A true NYC success story, Jim Jones's ascent to a spot among rap's quickest minds and keenest ears by the late-`00s is almost breathtaking in its deliberateness. While hip-hop history is littered with label architects whose attempts to grab the mic were tributes to vain mediocrity, the mercurial Diplomats co-founder is not one of them. Jones waited until practically every other member of Harlem's Dipset crew (Cam'ron, Juelz Santana, etc.) had had his turn before unleashing his solo debut in 2004. By 2009's highly anticipated PRAY IV REIGN, Jones revealed himself as a versatile budding star, as comfortable dropping an auto-tuner heavy single like "Pop Champagne" as elegantly reimagining indie-synth-popsters MGMT's "Electric Feel."






















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