LaRon Louis James (born
February 18, 1982), better
known by his stage name Juelz Santana, is an American rapper and
actor. He is from the Harlem neighborhood in New York City,
and is a member of East Coast hip hop group The Diplomats.
He appeared on Cam'ron's 2002 singles, "Oh Boy"
and "Hey Ma".
In 2003, his debut album From Me to U was
released by Roc-A-Fella Records; his next album What the Game's Been Missing! contained
the top-ten single "There It Go (The Whistle Song)". He
is currently working on his third studio album Born to Lose, Built to Win.
Biography
1982–2001: Early life and early career
LaRon James was born in New York City,
to an African-American father & a Dominican mother. He was raised in the
Harlem section of Manhattan and began rapping at the age of five. By age twelve
he started a duo, Draft Pick, which was signed to Priority Records. In
2000, at the age of 18, he made a guest performance on a track on Cam'ron's
album S.D.E. and
eventually joined The Diplomats.
2002–06: From Me To
U and What the Game's
Been Missing!
After the signing of The Diplomats,
also known as Dipset, to Roc-a-Fella Records
in 2002, there was an influence of mixtapes,
features on other artists' records, television and radio interviews, in which
Santana achieved mainstream recognition not previously gained through the
various Diplomat mixtapes, and his solo mixtape Final Destination, that was sold in late 2002.
After being
featured on fellow Diplomat member Cam'ron's
two singles, "Hey Ma" and "Oh Boy".
Santana started working on his debut album. In the summer of 2003, Santana
released his debut album, From Me To U,
which peaked at #8 in the Billboard 200. "Dipset (Santana's
Town)" peaked #70 in the U.S. Billboard.
What the Game's Been Missing! followed in 2005 with the singles "Mic Check", "There It Go (The Whistle Song)",
"Oh Yes",
"Clockwork," "Shottas", and
"Make It Work For Ya" Feat. Young Jeezy and Lil Wayne.
"There It Go" reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on the Hot Rap Tracks charts;
"Oh Yes" reached #56 on the Hot 100 and #8 on the Rap charts.
"Mic Check" reached 35 in the Billboard Hot 100. Both this album and
single "There It Go" were certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of
America. Santana also featured in Chris Brown's
"Run It!"
in 2005.
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