I Really Mean It: The 10 Greatest Diplomats Freestyles [VIDEO]

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Fans are prepping their bandanas and 3x Pelle Pelle leathers (hopefully not) for The Diplomats reunion concert at the BB King Blues Club & Grill in New York City on Monday, March 25. The show is a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Harlem collective’s critically acclaimed Diplomatic Immunity album, which dropped 2003 on the exact same day, and more importantly, established the crew as a Hip-Hop powerhouse.

In retrospect, Dipset basically had the rap game in the cobra clutch at one point. Aside from a certain Brooklyn native and a still rising producer/rapper from Chicago, they were the most relevant artists on Roc-A-Fella while the label was crumbling from inside out. They had a young superstar in the making by the name of Juelz Santana, and they were expanding into an empire. To top it off, they had the bars, many of which they gave you for free via mixtapes and radio freestyles.

Hip-Hop Wired decided to comprise a list of the latter. These are 10 of The Diplomats’ greatest freestyles on radio and TV that will surely get “the computers putin’.” Throw on your headphones and get hit with this nostalgia after the jump.

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Photo: Def Jam

10. The Intro to Juelz Santana (1999)

At just 16, a young Juelz showed much potential. Disregard the illegal contraband, and focus on the bars.

9. Cam’ron & Juelz Santana Hot 97 Freestyle 2001

Killa Cam and Santana spit bars on Jadakiss’s “We Gonna Make It” and other classic beats. Count us in.

8. Cam’ron & Jim Jones Freestyle In the Studio

There’s a lot of talking, so hit the 7:23 mark for the action if that’s not your thing. Pause.

7. Cam’ron, Hell Rell, & JR Writer Flame Hot 97

Dipset would go to Hot 97 and freestyle new raps over their own beats. Still hilarious.

6. JR Writer Freestyles, Cam Ad-Libs

JR Writer came through with more punchlines than you could count, but Cam’ron’s commentary a la Puff Daddy in ’97 makes it that much better.

5. Cam’ron’s Lyrical Exercise

Cam just joined the Roc-A-Fella fam. Consider this his resurgence. These bars ended up on Come Home With Me, but they’re nice nonetheless.

4. Killa Cam & Santana Say “F**k You”

The LOX’s “F**k You” was the beat of choice. Perfect.

3. JR Writer’s First Freestyle

At one time, The Diplomats seemed unstoppable, and then they unleashed JR Writer. It seemed unfair.

2. The Diplomats – “DJ Enuff Freestyle”

This was the only freestyle to appear on the classic Diplomatic Immunity, and for good reason.

1. Rap City Freestyle

This may not be the most lyrical freestyle on the list, and we know some of these verses landed on actual songs. We’ve considered all of this, but the footage captures the very essence of why fans love Dipset in this first place. That alone make it numero uno.