Jim Jones

Jim Jones is a rapper from The Bronx, New York City, and he is associated with hip hop. He is also known as Jimmy Jones and is born Joseph Guillermo Jones II. He grows up in Harlem and is of Aruban and Puerto Rican family background. He is a member of the Diplomats, also known as Dipset, and later forms ByrdGang, a hip hop group and label.

Career with the Diplomats and solo work

Jones is an original member of the Diplomats and also serves as co-CEO of Diplomat Records with Cam'ron. Early in his career, he is known as a hypeman for the group and also works behind the scenes shooting many of their music videos. Under the name CAPO, he directs videos for artists including Cam'ron, Juelz Santana, Remy Ma and State Property.

His solo debut album, On My Way to Church, appears in 2004. It includes the singles “Certified Gangstas” featuring Cam'ron, Bezel and The Game, and “Crunk Muzik” featuring Cam'ron and Juelz Santana. His second album, Harlem: Diary of a Summer, follows in 2005 and reaches number five on the Billboard 200. It also tops the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Independent Albums charts.

In 2006, he releases Hustler's P.O.M.E. (Product of My Environment), which produces his best-known single, “We Fly High”. The song reaches number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and is certified platinum by the RIAA. Jones also creates a signature jump-shot hand gesture in the video for the track, which becomes closely associated with the song.

ByrdGang and later releases

Jones forms ByrdGang in 2006. The group includes select members of Purple City Productions and Diplomat Records and releases M.O.B.: The Album on Asylum Records. Jones also releases Christmas compilations, including A Dipset X-Mas and A Tribute To Bad Santa Starring Mike Epps, and several mixtapes, among them Harlem's American Gangster.

His fourth studio album, Pray IV Reign, appears in 2009 and is his first solo album on Columbia Records. It includes “Pop Champagne” and features artists including Ron Browz and Juelz Santana, with production from Chink Santana, Aaron LaCrate, Wyclef Jean, Drumma Boy and Lamont “LOGiC” Coleman. He later returns with Capo in 2011, followed by the mixtapes Capo Life and the Vampire Life series, including Vampire Life: We Own the Night, Vampire Life 2 and Vampire Life 3. He also releases the EPs We Own the Night and We Own The Night Pt. 2: Memoirs of a Hustler.

In 2019, he releases El Capo, which features Dave East and Rick Ross among others. He also records collaborative work with DJ Webstar, including the announced project The Rooftop and the song “Dancin on Me”.

Other work and public profile

Jones works as an executive in music, including positions at Entertainment One Music and Koch Records, which becomes E1 Music. He also starts the label imprint Splash Records with Damon Dash and is linked to Sally Ruth Esther Publishing, Inc.

Outside recording, he designs clothing, including the Nostic label and later Vampire Life, which is co-owned by Dame Dash. He makes his acting debut in State Property 2, appears in Crash: The Series, plays a henchman on The Wire, and headlines the off-Broadway production Hip-Hop Monologues: Inside the Life and Mind of Jim Jones. He also appears on the reality series Love & Hip Hop: New York and Chrissy & Mr. Jones.

Jones becomes part owner of the Richmond Roughriders of the American Arena League in 2017. He also has a freestyle inline skating team called Dipskate. His career includes public disputes with artists including Tru-Life, Jay Z, A$AP Mob and Azealia Banks.