Juelz Santana

Fun Fact: He began writing rhymes at the age of twelve and was originally signed to Priority Records as one half of the duo called Draft Pick. The group had several shows around New York City while together, including Amateur Night at the Apollo Theatre, where they won two weeks in a row.

Claim to Fame: He came to fame following his appearances on Cam'ron's 2002 singles, "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma."

LaRon Louis James, better known by his stage name Juelz Santana, is an American rapper, producer and actor. He came to fame following his appearances on Cam'ron's 2002 singles, "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma". In 2003, his debut album From Me to U was released by Def Jam Recordings; his next album What the Game's Been Missing! contained the top-ten single "There It Go ".


Santana was born in Harlem to an Dominican father and African American mother. He began rapping at the age of twelve and at age fifteen started duo Draft Pick, which was signed to Priority Records. In 2000, Santana made a guest performance on a track on Cam'ron's album S.D.E. and eventually joined The Diplomats.

In 2003, Santana released an album, From Me to U under Def Jam; its single "Dipset " reached #70 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart. What the Game's Been Missing! followed in 2005 with the singles "There It Go ", "Oh Yes", and "Clockwork". "There It Go" reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on the Hot Rap Tracks charts; "Oh Yes" reached #56 on the Hot 100 and #8 on the Rap charts. Both this album and single "There It Go" were certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Santana began working with Lil Wayne on a collaboration album I Can't Feel My Face in 2006. Mick Boogie, a DJ from Ohio, released a mixtape in late August 2006 titled Blow that contained 12 leaked tracks from the album recording sessions. Recording and production reportedly concluded by summer 2007. Santana told Angie Martinez in an interview on New York City hip-hop station Hot 97 that he blames the delay on the album on fellow Dipset rapper Cam'ron. In April 2008, Santana stated that issues existed over his and Wayne's signing to different labels and thus announced plans for various mixtapes to promote "unity and creativity". Santana claimed that Cam'ron blocked collaborations by other artists. XXL magazine brought up the delay of the album release in a February 2009 interview with Santana, who replied that "contractual issues" were to blame and that he was talking to L.A. Reid about releasing this album before his own solo album. In Wayne's album Tha Carter III, Santana appeared on the fifteenth track.

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