperament, personality, and environment.
A February survey of more than 3,000 U.S. adults ranked New York City No. 12 among accents Americans say they use less. The survey is self-reported, and it does not measure actual speech patterns in New York.
The players
Cam'ron
A Harlem-born rapper and member of the group The Diplomats, known for his outspoken commentary on hip-hop culture.
Mase
A New York rapper and former member of Bad Boy Records, known for hits from the late 1990s.
The details
Cam'ron said people make up things on the internet and that the accent comes down to environment. He recalled returning from college in Texas about 30 years ago sounding Southern, and said a girl from the South or West Coast would not sound right using a New York accent phrase. The Word Finder attributed softening accents to moving, changing jobs, and talking with non-locals, while noting that years of media portrayal of big-city accents may help preserve them.
Timeline
About 30 years ago: Cam'ron returned from college in Texas sounding Southern.
February: The Word Finder surveyed more than 3,000 U.S. adults.
November 5: Cam'ron and Mase dismissed accent-fading claims on It Is What It Is.
Culture Shift
The February Word Finder survey ranked New York City No. 12 among accents Americans say they use less, and the rappers' pushback reflects a debate over whether big-city speech survives mobility and media. The Word Finder noted that years of media portrayal may help preserve big-city accents.
The discussion highlights how regional speech shapes how New Yorkers and listeners perceive hip-hop voices. The survey's self-reported findings suggest that accent use may be shifting, though the source does not confirm the trend locally.
The takeaway
Regional accents may shift with movement and work, but media portrayal and local identity can keep them alive. Listeners who want to hear the speech patterns in context can seek out primary interviews rather than secondhand summaries.
Further reading
For more on the artists shaping this conversation, see Hip-Hop and Rap.
Live Poll
Do you think your local accent is becoming less common where you live?
