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 Song:
Diamond District's debut In The Ruff made huge waves last year - ending up on countless year-end lists including heavyweight websites KevinNottingham.com, PopMatters.com, and more, and also continued the avalanche of well-deserved attention to the previously underrated DMV hip-hop scene. Considering the impact that the album made, remixes of some of the cuts were inevitable. A reworking of "I Mean Business" by yU (1/3 of Diamond District) surfaced in late December, and now, Canadian producer Marco Polo, who contributed tracks to Masta Ace's A Long Hot Summer, Sadat X's Black October and various Boot Camp Clik projects, including his own Double Barrel project with Torae, is the latest to add new flavor to one of the tracks - reworking one of the album's top songs, "Who I Be."
In addition to getting the track out early for fans, Marco Polo's "Who I Be" Remix will be appearing on Mello Music Group's Diamond District Remixes album, as well as Duck Down Records' The Stupendous Adventures Of Marco Polo. Even before hearing the track, the pairing of Marco Polo's patented boom bap with Diamond District's own break beat heavy sound is a logical match. Marco Polo's new flavor is apparent right out of the box, as he drops the low end and adds a serving of catchy keys that give the song a fresh and more bouncy feel. On enlisting Marco Polo for the remix, Mello Music Group founder and Director of Operations, Michael Tolle, says, "Given the success of In The Ruff, we wanted to keep the remixes in a few select hands. Oddisee reached out to Marco on the strength of his Double Barrel release with Torae. and Marco came thru with a big radio friendly remix that made fresh use of the original ODB sample." Keeping the remixes in ready supply, in the coming weeks fans can also expect a remix of "Streets Won't Let Me Chill" by Detroit's own Apollo Brown.
Explicit:
http://media.audibletreats.com/Diamond_District-Who_I_Be_Marco_Polo_Remix-Explicit.mp3
Clean:
http://media.audibletreats.com/Diamond_District-Who_I_Be_Marco_Polo_Remix-Clean.mp3
In other news, Diamond District, along with label mate Trek Life, will be making their way across seas for a series of European tour dates in the coming weeks. Kicking off the 10-date tour February 11th in Mainz, Germany, Diamond District will also be making stops in Belgium, France, Italy, and more before closing things out February 27th back in Germany at club Kassablanca in the city of Jena.
European Tour Dates:
Thursday, Feb 11 - Red Cat - Mainz, Germany
Friday, Feb 12th - Blue Funk District - Brussels, Belgium
Saturday, Feb 13th - Skaters Palace - Munster, Germany
Monday, Feb 15th - La Bellevoise - Paris, France
Thursday, Feb 18th - Kapu - Linz, Austria
Friday, Feb 19th - Acrobax - Roma, Italy
Saturday, Feb 20th - Paci Paciana - Bergamo, Italy
Wednesday, Feb 24th - Halleo2 - Heidelberg, Germany
Friday, Feb 26th - Bohannon - Berlin, Germany
Saturday, Feb 27th - Kassablanca - Jena, Germany
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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