Read Full Bio ↴There are (or have been) at least five artists called The Diplomats.
1. The by far most popular group called The Diplomats (also known as Dipset) are a Harlem, New York-based group who previously signed to Roc-A-Fella Records, but now are signed to own label Diplomats Record. Founded by rappers Cam'ron and Jim Jones, the group released their debut album Diplomatic Immunity under their imprint Diplomat Records.
Diplomat Records also distribute artist Cam'ron through Asylum Records. Under Koch Entertainment, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, 40 Cal., Freekey Zekey, J.R. Writer, Hell Rell, Un Kasa and Jha Jha are also signed on as members of The Diplomats record label. London-based duo, S.A.S, are also part of The Diplomats. Another member, Jay Bezel, is signed to Sure Shot Records. The group's sophomore album Diplomatic Immunity 2 was released under Koch Entertainment. Juelz Santana currently is the only member still signed to Diplomat Records and Def Jam Records.
One of the defining elements of the Diplomats' music is the innovative slang they have incorporated into their lyrics. The broader hip-hop community has accepted and utilized many of their terms, including "doggie,", "no homo", "piff," "huff," "u mad?", "move the movement", "off' wit' Ya' Kufi Smacker", "goonies goo goo,", "duck tales", "family matters", and "coochie rap". They also coined the greeting, "What's Really Good?". Many of the rappers were signed, and were premiered in mixtapes, but the Diplomats did not become exclusive until 2003 with their cd Diplomatic Immunity. In previous music videos when Cam'ron was starting his career you could see fellow diplomats like Jim Jones or Freeky Zeeky. The Diplomats have also gained notable street credability through their mixtapes, especially in New York, and have made a small fortune through mixtape sales. They also have their own brand of Liquor, Sizzurp.
2. The Diplomats were a mid-90's pop band from Roanoke, Virginia Heavily influenced by Big Star.
3. The Diplomats is also an avant jazz project consisting of Rob Brown (as), Steve Swell (tb) and Harris Eisenstadt (d).
4. The Diplomats were a soul group of the 1960s from Washington DC, United States, very popular in the United Kingdom during the Northern Soul boom of the 1970s. They would later become the New York-based Skull Snaps.
5. The Diplomats were a short-lived British rock band from Yorkshire, who released a self-funded single during the Mod revival of the early 1980s: 'Memories Of You' b/w 'I'll Keep On Holding On' (the latter being a cover version of the Marvelettes' original. The Diplomats were fronted by Andy Welsh, who later joined The Scene.
Melalin
The Diplomats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Should I do what they gave me, took it and never admit
I invented the flow, yup, they different between us
Emergency come, like a different nigga
Different strokes, for different folks, shit I ain't tryin'
To come up short, let on, let it all
Or will it just blow, like it did to coke
Not me, some of us get rich, but now you dissin', the rich niggaz is broke
Instead of embracin' us, fuck savin' us, thinking what's ya throat
I'm hearin' ya guns in ya hood, what the fuck you think
How can one another -- get ya stoned and then some weed
Just go, eight children broke, the statistics, every three hours
A brother is smoked, a baby is killed, a sister is raped
Somebody mother, strangled under that dope
Just get up and say, here, get up and pray
Tomorrow and promise, so I live for the day, just for hip hop
I need all, but tell ya rappers to come back, yea
We work too hard, to give us away, evicted my age
I can't grow up, like Eazy-E, a victim of AIDS
Being black is crime, I done worked, a nine to five
For three years, and they still, ain't give me a raise
Shit give me a gauge, fuck a mininum wage
Get in a helicopter, look down, shit we live in a maze
The day go fast, when ya broke, but it seems like
The minute you pay, the sun, never set
I don't sleep, cuz sleep is the cousin of death
So I wake up, my brother, my cousins, and uncle's that's def, yes
[talking]
[Bugs]
After the war, there's casualties, I stood the art
They give us roaches and batteries, and blow you apart
Peon, procrastinate, to assassinate under the smart
Be brave, in the Wizard of Oz, they build you a heart, get some courage
Or get you the light, most flow in the dark, won't get discouraged
I'm on the one way trip to heaven, forget the luggage
Just in pain, it's making me weak, it's making me sluggish
Besides me, hogging up my THC
In my hood, everybody got a PHD
I count on my fingers, how many niggaz got a GED
My life done work more, than TV, and the DVD
Fuck a CD, I wanna be free, money for free
I'm like a cat, caught in the tree, ok, I need help
Why do I do for others, when I know, that you ain't do shit for me
You be there when you need me, they collapse
Under the real woods, in me, if I need, another match
I chuckled, pool game, goodie mob, goodie help
Coke kid, frankly, GNC, respect yes
My brother Kenny, I will pay you back, forever you help me
I got the many mentions, it's yours, nigga the key to the drawers
So I work out, try to keep my endurance
We lips, looked out, when that nigga needed insurance
Lift it, G to E-N-T, Miss Pam, fuck feedin missy
I can cut down, for going to college, believing in me
I love you girl, you mean the world to me
The Diplomatsβ βMelalinβ is a song that primarily focuses on the struggles that people of color face in the United States. The song was produced by J. Armz and features verses from Bugs, Jim Jones, and Juelz Santana. In the opening verse, Bugs raps about the government's role in perpetuating drug use within communities of color, the problems with the minimum wage, and the difficulty in advancing in a society that was built on systemic oppression. He also states that he "invented the flow," highlighting the skillful wordplay and rap technique present in the song.
The chorus of the song focuses on the importance of unity within communities of color. It repeats the line "We need to stick together," emphasizing the idea that people of color must support each other in order to combat the systemic injustices they face. Jim Jones and Juelz Santanaβs verses focus on the struggles they have faced in their own lives and how they have persevered through these challenges. They highlight the importance of self-love and determination, even in the face of adversity.
Overall, βMelalinβ is a powerful statement about the experiences of people of color in America. The song addresses a number of systemic issues while also encouraging listeners to stay strong and support each other in the face of oppression. It serves as a reminder of the importance of unity and perseverance in the fight for social justice.
Line by Line Meaning
Should I do what they gave me, took it and never admit
Should I take what they give me, use it without giving them credit
I invented the flow, yup, they different between us
My flow is original and unique, setting me apart from others
Emergency come, like a different nigga
Emergencies happen suddenly and unexpectedly
Different strokes, for different folks, shit I ain't tryin'
Everyone's different and not everyone will agree or like the same things
To come up short, let on, let it all
I won't settle for being unsuccessful, I'll keep pushing through
Or will it just blow, like it did to coke
My success could be temporary, like cocaine use
Not me, some of us get rich, but now you dissin', the rich niggaz is broke
I won't let success change me or make me forget where I came from
The government, shit they make us sniff' coke
The government is responsible for the drug epidemic affecting many communities
Instead of embracin' us, fuck savin' us, thinking what's ya throat
The government is more concerned with oppressing and silencing marginalized groups than helping them
I'm hearin' ya guns in ya hood, what the fuck you think
Gun violence is prevalent in underprivileged communities
How can one another -- get ya stoned and then some weed
How can one person harm another and then use drugs to escape reality?
Just go, eight children broke, the statistics, every three hours
Every three hours, eight children fall below the poverty line
A brother is smoked, a baby is killed, a sister is raped
Violent crimes such as murder and sexual assault are rampant in underprivileged communities
Somebody mother, strangled under that dope
Drug addiction destroys families and takes lives
Just get up and say, here, get up and pray
Turning to faith and spirituality can provide hope in difficult situations
Tomorrow and promise, so I live for the day, just for hip hop
I focus on the present and my passion for hip hop to get through each day
I need all, but tell ya rappers to come back, yea
I want others in the rap industry to remember and respect their roots
We work too hard, to give us away, evicted my age
We work too hard to give away our success and be left vulnerable
I can't grow up, like Eazy-E, a victim of AIDS
I don't want to end up like Eazy-E, who died from AIDS
Being black is crime, I done worked, a nine to five
In society, being black is sometimes treated as a criminal offense regardless of individual achievements
For three years, and they still, ain't give me a raise
Despite working for a company for three years, I haven't received a pay raise
Shit give me a gauge, fuck a mininum wage
I want a firearm to protect myself, not just the minimum wage
Get in a helicopter, look down, shit we live in a maze
Our communities are complex and difficult to navigate
The day go fast, when ya broke, but it seems like
When you're broke, the day passes by quickly but feels longer
The minute you pay, the sun, never set
When you have money, time seems to pass more quickly
I don't sleep, cuz sleep is the cousin of death
Sleep is seen as unproductive and can lead to wasted time
So I wake up, my brother, my cousins, and uncle's that's def, yes
I wake up each day grateful for my family, even those who are deaf
After the war, there's casualties, I stood the art
Success comes with losses and setbacks, but I remain dedicated to my craft
They give us roaches and batteries, and blow you apart
The government provides subpar resources and equipment to those on the front lines
Peon, procrastinate, to assassinate under the smart
Those in power use their intelligence to oppress and harm those beneath them
Be brave, in the Wizard of Oz, they build you a heart, get some courage
Like the Cowardly Lion, we must seek courage to face challenges
Or get you the light, most flow in the dark, won't get discouraged
Despite facing difficulties, we must maintain hope and continue to strive for success
I'm on the one way trip to heaven, forget the luggage
I am focused on my journey towards success, without being weighed down by material possessions
Just in pain, it's making me weak, it's making me sluggish
Pain and struggles can be draining and exhausting
Besides me, hogging up my THC
I am the only one partaking in my marijuana
In my hood, everybody got a PHD
In my neighborhood, everyone claims to be an expert at something
My life done work more, than TV, and the DVD
My life experiences have taught me more than I could ever learn from television or movies
Fuck a CD, I wanna be free, money for free
I don't care about selling records, I just want financial freedom
I'm like a cat, caught in the tree, ok, I need help
I am stuck and need assistance to get out of my current situation
You be there when you need me, they collapse
In times of need, the people who rely on me often fail or let me down
Under the real woods, in me, if I need, another match
I have the potential and ability to reignite my own motivation and drive
I chuckled, pool game, goodie mob, goodie help
I find joy and relief in playing pool and listening to Goodie Mob
Coke kid, frankly, GNC, respect yes
I have earned respect and recognition from those in the rap industry
My brother Kenny, I will pay you back, forever you help me
I owe my brother Kenny gratitude for always being there to support me
I got the many mentions, it's yours, nigga the key to the drawer
I have achieved success, and now I want to give back to those who helped me along the way
So I work out, try to keep my endurance
I am focused on maintaining my physical health and stamina
We lips, looked out, when that nigga needed insurance
We helped each other out when one of us needed health insurance
Lift it, G to E-N-T, Miss Pam, fuck feedin missy
I am part of a group called G to E-N-T, and I don't care about feeding Missy Elliott
I can cut down, for going to college, believing in me
I can sacrifice material possessions in order to pay for college and invest in my future
I love you girl, you mean the world to me
I deeply care for and appreciate my partner
Contributed by Adrian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ace Productionz
Reminds of my young days when life was new to me. Deep on another level. 1 love peopleπ
Draquan Giiza
I was bout 16 when I heard this
The One God LOves
Yes
The One God LOves
I love this song, lyrics, beat and all
ToneBeats
underrated track π₯
The One God LOves
I was young and wild when this dropped
Master Mind
This should be played on the radio.and all over now
SINO KADAFI
One of my favorite tracks on Dip Imm 2
Ricci Tarpey
The flow is simply incredible. Iam like a cat. Lyrically beautiful. For the people.
Haneef Bowens
My favorite song on this album! When I first heard this beat I look all over NJ and NY for it...still haven't found it yet!