LaRon Louis James Sr. (born February 18, 1982),[1][2] better known by his stage name Juelz Santana, is an American rapper and member of East Coast hip hop group, the Diplomats (also known as Dipset).

peaked atop the chart for five weeks and received triple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

His 2009 single, "Back to the Crib" (featuring Chris Brown) was intended to lead his third album Born to Lose, Built to Win, which remains unreleased.

The group first gained recognition after several performances around New York City, including Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater, where they won two weeks in a row.

[7] In 1998, James was introduced to Cam'ron through his cousin,[8][9] and shortly thereafter, took on the name Juelz Santana and became a member of his hip hop collective, The Diplomats, alongside Jim Jones and Freekey Zekey.

[10] Santana's first collaboration with the group was the Trackmasters remix of "What Means the World to You", followed by the tracks "Double Up" and "All the Chickens", on Cam'ron's second studio album, S.D.E., released on September 19, 2000, through Epic Records.

After four mixtapes, the group released their first album on Diplomatic Immunity on March 25, 2003, which debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200, selling 92,000 copies in its first week and eventually being certified Gold by the RIAA.

[12] Santana caused a minor controversy before the album's release when he described himself as a "young Mohammed Atta" on a leaked version of the track "I Love You", just months after the September 11 attacks.

The album was preceded by the mixtape, Final Destination, released on June 17, 2003, and the single "Dipset (Santana's Town)", which peaked at number 70 on the Billboard Top 100, received a nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 46th Grammy Awards.

In April 2010, Cam'ron and Jim Jones officially announced the end of their feud,[27] and the Diplomats reunited for several singles after signing with Interscope Records.

[citation needed] In 2011 and 2012, Santana made brief appearances on the first two seasons of VH1 reality series Love & Hip Hop: New York, alongside other Dipset group members and their significant others.

[32][33] In November 2016, Santana joined the supporting cast of Love & Hip Hop: New York in its seventh season, releasing the freestyle "Up In The Studio Gettin Blown".

[39][40][41] In November 2018, Santana returned to Love & Hip Hop: New York as a main cast member for its ninth season, which chronicled his ongoing legal struggles.

On November 23, 2018, Santana proposed to urban model and video vixen Kimbella Vanderhee during the Diplomats show at the Apollo Theater.

[44][45][46] In January 2011, Santana's recording studio in Bergenfield, New Jersey, was raided after a 10-month investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and Gang Unit.