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Laron Louis James (born February 18, 1983), better known by his stage name Juelz Santana, is an American rapper, producer and occasional 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 (The Whistle Song)". Santana also recorded a collaboration album with Lil Wayne titled My Face Can't Be Felt from 2008 to 2009, and in 2008 he appeared on Ron Browz's chart-topping single "Pop Champagne" together with Rapper Jim Jones.

Biography

Santana was born LaRon Louis James in Harlem, New York to a Dominican father and African American mother.¹ He began rapping at the age of twelve and at age fifteen started duo Draft Pick, which was signed to Priority Records.² In 2000, Santana made a guest performance on a track on Cam'ron's album S.D.E. and eventually joined The Diplomats.³

In 2003, Santana released an album, From Me to U under Def Jam; its single "Dipset (Santana's Town)" 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 (The Whistle Song)", "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.⁴ Both this album and single "There It Go" were certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.⁵

Santana began working with Lil Wayne on a collaboration album I Can't Feel My Face in 2006.⁶⁷⁸⁹ 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.¹⁰ Recording and production reportedly concluded by summer 2007.¹¹ 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.¹² 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".¹³ Santana claimed that Cam'ron blocked collaborations by other artists.¹⁴ 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.¹⁵ In Wayne's album Tha Carter III, Santana appeared on the fifteenth track.

In August 2008, Dipset founder Cam'ron revealed that he had sold Santana's contract to Def Jam Records for $2 million.¹⁶ Despite selling him to the Def Jam label, Juelz says he is not mad at Cam. He revealed that he had inked a joint 50/50 joint venture with Def Jam, where he will release his next album, Born to Lose, Built to Win.¹⁷ Santana performed on Jim Jones's single "Pop Champagne", which was produced by Ron Browz. "Pop Champagne" peaked at #22 on the Hot 100 and #3 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart; it was also certified Gold by RIAA on February 26, 2009.¹⁸

Personal life

Santana was arrested outside of his Teaneck, New Jersey home in March 2008. After being pulled over for driving with a suspended license, a search by police of Santana's Bentley found a bag of marijuana, 29 bullets and $20,500 in cash inside a plastic bag filled with Jolly Rancher candies.¹⁹

Discography

Studio albums

• From Me to U (2003)
• What the Game's Been Missing! (2005)
• Born to Lose, Built to Win (2009)^{20 21}

Collaborations

• Skull Gang (with Skull Gang) (May 5, 2009)
• I Can't Feel My Face (with Lil Wayne (TBA)

Filmography

• State Property 2 (2005)
• Killa Season (2006)

References

External links

• Official website
• SantanasTown.com