Bronx-based emcee and producer Diamond D continues the final installment of The Diam Piece trilogy. As Jazzy Jay’s mentor, he formed the DITC group with Lord Finesse & Showbiz in 1992, and soon released his classic full-length debut album “Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop”. D has since released six more albums and several mixtapes of his own, the latest being Gotham’s critically acclaimed self-titled effort and The Rear View. Diam Piece and its sequel leave most of the rhyming to the guests, emerging from the duo that launched this summer.
B-Real and Everlast’s “I’m Not Crazy” is a rap-rock intro that suggests the world has gone crazy, while NEMS, Prayah, Saigon & Tons’ “TSNY” takes the boom-bap route, subtly telling Everyone who disagrees. Da Inphamus Amadeuz, Doo Wop and Kid Capri’s “My DJ Spits Betta Than U” sampled Alan Parker’s “Monochrome” and boasted that DJs had better microphones than many today, leading to Chip Fu’s “Casket” Fresh,” Kardinal Offishall and Peedi Crak bring the trio together to make sure you look good while you’re buried.
Ahead of Reef Hustle’s “Hyenas,” Diamond D himself briefly joins Sadat Back craze bap. Camp Lo’s “Weed, Sex & Cars” playfully expresses their desire for all of these things, leading to Junk and 4-IZE’s synth-driven “It’s Up 2 Me” Talk about being here for a while. “Ride the Wave” actively shares the mic with Aftermath Entertainment’s in-house producer Focus…telling everyone to approach Boog Brown, Camari and Lady Luck with caution before their “Keep on Steppin'” ends it with a cool gospel banger as the ladies Flip when speaking to a higher power.
Of the two parts in The Diam Piece trilogy, I still find myself preferring Initium, though I still enjoy it a lot regardless of whether it continues the series’ knack of having Diamond D as the MC pop up in a few spots here and there. , allowing countless guests to do what they do best in his signature boom bap productions. I’d finally be forgiven if I didn’t mention rap-rock with hints of funk and gospel, including samples I haven’t heard since one of my all-time favorite 7L and Esoteric cuts, “Watch Me” is their classic sophomore effort “Dangerous Connection.”
Score: 7/10
