By Far the Best Producer on the Mic.
» Published by Ace Six
Photo Credit-my man Phil at Dope-A-Lot aka the go-to guy from now on. Taken last night at the NY Giants Dj Series.
So being that I like to nerd out and really really get my point across, I’ve prepared a list of my favourite Diamond D(fuck the herb who trademarked the name and made D legally change his performing name to just Diamond, it’s Diamond D for life) tracks that I hope will get some run tonight and some that he played in his DJ set last night that I definitely consider his best work.
1. Freestyle (Yo That’s That Shit) from the Stunts, Blunts, and Hip-Hop LP
i’m just an ordinary/brother who is very/dedicated to real rap so don’t compare me/to another brother
First Diamond D joint I ever heard. As Funkmaster Flex said on his now-famous July 4th weekend mix, “this record created the word bop!” and nothing could be more true. I dare you motherfuckers to listen to this and not bop your head. The shit is contagious, from A-yo wait a minute this track just makes me get live and Diamond sets the bar for producers rocking on the mic. I had to actually turn the track off while writing this because I was practically writing the verse down.
2. Feel The Vibe from the Stunts, Blunts, and Hip Hop LP
you gotta get your fingers dusty/and keep your ear to the street so you won’t get rusty
All kiddies, take note. Learn your roots and put on your Timberland Boots. Diamond and Showbiz lace these chunky drums and the ill repeating horn sample with a fresh hook and a couple solid verses. Diamond is already lamenting the passing of realness in music and tells a very timeless hip-hop story in his last verse. Not to mention how they throw in that vocal sample from “Fanatic of the B-Word” as a sort of outro. That was my shit from De La Soul is Dead. Word up.
3. A Day In The Life from the Stunts, Blunts, and Hip-Hop LP
hit the stereo in an instant/then I twist up a bud/light an incense
I’ve definitely started plenty of days like that, and thanks to Madlib, I was able to pick my quote from this song immediately. Lord Jamar and Derek(ahem, oh I forgot, I meant Sadat) X from Brand Nubian join Diamond D on this absolutely classic joint. The only guest appearance on this album that wasn’t immediate crew, and could this song be any easier to listen to? I swear by the time Sadat’s verse is on, I’m already wanting to run it back. The ill minor flange on the adlibs at the end of both Lord J and Sadat’s verses is one of those things I just picked up listening to this joint 5 times in a row.
4. I Went For Mine from the Stunts, Blunts and Hip-Hop LP
the object of a song is to keep your head movin’
This album was so stacked. 17-18 tracks deep, a couple ill interludes and like 3 singles before the actual album(tape) ended up in my hands. Instantly, my favourite joint on the album was clear to me. This shit was just so smooth. I remember getting shivers when the flute first comes in. This is one of those breaks that I can listen to the whole song and enjoy almost as much as the track that sampled it too. Just pure magic. I wasn’t that stoked when Dj Scratch flipped this again for Busta, but I guess the heads will always know that it’s the Diamond joint first and I never mind hearing both of them followed by the break in a dj set.
5. You Can’t Front (B-Side) from the Fuck What You Heard 12′
n*&%@s was sleepin’/but now have awakened/ask the boriquas/ask the jamaicans
B-Side, B-Side, B-Side. Those were the words you wanted to hear when a new 12′ came out. Having a dope new track with Finesse and Sadat X on it was definitely a huge deal when this shit dropped. The first time I heard this it was on +4 at least so I def had to speed it up when I finally got my copy, but still this track is pure fire. I can’t pick a best verse, but I’m leaning towards Finesse. “I write rhymes more than bitches get they hair done”?? Come on! Ill shit. The beat is crazy too, such heavy drums.
6. Slappin’ Suckas Silly Remix(Yaggfu Front) from the Busted Loop 12′
I got the stamina of a Vietnam Vet..
Not sure why Diamond kicks a sex rhyme for the ladies on this joint, but regardless this was an ill remix. A couple chopped up drum loops and chunky bass. Sound familiar? The classic DITC formula and Diamond wrote the book. Where the fuck are Yaggfu Front? Like for real, these kids were ill.
7. Welcome To The Next Level(Tha Alkaholiks) from the Coast II Coast LP
so recognize when you feel it/DITC-you can’t steal it.
Besides coining one my favourite phrases in life ever, the safest way to have sex is right between the titties, this joint was probably my shit from this album. Diamond brings the ill repeating horns in the chorus and the soft echo-y snare to lace up Cali’s finest and they don’t disappoint with the rhymes. My favourite shit about Diamond D at this point was that he dropped a verse on everybody’s tracks that he produced to further his point that he was the best producer on the mic.
8. No Wonduh (The Projects) from the Hatred,Passions and Infidelity LP
Dice games and robberies/til I hit the lottery
The intro of this song is tight! From the opening speaker and the intense sirens, it totally sets the scene for a descriptive track where Diamond opens his project windows to us. I love how the siren sneaks back in to the track here and there and then gets hectic in the chorus all over again. Not to mention, he samples Posdonus’s classic line. This track is such a well-executed concept. Kudos, Diamond D.
9. Flowin’ from the Hatred, Passions and Infidelity LP
Yours truly, don’t forget my name
Who’s John Dough? Just saying the guy who tears a ton of tracks on this album along with K-Terribull won’t cut it? These 2 cats came out of nowhere and have sick cadence and tight rhymes, Diamond def made a powermove putting them on. Did I mention that I like feelgood album cuts yet? This is another perfect example, and it even fits in the short song category clocking in under 3 minutes long. I love short songs, and I’m not even sure why. The shouts in the hooks are fresh, too. Sometimes dudes gotta get shouted out and why not throw them on the hook?
10. Never from the Hatred, Passions and Infidelity LP
When cats was anti-drugs/there was weed seeds in my rugs
Hey gang, I’ve got some grass! I have been a huge weedsmoker at many times in my life and this was one of my anthems for real. What is it about Diamond and Sadat that automatically makes any track they’re on together fire? He takes the song in my opinion..definitely tells a totally true story and manages to slip in some humour too. The mini-skit scenes in the choruses are some dope shit too. I can relate to both. This is another Diamond break that I appreciate as much as the track too. Jerry Butler, what? Oh, so now I can’t smoke on a blunt, right? Ha.
11. This One from the Hatred,Passions and Infidelity LP
even had a brother on a pair of ice skates/turned me on to snacking on rice cakes.
A love song done proper for real. Diamond shows his sensitive side, but still over some heavy drums and a vibey loop. Throw Busta on the chorus complete with a little profanity, and it just ends up being an anthem for any of the thugs with a thoro wifey out there.
12. Double Dare (produced by Mark the 45 King) from the Drop Da Bomb 12′
lay in the cut/see the game about to change
I don’t know much about this track except that it bumps like craig mack’s grill and both Diamond and K-Terribull rip it up. A banger I recently discovered that sounds retarded on a big system.
13. You’re In The Wrong Place (B-Side) from the With The Dope Sound 12′
It ain’t a game duke/you can’t call mine!
A release on Diamond’s indie imprint, Dusty Fingers that came out shortly after Hatred, Passions and Infidelity. It features Jon Dough, K-Terribull, some other guy, and none other than Ras Kass. I can just see all the NY dudes trying to write something that would outshine Ras who absolutely shits on this track coming in the last spot. He ever airs out Ray Benzino. Reality Bites like bad blowjobs? Word up..oh and Diamond’s beat is crazy, but he doesn’t even rhyme on it which was a bit of a surprise considering his track record.
Once again, please enjoy this zip file of all the songs listed here. Especially that You’re In The Wrong Place shit, that was a last-minute vinyl rip right before I made this post. On my way to the show, see you T.O. heads there.
August 30th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Diamond, the best producer on the mic?? I would have to disagree (why, there’s another candidate standing right beside him in that flick). Never knew that’s how the name change came about; though ironically there was some fag from the south a few years back who started calling himself Diamond D.
August 31st, 2008 at 6:14 am
Diamond, Larg Pro & Marco Polo were diggin’ at Cosmos for a few hours the other day.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:19 am
not surprised in the slightest
I’ve been thinking about Diamond’s claim to be the best producer on the mic.
What if he means it in this way. By far I’m the BEST PRODUCER on the mic.
Emphasis on how ill he is with the beats, and just happens to rhyme too?
August 31st, 2008 at 11:25 am
^That just lessens his claim more, with that you gotta consider people like RZA, Pete Rock, Erick Sermon, Jay Dee, etc. Diamond is still ill, though.
August 31st, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Diamond can challenge any of their catalogs IMO. Beatnuts would be my own personal pick tho.
September 1st, 2008 at 2:52 pm
damn everyone is on NY’s nuts, just like the song says- Forgot About Dre
September 1st, 2008 at 4:11 pm
maybe if he didn’t have an army of little him’s producing and a bunch of other cats writing his raps, i’d be able to even nominate him, house.
word to hittman.
September 1st, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Ace, its funny how all these guys keep making these statements that they are making all these beats and then they leave dre and you never hear from them again. if they were making all these scary good beats these other producers would still be relevant. word up storchaveli, suck ass…..
September 1st, 2008 at 5:33 pm
nahh but like i actually was 1 degree away from a dude who produced SEVERAL dre classics.
not putting him on blast but trust that he was one of many.
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Might be good he dropped the d from diamond.. the other down south cat you speak of w the same name was on the news for child molestation probally 10 years ago. channel 9 news in nyc had the nerve to mix up the two.
we weren’t trying to hear that..
Stunts blunts and hiphop.. one of my personal top 5’s//
September 5th, 2008 at 10:52 am
dre is one of the best producers on the mic. he earned that title aswell. as far as the ghost production, and ghost writing is concerned, that doesn’t detract from the fact that he did a lot of work to get to the point where he could employ people to do some of the work.
most rappers/producers will still pick up the phone if dre calls. i mean.
its fucking dre.
September 5th, 2008 at 11:04 am
you’re right, he’s dre. but part of that is the tainted legacy of ghost production and lyrics. That’s like nominating lil Kim as a best lyricist when biggie wrote most of her early work.
Diamond is a lyricist, has swagger like a mufucka on stage and is one of the original crate diggers. Dude has sampled shit most rap dudes couldn’t sit and listen through…word to Kaeweezy.
Bottom line, he coined himself the best producer on the mic and by his performance on stage last week, he still feels that way. That in itself is an absolute truth…who’s gonna tell him different? Not me.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
If I were you, Ace, I’d be afraid to tell me different. The argument would never end. lol.
September 6th, 2008 at 6:28 am
Lovely article, I think Freestyle was the first Diamond D single I’d heard. I remember the DJ on the radio going nuts and get bringing the track back to the beginning half way through the first verse - the only other one I’d throw in there would be Tribe’s Showbusiness with Derek X and Lord Jamar.
September 6th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
very refreshing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! b-side!!!!!!!I MISS THEM>
September 7th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Funny how none of y’all mentioned the cat who is the obvious choice of best producer/mc - J-DILLA. Diamond D is dope, has a crazy discography, etc…..but my personal fave will always be Dilla.
Obscure samples? Check. Swagger on the mic? Check. Dope beats? Check.
A lot of cats jumped on his nutsack when he died, but his shit is bananas, point blank. Way iller on the mic than, say, Large Professor.
September 7th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
i was thinking the obvious choice was doom, but thats strictly a personal one..
Dilla’s the man, F da police is amazing,, but i was more a fan of his beats..
March 11th, 2009 at 4:54 am
Respect where due but Dilla was not really as consistent an MC as Diamond, to be honest dankalank I don’t really think he was on a level with Large Pro lyrically. I’d say Dilla’s strength was definitely in his production and he was phonomenal and greoundbreaking. The first two Diamond D LPs both have strong beats, tight lyrics and nice wordplay and the first is an all time hall of famer.. Doom is up there as a contender but whilst unique his beats don’t really have the depth of Diamond imo… nor as many solid guest productions.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
what’s the intro sample on no wonduh (the projects) with the opening monologue?