Diamond D

The Pharcyde – Labcabincalifornia (1995)

August 27, 2010

*Delicious Vinyl, Bootie Brown, Diamond D, Fatlip, Imani, Slimkid3, The Pharcyde, ^J Dilla, ^M-Walk

This album is dope because it really shows the progression of The Pharcyde through time. It’s like Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde is the troublemaker little brother of the more mature Labcabincalifornia. This album is a little slower and smoothed out than their previous work. And I don’t say that to mean that Labcabincalifornia is any better (pshhh Bizarre Ride is a classic) but it is just the next step in their sound. The beats are everything you could ever want in some jazz-hop, soulful goodness and every member of The Pharcyde brings something to the table. I kinda feel like this album takes me outta this world to another dimension that is much more chill than the one I live in on the reg. And I love how no matter how their sound evolves they always retain their sense of humor and their smooth style. One of the best to ever do it if you ask me. PS this album came out when I was 9 yrs old lol, hip hop is getting old!

Production: Bootie Brown, Diamond D, Fatlip, J Dilla, M-Walk, Slimkid3

Label: Delicious Vinyl

Full Preview: Labcabincalifornia

Website: http://www.thepharcyde.com/

The Pharcyde – ‘ Runnin”

Pharoahe Monch – Internal Affairs (1999)

December 8, 2009

*Rawkus Records, Apani, Busta Rhymes, Canibus, Common, Diamond D, Lady Luck, M.O.P., Method Man, Pharoahe Monch, Prince Po, Redman, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Talib Kweli, ^DJ Scratch, ^Lee Stone, ^The Alchemist

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“Simon says get the fuck up!” haha you tell em Monch. He started out as one of two members of Organized Konfusion with Prince Po. They certainly had a good thing goin and usually I hate when people decide to go solo. It seems like putting out dope solo work is the exception not the rule. Lucky for us Pharoahe is the exception. He is such a good example of QUALITY over QUANTITY. It took him eight years after his debut album (Internal Affairs) to put out a second release (Desire) but they are both amazing. You might also recognize him from his more mainstream hit ‘Oh No’ with Mos Def & Nate Dogg. I hate using this saying cause its kinda retarded BUT Pharoahe Monch goes so hard! Yeah I said it. You know when you meet people and their level of creativity is so different that you just think they must be living in a totally different world than the average person? Case in point, Pharoahe. Homeboy is kinda wild and he is not scared to push the envelope. I mean he has one song where he uses rape as a metaphor for what he does to his songs. Yeah its like that. His work oozes with an east-coast vibe and I love this album for maintaining that raw, grimy old-school sound that I know and love so much. But don’t him fool you, he has a softer side too which he shows on tracks like ‘The Light’ and ‘The Truth’ feat. Common. If you aren’t listening to Monch already then you got some splaining to do!

Production: Diamond D, DJ Scratch, Lee Stone, Pharoahe Monch, The Alchemist

Features: Apani B. Fly, Busta Rhymes, Canibus, Common, Lady Luck, M.O.P., Method Man, Prince Po, Redman, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Talib Kweli

Label: Rawkus Records

Full Preview: Internal Affairs

Website: http://www.myspace.com/pharoahemonch

Pharoahe Monch – ‘Simon Says’

Diamond & The Psychotic Neurotics – Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop (1992)

November 29, 2009

*PolyGram Records, Big L, Brand Nubian, Diamond & The Psychotic Neurotics, Diamond D, Fat Joe, Jasmine, Large Professor, Lord Jamar, Maestro, Michelle Sweeting, Mike G.Q., Q-Tip, Sadat X, Whiz One, ^45 King, ^Lakim Shabazz, ^Showbiz

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This is pure, raw, classic hip hop goodness right here that was released during the height of the golden era. Taking it back to the days when east-coast ruled all in the hip hop scene (sorry west-coast but you know its true). Diamond D was one of the greatest producers of this time period lending his skills to albums like ATCQ – ‘The Low End Theory’ & Fugee’s – ‘The Score’. Clearly homeboy has a talent for capturing the essence of that raw, unpolished yet bangin hip hop sound. This album is FULL of dope rhymes and the type of beats that are just complex enough to keep you interested but not overwhelming to the point where you can’t take it all in after one listen. For me this definitely makes the top ten list for best golden-era hip hop albums which is saying a lot seeming that most of the best hip hop albums overall come from this time period. I’m gonna go ahead and say it’s impossible not to like this album so you really can’t go wrong here.

Production: 45 King, Diamond D, Lakim Shabazz, Large Professor, Q-Tip, Showbiz

Features: Big L, Brand Nubian, Fat Joe, Jasmine, Lord Jamar, Maestro, Michelle Sweeting, Mike G.Q., Sadat X, Showbiz, Whiz One

Label: PolyGram Records

Full Preview: Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop

Website: http://www.myspace.com/therealdiamondd

Diamond & The Pyschotic Neurotics – ‘Sally Got a One Track Mind’

Akrobatik – Balance (2003)

November 17, 2009

*Coup D'Etat Entertainment, Akrobatik, Diamond D, ^D-Tension, ^Da Beatminerz, ^DJ Revolution, ^DJ Sense, ^DJ Therapy, ^Edan, ^Fakts One, ^Illmind, ^Slopfunkdust

—Dopehug

dope hip hop underground

Archive

Diamond D

The Pharcyde – Labcabincalifornia (1995)

Pharoahe Monch – Internal Affairs (1999)

Diamond & The Psychotic Neurotics – Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop (1992)

Akrobatik – Balance (2003)

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