b. LaRon Louis James, 18 February 1982, Harlem, New York City, New York, USA. Juelz Santana began rapping and rhyming at the age of 12, when he and a friend formed Draft Pick. The duo played several local gigs, including an Amateur Night performance at the legendary Apollo. Santana continued rapping on his own after the duo broke up and his rhyming talents and drive were soon recognized by his cousin, who just happened to be friends with rapper Cam’ron. It did not take long for Cam’ron to take Santana under his wing, as the protégé lent his vocal skills to the track ‘Double Up’ on Cam’ron’s S.D.E. He was also signed to Cam’ron’s label, Diplomats Records (shortly thereafter, Cam’ron also appointed Santana as the label’s vice-president). Santana appeared on Cam’ron’s subsequent releases, ‘Hey Ma’ and ‘Welcome To New York City’, from 2002’s Come Home With M, as well as part of the debut recording by the Diplomats (a rap collective assembled by Cam’ron to showcase his artists). Favourable press soon followed in respected rap publications such as XXL and Source Magazine, heightening the public’s interest in further work from Santana. Later in 2003, his first solo recordings were released, the limited edition Final Destination, as well as his first true solo outing, From Me To U. The latter was a disappointing, half-baked affair.
Santana remained busy with the Diplomats during 2004 and the early part of 2005, appearing on a glut of official and mixtape releases. His solo commercial breakthrough arrived in November 2005 on the back of his prominent contribution to Chris Brown’s US number 1 hit ‘Run It!’, and the remix of Mariah Carey’s ‘Don’t Forget About Us’. Santana’s ‘There It Go! (The Whistle Song)’, taken from his second official solo album What The Game’s Been Missing! affirmed his new-found status.
