From Dipset to detractors, a look into the fractured relationship of the Diplomats.
1/30/2026

Jim Jones and Cam'Ron pictured together on April 5, 2006 at MTV Studios in New York City. G. Gershoff/WireImage
They say brothers fight, but they’re still brothers. Cam’ron and Jim Jones came up as childhood friends in Harlem and left an indelible mark on hip-hop and pop culture as co-founding members of Dipset in the early 2000s.
Cam, Jim, Freakey Zekey and Juelz Santana joined the Roc-A-Fella movement as Cam’ron broke out as a star on the solo front. The Diplomats’ major label debut arrived in 2003 — Diplomatic Immunity, which debuted inside the top 10 of the Billboard 200 (No. 8), signaling the group’s commercial appeal while also feeding the streets as kings of the mixtape game. Dipset also became style icons in hip-hop fashion in the process.
Dipset’s run burned bright and burned fast, as by the mid-2000s Roc-A-Fella splintered and Cam feuded with Jay-Z, which led to the fracturing of the Harlem crew.
With the group separating, Jim Jones became a solo star in his own right in the mid-2000s, which was around the time Capo and Cam began feuding in the second half of the aughts. As Jim Jones titled his 2009 track targeting Cam and Max B, “Frienemies.”
It’s been nearly two decades since then, and Cam and Jim brought their petty beef into 2026, which found them exchanging jabs on social media. While there’s been brief reunions, the most recent of which came in 2021 on the Verzuz stage when Dipset lost to The LOX, there doesn’t seem to be much hope for a reconciliation from the childhood homies.
In the last year, both parties involved don’t see them being friends with one another in the future, and there hasn’t been much of any direct communication since that Verzuz battle over four years ago.
Check out our timeline of Jim and Cam’s feud below.
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2006: Cam’ron Makes ‘Tricky Ricky’ T-Shirts Mocking Jim’s Relationship
Bootleg shirts surfaced in 2006 mocking Jim Jones for his relationship with his girlfriend at the time, Chrissy Lampkin. The “Tricky Ricky” shirts and nickname jabbed at Jones for showering Chrissy with gifts early in their relationship, and the couple is still together to this day.
During a 2017 Instagram Live, Cam admitted to being the mastermind behind producing the T-shirts and expressed regret over the decision to print them because it’s been downhill in their relationship since.
“I was dead wrong for this, I was dead f—king wrong,” Cam said. “This is where everything went totally downhill. If I could do it over, I would totally do it all the way over. I seen how their relationship grow and I think it’s dope. And they still together. I didn’t know it would grow to be that. I made these t-shirts and it said: ‘Tricky Ricky AKA Jim Jones is a Trick.’ That’s how we played. I wasn’t trying to disrespect him.
He continued: “Those shirts [hurt him]. He took that shit serious. After I did that, everything went downhill and n—s start acting like, ‘It’s the business.’ Start acting like, ‘Cam is robbing us. Cam ain’t doing this, ain’t doing that.’”
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2006: Cam’ron Trademarks ByrdGang
Jim Jones branched off from Dipset to launch his ByrdGang collective in 2006. Cam’ron went behind Jim’s back to trademark ByrdGang and the crew’s logo. “I felt he was bustin’ moves without telling me. When I asked him if he was gonna branch off, he said, ‘No.’ If you told me no, it shouldn’t matter that I copywrote it,” Cam told Queenz Flip’s Lawdahmercy show years later. Jim admitted his business acumen wasn’t totally there, so he didn’t focus on trademarks. ByrdGang released one project, M.O.B.: The Album, in 2008.
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September 2007: 50 Cent Brings Jim Jones to ‘Rap City’ & He Joins G-Unit on Stage
50 teased bringing a new artist into the fold at G-Unit and had Jim Jones with the crew during an episode of Rap City, where Jim admitted that G-Unit was one of the “few movements that I do respect.” 50 later brought Capo and his Dipset running mate Juelz Santana out as surprise guests during a show, which further needled Jones’ feud with Cam’ron at the time.
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2007: Jim Jones Goes Public With Cam’ron Beef
Jim Jones publicly admitted that he and Cam weren’t on speaking terms, and that the duo hadn’t had a conversation in a year, during an interview with Miss Info.
“Me and Cam’ron haven’t spoken to each other in a year,” Jones said. “I kept quiet out of loyalty, I felt like if we can’t be friends then at least we can do business together. But now I can’t be next to you… I’m through with being in hot water because of you. We still the Diplomats. We worked too hard to achieve our own success and now we’re gonna do something new.”
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March 2009: Jim Jones Releases ‘Frienemies’ Track Targeting Cam
Jim Jones took aim at Max B and Cam’ron on 2009’s “Frienemies,” which landed on Jimmy’s Pray IV Reign album. Capo called out Cam for being jealous and backstabbing him, even when he was there for him since they were kids.
“It’s crazy ’cause you might know a n—a all your life/ And he got a twisted alterier motive/ And he just wanna see you do bad,” he says to kick off the track.
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April 2009: Cam Says He & Jim Haven’t Spoken in 3 Years
Cam publicly acknowledges his feud with Jim during a 2009 interview with Angie Martinez and admits they haven’t spoken in three years. “Once a problem gets in the public for me, it can’t be fixed,” he said.
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2009: Jim Jones Extends an Olive Branch
Jim Jones extended an olive branch to Cam, which he didn’t accept, about possibly reconciling and making Dipset whole again.
“We possess the hottest thing in hip-hop that hasn’t happened yet and everybody knows it,” he told VIBE. “We damn near could be one of the reasons to make hip-hop a lucrative thing again and that being the Diplomats. If we put it back together. There’s a 50 percent chance because I’m in.”
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June 2010: Dipset’s Short-Lived Comeback
Jim Jones reassembled Dipset for “Salute” in June 2010, which featured Cam’ron and Juelz Santana over Araabmuzik production. The track landed on Jimmy’s Capo album in 2011 as a bonus track and is currently on streaming services on Jones’ The Capo Chronicles project.
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July 2016: Cam’ron Removes Jim Jones From Dipset Reunion Collab
It was supposed to be a Dipset reunion on Cam’ron’s “Oh Yeah” alongside Jim and Juelz, but when the track ended up dropping on WorldStarHipHop, Capo’s assist was missing from the final version.
“Somebody ask Cameron why he clearly took my verse of this song tht we all recorder in his house bout a year n half ago and then so quick to tell th world he doesn’t know why dipset not getting back together to do a album lol,” Jones responded on social media. “[T]his n—a is weird lol let tht hit th blogs I’m a blogger @730freekey lol I couldn’t help it.”
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October 2016: Dave East Gets Stuck in the Middle
Dave East was the prodigal Harlem son stuck in the middle of two legends that paved the way for him in NYC. Dave posted to IG about Cam’ron passing him the torch in Harlem after a performance together, which caught Jimmy’s attention, and jokingly told Cam to make Dave a member of Dipset.
Cam proceeded to unleash on Jones in the comments and claimed that Jim was going around telling people Dave wasn’t really from Harlem. “Nah I’m good JOMO.. U can’t be getting no money.. U always watching me.. How’s ya reality show doing,” he wrote. “Matter fact JOMO tell @daveeast how u tellling n—s he ain’t from Harlem… But u wanna shoot videos with him.”
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December 2016: Cam Claims Jim Isn’t From Harlem
Cam popped up for an interview with Angie Martinez and questioned Jim’s Harlem roots, claiming that Capo was actually from The Bronx.
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February 2017: Jim Gets Emotional Detailing His Fractured Relationship With Cam
Jim Jones made a memorable appearance on Funk Flex up at Hot 97 in early 2017, which found him getting emotional while discussing his loyalty in the game and his distant relationship with Cam’ron.
“I put my life on the line for this. I been to trial for this. I been on America’s Most Wanted for this. I been on Gang Files for this. I been on everything you can name, so when people play on me, I get real emotional, ’cause I operate off emotions,” he said. “There’s never been a time where I’ve backed down from any situation in this world. Except God. And I been up against 20, 30 deep by myself when n—as left me by myself. You heard? I escaped those situations and still come back and give n—as high fives.”
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February 2017: Cam’ron Hops on IG Live to Address Jim’s Hot 97 Interview
Cam’ron hopped on IG Live to set the record straight a few days after Jim’s viral interview with Funk Flex. “A lot of stuff he was saying was based on emotion and wasn’t true because he’s an emotional guy. I really hope Jim is successful and I wish him the best of luck,” he said.
Cam expressed remorse for making the “Tricky Ricky” shirts back in 2006, which mocked Jones for his new relationship with Chrissy Lampkin.
“I made these T-shirts and it said, ‘Tricky Ricky aka Jim Jones Is A Trick.’ At the time we had mad n—s in jail and I was sending them money and [Jim Jones] was not looking out for none of our n—as in jail,” he explained. “On the back of the shirt had all our n—as in jail and I had called [Jim Jones] a trick. I wasn’t looking at it like that. I’m looking at it like that’s how we play. I wasn’t trying to disrespect him because I didn’t know their relationship was going to grow to be what it was.”
Cam continued: “Them shirts hurt. I had n—as wearing the shirts in the studio. Everybody was wearing the shirt. It was just a joke, but he took that s–t serious, B. After I did that shirt, everything was downhill, and [Jim Jones] started acting like it’s the business. ‘Cam is robbing us. Cam ain’t this. Cam ain’t doing that.’ That’s when the s—t fell out… After I made them shirts.”
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November 2017: Dipset Reunites at NYC Show
Diplomatic immunity is forever — or at least it was for one night. The four original members of Dipset reunited for a special concert at Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC, proving that the brotherhood meant more than the beef for the time being. “This ain’t a reunion,” Jones said. “This communion.”
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November 2018: ‘Diplomatic Ties’ Project Arrives
The Diplomats returned to feed the fans a heavy dose of nostalgia with nine new tracks packaged as Diplomatic Ties, featuring collaborations with The LOX, Tory Lanez and Belly. However, the project received an underwhelmed response from critics.
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August 2021: Dipset Dispatched by The LOX in Verzuz Battle
Dipset reunited for a memorable Verzuz against The LOX in a battle for New York. Jada, Styles P and Sheek Louch dismantled Dipset and Kiss’ unforgettable speech ahead of performing “New York,” which proved to be the nail in the coffin. “I don’t live in Miami, I don’t live in Colorado. Come to my block and see me my n—as,” Jada shouted. “This is Kiss! I’m outside!” Dipset took the loss by most fans’ scorecards, and it would be the last time Jim and Cam spoke in person for a while.
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December 2024: Cam’ron Recalls 50 Cent’s Move to Bring Jim Jones & Juelz on Stage During Their Feud
Cam’ron had 50 Cent on his Talk With Flee show, which saw the duo go down memory lane about their previous feud. 50 detailed his Art of War tactics, looking to divide Dipset even further when he invited Jim Jones on stage with G-Unit in 2007.
“We were having interior problems at Dipset. Nobody knew about this, nobody knew that we were not on the same page,” Cam told 50. “So when me and [50] were battling, you had members of Dipset to come to your show. I was sitting there like, ‘This n—a’s kinda smart, ’cause I wouldn’t have thought about reaching out to [Tony] Yayo or Lloyd Banks.’”
He continued: “When n—as went on stage, I was like, ‘This s–t is spinning out. It was a checkmate moment.’ I said, ‘This n—a’s devious.’ But I respected it, I liked that s—t.”
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January 2025: Jim Jones Claps Back at Cam’ron Following 50 Cent Interview
Jim Jones joined Justin Laboy’s Respectfully podcast, where he fired back at 50 and Cam for speaking on him. “Them n—as be on my dick,” he said. “Them n—as ain’t got nothing else to think about but Capo. I did a lot for them n—as in their life, ya heard? Both of them. Pause, though. Get off my dick! It’s only space on there for baby girl. Come on, man. Tugging on my s—t like that.”
Jones explained that he wanted to capitalize on the momentum of his solo career in the mid-2000s, and standing next to 50, who was one of rap’s titans at the time, gave him the chance to appeal to even more droves of fans.
“They called me like, ‘Yo, you wanna come out and perform at the show?'” he recalled of his 2007 G-Unit concert guest appearance. “S—t yeah! I got the hottest record, I’m popping out.’ I wasn’t on nobody’s friendship. I was a pirate. [G-Unit] couldn’t even dress, but [50 Cent] had a platform for me to perform on in front of thousands of people in New York. Yeah, I’m taking that.”
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January 2025: Cam’ron Claims Jim Jones is From The Bronx
Cam addressed Jim during an episode of It Is What It Is, where he claimed Jones was actually from The Bronx and not Harlem. “You’re a Guardian Angel in designer, n—a. You are from the Bronx, bro. You are not from Harlem. I did not grow up with you, my n—a,” he clapped back.
Killa continued to dispell the notion they grew up together and claimed that Jim attempted to jump on his wave following his early success that had him bubbling in NYC. “You wasn’t there, n—a,” he claimed. “We were super-duper popping in the street. Everybody knew we were about to get a record deal.”
The Harlem rapper sneered at Jones for making up with his enemies, who even allegedly “put hands on” him in the past, as Jim clowned Cam for his relationship with 50 Cent.
“I didn’t think it would be a big deal because you make up with every n—a that put hands on you. I see you with C-Gutta from Junior M.A.F.I.A. I see you taking pictures with Tru Life,” he said. “Mendeecees, y’all having sit-downs. Gunshots were let off with that. Y’all having sit-downs to work it out. You tried to chase French Montana out the game and that didn’t work out, so y’all got cool. So cool that you go to his [documentary]. You’re sitting in the crowd watching the premiere and they dissing you in the movie.”
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January 2025: Jim Jones Previews Track Dissing Cam
Jim Jones previewed a track ahead of his At the Church Steps album, which appeared to fire back at Cam and Mase over their comments days earlier on It Is What It Is. “I said wht I said after they laugh at th lies th truth still hurts,” he captioned the clip. “Why would I waste free promo got me trending I’m tryin to drop.”
Jones addressed Cam’s claims of his ties to 6ix9ine and the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods, and later mocked Cam’s claims he taught Jim how to rap.
“All my n—as do they time, you know my team body/It’s been seven years since I’ve seen Shotti / It’s been seven years since I saw Melly / And now he gotta fly straight ’cause he got four fellies/ So what more you want to ask him/ You n—as taught me how to rap, and now I’m platinum,” he raps.
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March 2025: Jim Jones Doesn’t Think Rift With Cam Can Ever Be Fixed
Jim Jones sat down with Apple Music’s Rap Life Radio with Ebro Darden, where he all but shot down any chance of a reconciliation with Cam’ron.
“Nah, it’s definitely ain’t no brotherhood,” he said. “The brotherhood been over damn near since 5H. That was where the brotherhood was at. When we ain’t have nothing. When we were eating dollar chicken sandwiches and sh—t like that.”
When asked if there was any chance their friendship could be repaired down the road, Jones relayed it was unlikely.
“Not something I could foresee, but who knows,” he added, creaking the door open. “God might tell me something while I’m sleeping. Right now it’s about me. I ain’t got time to focus on nothing else and no one else.”
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September 2025: Cam Agrees He Won’t Ever Be Cool With Jim Jones Again
Cam’ron hopped on Memphis Bleek’s Roc Solid podcast and admitted that it’s tough to see a world where him and Jim Jones are cool with one another again.
“The reunions and arguments and fighting, it’s been 15 years. The run was only seven years. We got 15 years of disputes longer than the run. I’m never going to say never,” he began. “But at the end of the day, the disputes, it’s 15 years old, and the run was seven years old. I don’t know if it can ever go right. He got records dissing me earlier this year. I don’t really pay it no mind, people send it to me. But he put a song out called ‘Frienemies’ in [2009]. 17 years of diss records towards me. I don’t give a f—k.”
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January 2026: Cam & Jim Exchange Insults Over ‘Heat Off & Rent Due’ Jokes
Tensions boiled over in 2026, as Cam made a vague Instagram post, writing: “How u worried about me when ya heat off.” Many fans connected the joke to Jim Jones and tagged him in the comments. Jones had been coming off being tied to unfounded rumors of owing a landlord rent money for using the Let’s Rap About It podcast studio.
It didn’t take long for Jimmy to get wind of Cam’s comments, and he went after his friend-turned-foe. “U soft,” he wrote, before adding. “U whole crew is soft. U wanna play pull up let th people see how soft u are chump. Freakey u soft too.”
Cam continued to troll Capo. “What’s wrong capo? Ya heat off too? I ain’t know,” he quipped. “[I’d] hate for you to be 50yrs old with no heat. What’s ya Zelle bro? I got u… Yea but my heat on. And I’m warm, you 50 years old, tough and cold. But dead ass tho capo, ya heat off for real??”

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