Diplomat Records
Encyclopedia
Diplomat Records is an American record label
founded by Harlem
rappers Cam'ron
and Jim Jones
. Dipset currently released music under the independent label E1 music. In the early 2000's Dipset was very popular for having star rappers with radio hits like Juelz Santana and Cam'Ron and for their association with Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella records. In 2005 Dipset moved away from Roc-a-Fella and Cam'Ron sold Juelz Santana's contract back to Def Jam. Between 2006 and 2009 Dipset was relatively quiet aside from Cam'Ron and Jim Jones. However, in 2010 they reunited and have begun to associate themselves with rapper Vado. Now, Dipset has put water under the bridge with Juelz Santana and they are planning a comeback. Santana, Cam'Ron, adnd Jim Jones are all planning on releasing new albums in 2011. It also looks very likely that Dipset will make a new album under the name The Diplomats this year.
/Island/Def Jam
and signed with Asylum
, he secured that his albums be released under his "Diplomat" label, while also securing any future Diplomat group albums under Koch. Label president Freekey Zekey also released his debut album on Diplomat Records with distribution coming from Koch. In addition to the deal with Koch to release the "More Than Music" album, co-founder Jim Jones released his first three albums under Koch in association with Diplomat. Juelz Santana also 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. In a 2008 interview, Diplomat member and signee 40 Cal.
confirmed several labels that the individual members are and were distributed by at the time including J.R. Writer being distributed under Babygrande Records
, though earlier reports listed him as being distributed, like many others on the Diplomat label, through Koch.
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
founded by Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
rappers Cam'ron
Cam'ron
Cameron Giles , better known by his stage name Cam'ron or "Killa Cam", is a Grammy-nominated American actor. He is the founder of the hip-hop group The Diplomats , and also of The U.N. group....
and Jim Jones
Jim Jones (rapper)
Joseph Guillermo Jones II , better known by his stage name Jim Jones, is an American rapper and original member of The Diplomats, also known as Dipset. He is Co-CEO of Diplomat Records...
. Dipset currently released music under the independent label E1 music. In the early 2000's Dipset was very popular for having star rappers with radio hits like Juelz Santana and Cam'Ron and for their association with Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella records. In 2005 Dipset moved away from Roc-a-Fella and Cam'Ron sold Juelz Santana's contract back to Def Jam. Between 2006 and 2009 Dipset was relatively quiet aside from Cam'Ron and Jim Jones. However, in 2010 they reunited and have begun to associate themselves with rapper Vado. Now, Dipset has put water under the bridge with Juelz Santana and they are planning a comeback. Santana, Cam'Ron, adnd Jim Jones are all planning on releasing new albums in 2011. It also looks very likely that Dipset will make a new album under the name The Diplomats this year.
Distribution
Diplomat Records does not have traditional distribution in the sense that each of its artists have deals with individual labels. In 2005, Koch Records and then Diplomat Records vice president of A&R Ashor signed a deal to release Dipset: More Than Music. Also in 2005, when founder Cam'ron parted ways with Roc-A-FellaRoc-A-Fella Records
Roc-A-Fella Records is a record label founded by Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Damon "Dame" Dash, and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed by Island Def Jam Motown Music Group.-Formation and Early Years:...
/Island/Def Jam
The Island Def Jam Music Group
The Island Def Jam Motown Music Group, formerly The Island Def Jam Music Group, is an umbrella label formed in 1999 when Universal Music Group merged two of its daughter companies, Island Records and Def Jam Recordings, to create a label group. In 2011, Motown Records was split from the Universal...
and signed with Asylum
Asylum Records
Asylum Records is an American record label founded in 1971 by David Geffen, and partner Elliot Roberts, who had previously worked as agents at the William Morris Agency. Founded specifically to provide a record contract for Jackson Browne, the label signed Tom Waits, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell...
, he secured that his albums be released under his "Diplomat" label, while also securing any future Diplomat group albums under Koch. Label president Freekey Zekey also released his debut album on Diplomat Records with distribution coming from Koch. In addition to the deal with Koch to release the "More Than Music" album, co-founder Jim Jones released his first three albums under Koch in association with Diplomat. Juelz Santana also released his first two albums under Diplomat with distribution by Def Jam
Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings is an American record label, focused primarily on hip hop and urban music, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Motown Music Group...
, until his contract as a solo artist with "Diplomat Records" was sold to Def Jam by Cam'ron. In a 2008 interview, Diplomat member and signee 40 Cal.
40 Cal.
Calvin Alan Byrd is an American rapper better known as 40 Cal. He is a member of Harlem based Hip-Hop group The Diplomats.40 Cal made his first appearance on the self titled theme song, "40 Cal" for the Dipset album Diplomatic Immunity 2...
confirmed several labels that the individual members are and were distributed by at the time including J.R. Writer being distributed under Babygrande Records
Babygrande Records
Babygrande Records is an independent record label based in New York City founded by Chuck Wilson. Babygrande is distributed by the The Orchard, and represented by the Creative Artists Agency in Hollywood.-Discography:...
, though earlier reports listed him as being distributed, like many others on the Diplomat label, through Koch.
Current Artists
| Act | Year signed | # Albums released under Diplomat |
|---|---|---|
| The Diplomats The Diplomats The Diplomats, also popularly known as Dipset, are a Harlem-based hip hop group founded by Cam'ron and Jim Jones in 1997. The original members of the group were Cam'ron, Freekey Zekey, and Jim Jones ; who all grew up together in Harlem... |
2002 | 2 |
| Cam'ron Cam'ron Cameron Giles , better known by his stage name Cam'ron or "Killa Cam", is a Grammy-nominated American actor. He is the founder of the hip-hop group The Diplomats , and also of The U.N. group.... |
2002 | 4 |
| Jim Jones Jim Jones (rapper) Joseph Guillermo Jones II , better known by his stage name Jim Jones, is an American rapper and original member of The Diplomats, also known as Dipset. He is Co-CEO of Diplomat Records... |
2002 | 5 |
| Juelz Santana Juelz Santana LaRon Louis James , better known by his stage name Juelz Santana, is an American rapper, producer, and actor. He appeared on Cam'ron's 2002 singles, "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma"... |
2002 | 2 |
| Freekey Zekey | 2002 | 1 |
| Hell Rell Hell Rell Durrell Mohammad, also known as Hell Rell, is anAmerican rapper, and a member of rap group The Diplomats.In 2007, he signed with Koch Records and began working on his debut album, For the Hell of It... |
2002 | 4 |
| J.R. Writer | 2003 | 1 |
| 40 Cal | 2004 | 2 |
| ByrdGang | 2006 | 1 |
| Vado Vado Teeyon Winfree, or best known as Vado, born on March 13, 1985, is an American rapper from Harlem, New York City. Vado is of Jamaican, St.Vincent and African American descent.-Career:... |
2009 | 1 |
Discography
| Year | Information |
|---|---|
| 2002 | Cam'ron Cam'ron Cameron Giles , better known by his stage name Cam'ron or "Killa Cam", is a Grammy-nominated American actor. He is the founder of the hip-hop group The Diplomats , and also of The U.N. group.... – Come Home with Me Come Home with Me Come Home with Me is the third studio album by Harlem rapper Cam'ron, it is also his debut on Roc-A-Fella Records. It served as an introduction of the Cam'ron-fronted rap group, The Diplomats, to the general public. There are featured guest appearances from The Diplomats, DJ Kay Slay, Daz...
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| 2003 | The Diplomats The Diplomats The Diplomats, also popularly known as Dipset, are a Harlem-based hip hop group founded by Cam'ron and Jim Jones in 1997. The original members of the group were Cam'ron, Freekey Zekey, and Jim Jones ; who all grew up together in Harlem... – Diplomatic Immunity Diplomatic Immunity (album) Diplomatic Immunity is the debut album by The Diplomats, released on March 25, 2003. After the release of group leader Cam'ron's third album, Come Home With Me, the quartet teamed up to release their first collaborative effort... |
| Juelz Santana Juelz Santana LaRon Louis James , better known by his stage name Juelz Santana, is an American rapper, producer, and actor. He appeared on Cam'ron's 2002 singles, "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma"... – From Me to U From Me To U From Me to U is the debut album by the American Hip-Hop rapper Juelz Santana, released on August 19, 2003. The album was seen as the introspective introduction of the rapper to mainstream entertainment... Dipset (Santana's Town) "Dipset " is a song by rapper Juelz Santana released as the first single from his debut album From Me to U. It features rapper Cam'ron.... " |
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| 2004 | Jim Jones Jim Jones (rapper) Joseph Guillermo Jones II , better known by his stage name Jim Jones, is an American rapper and original member of The Diplomats, also known as Dipset. He is Co-CEO of Diplomat Records... – On My Way to Church On My Way to Church On My Way to Church is the debut album by rapper Jim Jones. It was released on August 24, 2004. The album debuted at #18 on the Billboard 200 with 44,000 copies sold in the first week released.-Tracks:... Certified Gangstas "Certified Gangstas" is the debut single of Harlem based rapper Jim Jones off his album On My Way to Church. The song features Cam'ron and Jay Bezel.-Background:... ", "Crunk Muzik Crunk Muzik "Crunk Muzik" is a song by rapper Jim Jones from his On My Way to Church. It was produced by The Blackout Movement and features rappers Juelz Santana and Cam'ron... " |
| The Diplomats The Diplomats The Diplomats, also popularly known as Dipset, are a Harlem-based hip hop group founded by Cam'ron and Jim Jones in 1997. The original members of the group were Cam'ron, Freekey Zekey, and Jim Jones ; who all grew up together in Harlem... – Diplomatic Immunity 2 Diplomatic Immunity 2 -Charts:... Crunk Muzik "Crunk Muzik" is a song by rapper Jim Jones from his On My Way to Church. It was produced by The Blackout Movement and features rappers Juelz Santana and Cam'ron... " |
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| Cam'ron Cam'ron Cameron Giles , better known by his stage name Cam'ron or "Killa Cam", is a Grammy-nominated American actor. He is the founder of the hip-hop group The Diplomats , and also of The U.N. group.... – Purple Haze Purple Haze (album) Purple Haze is the fourth studio album by Harlem rapper Cam'ron. It was released on December 7, 2004. 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... |
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| 2005 | Jim Jones Jim Jones James Warren "Jim" Jones was the founder and leader of the Peoples Temple, which is best known for the November 18, 1978 mass suicide of 909 Temple members in Jonestown, Guyana along with the killings of five other people at a nearby airstrip.Jones was born in Indiana and started the Temple in... – Harlem: Diary of a Summer Harlem: Diary of a Summer Harlem: Diary of a Summer is the second studio album by rapper Jim Jones. The album was released on August 23, 2005 in the United States.-Chart and sales performance:... |
| Juelz Santana Juelz Santana LaRon Louis James , better known by his stage name Juelz Santana, is an American rapper, producer, and actor. He appeared on Cam'ron's 2002 singles, "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma"... – What the Game's Been Missing! What the Game's Been Missing! What the Game's Been Missing! is the second studio album by rapper Juelz Santana. The album was released on November 22, 2005 on Diplomat Records and Def Jam Recordings... Mic Check "Mic Check" is the first single by rapper Juelz Santana from his second studio album What the Game's Been Missing!.The song samples "The Roots Mural Theme" by Quincy Jones.-Charts:... ", "There It Go (The Whistle Song) There It Go (The Whistle Song) "There It Go " is the second single by American rapper Juelz Santana from his second studio album What the Game's Been Missing!. It is one of his most successful and well known singles to date. It is his highest-charting single to date, peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, and is the fourth... ", "Oh Yes Oh Yes "Oh Yes" is the third single by rapper Juelz Santana from his second studio album What the Game's Been Missing!.The song samples The Carpenters' cover version of the song "Please Mr. Postman", originally performed by The Marvelettes.-Charts:... ", "Clockwork Clockwork (song) "Clockwork" is the fourth single by Juelz Santana from his second studio album What the Game's Been Missing!.The video for the song was directed by Dale "Rage" Resteghini-Charts:... " |
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| 2006 | Cam'ron Cam'ron Cameron Giles , better known by his stage name Cam'ron or "Killa Cam", is a Grammy-nominated American actor. He is the founder of the hip-hop group The Diplomats , and also of The U.N. group.... – Killa Season Killa Season Killa Season is the fifth studio album by Harlem rapper Cam'ron. It was released on May 16, 2006. Cam'ron was also the executive producer of the album... |
| J.R. Writer – History in the Making History in the Making (J.R. Writer album) History in the Making is the debut album by J.R. Writer, released on June 27, 2006 through Koch Records. The album debuted at No. 25 on the Billboard 200 and No... |
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| 40 Cal. 40 Cal. Calvin Alan Byrd is an American rapper better known as 40 Cal. He is a member of Harlem based Hip-Hop group The Diplomats.40 Cal made his first appearance on the self titled theme song, "40 Cal" for the Dipset album Diplomatic Immunity 2... – Broken Safety Broken Safety Broken Safety is the debut album by American rapper 40 Cal, from Harlem, New York. It was released in 2006, and includes collaborations with Akon, J. R. Writer, Jay Bezel, and others. A video for Runnin' This Rap Shit has been released. It sold approximately 50,000 copies in the U.S. -Track... |
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| Jim Jones Jim Jones James Warren "Jim" Jones was the founder and leader of the Peoples Temple, which is best known for the November 18, 1978 mass suicide of 909 Temple members in Jonestown, Guyana along with the killings of five other people at a nearby airstrip.Jones was born in Indiana and started the Temple in... – Hustler's P.O.M.E. (Product of My Environment) Hustler's P.O.M.E. (Product of My Environment) Hustler's P.O.M.E. is the third studio album by rapper Jim Jones. It was released on November 7, 2006 in the United States.-History:It is Jones' third studio album of original material with the hit "We Fly High"... We Fly High "We Fly High" is the lead single from Jim Jones' third album, Hustler's P.O.M.E. . The song is Jim Jones' highest-charting single to date charting at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. It is the only single by Jim Jones ever to not have any featured guests. It was produced by Zukhan-Bey who... ", "Reppin Time", "Emotionless" |
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| 2007 | Freekey Zekey – Book of Ezekiel Book of Ezekiel (album) Book Of Ezekiel is rapper Freekey Zekey's debut album and debut on Diplomat Records/Asylum Records released on July 24, 2007.- Track listing :# SDD # Daddy Back # Hater What You Lookin' At... |
| 40 Cal. 40 Cal. Calvin Alan Byrd is an American rapper better known as 40 Cal. He is a member of Harlem based Hip-Hop group The Diplomats.40 Cal made his first appearance on the self titled theme song, "40 Cal" for the Dipset album Diplomatic Immunity 2... – Broken Safety 2 Broken Safety 2 Broken Safety 2 is the second album by Harlem-based rapper 40 Cal. and a sequel to his debut album, Broken Safety. It was originally scheduled to be released in June 2007 but was instead released on September 11 that same year... |
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| Hell Rell Hell Rell Durrell Mohammad, also known as Hell Rell, is anAmerican rapper, and a member of rap group The Diplomats.In 2007, he signed with Koch Records and began working on his debut album, For the Hell of It... – For the Hell of It For the Hell of It For the Hell of It is Hell Rell's debut solo studio album. It was released on September 25, 2007. It features guest spots from rappers Young Dro, Styles P, Cam'ron, J.R. Writer, Juelz Santana and Lil Fame. The first single released is "Show Off"... |
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| 2008 | 40 Cal. 40 Cal. Calvin Alan Byrd is an American rapper better known as 40 Cal. He is a member of Harlem based Hip-Hop group The Diplomats.40 Cal made his first appearance on the self titled theme song, "40 Cal" for the Dipset album Diplomatic Immunity 2... – The Yellow Tape |
| Hell Rell Hell Rell Durrell Mohammad, also known as Hell Rell, is anAmerican rapper, and a member of rap group The Diplomats.In 2007, he signed with Koch Records and began working on his debut album, For the Hell of It... – Black Mask, Black Gloves Black Mask, Black Gloves Black Mask, Black Gloves is Hell Rell's second solo album following his 2007 debut, For the Hell of It. The first single released from the album was "Get Ready". The album went on to peak at #9 on the Billboard Top Rap Albums chart. The CD sold 5,390 copies in its first week and debuted at #131 on... |
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| 2009 | Cam'ron Cam'ron Cameron Giles , better known by his stage name Cam'ron or "Killa Cam", is a Grammy-nominated American actor. He is the founder of the hip-hop group The Diplomats , and also of The U.N. group.... - Crime Pays Crime Pays (Cam'ron album) -Samples:*"Silky "**"Groove Me" by King Floyd*"Curve"**"For You" by Manfred Mann's Earth Band*"Spend the Night"**"Escape" by Kay Cee*"My Job"**"Just A Little Misunderstanding" by The Contours... |
| 2010 | Vado Vado Teeyon Winfree, or best known as Vado, born on March 13, 1985, is an American rapper from Harlem, New York City. Vado is of Jamaican, St.Vincent and African American descent.-Career:... - Slime Flu |