XXL just published a lengthy interview with Dipset Capo Jim Jones, and in it, he gives his strong opinions on a number of issues. Most notably, Jones addresses his crew's former beef with G-Unit, the Dipset comparisons A$AP Mob frequently gets, and The Diplomats' ongoing legacy. Check out the full thing here, and read excerpts below.
When asked if there's any "tension" following G-Unit's comeback, Jones said, "Ain’t no tensions. Nah, it’s a good time to jump back in the game. They got a lot of momentum. There are a lot of things that occurred in these past few weeks that kinda gave them a comeback. Shout out to the G-Unit."
Interviewer Cristopher Harris later says that A$AP Mob remind him of Dipset, but Jones respectfully disagrees.
"They weren’t from the street," he said. "They’re a good group of kids and they’re artistic, but they’re not from the street and their style is way different than what we do. It’s a little bit far out there for me. We got bonafide swag and the definition of get fly, ya dig? I’m not trying to disrespect them—A$AP Mob is doing it, they got their numbers and they’re doing what they like to do—but they’re nothing like the Diplomats. They didn’t come up hanging and banging and hustling and really touching the pavement, ya dig? It’s a big difference. We don’t wear kilts and we don’t wear tight sweatpants and funny sneakers. That’s not our style. Price point and high fashion don’t really make it cool. I’ll still go in Wal-Mart and come out and niggas will still think it’s Versace."
Talk then moved to his relationship with Cam'ron, Juelz Santana and Freekey Zekey, who together formed The Diplomats. Jones was quick to call his group the "most influential" in the hip-hop style world.
"Maybe the most influential—besides N.W.A—when it comes to everything," he said. "When it comes to style, we’re probably the most influential. I don’t recall no other group giving it to the world the way we was giving it to them. If you can recall or if you know some people, let me know. It’s good. I take it as a compliment. A lot of people was watching."
He added, "We pretty much been blessed with being trendsetters and people that stand out amongst the rest. We’ve coined a lot of phrases in this game, we’ve started a lot of trends. We changed the face of fashion in so many ways. I don’t think we’re trying to create anything or make anything, we’re just trying to do us."
Jones also revealed that his July 29th EP Vampire Life Pt.2: Memoirs Of A Hustler features K Camp, Yo Gotti, Cam'ron and Jadakiss.