Critical
Praise for Diamond District:
"If Diamond District is any indication, DMV really does have what Oddisee refers to as 'the hottest edition of what you’ve been missing.'" - HipHopDX.com
"On 'Back To Basics,' the MCs liken themselves to the '93 version of De La Soul. While it's a bit too early to go that far, Diamond District comes close." - PrefixMag.com
"In the Ruff (Mello Music Group) recalls hip-hop from yesteryear (and sometimes Slum Village at their best), but remains quite forward thinking nonetheless... Simultaneously thoughtful and rugged, intelligent and funky, Diamond District have created an excellent album that will hopefully fly way above the radar as 2010 approaches." - LostAtSea.net
The Songs:
DMV trio Diamond District are proud to announce the release of a trifecta of beats from their celebrated album In The Ruff. The instrumental triple threat includes tracks "Streets Won’t let Me Chill," "In the Ruff," and "Off the Late Night"
Released at the end of 2009 through Mello Music Group, In the Ruff garnered much praise and acclaim from the hip-hop community, making countless year-end lists including hip-hop heavyweight websites KevinNottingham.com, PopMatters.com, and DJ Premier's blog, to name a few. The album also brought an avalanche of well-deserved attention to the until-now underrated DMV hip-hop scene. The past meets the future on In The Ruff, where beats steeped in the boom-bap of yesteryear collide with dynamic verses from the DMV crew, giving fans the world over a taste of the D.C. flavor to savor.
To celebrate the triumph of In the Ruff, Diamond District are now dropping a special triple pack of instrumental beats featuring the tracks "Streets Won’t let Me Chill," "In The Ruff" and "Off the Late Night." Combining an infectious drum pattern, a simple chord progression and an addictive hook, "The Streets Won’t let Me Chill" instrumental lays the foundation for a backbeat driven street anthem. Stripped down to its instrumental form, "In the Ruff" reveals an essence of rawness that the DMV hip-hop scene is renown for, while the "Off The Late Night" instrumental gives beat junkies a generous fix of Diamond District's soul-infused sounds.
This special release of In the Ruff instrumental tracks is available now through Mello Music Group.
"Streets Won't Let Me Chill" (Instrumental): http://media.audibletreats.com/Diamond_District-Streets_Wont_Let_Me_Chill-Inst.mp3
"In The Ruff" (Instrumental):http://media.audibletreats.com/Diamond_District-In_The_Ruff-Inst.mp3
"Off The Late Night" (Instrumental):http://media.audibletreats.com/Diamond_District-Off_The_Late_Night-Inst.mp3
Please contact Michelle or Dan if interested in talking with Diamond District.
Please post buy links:
In The Ruff:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=333950536&s=143441
"Who I Be" single:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=327515629&s=143441
"I Mean Business" single:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=327517072&s=143441
Please contact Michelle or Dan if interested in talking with Diamond District
The Background:
The group Diamond District is comprised of emcee/producer Oddisee, and emcees X.O. and YU. Greatly influenced by their surroundings and love for 90's east coast hip-hop, Diamond District is on a mission to bring back the sounds of old with a new twist and represent for the DMV. X.O. who was born & raised in the North West quarter of D.C. defines what it is to be a black male raised in the district. With lyrics that depict street life and harsh surroundings, X.O. has a way of philosophizing that raw, gutter reality of DC life that is rarely looked at or spoken about when we discuss our nation's capitol. Oddisee defines the experience of growing up in black middle class Maryland. Bordering the poverty that his and many other families fled to escape, they found out over time that the troubles of the inner city came along with them. Oddisee’s soulful, haunting samples over bass-heavy beat breaks create the perfect instrumentals for Diamond District to match the street savvy, politically conscious lyrics that capture the dynamic of being from the DMV. Y.U., having been raised in the district, Maryland & Virginia, brings that extra variety to the group and shows that D.C. culture has a huge influence beyond its 10 mile radius. Being that YU has lived in all areas of the DMV, his lyrics and stories compliment the rest of the group and define what it means to be from the DMV. In The Ruff, is available now via Mello Music Group.
About
Mello Music Group:
Like Lao Tzu in hip-hop, Mello Music Group provides music for the soul, from the heart of American culture, opening the realm of the intelligent hip-hop experience through melodic evocations, beats that corroborate the truth, and voices that roar above the rising void and impose order on the terrible & triumphant moments of everyday life. This is the compelling sound of Mello Music Group. Industry newcomer Michael Tolle founded MMG in 2007 and is acting Director of Operations. MMG will be releasing projects from Oddisee, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Kenn Starr, Finale, Trek Life, Dudley Perkins, Sareem Poems, and YU in 2010. http://www.myspace.com/mellomusicgroup
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