The Diplomats

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The Diplomats is a hip-hop recording group and label house based in Harlem, Manhattan New York. Founded by Cam'Ron and presided now by Jim Jones and home to recording acts, Juelz Santana, Freekey Zekey, the 730 Dips and Byrd Gang. The conglomerate is better known now as Dipset.

Cam'Ron was already a recording star, the face of former Harlem-famous teen group, Children of the Korn with Jim Jones running game underneath him as his Capo'regime and Zekey playing the hype-man role. From solo artist, Cam developed the Diplomats, signing on a teenage Juelz Santana in 1998. The fam was Dipset.

The first album dropped was Cam's Confessions of Fire, in 2000 released on Rivera's Untertainment label distributed by Epic/Sony. Within two years, Cam signed with his long-time friend and manager, Dame Dash and his Def Jam-distributed Roc-A-Fella Records imprint. Under the Roc, Cam'ron and Jim Jones signed on Juelz, Frekey, Hell Rell and their staff. Dipset remained under Roc-A-Fella for two years, here they dropped two group albums, Diplomatic Immunity 1 & 2 as well as a slew of solo albums from the Dipset soldiers. Diplomats broke away from the Roc in 2004 to establish Diplomat Records - however, most artist under the Dipset banner maintained individual contracts with outside labels.

In 2005, Koch Records took on the Diplomat Records imprint for the release of Dipset: More Than Music. That same year, founder Cam'ron jumped ship from Roc-A-Fella/Island/Def Jam and signed over distribution to Asylum Records. His albums were all safely released under his "Diplomat" label, also securing future works from any of the Diplomat group members under Koch. Frekey Zekey (Label president) released his first album on Diplomat Records with distribution coming from Asylum. Co-founder Jim Jones released his first three albums under Koch in association with Diplomat and Juelz Santana released his first two albums under Diplomat with distribution by Def Jam, until his contract as a solo artist with "Diplomat Records" was sold to Def Jam by Cam'ron.

Disputes

In December 2007, Jim Jones stated in an interview that even though there are controversies between various members of the group, there is a plan in motion to bring back "The Diplomats" in the future. Jones, who hasn't been on speaking terms with the group's leader Cam'ron, also stated that there have been various conversations on a plan for a third instalment of the "Diplomatic Immunity" series. The album had been expected to be released sometime in the summer of 2008, though no such album materialized.

However, in a later interview, 40 Cal. hinted that while the dynamic of the group is likely beyond repair, there may be further collaboration. Juelz Santana also spoke on a future collaboration, but stated that at the moment, Cam'ron seems to be the only obstacle, while also stating that though his contract was sold to Def Jam, he has no hard feelings towards his former boss.

In a September 2008 interview with Hell Rell he stated that he no longer has a contractual obligation to Cam'ron and/or Jim Jones. Within the interview he stated that is still on speaking terms with the members of the group, and didn't feel that they were holding him back, but he did feel the "mainstream" wasn't crediting him as notable as much as he had hoped. Though in a later interview, he stated that he felt the other members of the group were not as focused as he, while also stating there was selfishness within the group. He also stated he wanted to focus more on his career.

Current Roster

Label Discography

Studio Albums

Compilation Albums