Diplomat Records

Last updated
Diplomat Records, LLC.
Founded2001
Founder
StatusActive
Distributor(s) The Island Def Jam Music Group
Genre
Country of origin United States

Diplomat Records is an American hip hop record label co-founded by Harlem rappers Jim Jones and Cam'ron.

Contents

History

In the early 2000s, Dipset was very popular for having star rappers with radio hits like Juelz Santana and Cam'ron, as well as their association with Jay-Z and Damon Dash's Roc-A-Fella Records, which was distributed under Def Jam Recordings. [1] [2] [3] This resulted in four studio albums being released under the Dipset/Roc-A-Fella joint venture. In 2005, Dipset moved away from Roc-A-Fella after Jay-Z assumed presidency of Def Jam, which they took issue with. [4] [5] They had already signed to independent music powerhouse MNRK Music Group (formerly Koch/eOne) the year prior. [6] Despite this, Juelz Santana's remained under contract with Def Jam for the time being until 2008 when Cam'ron sold his contract to the label in 2008. [7] Santana only released one album under his Dipset/Def Jam deal in late 2005. Even though the Diplomats/Koch partnership seemed financially improved over the Roc-A-Fella deal, only co-founder Jim Jones became the most successful Dipset artist under that deal; one notice was his single, "We Fly High" (2006) scoring among the Billboard top ten and going platinum the following year. [8] Between 2006 and 2009, Dipset was relatively quiet aside from Cam'ron and Jim Jones after alleged falling outs. [9] However, in 2010, they reunited and have begun to associate themselves with rapper Vado. [10] The recent release under Diplomat Records was in 2018 with the Empire-distributed Diplomatic Ties. [11] [12]

Distribution

Diplomat Records doesn't have traditional distribution in the sense that each of its artists have deals with individual labels. In 2005, after signing with Koch (now MNRK Music) in 2004, then-president of A&R George "Duke Da God" Moore signed a deal to release the first official compilation through Dipset/Koch, Dipset: More Than Music, Vol. 1. [13] Also in 2005, when co-founder Cam'ron parted ways with Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam and signed with Warner Music Group's Alternative Distribution Alliance-distributed Asylum Records, [14] he secured that his albums to be released under Diplomat Records, [15] while also securing any future Diplomat group albums under Koch, with the exclusion of Juelz Santana, due to his obligations with Def Jam. [16] Former president Freekey Zekey [17] [18] also released his debut album on Diplomat with distribution coming from Koch. [18] In addition to the deal with Koch to release the More Than Music, Vol. 1 compilation album, co-founder Jim Jones released his first three albums under Koch in association with Diplomat Records. [19] [20] [21] Juelz Santana also released his first two albums under Diplomat with distribution by Def Jam (one of which was his debut release under Def Jam's Roc-A-Fella), [22] [23] until his contract as a solo artist with Diplomat was sold to Def Jam by Cam'ron in 2008. [24] [25] In a 2008 interview, Diplomat member and signee 40 Cal. confirmed several labels that the individual members at the time (including J.R. Writer) were being distributed under Babygrande, [26] though earlier reports listed him as being distributed, like many others on the Diplomat label, through Koch. [27]

Artists

Former

ActYears
on the label		Releases
under the label
Hell Rell 2003-20081
J.R. Writer 2003-20081
S.A.S (Euro Gang) 2003-20081
40 Cal 2004-20083
Max B 2005-2007; 2010 [28] –
Freekey Zeekey 2002-20121
Vado 2009-20132

Discography

ArtistAlbumDetails
Cam'ron Come Home with Me
(released under Roc-A-Fella Records)
The Diplomats Diplomatic Immunity
(released under Roc-A-Fella Records)
  • Released: March 25, 2003
  • Chart positions: #8 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Gold
  • Singles: "Dipset Anthem", "I Really Mean It"
Juelz Santana From Me to U
(released under Roc-A-Fella Records)
Jim Jones On My Way to Church
(released under Koch Entertainment)
The Diplomats Diplomatic Immunity 2
(released under Koch Entertainment)
  • Released: November 23, 2004
  • Chart position: #46 U.S.
  • Singles: "S.A.N.T.A.N.A.", "Crunk Muzik", "Push It"
Cam'ron Purple Haze
(released under Roc-A-Fella Records)
  • Released: December 7, 2004
  • Chart position: #20 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Gold [29]
  • U.S. sales: 800,000 [30]
  • Singles: "Get Em Girl", "Girls", "Down and Out", "Hey Lady"
Various artistsDukeDaGod Presents: More Than Music, Vol. 1 [31]
(released under Koch Entertainment)
  • Released: July 12, 2005
  • Singles: "Get Down"
Jim Jones Harlem: Diary of a Summer
(released under Koch Entertainment)
  • Released: August 23, 2005
  • Chart position: #5 U.S.
  • Singles: "Baby Girl", "Summer Wit Miami", "What You Been Drankin' On"
Juelz Santana What the Game's Been Missing!
(released under Def Jam Recordings)
Cam'ron Killa Season
(released under Asylum Records)
  • Released: May 16, 2006
  • Chart position: #2 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Gold
  • Singles: "Suck it or Not", "Wet Wipes"
J.R. Writer History in the Making
(released under Koch Entertainment)
  • Released: July 11, 2006
  • Chart position: #25 U.S.
  • Singles: "Grill 'Em", "Byrd Call"
40 Cal. Broken Safety
(released under Asylum Records)
  • Released: August 8, 2006
  • Chart position: #81 U.S. R&B
  • Singles: "Runnin' This Rap Shit"
Jim Jones Hustler's P.O.M.E. (Product of My Environment)
(released under Koch Entertainment)
  • Released: November 7, 2006
  • Chart position: #6 U.S.
  • Singles: "We Fly High", "Emotionless"
Various artistsDukeDaGod Presents: More Than Music, Vol. 2 [32]
(released under Koch Entertainment)
  • Released: May 8, 2007
Freekey Zekey Book of Ezekiel
(released under Asylum Records)
  • Released: July 24, 2007
  • Chart position: #154 U.S.
  • Singles: "Hater What You Lookin At", "Like This"
40 Cal. Broken Safety 2
(released under Koch Entertainment)
  • Released: September 11, 2007
  • Chart position: #151 U.S.
  • Singles: "The Big Boys"
Hell Rell For the Hell of It
(released under Koch Entertainment)
  • Released: September 25, 2007
  • Chart position: #55 U.S.
  • Singles: "Show Off"
Jim Jones Harlem's American Gangster
(released under Koch Entertainment)
  • Released: February 19, 2008
  • Chart positions: #19 U.S.
  • Singles: "Love Me No More"
40 Cal. The Yellow Tape
(released under Koch Entertainment)
  • Released: April 11, 2008
Cam'ron Crime Pays
(released under Asylum Records)
  • Released: May 12, 2009
  • Chart position: #3 U.S.
  • Singles: "My Job", "Get It In Ohio", "Cookies-n-Apple Juice"
U.N. Heat in Here Vol. 1
(released under Asylum Records)
  • Released: May 25, 2010
  • Chart position: #133 U.S.
Cam'ron & Vado Gunz n' Butta
(released under eOne Music)
  • Released: April 19, 2011
  • Singles: "Speaking in Tungs", "Hey Mama", "We All Up in Here"
The DiplomatsDiplomatic Ties [33]
(released under Empire Distribution)
  • Released: November 21, 2018

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cam'ron</span> American rapper

Cam'ron Giles, known mononymously as Cam'ron, is an American rapper. Beginning his career in the early-1990s as Killa Cam, Giles signed with Lance "Un" Rivera's Untertainment, an imprint of Epic Records to release his first two studio albums Confessions of Fire (1998) and S.D.E. (2000); the former received gold certification by the RIAA. After leaving Epic, Giles signed with Roc-A-Fella Records in 2001 to release his third studio album, Come Home with Me, the following year. It received platinum certification by the RIAA and spawned the singles "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma", which peaked at numbers four and three on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. His fourth studio album, Purple Haze (2004) was met with similar success and likewise received gold certification by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juelz Santana</span> American rapper

LaRon Louis James Sr, better known by his stage name Juelz Santana, is an American rapper and member of East Coast hip hop group, the Diplomats. He is best known for his appearances on group cohort Cam'ron's 2002 singles "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma", which peaked at numbers four and three on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. His guest appearance on Chris Brown's 2005 single, "Run It!" peaked atop the chart for five weeks and received triple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). As a lead artist, he is also known for his 2005 single "There It Go ", which peaked at number six on the chart and received platinum certification by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roc-A-Fella Records</span> American hip hop record label

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<i>Purple Haze</i> (album) 2004 studio album by Camron

Purple Haze is the fourth studio album by Harlem rapper Cam'ron. The album was released on December 7, 2004, by Diplomat Records, Roc-A-Fella Records and distributed by Def Jam Recordings. The release of this album was delayed several times from November 2003, the first single "Get Em Girls" was released a year prior to the actual album release. The album debuted at number 20 on the Billboard 200 with 123,000 copies sold in its first week. The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Jones (rapper)</span> American rapper (born 1976)

Joseph Guillermo Jones II, better known by his stage name Jim Jones, is an American rapper, record producer and record executive. He is a founding member of the hip hop collective the Diplomats, which he formed in 1997 with fellow Harlem native Cam'ron.

The Diplomats is an American hip hop collective formed in 1997 by childhood friends Cam'ron and Jimmy Jones in Harlem, New York. The group was originally composed of Cam'ron, Jim Jones and Freekey Zekey, all of whom grew up together in Harlem. In 1999, fellow Harlem-based rapper Juelz Santana joined the group.

"Crunk Muzik" is a song by rapper Jim Jones from his debut studio album On My Way to Church. It was produced by The Blackout Movement and features rappers Juelz Santana and Cam'ron. It was also featured on The Diplomats' album, Diplomatic Immunity 2.

<i>Come Home with Me</i> 2002 studio album by Camron

Come Home with Me is the third studio album by American rapper Cam'ron, released on May 14, 2002, by Cam'ron's Diplomat Records and Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records; distributed under Def Jam Recordings. There are featured guest appearances from Jimmy Jones, Juelz Santana, Freekey Zekey, DJ Kay Slay, Daz Dillinger, Tiffany, Jay-Z, McGruff, Memphis Bleek, and Beanie Sigel. To date, it is his most commercially successful album; it peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 226,000 copies, and eventually sold one million copies in the United States, being certified Platinum by the RIAA.

Ezekiel Jiles, better known by his stage name Freekey Zekey, is an American rapper best known as a founding member of the Diplomats, a group he helped form in Harlem in 1997 alongside his childhood friend Jim Jones and cousin Cam'ron. Freekey also serves as the owner/CEO of 730 Dips Records.

The Lox is an American hip hop trio composed of East Coast rappers Sheek Louch, Styles P and Jadakiss. Each hailing from Yonkers, New York, the group formed in 1994 and signed with Puff Daddy's Bad Boy Records two years later to release their debut studio album, Money, Power & Respect (1998). Despite critical and commercial success, the group parted ways with the label in favor of Ruff Ryders Entertainment in 1999, through which they released their similarly successful follow-up, We Are the Streets (2000).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oh Boy (Cam'ron song)</span> 2002 single by Camron featuring Juelz Santana

"Oh Boy" is a 2002 Grammy-nominated hip hop single by Cam'ron from his album Come Home with Me, and features Juelz Santana. The single was released through Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records, Cam'ron's Diplomat Records and Def Jam Recordings.

<i>From Me to U</i> 2003 studio album by Juelz Santana

From Me to U is the debut studio album by American rapper Juelz Santana. The album was released on August 19, 2003 as planned, under Diplomat, Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam. The album was seen as the introspective introduction of the rapper to mainstream entertainment. Following appearances on various street mixtapes and the success of The Diplomats, Santana was the second member of the group to release a solo album, after de facto leader Cam'ron.

<i>Diplomatic Immunity</i> (The Diplomats album) 2003 studio album by The Diplomats

Diplomatic Immunity is the debut studio album by American hip hop group The Diplomats, released via The Island Def Jam Music Group, Def Jam Recordings, Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records, and Cam'ron's Diplomat Records.

<i>On My Way to Church</i> 2004 studio album by Jim Jones

On My Way to Church is the debut studio album by American rapper and record executive Jim Jones. The album was released on August 24, 2004, through Diplomat Records and Koch Records. The production on the album was handled by various producers including Chad Hamilton, Boola, Ryan Press, Heatmakerz and Jones himself among others. The album also features guest appearances by T.I., Cam'ron, Bun B, Juelz Santana and more.

<i>Book of Ezekiel</i> (album) 2007 studio album by Freekey Zekey

Book of Ezekiel is the debut and only solo studio album by American rapper Freekey Zekey of the Diplomats. It was released on July 24, 2007 via Diplomat Records, Asylum Records, Koch Records, and Atlantic Records, and features guest appearances from Juelz Santana, Cam'ron, Jim Jones, Hell Rell, J.R. Writer, Sen, Tobb and Ash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Jones discography</span>

American rapper Jim Jones has released seven studio albums, five collaborative albums, three compilation albums, two extended plays (EPs), nineteen mixtapes and 47 singles. Jones is perhaps best known for being a member of East Coast hip hop group The Diplomats, with whom he recorded several mixtapes with before releasing their debut album Diplomatic Immunity, in 2003. In August 2004, Jones released his solo debut album On My Way to Church, under Diplomat Records and E1 Music. The album was preceded by the release of the singles "Certified Gangstas" and "Crunk Muzik", the latter of which features his Dipset-cohorts Juelz Santana and Cam'ron, and also supported the release of Dipset's second album Diplomatic Immunity 2 (2004).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hey Ma (Cam'ron song)</span> 2002 single by Camron featuring Juelz Santana, Freekey Zekey, & Toya

"Hey Ma" is a song by American rapper Cam'ron, released through Cam'ron's Diplomat Records, Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings as the second single from his third album Come Home with Me. The song features Juelz Santana, Freekey Zekey, and Toya, and was produced by DR Period and Mafia Boy, who used a sample of the Commodores' 1977 hit "Easy".

<i>Paid in Full</i> (soundtrack) 2002 soundtrack album by Various artists

Paid in Full/Dream Team is the soundtrack album to the 2002 film, Paid in Full. It was released on October 25, 2002, by Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. The soundtrack was released on two compact discs. The first disc was a collection of old school hip hop and R&B songs, while the second was a collection of new songs recorded by Roc-A-Fella. The album peaked at number 53 on the Billboard 200, number 10 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number 2 on the Top Soundtracks chart.

The Diplomats, also popularly known as Dipset, are a Harlem-based hip hop group founded by Cam'ron and Jim Jones in 1997. discography consists of three studio albums, 6 singles, and one soundtrack on Diplomat Records. Music videos are also included, however, solo works from the groups' members, Cam'Ron, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, Freekey Zekey, JR Writer, Hell Rell, & 40 Cal, Stack Bundles (deceased), Katt Williams and Max B are not included.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We Fly High</span> 2006 single by Jim Jones

"We Fly High" is a song by American rapper Jim Jones, released as the lead single from his third studio album, Hustler's P.O.M.E. (2006). The song is Jim Jones' highest-charting single to date, charting at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. It was written by Jones and produced by Zukhan Bey who produced his previous single, "Baby Girl".

References

  1. ↑ Allah, Sha Be (2020-09-05). "Cam'Ron Turns Down VP Position at Roc-A-Fella Records 18 Years Ago". The Source. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  2. ↑ "The Collapse Of The Dynasties: Roc-A-Fella & Dipset". Latest Hip Hop News - Rap News - Hip Hop Music - Hip Hop Videos & More | iHipHop. 2009-12-02. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  3. ↑ "Cam'ron On Dipset, Roc-A-Fella, His Career, Past Issues With JAY-Z and Nas & More | Drink Champs". Thisis50. 2021-04-06. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  4. ↑ Williams, Todd "Stereo" WilliamsTodd "Stereo". "Cam'ron Blasts Karen Civil on Instagram Over Her Jay Z/Dipset Story". The Boombox. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  5. ↑ "Jay-Z Responds To Jim Jones". HipHopDX. 2006-10-31. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  6. ↑ Sanneh, Kelefa (2007-02-27). "Rappers Find That a Small Label Can Have Its Uses". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  7. ↑ "Cam'ron Sells Juelz Santana To Def Jam For $2 Million". HipHopDX. 2008-07-31. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  8. ↑ "Jim Jones Recalls "We Fly High" 10 Years Later: "I Actually Hate The Song"". Complex. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  9. ↑ tffhthewriter (2017-02-09). "The Source |Jim Jones Talks Dipset Break Up, Jay-Z, Max B, French Montana and More with Funk Flex [Watch]". The Source. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  10. ↑ "Jim Jones Breaks Down Dipset Break Up, The End of Rocafella, Jay Z, French Montana, Mendeecees, & MORE [VIDEO]". Hot97. 2017-02-09. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  11. ↑ "Dipset: Diplomatic Ties". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  12. ↑ "The Diplomats share new album Diplomatic Ties". The FADER. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  13. ↑ (June 2005) Diplomat Records & Koch Records Announce New Partnership With Diplomats VP of A&R Duke "Da God" Accessed September 19, 2008.
  14. ↑ Ozzie (April 30, 2005) Cam'ron inks deal with Asylum/Warner Accessed September 18, 2008.
  15. ↑ Dave (April 30, 2005) Cam'ron leaves Rocafella Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine RapBasement Accessed September 18, 2008.
  16. ↑ (June 2005) June 2005 Interview with Cam'ron Archived 2008-09-07 at the Wayback Machine XXL. Accessed September 19, 2008.
  17. ↑ Edwards, Brandon. "Freekey Zekey So Harlem Pt. 1" Archived 2007-03-04 at the Wayback Machine , XXLmag.com, February 13, 2007. Accessed September 21, 2008.
  18. 1 2 Black Widow (December 4, 2006) Ballin!: Freekey Zekey Snags A Multi-Million Dollar Deal; Jones Celebrates A 'Dipset X-Mas' Archived 2008-10-17 at the Wayback Machine SixShot. Accessed September 21, 2008.
  19. ↑ (November 2004) KOCH Records Announces New Partnership With Diplomat Records Accessed September 19, 2008.
  20. ↑ Jim Jones 'Harlem: The Diary Of A Summer album Accessed September 19, 2008.
  21. ↑ Thomas Golianopoulos (December 4, 2006) Jim Jones, 'Hustler's P.O.M.E. (Product of My Environment)' (Diplomat/Koch) Spin Magazine Online. Accessed September 19, 2008.
  22. ↑ From Me to U Archived 2009-01-13 at the Wayback Machine Accessed September 19, 2008.
  23. ↑ Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes MTV's Mixtape Monday Archived 2008-12-07 at the Wayback Machine Accessed September 19, 2008.
  24. ↑ (August 19, 2008) Was Cam'ron holding Juelz Santana Back? Archived 2008-09-13 at the Wayback Machine DefSounds Accessed September 20, 2008.
  25. ↑ (August 1, 2008) Juelz Santana's contract Sold to Def Jam Archived 2008-09-11 at the Wayback Machine DefSounds. Accessed September 20, 2008.
  26. ↑ Quinton Hatfield (August 11, 2008) 40 Cal.: The Rising Up HipHopDX. Accessed September 20, 2008.
  27. ↑ Michael Ivey (May 3, 2008) Dipset Moves on JR Writer's Debut Archived 2008-10-14 at the Wayback Machine Accessed September 21, 2008.
  28. ↑ XXL Staff. "Max B Freed From Obligations to Jim Jones, Vigilante Season on the Way - XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  29. 1 2 Searchable Database Archived June 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine . RIAA. Accessed September 16, 2008.
  30. ↑ Sanneh, Kelefa (December 29, 2005). A Rap Tale of 2 Cities and 2 Stars. The New York Times. Accessed September 16, 2008.
  31. ↑ "Dipset: More Than Music, Vol. 1". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  32. ↑ More Than Music, Vol. 2 by DukeDaGod Presents Dipset, 2007-05-08, retrieved 2022-04-09
  33. ↑ "Stream Dipset's First Album in 14 Years, Diplomatic Ties". SPIN. 2018-11-23. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
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