Legendary Harlem collective The Diplomats (aka Dipset) have left an indelible mark on Hip-Hop. With their influence reaching coast-to-coast and globally, the crew led by Killa Cam and composed of Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, Freekey Zekey, and several other uptown associates is considered one of the most imitated in the game. From how they spit to the drip, many a rapper, athlete and influencer will cite the crew as one of the most important when it comes to setting the trends.
As with most groups, however, there was a period of discord, with Cam’ron recently discussing Jones’ decision to perform with 50 Cent — Cam’s then-rival — during their rift. Jones didn’t take kindly to being discussed, telling both Cam and 50 to “get off my d**k,” disrupting a decade’s worth of goodwill between them, as the team reconciled many times over the years. Jones’ recent statement aimed at Cam’s It Is What It Is co-host Mase also didn’t help matters.
While Cam and Jones may be going through a rough patch, we’re choosing to highlight the good ol’ days. Of course, only they know how things were unfolding behind the scenes — or in this case, photos — but we just can’t help but reminisce on the Dipset we all locked in with over twenty years ago.
From early Cam shots to the crew going head-to-head with The LOX, check out snaps of The Diplomats over the years below.
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Cam’ron On The Jenny Jones Show
Rapper Cam’ron (Cameron Ezike Giles) poses for photos after rehearsals for his performance on ‘The Jenny Jones Show’ in Chicago, Illinois in August 1998.
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1998 MTV’s Rock n’ Jock Basketball
Nicholas Brendan, Cam’ron and Method Man.
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Roc-A-Fella Records
Members of Roc-A-Fella Records in June, 2002 in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
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The 8th Annual Soul Train “Lady Of Soul” Awards – Arrivals
Cam’ron & Juelz Santana during The 8th Annual Soul Train “Lady Of Soul” Awards.
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‘City By The Sea’ Premiere
Cam’ron and Juelz Santana arrives at the premiere of “City by the Sea” on August 26, 2002 in New York City, New York.
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‘City By The Sea’ Premiere – New York
Juelz Santana, Cam’ron, and Jim Jones during ‘City By The Sea’ Premiere – New York at Union Square Theatre in New York City, New York, United States.
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2002 MTV Fashionably Loud – Backstage
2002 MTV Fashionably Loud show at Roseland Ballroom in New York City, Wednesday, October 30, 2002.
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Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2003 Collections – Baby Phat – Backstage
Eve, Cam’ron and Trina during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2003.
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The Diplomats Album Release Party
The Diplomats pose for a photo during the Cam’ron & The Diplomats album release party for “Diplomatic Immunity” at Sessa on March 25, 2003 in New York, New York.
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The Diplomats Album Release Party
The Diplomats pose for a photo during the Cam’ron & The Diplomats album release party for “Diplomatic Immunity” at Sessa on March 25, 2003 in New York, New York.
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Cam’ron and The Diplomats Stop by MTV2 Hip Hop
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Camron And The Diplomats Appear On MTV2
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Bone Crusher Remix Video Shoot
Jim Jones, Busta Rhymes, Bone Crusher, Camron and Juelz Santana.
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Bone Crusher Remix Video Shoot
Jim Jones, Bone Crusher and Juelz Santana.
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Bone Crusher Remix Video Shoot
Juelz Santana, Jermaine Dupri and Jim Jones.
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New Era Caps Celebrity Design Session Featuring Dip Set
Cam’Ron and Jim Jones of Dipset during New Era Caps Celebrity Design Session Featuring Dipset at Def Jam Offices in New York City, New York, United States.
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2002 MTV Video Music Awards – Backstage and Audience
Cam’ron and Juelz Santana during 2002 MTV Video Music Awards – Backstage.
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Jadakiss Concert At Icon
Rappers Cam’ron (Cameron Giles) and Juelz Santana (LaRon James) of Dipset at Icon Nightclub in Orlando, Florida on June 3, 2004.
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Celebrities Party at Cherry Lounge
Cam’ron, Chingy, Juelz Santana, and DJ Clue during Celebrities Party at Cherry Lounge at Cherry Lounge in New York City, New York, United States.
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Celebrities Party at Cherry Lounge
Cuddy, Cam’ron, Swizz Beatz, Chingy, Juelz Santana, Kim Rosario, Ms. Info
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Juelz Santana, Cam’ron
Juelz Santana, Cam’Ron and video models during Diplomat’s “Santana” Video Shoot – October 23, 2004 at Capitale in New York City, New York, United States.
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Dipset Shoots Video for “Crunk”
Juelz Santana, Jim Jones and Cam’ron during Dipset Shoots New Video for “Crunk” at Marcus Zager Park in New York City, New York, United States.
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Cam’ron in Concert with Special Guests Dipset and Kanye West – January 4, 2005
Kanye West and Cam’ron during Camron in Concert with Special Guests Dipset and Kanye West – January 4, 2005 at Speed in New York City, New York.
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Cam’ron in Concert with Special Guests Dipset and Kanye West – January 4, 2005
Jim Jones and Cam’ron
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Camron in Concert with Special Guests Dipset and Kanye West – January 4, 2005
Juelz Santana during Camron in Concert with Special Guests Dipset and Kanye West – January 4, 2005 at Speed in New York City, New York, United States.
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Olympus Fashion Week Fall 2005 – Baby Phat – After Party
Cam’ron, Jim Jones, Steph Luva and Andre Harrell.
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Baby Phat by Kimora Lee Simmons Fall/Winter 2005 Fashion Show After-Party
Mariah Carey and Cam’Ron attend Baby Phat by Kimora Lee Simmons Fall/Winter 2005 Fashion Show After-Party at Aer on February 5, 2005 in New York City.
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Olympus Fashion Week Fall 2005 – Baby Phat – After Party
Jim Jones, Cam’ron, Nicole Wray, LisaRaye McCoy and Da Brat.
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Olympus Fashion Week Fall 2005 – Baby Phat – After Party
Cam’ron, Jim Jones, Bizzy Bone, Steph Luva, Guest and Ray J.
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Cam’ron’s Birthday Party
Juelz Santana and Cam’ron pose for photos at his birthday party at Rhone February 07, 2005 in New York.
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Juelz Santana Video for Mic Check
Cam’ron and Jim Jones during Juelz Santana Video for Mic Check.
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Juelz Santana Video for “Mic Check”
Cam’ron and Jim Jones during Juelz Santana Video for Mic Check.
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Cam’ron’s ‘Down And Out’ Video Featuring Kanye West
Cam’Ron performs at Cam’Ron’s ‘Down And Out’ Video Shoot.
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Cam’ron’s ‘Down And Out’ Video Featuring Kanye West
Juelz Santana poses at Cam’Ron’s ‘Down And Out’ Video Shoot.
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Cam’ron’s ‘Down And Out’ Video Featuring Kanye West
Jim Jones, his son Jomo Jones and Big Joe Sherman pose at Cam’Ron’s ‘Down And Out’ Video Shoot in Manhattan April 21, 2005.
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Dipset Hosts Jab’s Ultra Bar In Greensboro
Rappers Freekey Zekey (Ezekiel Giles) and Cam’ron (Cameron Giles) of Dipset in Greensboro, North Carolina on November 25, 2006.
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Dipset Hosts Jab’s Ultra Bar In Greensboro
Rapper Freekey Zekey (Ezekiel Giles) of Dipset in Greensboro, North Carolina on November 25, 2006.
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2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors
Rapper Jim Jones and Juelz Santana attend the 2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, NY on October 2, 2008.
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BET Hip Hop Awards 2010 – Show
The Diplomats perform during the BET Hip Hop Awards ’10 at Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center on October 2, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia.
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BET’s “106 & Park” 10th Anniversary
Dipset attends BET’s 106 & Park 10 year anniversary at BET Studios on October 6, 2010 in New York City.
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The Dipset Reunion – November 26, 2010
(L-R) Freekey Zekey, Jim Jones, Cam’ron and Juelz Santana of Dipset perform during The Dipset Reunion at Hammerstein Ballroom on November 26, 2010 in New York City.
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The Dipset Reunion
Jim Jones, Cam’ron and Juelz Santana of Dipset perform during The Dipset Reunion at Hammerstein Ballroom on November 26, 2010 in New York City.
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The Dipset Reunion
(L-R) Jim Jones and Cam’ron perform during The Dipset Reunion at Hammerstein Ballroom on November 26, 2010 in New York City.
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The Dipset Reunion
Juelz Santana, Jim Jones and Freekey Zekey perform during The Dipset Reunion at Hammerstein Ballroom on November 26, 2010 in New York City.
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The Dipset Reunion
(L-R) Cam’ron, Freekey Zekey, Juelz Santana and Jim Jones of Dipset perform during THe Dipset Reunion at Hammerstein Ballroom on November 26, 2010 in New York City.
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Dipset Reunion
Freeky Zeeky, Chubbie Baby, Juelz Santana, Camron and Jim Jones attend the Dipset Reunion at Compound on November 9, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Dipset Official Reunion
Juelz Santana and Jim Jones of the group ‘The Diplomats’ attend the Dipset Reunion at Compound on March 28, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Dipset Official Reunion
Freekey Zekey, Juelz Santana, Cam’ron, Alex Gidewon and Jim Jones of the group ‘The Diplomats’ attend the Dipset Official reunion at Compound on March 28, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Spotify’s RapCaviar Live in New York
Cam’ron and Jim Jones perform at Spotify’s RapCaviar Live in New York at Hammerstein Ballroom on November 21, 2017 in New York City.
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Verzuz: The Lox Vs Dipset
Cam’ron (L) and Jim Jones at Verzuz: The Lox Vs Dipset at Madison Square Garden on August 03, 2021 in New York City.
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Verzuz: The Lox Vs Dipset
Cam’ron
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Verzuz: The Lox Vs Dipset
(L-R) Cam’ron, Jim Jones, and Juelz Santana of Dipset.
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Verzuz: The Lox Vs Dipset
Juelz Santana.
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Verzuz: The Lox Vs Dipset
Jim Jones.
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Drake Live From The Apollo Theater For SiriusXM And Sound 42
(L-R) Juelz Santana, Freekey Zekey, Cam’ron, and Jim Jones of Dipset aka The Diplomats perform on stage during Drake Live From The Apollo Theater for SiriusXM and Sound 42 at The Apollo Theater on January 22, 2023 in New York City.