Diamond D is a legend as a producer, and a veteran emcee. Diamond hails from New York’s D.I.T.C. crew, a formidable unit of NY’s finest formed around 1991 that includes Showbiz, AG, Lord Finesse, Buckwild, Fat Joe and the late Big L. D.I.T.C. means Diggin’ in the Crates, and these brothers’ vinyl weighs a ton.
Diamond D holds his own in the circle of great “golden era” rap producers. Someday this dude right here will have a marble bust on a tagged-up roman-column pedestal, right next to his like-minded contemporaries DJ Premier and Pete Rock. Move over Beethoven.
Diamond D got his start as half of the group Ultimate Force (not to be confused with The Ultimate Force, a different 1980’s hip-hop group). Like many groups of the era, Diamond played DJ/producer to partner and MC Jazzy Jay. They released one 12″ in 1989 that’s cert. classic titled, ‘I’m Not Playing”. Unfortunately, that was the lifespan of Ultimate Force, they had a complete album but it didn’t see the light of day, that is, until this year when it was finally released. Want the the only brand-new hip hop record that really has that raw old-school sound: check it and it won’t disappoint.
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MP3: Ultimate Force – I’m Not Playing (1989) [recommended]
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MP3: Ultimate Force – Oh Shit (feat. Fat Joe) (2007/1989)
That’s featuring Fat Joe when he was less “lean back”, and more hype on the mic (from possibly dipping into his crack supply. I dunno, you didn’t hear it from me).
Ultimate Force was a shelved project but Diamond D went on to bigger and better things as a solo artist. Diamond D jumped in the emcee game on his first solo track ‘Best Kept Secret’ which dropped on his debut solo album ‘Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop’ along with his most popular track, ‘Sally Got a One Track Mind’. It’s been like 2 decades now, I really hope “Sally” got her shit together by now:
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MP3: Diamond and The Psychotic Neurotics – Sally Got a One Track Mind (1993) [recommended]
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MP3: Diamond and The Psychotic Neurotics – Best Kept Secret (1993)
Diamond went on to record more solo albums but that’s beyond the scope here and real heads ought to check wikipedia or use their street smarts to Google that m’rfucker.
What about the crew? The Toof’s favorite D.I.T.C. track is a Diamond D production. R.I.P. Big L!
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MP3: D.I.T.C. – Day One (1997)
Diamond D is a producer for hire as well. Some projects have created amazing things. Interestingly, Diamond D got a “Best Rap Album” Grammy in 1997 for his contribution to the The Fugees hit-record ‘The Score’. Diamond produced and mixed the title-track, ‘The Score’. But The Fugees connection became a little sore, ’cause Wyclef Jean gave D a bit of the shaft on the money-making paperwork (a little bit on that at SpliffHuxtable blog).
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MP3: The Fugees – The Score (1996)
Diamond D has produced a bunch of other “classics” for artists like Lord Finesse, Showbiz & A.G., Brand Nubian, Ras Kass, and Mos Def. …just to name a few.
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MP3: Lord Finesse and DJ Mike Smooth – Funky Technician (1990)
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MP3: Showbiz and A.G. – Soul Clap (Short Version) (1992)
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MP3: Brand Nubian – Punks Jump Up to Get the Beat Down (1993)
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MP3: Ras Kass – Soul on Ice (Remix, Clean) (1996)
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MP3: Mos Def – Hip Hop (1999)
That’s a primer on Diamond D. Old heads let me know if I forgot anything vital.
You can find Diamond D wax on eBay and CDs on Amazon. They even have ‘Stunts, Blunts, and Hip Hop’ in regular stock. Get at it while it’s good for getting.
