» Diamond District

Mello Music Group – Helpless Dreamer

Data One — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:01:16 +0000

Mello Music Group, in my opinion, has built up an impressive catalog of independent Hip-Hop in a relatively short period of time. You may already be familiar with their work with Diamond District (XO, yU, Oddisee), Apollo Brown & Trek Life; in which case, the odds are quite good that you agree with me.

Helpless Dreamer is a compilation album that releases Nov 23rd, and is a preview of their 2011 slate. With contributions from Black Milk, Magestik Legend & Roc Marciano, Helpless Dreamer checks in at a solid 13 tracks – from both the lyrical and sonic perspectives.

Highlights include: Oddisee’s innate sense of space on the soulful Different Now, featuring Toine. The Detroit triumvirate of Finale, Invincible & Black Milk on Don’t Sleep. KC native son Stik Figa‘s collaboration with Oddisee, co-produced by Dunc entitled, From the Top, which is part of Oddisee’s effort to promote regional Hip-Hop flavors.

Beats+Crates got the jump on your other favorite blogs with this one.

Download Stik Figa – From the Top prod. Oddisee

Oddisee – Odd Spring

aaron — Wed, 12 May 2010 05:19:18 +0000

Oddisee rounds out his seasonal collection with the 4th and final installment Odd Spring. Oddisee is one of my favorite producers/emcees, and you know you’re going to get quality music from him every time. Odd Spring is another collection of Oddisee tracks that sets the mood for the season. The tone is set right away with The Blooming and builds up with Birds & Bees (featuring the Diamond District). Half way through you might as well be outside with the volume cranked up. Download Oddisee – Odd Spring on BandCamp. Also pick up Oddisee’s Traveling Man. BIG thanks Oddisee for making the dope music.

Kingpin Slim & Oddisee – Anticipation

Oddisee – I’m From PG

LMNO & Kev Brown + Diamond District

aaron — Wed, 12 May 2010 05:19:00 +0000

Lots to do in LA this weekend. This Friday (May 14th) at the Self Help Graphics & Art LMNO & Kev Brown are going to give the people a preview of their latest album Selective Hearing 2 that dropped May 11th. The Diamond District has hit the west coast. They’ll be doing a hand full of shows in LA starting with this one. This show is going to be dope. For more Diamond District LA show dates check Oddisee Music.

Info. // Time: 9:30pm – Midnight / All Ages / Cover: $10 at the door

Self Help Graphics & Art

3802 Cesar Chavez Blvd. Los Angeles Ca 90063

B+C Radio: Space.Mind.Grind

aaron — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:23:06 +0000

Episode 002: Space.Mind.Grind

The fam went all out on this one. J1 aka THE DEER got heavy hitters Max Kane & Teeko, and they killed it. I met these cats a while back and they have changed my whole outlook on live performances. It’s some other level-ish. Max & Teeko are 2/3 of F.A.M.E. (Fresh Analog Music Experience), and half of 4OneFunk. BIG shout to my man Malaguti (of F.A.M.E.). Space.Mind.Grind is Beats+Crates Radio’s latest installment. Space.Mind.Grind has tracks from JimiJames to Black Spade, so you know you have to crank up the volume on this one. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve played Space.Mind.Grind before writing this post. Download B+C Radio Episode 002: Space.Mind.Grind here. Read more for tracklist. Also check out F.A.M.E. -TruthPics. BIG thanks to Max Kane & Teeko for killing this one.

Tracklist:

Sasac – Beat 8

Georgia Anne Muldrow – Runaway

Nemo – Mr. Imgood@everything

Talib Kweli & Hi-tek – Move Somethin (Max Kane Remix)

JimiJames – Already Done

Dj Spinna – Galactic

Vinroc – Weekend Break

Mono/poly – Oil Fields

Davinci – What You Finna’ Do?

Diamond District – I Mean Business

Electric Wire Hustle – Gimme That Kinda

Teeko – Hottest Round (Unreleased Instrumental)

Black Spade Feat. Coultrain – A Lil Taste

Ayah – Believe

Madlib Feat. Frezna - Yo Yo Affair Pt. 1 & Pt.2

F.A.M.E. Feat. Headnodic – Translations (Unreleased Instrumental)

Oddisee – Odd Winter

aaron — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:51:24 +0000

Winter is here and Oddisee has dropped another soundtrack dedicated to the season. Odd Winter has a few more tracks with emcees on it than Odd Summer & Odd Autumn, but totally has the season themed series feel. Ci’iy Life featuring Tranqill sets the mood, and eases you into the “Oddisee sound. I use “Oddisee sound” loosely because you can hear the diversity throughout Odd Winter. Even with the eclectic sound Oddisee brings it all together to give you a blast of winter. That’s what makes him a very talented producer. I have to say, you can’t go wrong with Oddisee as a producer or an emcee. Download Oddisee’s Odd Winter on Bandcamp, and check out the other seasonal releases. BIG thanks Oddisee.

Oddisee – Winds From The North

Oddisee – Black Broadway ft. X.O

Oddisee – Carry On Instrumental

Oddisee – Odd Autumn

aaron — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:57:54 +0000

I rocked Oddisee’s Odd Summer for a long time and recently switched up to Oddisee’s Odd Autumn. We don’t have seasons in So Cal, so when it started getting cold the other day I figured it was time to switch. Stuff Oddisee puts out quickly becomes a staple in my ipod, so Odd Autumn is no different. I rocked Odd Autumn when I needed to feel grounded and relaxed. It’s feel good music all the way. Earlier today I was walking around downtown LA playing Odd Autumn and it felt like a soundtrack. That track The Second Date had me moving faster. Download Oddisee – Odd Autumn here, and check out Oddisee on MySpace. BIG thanks to Oddisee for making dope music and Put Me On It for dropping the exclusive.

Oddisee – Every Day People (Inst.)

Oddisee – The Second Date

Yu – Before Taxes

aaron — Wed, 06 May 2009 21:11:10 +0000

2 words fo you…heavy rotation! I was fired up after learning about the DMV area, and what kinda music was comin outta there. I had Diamond District in heavy rotation until YU popped off wit “Before Taxes.” I was playing it so much I didn’t take the time to write about it until now. YU brings it on “Close” (ft. Slimkat78 and Isabella Banneker) wit a chill beat, poetic flows and a 20′s flapper hook. If you haven’t caught on to what’s going on in the DMV, you need to. Download YU “Before Taxes” and get hooked to it. Check out YU on the Diamond District’s site or MySpace. BIG thanks to the Fresh Selects fam for posting this one.

Yu – Beats & Rhymes from March25 (Kick Styles)

Diamond District – In The Ruff

aaron — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:21:47 +0000

I’m not sure how to put it, but can I be real wit you for a moment. Hip hop never dies, it just gets slept on…even by true hip hop heads. With that said, Diamond District is wakin asses up wit this one! From bangin tunes, tight lyrics, and sampling Gang Star on “I Mean Business” this is off the hook. I was lovin the first track “Who I Be,” but didn’t know all this was coming. “In The Ruff” is headed into heavy rotation in my iPod fo-sho. Check out Diamond District on their site, and BIG thanks to Put Me On It for the heads up. Download “In The Ruff” here.

Diamond District -Make It Clear

Diamond District – Who I Be (clean)

aaron — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 06:24:11 +0000

Rep’n DMV (DC, Maryland, & Virgina) Oddisee, X.O. and Y.U. make up the Diamond District. They remind me of early Wu-Tang (not just because of the sample of O.D.B.) and the Goodie Mob. “Who I Be” has the eerie down-tempo sound that give it that Wu flava, but totally a sound of their own. Their album is due out April 14th…as a FREE download on their site, so check that when it comes. BIG thanks to Fresh Selects for the post, good info. Want to know about the DMV? Check the mini Documentary they made.

Download the track here.

Diamond District – Who I Be (clean)