S. Samuel
Just days into 2011, SOHH wanted to find out what hip-hop fans can expect from the Dipset camp, so we decided to get an update from Diplomat A&R Duke Da God.
Although Da God is working on multiple projects, he did promise Dipset fans could anticipate the release of Diplomatic Immunity 3 sooner rather than later.
“Look out for us [this year],” Duke told SOHH. “Look out for [Diplomat producer] Araab Muzik. He’s everywhere. Really be on the lookout for him because he’s doing a lot of different collaborations and will have a project coming out later this year. It’ll be a whole album, compilation. So I got that coming, be on the lookout for that. Lookout for the new Diplomatic 3 Immunity album, that should be out at the top of 2011. And look out for new music from Hell Rell, J.R. Writer. I still do a lot of work with them two. Just keep on the lookout for production from us in 2011.” (SOHH)
Recently, Duke talked about Dipset taking their brand to a major record company.
“I think we outgrew E1. We did that when it wasn’t popular to go that route. We were innovators. Now we need to get it right. We need to touch the whole world. If we had a marketing budget of $200,000 on Koch, we need a $1 million to $1.5 million budget, so we can touch everybody. Our marketing budget wasn’t big enough at the time…There are so many avenues like radio and TV and [they’re more expensive]. It’s all about business, like with anything. You get what you pay for. You have to spend the money to get the proper listeners. Nothing is free. All them looks that you get, that you see major artists get, those aren’t free looks because they like the record. Just because Beyonce comes out with a record, it doesn’t mean everybody’s going to play it. It takes marketing dollars to get sh*t off the ground. All that sh*t you see on TV, those aren’t free looks. You have to pay to get those looks. When you’re in the game you see that though.” (Hip Hop Game)
The Diplomats are reportedly set to secure an album deal with Interscope Records.
After an interview at The Source Magazine headquarters where Freekey Zekey insinuated that a Dipset deal with Interscope Records was possible by pointing to a magazine cover with Dr. Dre‘s picture (in addition to the revelation that the group has actually recorded with Dre), Freekey has confirmed that the group will be signing a deal with the label. “The papers are not actually signed right now [sic] but you could basically say it’s going down,” said Freekey in an interview with QTheQuestion.com, when prompted about the possibility of a deal with Interscope. (Hip Hop DX)
Last month, Jim Jones said there were still plans to drop a Dipset reunion album in the near future.
“It’s going down, believe that,” Jones said about the LP. “We’re still recording songs but you don’t have to worry, the Dipset album is happening big time. You can bet your last dollar. I wouldn’t say officially [we’re on Interscope], officially is a big word–shouts to Interscope, Jimmy Iovine, Dr. Dre and everybody on that side. Just sit tight. We got a joint called ‘Anticipation’ that y’all should love. The vibe is good just being back with my band of brothers.” (VIBE)
Check out some recent Dipset footage below:
