Diplomat Records

Diplomat Records
Founded	2002
Founder	Cam'ron Jim Jones
Distributor(s)	E1 Music Asylum Records Def Jam Recordings Babygrande Records Interscope
Genre	Hip hop
Country of origin	United States

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.

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.^[1] Also in 2005, when founder Cam'ron parted ways with Roc-A-Fella/Island/Def Jam and signed with Asylum,^[2] he secured that his albums be released under his "Diplomat" label,^[3] while also securing any future Diplomat group albums under Koch.^[4] Label president Freekey Zekey^[5][6] also released his debut album on Diplomat Records with distribution coming from Koch.^[6] 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.^[7][8][9] Juelz Santana also released his first two albums under Diplomat with distribution by Def Jam,^[10][11] until his contract as a solo artist with "Diplomat Records" was sold to Def Jam by Cam'ron.^[12][13] 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,^[14] though earlier reports listed him as being distributed, like many others on the Diplomat label, through Koch.^[15]

Roster

Current Artists

Act	Year signed	# Albums released under Diplomat
The Diplomats	2002	2
Cam'ron	2002	4
Jim Jones	2002	5
Juelz Santana	2002	2
Freekey Zekey	2002	1
Hell Rell	2002	4
J.R. Writer	2003	1
40 Cal	2004	2
ByrdGang	2006	1
Vado	2009	1

Discography

Year	Information
2002	Cam'ron – Come Home with Me Released: May 14, 2002 Chart position: 2 U.S. RIAA certification: Platinum[16] Singles: "Oh Boy", "Hey Ma", "Day Dreaming"
2003	The Diplomats – Diplomatic Immunity Released: March 25, 2003 Chart positions: 8 U.S. RIAA certification: 1x Platinum Singles: "Dipset Anthem", "I Really Mean It"
	Juelz Santana – From Me to U Released: August 19, 2003 RIAA: Gold Record Sales: 640,000 Worldwide Singles: "Dipset (Santana's Town)"
2004	Jim Jones– On My Way to Church Released: August 24, 2004 U.S Sales: 200,00 + Singles: "Certified Gangstas", "Crunk Muzik"
	The Diplomats – Diplomatic Immunity 2 Released: November 23, 2004 U.S Sales: 500,000 + Singles: "S.A.N.T.A.N.A.", "Crunk Muzik"
	Cam'ron – Purple Haze Released: December 7, 2004 Chart position: 20 U.S. RIAA certification: Gold[16] U.S. sales: 800,000[17] Singles: "Get Em Girl", "Girls", "Down and Out"
2005	Jim Jones – Harlem: Diary of a Summer Released: August 23, 2005 Chart position: 5 U.S. U.S Sales: 350,000 + Singles: "Baby Girl", "Summer Wit Miami", "What You Been Drankin On"
	Juelz Santana – What the Game's Been Missing! Released: November 22, 2005 U.S. Sales: 1,250,000 RIAA certification: Platinum Singles: "Mic Check", "There It Go (The Whistle Song)", "Oh Yes", "Clockwork"
2006	Cam'ron – Killa Season Released: May 16, 2006 U.S Sales: 500,00 + RIAA certification: Gold Chart position: 2 U.S. Singles: "Suck it or Not", "Wet Wipes"
	J.R. Writer – History in the Making Released: July 11, 2006 Chart position: 25 U.S. U.S Sales: 150,000 + Singles: "Grill 'Em", "Byrd Call"
	40 Cal. – Broken Safety Released: August 8, 2006 Singles: "Runnin' This Rap Shit"
	Jim Jones – Hustler's P.O.M.E. (Product of My Environment) Released: November 7, 2006 Chart position: 6 U.S. RIAA certification: Gold[18] Singles: "We Fly High", "Reppin Time", "Emotionless"
2007	Freekey Zekey – Book of Ezekiel Released: July 24, 2007 U.S Sales: 50,000 + Chart position: 154 Singles: "Hater What You Lookin At", "Like This"
	40 Cal. – Broken Safety 2 Released: September 11, 2007 Singles: "The Big Boys"
	Hell Rell – For the Hell of It Released: September 25, 2007 U.S Sales : 75,000 + Chart position: 55 U.S. Singles: "Show Off"
2008	40 Cal. – The Yellow Tape Released: April 11, 2008
	Hell Rell – Black Mask, Black Gloves Released: July 22, 2008 Singles: "Get Ready"
2009	Cam'ron - Crime Pays Released: May 12, 2009 U.S Sales: 175,000 + Singles: "My Job", "Get It In Ohio"
2010	Vado - Slime Flu Released: October 12, 2010 U.S Sales: 50,000 + Singles: "Speakin Tungs"

References

1. ^ (June 2005) Diplomat Records & Koch Records Announce New Partnership With Diplomats VP of A&R Duke "Da God" Accessed September 19, 2008.
2. ^ Ozzie (April 30, 2005) Cam'ron inks deal with Asylum/Warner Accessed September 18, 2008.
3. ^ Dave (April 30, 2005) Cam'ron leaves Rocafella RapBasement Accessed September 18, 2008.
4. ^ (June 2005) June 2005 Interview with Cam'ron XXL. Accessed September 19, 2008.
5. ^ Edwards, Brandon. "Freekey Zekey So Harlem Pt. 1", XXLmag.com, February 13, 2007. Accessed September 21, 2008.
6. ^ ^{a b} Black Widow (December 4, 2006) Ballin!: Freekey Zekey Snags A Multi-Million Dollar Deal; Jones Celebrates A 'Dipset X-Mas' SixShot. Accessed September 21, 2008.
7. ^ (November 2004) KOCH Records Announces New Partnership With Diplomat Records Accessed September 19, 2008.
8. ^ Jim Jones 'Harlem: The Diary Of A Summer album Accessed September 19, 2008.
9. ^ 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.
10. ^ From Me to U Accessed September 19, 2008.
11. ^ Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes MTV's Mixtape Monday Accessed September 19, 2008.
12. ^ (August 19, 2008) Was Cam'ron holding Juelz Santana Back? DefSounds Accessed September 20, 2008.
13. ^ (August 1, 2008) Juelz Santana's contract Sold to Def Jam DefSounds. Accessed September 20, 2008.
14. ^ Quinton Hatfield (August 11, 2008) 40 Cal.: The Rising Up HipHopDX. Accessed September 20, 2008.
15. ^ Michael Ivey (May 3, 2008) Dipset Moves on JR Writer's Debut Accessed September 21, 2008.
16. ^ ^{a b} Searchable Database. RIAA. Accessed September 16, 2008.
17. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (December 29, 2005). A Rap Tale of 2 Cities and 2 Stars. The New York Times. Accessed September 16, 2008.
18. ^ Omar Burgess (October 30th, 2007) Jim Jones To Release "Harlem's American Gangster" HipHopDX. Accessed September 21, 2008.

External links

• Official website