Cam'Ron Presents... The Diplomats - Diplomatic Immunity (CD)

All Music Guide

On his third record, Come Home With Me, Cam'ron began paving the way for a few of his protégés (Juelz Santana, Jimmy Jones, aka The Ghetto's Advocate, Freekey Zekey), and the foursome came together as the Diplomats for a massive two-disc extravaganza, Diplomatic Immunity. With three of the four due for another full Roc-A-Fella release later in 2003 -- plus a film release for Come Home With Me -- the big question became quantity control, so it's no wonder that their combined talents can't keep this two-hour release together. As on Come Home With Me, the combination of Cam'ron with producer Just Blaze provides the highlights, "I Really Mean It" and the Starship-sampling "Built This City." Both of them appear on the second disc, and there really isn't much to recommend on the first. There's a pointless remix of the Cam'ron/Juelz Santana/Freekey Zekey feature "Hey Ma" (originally on Come Home With Me), with Toya providing some RB vocals, and the bizarre inclusion of "Bout It Bout It, Pt. I...II" featuring Master P himself. Aside from Cam'ron, the Diplomats aren't good enough to carry these tracks themselves, and the lack of quality productions (or producers) makes this an easy one to skip, even for fans of Cam'ron. - John Bush, All Music Guide Read more Less