Harlem-based hip-hop crew
the Diplomats (also known as
Dipset) was formed in the late '90s by rappers
Cam'ron and
Jim Jones. Rounded out by
Juelz Santana and Diplomat Records president
Freekey Zeekey, the quartet would incorporate other members -- including
40 Cal,
J.R. Writer, and
Hell Rell -- mainly during their peak prolific era in the early 2000s on both volumes of
Diplomatic Immunity, which combined hardcore and street-centric rhymes with pounding, sample-heavy production. After an extended hiatus, wherein each member pursued their own solo endeavors, the group returned in 2018 with Diplomatic Ties.
Though group members appeared as guests on
Cam'ron's 2000 effort
S.D.E. (Epic Records) and 2002's
Come Home with Me (Roc-A-Fella), they didn't make their official debut until 2003 with the double-disc sprawler,
Diplomatic Immunity. Landing in the Billboard 200 Top Ten upon release, the gold-certified album featured appearances by
Master P and
DMX, as well as production by
Kanye West and
Just Blaze.
Dipset quickly followed with a sequel, 2004's
Diplomatic Immunity 2. An indefinite hiatus followed into the 2010s, with group members feuding off-and-on and solo endeavors occupying their time. Despite a brief reunion tease in late 2010, almost a decade would pass before their official return. In the interim, a series of underground compilations distributed via Koch hit the streets, including two-part collections More Than Music, Vol. 1 (2005) and Vol. 2 (2006) and Dipset Mania (2011) and A-Million Dipset Mania: Back to Business, Vol. 2 (2013). In addition, the multi-part Diplomats mixtape series stretched the group's catalog from 2002 to 2005.
In 2015, the core
Dipset quartet returned with American Dream, a mixtape featuring guests such as
Lil Wayne,
Styles P,
Faith Evans, and
Dave East. Their official third album arrived in late 2018. Just nine songs in length, Diplomatic Ties (Set Life/Empire) featured guests
Belly,
the Lox,
Tory Lanez, and
Trav. ~ Neil Z. Yeung & Andy Kellman