Jim Jones:
Harlem: Diary of a Summer

Release Date: 23 August 2005

Reviewed By: Arif Amin

1.My Diary feat. Denise Weeks  
                                    
2.Gees Up feat. Cam’ron, Max B             
        3. J.I.M.M.Y                                                        

4.What Is This

5.Honey Dip feat. Juelz Santana, Cam’ron, Latiff

6.Ride Wit It feat. Juelz Santana

7.Penitentiary Chance feat. Hell Rell

8.We Just Ballin’ feat. T.K.

9.Drunk Hoe feat. Jha’ Jha and Paul Wall

10.We Gone Get So High feat. Max B

11.Harlem

12.Confront Ya Babe feat. Max B

13.Summer With Miami (In Between The Streets) feat. Trey Songz

14.In Love Wit A Thug feat. Denise Weeks

15. Tupac Joint feat. Fatal Hussien, 40.Cal

16 Baby Girl feat. Max B

17. My Calling

The Game - The Documentary
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A lot of people see the rap game being about music, but as most matters in life, it’s about money and so simultaneously, turns into a business. Similar to the most successful entrepreneurs, such as P. Diddy, Jay-Z and 50 Cent, the bird gang known as The Diplomats have set up a clothing range and a well known purple-coloured alcohol concoction that goes by the name of ‘Sizzurp’ -  all while their music sales continue to shift by the thousands.

Continuing this success, Jim Jones, C.E.O. of Diplomat Records, has released his sophomore album ‘Harlem: The Diary Of A Summer’, after his debut ‘On My Way To Church’ sold a respectable 200,000+ copies. However, this LP has a new innovative twist with the latest DualDisc technology: on one side of the CD is the album, and on the other, you will find a 12-minute documentary and numerous DipSet music videos.

Starting with an explosive intro, ‘My Diary’ featuring the sweet vocals of Denise Weeks, the track takes a style of a journal, where Jim Jones explains how he defied the odds of the ghetto to be where he is now.

This is followed by the amazingly relaxed ‘G’s Up’, which has a fiery start, classically demonstrating the originality of The Diplomats’ productions. Following albums such as ‘Diplomatic Immunity’ and ‘Purple Haze’, it is clear that the bird gang’s secret to success falls on the beats, masterminded by Cam’ron; ‘Diary Of A Summer’ doesn’t fall short on this expectation.

As expected, Juelz Santana features, (his game currently the hottest as proven by his album ‘What The Game’s Been Missing’). Featuring on ‘Honey Dip’ and ‘Ride Wit’ Me’, Juelz injects the tracks with something lyrically lethal, and combined with Jim Jones’ verses, these tracks are two certified gangsta hits…

P. Diddy is another guest emcee, dropping his verse on ‘What You Been Drankin’ On’, which also features Paul Wall. Despite their efforts, this is one of a few tracks which fail to take off, as Magoo and Diddy merge scratchy co-productions together with the lyrics in a very untidy fashion. Even Fatal Hussein from the historic Outlawz, seems to fall short of his potential, although satisfactorily spits on ‘Tupac Joint’.

What makes ‘Diary Of A Summer’ a classic album for the streets is the strength of the finest tracks on the LP; tracks which will not be found anywhere without Jim Jones’ talent of rhyming and producing. These tracks include ‘Harlem’, a smooth song to smoke to thanks to an exotic Puerto Rican flavoured chorus by Jones himself, and the street banger, ‘Confront Ya Babe’, where the mellow chorus and flow gives it the cutting edge.

Other smash hits include ‘Summer Wit’ Miami’, which has the elements of a masterpiece (meaningful lyrics about the downfall of men trying to fight infidelity), the video for which is currently airing on music channels. Even though this track is likely to be the most successful one on the album, ‘I’m In Love With A Thug’ is, in my eyes, the one to be put on repeat, with deeper lyrics and a sweet chorus from Denise Weeks.

Overall, Jim Jones has repeated his success, with the odd appearance of his DipSet crew, spiced up with a hint of Scarface, ensuring this album is on its way to being certified platinum. Jones just goes to show that the Diplomat army is set to take its share of the game again this year.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Top Three Tracks:

I’m In Love With A Thug

Summer Wit’ Miami

G’s Up

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