They say brothers may clash, but at the end of the day, they’re still brothers. That sentiment once defined the bond between Cam’ron and Jim Jones, two childhood friends from Harlem whose chemistry helped shape the identity of Dipset in the early 2000s. Together with Freakey Zekey and Juelz Santana, the crew left a permanent mark on hip-hop, fashion, and street culture.

As Cam rose to solo stardom under the Roc-A-Fella banner, Dipset’s momentum surged. Their major-label debut, Diplomatic Immunity, crashed into the top 10 of the Billboard 200 in 2003, becoming a staple for fans who craved gritty mixtape energy blended with chart appeal. The Diplomats weren’t just rappers— they were trendsetters, icons draped in pink fur coats and oversized jerseys that defined an era.

But by the mid-2000s, Dipset’s rise would be cut short. Tensions within Roc-A-Fella and Cam’ron’s famous feud with Jay-Z fractured the once-tight Harlem collective. Soon after, the unthinkable happened: Cam and Jim themselves began drifting apart.

What started as minor disagreements evolved into a full-blown feud that’s lasted nearly two decades — and as of 2026, shows no sign of being resolved. Despite brief reunions, including their 2021 appearance on the Verzuz stage where Dipset faced The LOX, both rappers have admitted publicly that they no longer see a future as friends.

Below, we break down the major turning points in their long, tangled history.

A Timeline of Cam’ron & Jim Jones’ Ongoing Rift

(A Complete Breakdown Powered by Breaking Down Jim Jones & Cam’ron’s Decades-Long Beef)

2006: Cam’ron Drops ‘Tricky Ricky’ T-Shirts Mocking Jim Jones

In 2006, bootleg T-shirts began circulating that poked fun at Jim Jones’ relationship with Chrissy Lampkin. The shirts featured the nickname “Tricky Ricky,” clowning Jones for showering his girlfriend with gifts early in their relationship — a relationship that, notably, still stands strong today.

Years later, in a 2017 Instagram Live session, Cam admitted he orchestrated the T-shirt idea and expressed deep regret.

“I was dead wrong for this… This is where everything went totally downhill,” Cam recalled. “Those shirts hurt him. After that, everything went downhill.”

The fallout from the shirts sparked long-term distrust, turning playful banter into a serious fracture in their brotherhood.

2006: Cam’ron Secretly Trademarks ByrdGang

As Jim Jones began developing his ByrdGang collective, Cam’ron made a move behind the scenes: he trademarked the name and the logo himself.

Cam later explained the decision as business, claiming Jim wasn’t upfront about branching off. Jim, meanwhile, admitted he wasn’t focused on trademarks at the time.

ByrdGang eventually released M.O.B.: The Album in 2008, but the trademark incident widened the divide between the two Harlem stars.

September 2007: Jim Jones Appears With 50 Cent & G-Unit

In 2007, 50 Cent teased the addition of a new G-Unit member — only for Jim Jones to pop up during an episode of Rap City. Jones praised G-Unit as a movement he respected, which didn’t sit well with Cam’ron amidst their internal tension.

50 even brought out Jim and Juelz Santana as surprise guests during a show, subtly intensifying the feud within Dipset.

2007: Jim Jones Publicly Confirms the Feud

Jim Jones officially acknowledged that he and Cam had not spoken in a year during an interview with Miss Info.

“I kept quiet out of loyalty… But now I can’t be next to you,” Jones admitted.
“We still the Diplomats — but we’re gonna do something new.”

The admission shocked fans and solidified the rift as more than a temporary disagreement.

March 2009: Jim Jones Releases “Frienemies” Targeting Cam

Jim Jones unloaded years of frustration on “Frienemies,” a track from his Pray IV Reign album. The record took pointed shots at Cam’ron, accusing him of jealousy, betrayal, and hidden motives.

The lyrics made it clear that the wounds between the two were far from healed.

April 2009: Cam’ron Says They Haven’t Spoken in Three Years

During an interview with Angie Martinez, Cam admitted he hadn’t spoken to Jim in three years. He also claimed that once a problem becomes public, reconciliation becomes nearly impossible for him.

This comment hinted that Cam saw the feud as deeper than business — it was personal.

2009: Jim Extends an Olive Branch — But Cam Declines

Despite the hostility, Jim attempted to repair their relationship.

“We possess the hottest thing in hip-hop that hasn’t happened yet,” he told VIBE.
“There’s a 50 percent chance because I’m in.”

Cam wasn’t ready to accept the peace offering, and the reunion fizzled before it began.

June 2010: Dipset Reunites Briefly With “Salute”

Fans were shocked — and hopeful — when Jim Jones, Cam’ron, and Juelz Santana reunited on “Salute” in 2010. Produced by AraabMuzik, the track appeared on Jim’s Capo album.

The comeback, unfortunately, was short-lived. Though the moment sparked excitement, it wasn’t enough to heal years of resentment.