Next Up, The DJ Turned Beat King, Diamond D

HANG THE DJ Interview #33

One of my favorite hip hop albums of all time is Diamond D’s “Stunts, Blunts, & Hip Hop”.   The Source Magazine named it one of the best Hip Hop albums of all time in 1998 and rightfully so.  I have so many favorites off this album.  During this time I rolled pretty tough with a dear friend of mine still to this day, the impeccably talented photographer; Brian Cross (a.k.a. B+ of Mochilla fame).  This album was our SH*T!.  I can’t imagine how many times we must’ve listened to it in his apartment off Normandie.  So many memories.
Diamond D started out as a DJ for Jazzy Jay back in the late 1980s and together with rhyme partner Master Rob, he was one half of the group Ultimate Force. The group signed with Jazzy Jay’s Strong City Records, and Diamond and Rob started recording their debut album, I’m Not Playin’, in 1988 and released the 12-inch single with the same title, which spawned a buzz in the underground. The album was completed in 1990, but it got caught up in label politics, such as the shutdown of Strong City distributor Uni Records, and was shelved until 2007 when it was released through Traffic Entertainment. One of the last songs recorded for the album was a Diamond D solo song in which he actually picked up the mike for the first time. The song was called “The Best-Kept Secret.” 
Whenever I play “Best Kept Secret” you can’t help but shout out random lines and ad-libs like “Diamond D got props like a cop”….and whoever the homegirl is that yells “YO CHILL!”.  If you don’t remember the classic singles and b-sides off this album here’s a little stroll down memory lane…

“Best-Kept Secret”
  • Released: 1992
  • B-side: “A View From the Underground”, “Freestyle (Yo, That’s That Shit)”
“Sally Got a One-Track Mind”
  • Released: 1992
  • B-side: “Check One, Two”
“What U Heard”
  • Released: 1993
  • B-side: “I’m Outta Here”
The times I spent listening and dancing to this record is one of my fondest memories in the transitional stage of hip hop in the early 90’s.  Even though I was born and raised in L.A. I always had a stronger connection to N.Y. hip hop.  It started with Eric B. & Rakim, BDP, Kane, etc. but when the shift starting happening and so many incredible production driven records were dropping around came 1992 and I was introduced to Diamond D.  
Although I LOVED Diamond’s style as an MC his production was really what made me a die hard fan.  His sound is so classic, it really is a perfectly produced record for that time.  The lack of sampling restrictions at the time was such an added bonus on this record.  Everyone from Jeff Beck to Booker T & The M.G.s to to Tower of Power to Kleer to James Taylor to SchoolHouse Rock were sampled and additional production magic was provided by Large Professor, 45 King, Q-Tip, & Showbiz to name a few.  The album was 23 songs strong give or take a few skits/intros, I miss this time in hip hop mainly because whatever your taste or preference you were guaranteed to love at least 80% of the songs on the album.  As I’m writing this “Don’t Let it Go To Your Head” by Jean Carne is playing in the background in my living room, which was sampled for and is the title of  one of my later favorite Brand Nubian songs.  That is actually how I met Diamond for the first time.  Sadat X and I have been friends for around 15 years and back in the day he took me to Diamond’s Studio while I was on one of my many N.Y. trips.  I remember being in his basement in awe of the magic that surrounded me.  A sea of records filled the space, MPC’s, boards, etc. I was in heaven.  I can be known to be more a fan of producers than MC’s and Diamond is one of them for sure.  That being said he has produced some of my favorite hip hop songs for other artists including; “Soul Clap” - Showbiz & A.G., “The Next Level” - The Liks, & “Punks Jump Up” - Brand Nubian.
Here is the LAUNDRY LIST of songs he’s produced in his career according to Wikipedia hopefully its accurate…

Production

  • 1989: Raheem - “I’m The King”
  • 1990: Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth - Funky Technician (LP):
    “Funky Technician”, “Here I Come”, “Bad Mutha”, “I Keep The Crowd Listening”
  • 1990: Ultimate Force - “I’m Not Playing” (LP)
  • 1999: Showbiz & AG - “I’m Convinced”, previously unreleased
  • 1991: Lord Finesse - Return of the Funky Man (LP):
    “Fuck ’Em”, “Isn’t He Something”, “Praise The Lord”, “That’s How Smooth I Am”, “Praise The Lord (Remix)”
  • 1992: Showbiz and A.G. ”Hard to Kill”, “Soul Clap,” from Runaway Slave
  • 1992: The Ghetto Girlz - Ain’t Takin’ No Shit (LP):
    “Alphabetical Order”, “Bitch Ass Nigger”, “Marked For Death”, “That’s All She Wrote”
  • 1992: Diamond D And The Psychotic Neurotics - “Best Kept Secret (Remix by 45 King & Diamond)”
  • 1992: Brand Nubian - “Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down”, “Punks Jump Up… (Remix)
  • 1992: Busy Bee - Thank God For Busy Bee (LP):
    “Get With Me”, “Home Boyz”, “I Got Thingz Sewed”, “My Personality”
  • 1992: The A.T.E.E.M. - Yeah (Diamond Mix)
  • 1992: R.O.C. - Dedicated to My Girl (Diamond Mix)
  • 1993: Illegal - “CrumbSnatcher” and “Illegal Will Roc” from The Untold Truth
  • 1993: Red Hot Lover Tone - Give It Up (Remix)
  • 1993: Cypress Hill - When The Ship Goes Down (Diamond Mix)<—Unreleased & Revamped says year 1996, not 93(?) (The single was released 1993, the album was compiled in 1996)
  • 1993: Yaggfu Front & Diamond D - Slappin’ Suckas Silly (Remix)
  • 1993: Apache - “Who Freaked Who” and “Get Ya Weight Up” from Apache Ain’t Shit
  • 1993: Fat Joe - Represent (LP):
    “Bad Man”, “Watch The Sound”, “Flow Joe”, “Da Fat Gangsta”, “Shorty Gotta Fat Ass”, “You Must Be Out of Your Mind”and “Get On Up”
  • 1993: Diamond D - “I’m Outta Here (Remix)”
  • 1993: Illegal - “We Getz Buzy (Remix)”
  • 1993: Raazda Rukkuz - “Da Chronic Asthmatics” and “Loco Impact”, 12” Single
  • 1993: Leaders of the New School - “Classic Material (Remix)”
  • 1993: Diamond D ft. Lord Finesse & Sadat X - “You Can’t Front”
  • 1993: Private Investigators - “Who Am I? (God) [Remix]”
  • 1993: Ed O.G. & Da Bulldogs - Roxbury 02119 (LP):
    “Streets of the Ghetto”, “Busted”, “Love Comes & Goes”, “I Thought Ya Knew”, “Dat Ain’t Right”
  • 1994: Fu-Schnickens - “”Sneakin’ Up On Ya”, “”Aaahh Ooohhh!” from Nervous Breakdon
  • 1994: A.D.O.R. - The Concrete (LP):
    “Day 2 Day”, “Heart & Soul”, “Keep it Real”, “The Kid is Crazy”, “Day 2 Day (Mecca Mix)”
  • 1994: Shadz of Lingo - A View to a Kill (LP):
    “Different Stylez”, “Don’t Test Da Skills”, “Ill And Get Clowned”, “Think I Give A Fuck”
  • 1994: Red Hot Lover Tone - “#1 Player” and “Bust The Manueva”, from #1 Player
  • 1994: Nefertiti - “Come Down Baby” and “Family Tree” from L.I.F.E.
  • 1994: House of Pain ”Word is Bond”, “Word is Bond (Remix)” from Same As It Ever Was
  • 1994: Justice System - “Dedication to Bambaata (Remix)”
  • 1994: Dana Barros & Cedric Ceballos, ft. A.G. & Brand Nubian - “Ya Don’t Stop”
  • 1994: Outkast - “SouthernPlayalistiCadillacMuzik (Remix)”
  • 1994: Scientifik - “I Got Planz” and “Yeah Daddy”, from Criminal
  • 1994: The Veldt - “Soul in a Jar (Guitar Mix)”
  • 1994: Joi ft. Shadz of Lingo - “Freedom”
  • 1994: Total Devastation - “Wonderful World of Skins (Remix)”
  • 1994: Lucas - “Cityzen (Diamond D Remix)”
  • 1995: The Pharcyde ”Groupie Therapy,” from Labcabincalifornia
  • 1995: KRS-One - “Build Ya Skillz,” “Squash All Beef,” from KRS-One
  • 1995: KRS-One - “Ah Yeah (Diamond Flava)” and “Ah Yeah (Diamond Rhode Mix)”, 12” Single
  • 1995: KRS-One - “What I Know”, unreleased outtake from KRS-One
  • 1995: Big C - “Look Alive”, from D&D Project
  • 1995: Big Red - “Created A Monster” and “How They Want It”, 12” Single
  • 1995: Various Artists - “Freedom (Theme From Panther)”
  • 1995: Tha Alkaholiks ”Let it Out,” “Next Level,” from Coast II Coast
  • 1995: Fat Joe - “Bronx Tales” and “Watch Out”, from Jealous One’s Envy
  • 1995: Urban Thermo Dynamics - “Manifest Destiny”
  • 1996: Fugees ”The Score,” from The Score
  • 1996: Xzibit ”Bird’s Eye View,” from At the Speed of Life
  • 1996: Mondo Grosso - Do You See What I See (Remix)
  • 1996: Ronnie Foster - “Summer Song (Diamond D Mix)”
  • 1996: Sadat X ft. Fat Joe - “Nasty Hoes”, from America is Dying Slowly
  • 1996: Raekwon ft. Ghostface Killah& Jodeci - “Rainy Dayz (Mr. Dalvin Remix)”; co-production, programming & mixing
  • 1996: Ras Kass ”Soul on Ice (Remix)”, from Soul on Ice (12” single)
  • 1996: Broadway A.K.A. Party Arty - “Enjoy Yourself”
  • 1996: Sadat X - “Wild Cowboys”, “Petty People” and “Move On” from Wild Cowboys
  • 1997: Afro Jazz - “Paria v/s Estat”
  • 1997: Organized Konfusion ”Questions,” from The Equinox
  • 1997: Diamond D - “Hiatus (Remix)”, “MC2”, from The Hiatus 12”
  • 1997: D.I.T.C. - “Day One”, 12” Single
  • 1998: A.D.O.R. - “The Rush”, from Shoq Frequency
  • 1998: Busta Rhymes ”What the Fuck You Want!!” from Extinction Level Event (Final World Front)
  • 1998: Brand Nubian - “Foundation”, from Foundaction
  • 1998: D.I.T.C. ft. Brand Nubian - “I Flip Styles”
  • 1998: Queen Latifah - “I Don’t Know”, from Order in the Court
  • 1999: A.G. - “Nowhere to Go”, from The Dirty Version
  • 1999: Busta Rhymes - “The Bus-a-Bus (Remix)”
  • 1999: Diamond D - “When it Pours it Rains”, from Soundbombing 2
  • 1999: Diamond D & Sadat X - “Feel It”, 12” Single
  • 1999: Mos Def ”Hip-Hop,” from Black on Both Sides
  • 1999: Pharoahe Monch ”The Light,” “The Truth,” “The Ass,” from Internal Affairs
  • 1999: Scaramanga - “S.I.R.”, from 7 Eyes, 7 Horns
  • 1999: Too Short ft. Jay-Z - “Here We Go”, from Can’t Stay Away
  • 2000: A.D.O.R. - “Cock’d Back”, from Animal 2000
  • 2000: Freddie Foxxx ”Bumpy, Bring it Home,” from Industry Shakedown
  • 2000: D.I.T.C. ”Day One,” “Foundation,” from D.I.T.C.
  • 2000: Sadat X - “X-Man”, “You Can’t Deny” from State of NY vs. Derek Murphy EP
  • 2000: Unbound Allstars - “Mumia 911”
  • 2001: Busta Rhymes - “Wife in Law” featuring Jaheim
  • 2001: Muro ft. O.C. - “Lyrical Tyrants (Diamond Mix)”
  • 2002: The 45 King - “Double Dare”
  • 2003: Akrobatik- “Feedback,” from Balance
  • 2003: ASD - “Sag Mir Wo Die Party Ist”
  • 2004: Earatik Statik ft. Pacewon - “People Like Us”, from Feelin Earatik
  • 2004: Edo G featuring Pete Rock - “Streets is Callin”, from My Own Worst Enemy
  • 2004: The Omen - “It’s Our World”, from DJ Rhetmatic Mixtape
  • 2005: A.D.O.R. - “The Realness”, from Signature of Ill
  • 2005: Sadat X - “The Great Diamond D”, from Experience & Education
  • 2005: Medina Green - “Green Boogie”, from Mixtape
  • 2006: Cannonball Adderley – “Bohemia in the Dark (Remix)”
  • 2006: Sadat X - “The Post”, from Black October
  • 2007: Sean Price - “Get it Together”, from Master P
  • 2007: Natalie Cole - “Day Dreaming”, from Leaving
  • 2008: Terror Tongue - “Lyrical Threat”, from Unreleased Production 1994
  • 2009: Collective Efforts - “I Get Down”
  • 2009: Freestyle Professors - “Think About It”, from Gryme Tyme
  • 2011: Pharoahe Monch - “Shine”, from “W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)
At the time “Stunts” came out I never imaged I would end up being a DJ professionally.  So the thought of being able to rock with one of my favorite producers on my own night 19 years after “Stunts…” dropped is a dream come true for me career wise.  THIS artwork makes me smile foolishly!…
I have heard of his infamous 45 sets as of late…
and after speaking to him recently on the phone a few times I am anticipating his D.I.T.C. tribute set on June 13th for VERSUS at Insert Coin(s).
Boys & Girls it is my pleasure to introduce you to illustrious DJ turned Beat King, Diamond D.

Where are you from?
THE BRONX, NEW YORK CITY

Where did your name come from?
FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD MC, NAMED DIAMOND D.

How did your record collection start?
AT 10 YEARS OLD, THE FIRST BREAKBEAT I PURCHASED WAS A 12 INCH CALLED SHANGRI-LA ON CRENSHENDO RECORDS



What was your first DJ gig and when?
AT NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTIES

How long have you been djing?
25 YEARS

What would you love to play that you’re not known for?
ELECTRONIC OR DISCO MUSIC

When did you start producing?
1989

What was your first project?
THE ULTIMATE FORCE


What was your first produced song released?
LORD FINESSE LP “THE FUNKY TECHNICIAN”


What is your favorite track you’ve done?
BUSTA RYHMES “DO THE BUS A BUS” REMIX


Who would you like to produce/work with that you haven’t already?
RAKIM AND DR. DRE

What was one of your favorite moments surrounding “Stunts, Blunts, & Hip Hop”?
THE RECORDING OF IT AT JAZZY JAY’S STUDIO. EACH SESSION WAS LIKE A PARTY.


Do you like performing live?
YES

Have you always been actively DJing throughout your career or did you take a hiatus and if so why?
NO, I TOOK A HIATUS AND LEARNED THE ART OF PRODUCTION AND EVENTUALLY BECAME AN MC.

Who are some of your favorite DJs?
FLASH, CASH MONEY, JAZZY JEFF, KID CAPRI, GRAND WIZARD THEODORE, QBERT, AFRIKA ISLAM

What would you say DJs now lack?
THE BALLS TO BREAK NEW RECORDS

What do you like about current technology as a DJ and as a producer?
THE CONVENIENCE OF IT, I CAME FROM THE CASSETTE AND REEL TO REEL ERA.

What do you dislike?
SOMETIMES TECHNOLOGY CAN HINDER THE LEARNING AND RESPECT FOR THE RUDIMENTS OF PRODUCTION AND DJING

If you weren’t producing/DJing what would you be doing?  
OWNING AND OPERATING A RESTAURANT IN VEGAS

What is your hobby or interest when you’re not producing/DJing that people don’t know about?  
TRAVELING AND RACING SETS

How do you deal with requests?  
ONE AT TIME

How do you feel about the current EDM (Electronic Dance Music) takeover in nightlife?  
DISCO IS BACK … LOVE OR LEAVE IT

Do you have any desire to be a big room DJ?  Why or Why not?
YES, THERE IS NOTHING LIKE ROCKING A PARTY FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE

Weirdest moment djing?
DRUNKEN REQUEST  

Best moment djing?
WHEN IT POPS OFF IN THE BOOTH

Worst moment djing?
NONE

What are you most proud of in your career thus far?
MY GRAMMY AWARD I WON IN 1996 FOR THE FUGEES LP “THE SCORE”.


Whats your favorite city/cities to play in?
NYC/LA AND LONDON

What would people be surprised to know about you?
I AM INTO POLITICAL SCIENCE
 
Whats your poison? (drink of choice in the booth)  
WATER

What will you be/or want to be doing 5 years from now?
RUNNING MY RECORD LABEL AND PUTTING OUT NEW ARTISTS



FOLLOW Diamond D on Twitter:
@diamondditc