Jim Jones

Joseph Guillermo Jones II (born July 15, 1976), better known by his stage name Jim Jones (formerly Jimmy Jones), is an American rapper, record executive, music video director, and entrepreneur. He is best known as a founding member of the hip hop collective the Diplomats (Dipset), alongside Cam’ron, Juelz Santana, and Freekey Zekey. Jones also serves as co-CEO of Diplomat Records and has directed music videos under the pseudonym CAPO. Born in the Bronx, New York City, and raised in Harlem, Jones grew up in a multicultural household, with an Aruban mother and a Puerto Rican father. He was largely raised by his maternal grandmother. As a youth, he attended Catholic school but was later expelled, and became closely associated with fellow rapper Freekey Zekey during his upbringing. Jones began his music career as a member of the Diplomats, initially gaining recognition as a hypeman and video director for the group. He released his debut solo album, “On My Way to Church,” in 2004, which achieved moderate success. His second album, “Harlem: Diary of a Summer” (2005), marked a commercial breakthrough, reaching the top of the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. His third album, “Hustler’s P.O.M.E. (Product of My Environment)” (2006), brought him mainstream success, largely due to the hit single “We Fly High,” which peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum. The song became widely recognized for its cultural impact and signature “ballin’” gesture. Jones contin…