Jim Jones (rapper)

Early life

Jones, the son of an Aruban mother and Puerto Rican father, was born on July 15, 1976, in the Bronx. He was raised in the Taft Houses project in East Harlem, which he called "the gutter within the gutter." In 1996, Jones made a cameo appearance on New York Undercover.

Music career

2004–05: ''On My Way to Church'' and ''Harlem: Diary of a Summer''

On My Way to Church is Jones' debut album. The album spawned two singles that made the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart: "Certified Gangstas" (featuring Cam'ron, Bezel and The Game), which reached number 80, and "Crunk Muzik" (featuring his Dipset cohorts Cam'ron and Juelz Santana), which reached number 84. The album peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard 200 chart, number three on Billboard's Independent Albums chart, and number four on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Harlem: Diary of a Summer, Jones' second album, reached number five on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Independent Albums charts, selling 350,000 copies. Three of its singles placed on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart: "Baby Girl", which reached number 58; "Summer Wit' Miami", which reached number 78; and "What You Been Drankin' On?" (featuring Diddy, Paul Wall, and Jha Jha), which reached number 106.

2006–09: ''Hustler's P.O.M.E.'', ''Pray IV Reign'' and ''The Rooftop''

Jones' third album Hustler's P.O.M.E. (Product of My Environment), was more commercial and once again featured Dipset members along with Lil Wayne. The album spawned Jones' biggest single to date, "We Fly High". Jones introduced a signature dance move in the "We Fly High" video, throwing up a fake jump shot every time the ad-lib "Ballin!'" was stated in the song. This dance move became so popular that it inspired Michael Strahan and Plaxico Burress to do the dance move after big plays during a Monday Night Football game in 2006.

From 2006 to 2008, Jones released a collaborative album with his rap group ByrdGang, titled M.O.B.: The Album, which peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200, selling 16,000 the first week in stores and eventually selling 65,000 units. He has two Christmas compilation albums, A Dipset X-Mas and A Tribute To Bad Santa Starring Mike Epps, and a load of mixtapes, including Harlem's American Gangster, which peaked at number 19 on the Billboard 200 chart and spawned his single "Love Me No More".

Jones' fourth studio album, Pray IV Reign, released March 24, 2009, was his major record label debut. The album peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200 chart. On July 8, Jones released a promotional single titled "The Good Stuff" featuring NOE. The album features "Pop Champagne", producer Ron Browz, and Juelz Santana. A bonus track on the album is "Jackin' Swagga From Us" with Twista, NOE, and Lil Wayne, which takes shots at T.I. and Jay-Z for allegedly stealing their styles and mocking their song "Swagga Like Us". It is his first solo album under Columbia Records. In 2009, Jim Jones became Vice President of Urban A&R at Koch Records, which is now E1 Music. On June 11, Jim Jones appeared on BET's 106 & Park along with DJ Webstar and announced that they will be releasing an album together titled The Rooftop. He also announced that his documentary, This Is Jim Jones, will be released June 30, 2009. The first single from the album is "Dancin on Me", featuring Juelz Santana. It was officially released via iTunes on April 28. On September 22, hip hop website, RapRuckus, stated the album was scheduled for an October 6, 2009 release. The second single is titled "She Can Get It". In late 2009, Jones left Columbia. According to XXLMag.com, Jones signed a deal to release his next solo album on E1, as well as a mixtape.

2010–present: ''Capo'', Dipset reunion and ''Vampire Life'' series

The mixtape, titled The Ghost of Rich Porter, was released March 23, 2010. In April 2010, Cam'ron and Jim Jones announced they ended their feud. On June 26, 2010, Jones reunited with Cam'ron and Juelz Santana on a track titled "Salute", marking the return of the Diplomats. They have begun working on an album together, and have been reportedly working with Dr. Dre. In 2010, it was confirmed that Jones had started up a new record label imprint with Damon Dash entitled Splash Records. On April 5, 2011, Jones' released his fifth studio album, Capo, on E1. On November 3, Jones released a mixtape, titled Capo Life, to promote the album and celebrate the launch of his new website. The lead single off Capo, "Perfect Day" featuring Chink Santana and LOGiC, was released on iTunes December 7, 2010. The album is the first to feature Cam'ron since Hustler's P.O.M.E. (Product of My Environment). Other guest appearances include rappers The Game, Lloyd Banks, Prodigy, Raekwon and R&B singers Rell and Ashanti among others, and features notable production from longtime collaborator Chink Santana, Aaron LaCrate, Wyclef Jean, Drumma Boy and Lamont "LOGiC" Coleman. The album peaked at number 20 on the Billboard 200, selling 21,000 copies in its first week.

On October 1, 2011, when Funkmaster Flex premiered a song on New York City's Hot 97 titled "It Ain't My Fault" featuring rappers T-Rex, Boogie Black and Sen City, it was revealed that it was the first offering from Webstar and Jones's upcoming second collaborative effort The Rooftop 2. In the summer of 2011, he was featured on Randyn Julius' "Party Tonight" with Teyana Taylor and fellow Dispet member Cam'ron. On October 30, 2011, for the Halloween holiday, Jones released a mixtape titled Vampire Life: We Own the Night. The tape features twenty-four songs, including bonus tracks, freestyles and guest appearances from Meek Mill, J.R. Writer, Chink Santana, 2 Chainz, Maino, Yo Gotti and Jadakiss among others.

On May 1, 2012, Jones released the second installment of his Vampire Life series entitled Vampire Life 2, it went on to be downloaded over 300,000 times on mixtape-sharing website DatPiff. On March 11, 2013, Jones announced he was working on two new mixtapes V3 (Vampire Life 3) and The Ghost Of Rich Porter 2. Vampire Life 3 was released on August 13, 2013. On December 3, 2013, Jim Jones released an extended play (EP), titled We Own the Night. The EP was supported by the single "Nasty Girl", featuring American singer Jeremih. On June 24, 2014, Jones released a single titled "Wit the Shit", featuring American singer Trey Songz. In July 2014, Jones revealed he would be releasing another EP, titled We Own the Night Pt. 2: Memoirs of a Hustler; it was released on September 9.

On January 1, 2015, DJ Funkmaster Flex announced via Instagram that he had spoken to fellow Diplomat members Cam'ron, Jim Jones and Juelz Santana about an upcoming Diplomats mixtape which included fellow member Freekey Zeekey. He also stated that he would be hosting the mixtape along with DJs/producers DJ Khaled, Swizz Beatz and DJ Mustard.

2024–present: Feud with 50 Cent, ''At the Church Steps'' and BET Awards return

On December 5, 2024, Dipset leader and Harlem rapper Cam'ron's interview with 50 Cent on his show "It Is What It Is" ignited a new feud between Jim Jones, and Cam'ron. Jim Jones took exception to the portion of the interview where Cam'ron told 50 Cent he felt disrespected when he brought out Jim Jones during a 2007 show. The show took place during the height of 50 Cent and Cam'ron's feud.

On 27 February 2025 he release his eighth album named At the Church Steps being a reference to his first album On My Way To Church.

At the BET Awards 2025 he returned to represent Harlem and perform his hit single We Fly High.

Other ventures

ByrdGang

ByrdGang

• Asylum
• ByrdGang NOE Freekey Zekey Mel Matrix Max B Jha Jha Stack Bundles (deceased) Chink Santana Jones introduced ByrdGang in 2008. The group released their debut album, M.O.B.: The Album on his label ByrdGang Records and Asylum Records.

Fashion designing

Jones and Damon Dash co-own "Vampire Life Clothing".

Acting career

Jones made his acting debut in the film State Property 2. He also appeared on the show Crash: The Series. Along with releasing the album Capo, Jones headlined in an off-Broadway musical called Hip-Hop Monologues: Inside the Life and Mind of Jim Jones, produced by Damon Dash and Footage Entertainment.

Reality television

Jones appeared in a supporting role in seasons 1 and 2 of the VH1 reality show, Love & Hip Hop: New York in 2011. He also later appeared in the final tenth season, in 2020.

Jones also made a brief appearance in the 90s TV Show 'New York Undercover'.

Sports management

In December 2017, he became part owner of the Richmond Roughriders of the American Arena League.

Controversies

Junior M.A.F.I.A.

During a basketball game at Rucker Park on August 2, 1999, members of Junior M.A.F.I.A. physically assaulted rap group the Diplomats, including Jim Jones. Jones was seen on camera, fleeing the altercation. The altercation was seen in the 2000 television documentary, On Hallowed Ground: Streetball Champions of Rucker Park.

Tru Life

In a 2006 interview, Tru Life, responding to rumors, called Dipset bosses Cam'ron and Jim Jones "bitches." Jones responded by challenging Tru Life to fisticuffs, with a US$50,000 wager. Tru Life responded by stealing Jones' necklace and taunting him on the 2007 mixtape Tru York, which featured "a Photoshopped Jim Jones in a Borat-style thong and Cam'ron as a Seventh Avenue transsexual hooker" as the cover. The Diplomats retaliated by hacking Tru Life's MySpace page, replacing the faces on the Tru York cover with Tru Life's and Jay-Z's.

Gucci

In February 2022, Jones posted an Instagram video in which he detailed his experience of being racially profiled as a result of receiving poor customer service. He expressed his disappointment in Gucci's employees by claiming that “These black people are more racist than white people when they get they job”. He goes on to further detail the event that left him a victim by explaining “I still ain’t get no sparkling water, I still ain’t get no champagne. I still ain’t get nothing.”

Jay-Z

Jim Jones has criticized Jay-Z's performance as president of Def Jam Recordings. Jay-Z responded with a "diss" track called "Brooklyn High" over the beat from Jones' "We Fly High".

On December 22, 2008, Jones punched and kicked a "friend and colleague" of Jay-Z at a Manhattan Louis Vuitton store; he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault the following November.

ASAP Mob

In a 2014 interview Jim Jones characterized ASAP Mob's style as "not street": "[T]hey're artistic, but they're not from the street... We got bonafide swag and the definition of get fly... Price point and high fashion don't really make it cool." ASAP Mob member ASAP Rocky responded in his solo single "Multiply" by criticizing that characterization as a disingenuous ploy to sell overpriced branded merchandise.

Azealia Banks

In July 2012, a social media-related conflict between Jim Jones and rapper Azealia Banks had started after Banks disrespected the rapper for getting more credit for her phrase "Vamp", as in Jones' mixtape series and label of the same name, Vampire Life, or his track "Vamp Life". Enraged, Banks disrespected Jim Jones again via a track titled "Succubi".

Discography

Main article: Jim Jones discography

Solo albums

• On My Way to Church (2004)
• Harlem: Diary of a Summer (2005)
• Hustler's P.O.M.E. (Product of My Environment) (2006)
• Pray IV Reign (2009)
• Capo (2011)
• Wasted Talent (2018)
• El Capo (2019)
• At the Church Steps (2025)
• The Fall Before the Rise (2025) Collaboration albums
• The Rooftop (with DJ Webstar) (2009)
• The Fraud Department (with Harry Fraud) (2021)
• Gangsta Grillz: We Set the Trends (with DJ Drama) (2022)
• The Lobby Boyz (with Maino) (2022)
• Back In My Prime (with Hitmaka) (2023)

Filmography

Film

Television

Video Game

Awards and honors

"Pop Champagne" was nominated for Best Collaboration at the 2009 Urban Music Awards.

References

References

1. (July 15, 2008). "Forest Whitaker, 37, tops today's list of celebrity birthdays". Orange County Register.
2. link. (2006-12-09 ". ''Mass Appeal Magazine''. Retrieved December 20, 2006.)
3. Kwak, Donnie (August 13, 2004). "[http://www.vibe.com/news/magazine_features/2004/08/vibe_magazine_next_jim_jones_gotham_city_hustler_certified/ Jim Jones – Gotham City Hustler + 'Certified Gangsta' Video] {{webarchive. link. (2007-11-03 ". ''Vibe Magazine''. Retrieved 2006-12-20.)
4. [https://www.8o8wave.com/jim-jones-shares-new-album-el-capo-listen/ Jim Jones El Capo (Album)]. 8o8wave.com. Retrieved on June 2, 2019.
5. (2023-07-17). "Jim Jones On Dipset, Roc-A-Fella, Fred The Godson, & His Newfound Focus On Music - People's Party". UPROXX Video.
6. Kwak, Donnie. (August 13, 2004). "Jim Jones - Gotham City Hustler + 'Certified Gangsta' Video".
7. {https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.73004/title.jim-jones-new-york-undercover-cameo-fans-divided}
8. "On My Way to Church > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". allmusic.
9. "Jim Jones > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". allmusic.
10. "Jim Jones > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". allmusic.
11. (December 3, 2005). "What You Been Drankin' On". Billboard.
12. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080111054514/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1544090/20061026/jones_jim_rap_.jhtml NFL Players Shooting Jump Shots During Games? Blame Jim Jones].
13. [http://www.defsounds.com/news/Jim_jones_preps_back_2_back Jim Jones preps Beck 2 Back] {{webarchive. link. (July 9, 2008 , defsound.com.)
14. [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001BW0EUC ''The Good Stuff''], [[Amazon.com]].
15. (October 4, 2008). "Complex Blog » Jim Jones Explains His 'Swagger Like Us' Response".
16. [Jim Jones Accepts VP of Urban A&R Job at Koch Records]
17. [http://nahright.com/news/2009/06/11/video-jim-jones-dj-webstar-on-106-park/ Video: Jim Jones & DJ Webstar on 106 & Park] {{Webarchive. link. (September 30, 2015 . Nahright.com (June 11, 2009). Retrieved on 2012-01-11.)
18. [http://hiphopruckus.com/2009/09/jim-jones-collaborates-with-dj-webstar-to-drop-the-rooftop.html/ Jim Jones collaborates with DJ Webstar to drop "The Rooftop"] {{webarchive. link. (September 27, 2009 . Hiphopruckus.com. Retrieved on January 11, 2012.)
19. Kuperstein, Slava. (December 3, 2009) [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10227/title.jim-jones-leaves-columbia-for-e1 Jim Jones Leaves Columbia For E1] {{Webarchive. link. (December 6, 2009 . Hiphopdx.com. Retrieved on 2012-01-11.)
20. [http://www.missinfo.tv/index.php/miss-info-exclusive-camron-and-jim-jones-rebuild-friendship-jimmy-issues-public-apology/ Miss Info Exclusive: Cam'ron and Jim Jones rebuild friendship, Jimmy issues public apology] {{Webarchive. link. (May 14, 2017 . Missinfo.tv (April 19, 2010). Retrieved on 2012-01-11.)
21. Koroma, Salima. (September 22, 2010) [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11821/title.the-diplomats-reunite-on-jim-jones-next-album The Diplomats Reunite On Jim Jones' Next Album. Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales]. HipHop DX. Retrieved on 2012-01-11.
22. J-23. (October 4, 2010). "Dr. Dre Working with Dipset". HipHopDX.
23. [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003XNKF0Q Capo: Jim Jones: Music]. Amazon.com. Retrieved on January 11, 2012.
24. [http://www.2dopeboyz.com/2010/11/03/jim-jones-capolife-mixtape/ Jim Jones – CapoLife (Mixtape)]. 2dopeboyz.com. Retrieved on January 11, 2012.
25. [https://music.apple.com/us/album/perfect-day-feat-chink-santana-logic-single/408000475 iTunes – Music – Perfect Day (feat. Chink Santana & Logic) – Single by Jim Jones]. Itunes.apple.com (December 7, 2010). Retrieved on 2012-01-11.
26. [http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/jim-jones-party-tonight-prod-by-duane-darock-no-dj-song.394607.html/ Jim Jones Party Tonight produced by Duane Darock]. hotnewhiphop.com
27. Hillary Crosley. (November 1, 2011). "Jim Jones releases 'Vampire Life' mixtape". BET.
28. (October 31, 2011). "Jim Jones – Vampire Life (Mixtape)". 2DopeBoyz.
29. "Jim Jones - Vampire Life 2". DatPiff.
30. DJ Ill Will. "Jim Jones - Vampire Life 2". HotNewHipHop.
31. HipHopDX. (March 11, 2013). "Jim Jones Announces "The Ghost Of Rich Porter 2" & "V3" Mixtapes". HipHopDX.
32. "Mixtape Not Found". DatPiff.
33. "iTunes - Music - Wit the Sh!t (feat. Trey Songz) - Single by Jim Jones". iTunes.
34. (July 7, 2014). "Jim Jones Has A New EP On The Way This Month - XXL".
35. "Amazon.com: We Own The Night Pt. 2: Memoirs Of A Hustler [Explicit]: Jim Jones: MP3 Downloads".
36. Rose Lilah. (January 2015). "Dipset Reportedly Reuniting For New Mixtape". HotNewHipHop.
37. (2025-01-14). "What's Going On With Diplomats Members Cam'ron And Jim Jones?".
38. Saponara, Michael. (2025-01-13). "Cam'ron Responds to Jim Jones & Questions Rapper's Harlem Roots: 'You Were a Fan'".
39. (June 27, 2008). "Jim Jones introduces Byrd Gang".
40. "#DamonDash: The Now #Humble #Life, Of a Once un-Humble #Man".
41. Reid, Shaheem. (November 14, 2008) [https://web.archive.org/web/20081221120756/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1599382/20081114/jones_jim_rap_.jhtml Jim Jones Sets His Sights On Broadway With 'Hip-Hop Monologues']. Mtv.com. Retrieved on 2012-01-11.
42. (December 7, 2017). "Jim Jones Now Part Owner of AAL's Richmond Roughriders". American Arena League.
43. "SOHH.com / Pulse Report / Hip-Hop Cop Reveals B.I.G.'s Killer, Tru-Life Says "Fuck Cam'Ron," Ludacris Hearts Oprah, Vida Guerra Poses For Playboy".
44. Carl Chery [https://web.archive.org/web/20061208111008/http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/9248 Ludacris Takes Shots at T.I. and Young Jeezy? Jim Jones Challenges Tru Life to Knuckle Up, The Game Names Names, Diddy Vs Lindsay Lohan. Pulse Report. SOHH.com]. June 23, 2006
45. Burgess, Omar. (2011-02-25). "Jim Jones and Tru Life Squashed Their 10-Year Feud at Roc Nation".
46. [http://www.j-loveonline.com/truyorktracks.html Tru York Mixtape track listing"]. J-loveonline.com. Retrieved on January 11, 2012
47. Rosenthal, Jeff. (2013-04-23). "The 50 Worst Hip-Hop Fails 44. Tru-Life's MySpace Gets Hacked By Dipset".
48. Detrick, Ben. (June 2007). "WWW.THUG.COM".
49. Marie, Erika. (February 8, 2022). "Jim Jones Goes Off On Gucci After Employees Allegedly Ignore Him & His Entourage".
50. Chery, Carl (August 26, 2005). "[http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/7470 Jim Jones' Greasy Jay-Z Talk] {{webarchive. link. (2006-12-21 ". ''SOHH.com''. Retrieved 2006-12-20.)
51. "Brooklyn High Jim Jones Diss Lyrics by Jay-Z".
52. Reid, Shaheem. (January 5, 2009). "MTV News Top Stories: Jim Jones Says He's 'Lucky' To Be Free After Alleged Fight With Jay-Z Associate ('All I know is I was shopping,' rapper tells MTV News of altercation in a Louis Vuitton store)". MTV.com.
53. (October 7, 2009). "Billboard.com News: Rapper Jim Jones Pleads Guilty To NYC Assault". Billboard.com.
54. (2014-07-07). "Jim Jones Says Dipset Had The Most Influential Style In Hip-Hop".
55. (October 3, 2014). "ASAP Rocky Disses Jim Jones In New "Multiply" Video, Says He's Being Extorted (Video)".
56. (August 6, 2012). "Azealia Banks & Jim Jones Beef On Twitter Over Taking Credit For "Vamp"". HipHopDX.
57. (August 13, 2012). "Azealia Banks Fires Diss Song at Jim Jones - BET".