LaRon Louis James, born on February 18, 1982, widely recognized as Juelz Santana, is an American rapper and a pivotal member of the East Coast hip-hop group, the Diplomats, also known as Dipset. His claim to fame includes standout features on Cam'ron's 2002 hits "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma," reaching impressive positions on the Billboard Hot 100.
Juelz Santana's collaboration with Chris Brown on the 2005 single "Run It!" held the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks, attaining triple platinum certification from the RIAA. As a solo artist, his 2003 release "There It Go (The Whistle Song)" reached number six on the charts, earning platinum certification.
"There It Go" led his debut album, "From Me to U" (2003), released under Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records, followed by the well-received "What the Game's Been Missing!" (2005). Both albums secured positions in the top ten on the Billboard 200. With Dipset, he contributed to three albums, and as part of the Skull Gang spin-off, released a studio album in 2009. Noteworthy guest performances on tracks like Jim Jones and Ron Browz' 2008 "Pop Champagne" and Lloyd Banks' 2010 "Beamer, Benz or Bentley" also achieved top 50 positions on the Billboard Hot 100.
In December 2018, Juelz Santana faced legal repercussions, receiving a 27-month prison sentence for carrying an unconcealed weapon at an airport. However, he experienced an early release on August 5, 2020, having served 19 months of his initial sentence.
Early life
LaRon James, born in New York City to African-American parents, grew up in the Sugar Hill neighborhood of Harlem, Manhattan. His early introduction to the world of rap began at the tender age of 5. Notably, he attributes a significant influence on his upbringing to his live-in Dominican godmother.
Career
During his formative years from 1994 to 2001, at the age of 12, James partnered with his neighborhood friend Malik to form the rap duo "Draftpick." Their breakthrough came with performances across New York City, including a notable victory at Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater. The duo, signed to Priority Records when James was just 15, released the single "Play Ruff," featuring Memphis Bleek and Tracey Lee.
In 1998, James's introduction to Cam'ron occurred through his cousin. Following this connection, he adopted the moniker Juelz Santana and joined The Diplomats, Cam'ron's hip-hop collective that included members Jim Jones and Freekey Zekey. Santana's debut collaboration with the group was on the Trackmasters remix of "What Means the World to You," followed by contributions to tracks like "Double Up" and "All the Chickens" on Cam'ron's second studio album, "S.D.E.," released on September 19, 2000, under Epic Records.
From Me to U (2002–2003)
During the period of 2002 to 2003, the collaboration between Cam'ron and Juelz Santana flourished. Cam'ron's signing to Roc-a-Fella Records in 2001 marked a significant milestone. His third studio album, "Come Home with Me," released on May 14, 2002, featured extensive collaborations with Santana, notably on tracks like "Welcome to New York City," "Hey Ma," and "Oh Boy." The latter earned Santana his inaugural Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 2003 Grammy Awards.
Following Cam'ron's signing, Juelz Santana secured a deal with Roc-a-Fella under the Diplomat Records imprint. After the release of four mixtapes, the Diplomats launched their first album, "Diplomatic Immunity," on March 25, 2003. The album debuted impressively at number 8 on the Billboard 200, selling 92,000 copies in its first week and ultimately achieving Gold certification from the RIAA. Santana stirred some controversy before the album's release with a leaked version of the track "I Love You," where he described himself as a "young Mohammed Atta" just months after the September 11 attacks. Despite this, "Diplomatic Immunity" earned recognition as one of the classic albums of the decade, as acknowledged by Complex in a retrospective.
On August 19, 2003, Juelz Santana independently released his debut solo album, "From Me to U," reaching a peak at number 8 on the Billboard 200. Preceding the album was the mixtape "Final Destination," released on June 17, 2003, along with the single "Dipset (Santana's Town)," which peaked at number 70 on the Billboard Top 100 and received a Grammy Awards nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 46th Grammy Awards.
Personal life
On November 23, 2018, Juelz Santana took a significant step in his personal life by proposing to urban model and video vixen Kimbella Vanderhee during a Diplomats show at the Apollo Theater. This romantic gesture led to their marriage on January 10, 2019.
The couple's relationship had its ups and downs since 2009, eventually solidifying into a marital bond. Together, they share three children: Juelz James, Bella Monroe James, and Santana James. In addition, Santana has a son from a previous relationship.
Legal issues
In January 2011, Juelz Santana's recording studio in Bergenfield, New Jersey, faced a raid following a 10-month investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and Gang Unit. The search uncovered two loaded 9 mm handguns, boxes of ammunition, and 84 grams of marijuana.
On February 2, 2011, Santana was arrested and charged with various offenses, including possession of a firearm, possession of a handgun without a permit, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school. In March 2011, he missed a scheduled performance at Chris Brown's record release party due to a police stop and search. Later in November 2011, Santana faced additional charges of making terrorist threats and disorderly conduct.
In March 2018, Santana fled Newark Liberty International Airport after TSA officers found a loaded .38-caliber handgun and eight oxycodone pills in his carry-on luggage. After three days on the run, he surrendered to the Port Authority Police Department on March 12. Despite being denied bail on March 26, Santana was released on April 6, 2018, after his mother posted $500,000 bail, using her house as collateral. While awaiting a federal trial, he was placed under house arrest at his mother's residence in New Jersey. Although initially restricted, he was later allowed to travel and perform with The Diplomats on their 2018 reunion tour, provided that his mother accompanied him at all times.
On December 18, 2018, Santana received a 27-month prison sentence followed by one year of supervised release. He commenced serving his sentence at the medium-security FCI Petersburg in Hopewell, Virginia, on March 1, 2019. Santana's release from prison occurred on August 5, 2020, after serving 19 months of his 27-month sentence.
Discography
1. From Me to U (2003)
2. What the Game's Been Missing! (2005)
Filmography
1. State Property 2 (2005)
2. Killa Season (2006)
3. Kiss and Tail: The Hollywood Jumpoff (2009)
4. The Project (2011)
5. Video Girl (2011)
6. Love & Hip Hop: New York (2016–2019)
How did Juelz Santana rise to fame in the music industry?
Juelz Santana gained fame through standout features on Cam'ron's hits like "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma." His collaboration with Chris Brown on "Run It!" topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks.
Tell me more about Juelz Santana's solo music career.
As a solo artist, Juelz Santana's 2003 release "There It Go (The Whistle Song)" reached number six on the charts and earned platinum certification. His debut solo album, "From Me to U" (2003), and the follow-up "What the Game's Been Missing!" (2005) both secured top ten positions on the Billboard 200.
What role did Juelz Santana play in The Diplomats and Skull Gang?
Juelz Santana was a pivotal member of The Diplomats (Dipset), contributing to three albums. He also participated in the Skull Gang spin-off, releasing a studio album in 2009.
Can you provide details about Juelz Santana's early life and introduction to rap?
Juelz Santana, born LaRon James, began rapping at age 5. His early exposure to rap included forming the duo "Draftpick" at 12, which led to signing with Priority Records at 15.
What are some significant achievements in Juelz Santana's music career aside from solo work?
Juelz Santana had noteworthy guest performances on tracks like "Pop Champagne" and "Beamer, Benz or Bentley," achieving top 50 positions on the Billboard Hot 100.
What legal challenges did Juelz Santana face, and when was he released from prison?
In December 2018, Juelz Santana faced legal repercussions, receiving a 27-month prison sentence for carrying an unconcealed weapon at an airport. He was released on August 5, 2020, after serving 19 months.
Can you share details about Juelz Santana's personal life, including his marriage and children?
Juelz Santana proposed to Kimbella Vanderhee in 2018 and married her on January 10, 2019. They share three children: Juelz James, Bella Monroe James, and Santana James. Santana also has a son from a previous relationship.
What is Juelz Santana's discography and filmography?
Juelz Santana's discography includes "From Me to U" (2003) and "What the Game's Been Missing!" (2005). He appeared in films like "State Property 2," "Killa Season," and participated in the reality show "Love & Hip Hop: New York" from 2016 to 2019.