The Diplomats, a collective founded in Harlem, New York City, were formed in the summer of 1997 by childhood friends Cam‑Ronald “Cam‑Ron” Marquez and James “Jim Jones” Jones, both born in 1976 in the Bronx, New York, and later joined by Freekey Zekey, Juelz Santana, and others. Their breakthrough came with Cam‑Ronald “Cam‑Ron” Marquez’s solo work, notably the 2000 album S.D.E., which introduced the group’s members to a wider audience and led to a signing with Roc‑A‑Fella Records in 2001. The collective released its debut album Diplomatic Immunity on March 27, 2003, featuring the single "Dipset Anthem" produced by The Heatmakerz; the album achieved gold certification within two months and entered the Billboard 200. Subsequent releases included Diplomatic Immunity 2 (November 2004), Season of Hope Vol. 1 (May 2007), Greatest Recordings (January 2013), and Diplomatic Ties (November 22, 2018) under Empire Distribution, the latter marking the first official album in 14 years. The group signed with Interscope Records in February 2011, though the deal ended by May 2013. Touring milestones included the 2018 Dipset Forever national tour and a 2021 Verzuz battle with The Lox. Internal disputes, particularly between Cam‑Ronald “Cam‑Ron” Marquez and James “Jim Jones” Jones, culminated in a public fallout in early 2025, effectively ending the Diplomats’ nearly 28‑year run.
