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The legendary Diamond D stopped by Sway In The Morning to talk about his new project 'Rear View'.
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Diamond D on 30 Years In The Game and New Album 'Rear View' | SWAY’S UNIVERSE
https://youtu.be/zZZs87dDNQo
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0:01
The stylings
0:02
of a legend.
0:05
of a legend.
0:09
I take honor and pride in my work,
0:11
Heather.
0:12
Of course.
0:13
when I get up in the morning sometimes.
0:15
It's a beautiful way to feel.
0:17
I I eliminate the stress. I don't get
0:19
stress. Stress has a hard time living in
0:21
my life at this point in the game. I'm
0:24
on this I'm in the second half, so
0:26
I appreciate
0:28
when I'm sitting around greatness.
0:29
Mhm.
0:30
When you talk about this culture,
0:32
this culture has single-handedly changed
0:35
how global marketing
0:37
is handled across the board in every
0:39
industry. Whether it's education,
0:41
whether it's technology, whether it's
0:43
construction, whether it's fashion,
0:45
whatever industry you name has been
0:47
heavily influenced by this culture.
0:51
This culture has brought
0:53
uh technology and culture together as
0:56
Tracy we talk about often at an
0:58
intersection.
0:59
Yes.
0:59
It taught people It taught people about
1:02
other people. It taught people about
1:03
folks' struggle, about their pain, about
1:05
their joys, about what are their legacy,
1:07
their history, the whole nine. It's
1:09
amazing what it is. So, when you're
1:11
sitting next to some of the architects
1:14
that there was no blueprint to this when
1:16
they were doing what they were doing.
1:18
And what they did help open the doors
1:20
for what we're doing now today. By the
1:22
way, I'm one of them.
1:23
Oh, say that.
1:24
Let me say that. I'm one of them.
1:25
No question.
1:26
Yes, I'm one of them, by the way.
1:27
I love that.
1:28
So is Heather B. She's one of them, by
1:30
the way. There was nobody on reality TV.
1:35
He kicked the doors down.
1:37
He He gold diamond. Don't listen to
1:39
this.
1:40
This culture saved us.
1:42
Oh, for sure.
1:42
Saved my brother. We often talk about
1:44
it. I had a couple choices to make
1:47
in life, and I was about to make the bad
1:49
the wrong choices, and my brother put me
1:51
in line and said, "Nah, your choices is
1:53
down that street.
1:54
We'll take care of these other streets,
1:56
but you got to go down that street.
1:58
Let's see what comes of it. And it saved
2:00
us because I became an inspiration to
2:02
folks and representation to folks and
2:04
King Tech and everybody around us. And
2:06
while we were looking and searching for
2:09
those who inspired us, oh man, we came
2:12
across a a group a collective of just
2:15
gods.
2:17
Whether you talking about Lord Finesse,
2:20
whether you talking about Andre the
2:21
Giant, OC, whoever you want to say, Big
2:25
Daddy Kane, who you want to talk about?
2:27
We came across some gods.
2:31
Salute.
2:32
Salute to them.
2:33
Because it's what they did, what they
2:35
built as a sound
2:38
that helped formulate
2:40
the thread that we utilize in our world
2:42
famous Wake Up Show, which was the world
2:43
famous Wake Up Show, which was the
2:44
biggest syndicated show of its kind.
2:46
There's never been anything like it.
2:48
That's right.
2:49
I can say that and I would love to
2:51
debate it.
2:52
You don't You don't have to debate it.
2:54
ain't got to, but I just want to show
2:55
folks sometimes.
2:57
Just in case.
2:58
Digging in the Crates crew.
2:59
Mhm.
3:00
DITC.
3:01
Mhm.
3:02
They presented us with a man that really
3:04
became the soundtrack of the world
3:06
famous Wake Up Show with strong blunts
3:07
and hip-hop hatred, passions and
3:09
infidelity. All of it. Grown man talk.
3:12
All of it.
3:13
We never stop playing this man the Dime
3:15
Piece, the Dime Piece 2. He sends it to
3:17
me directly.
3:19
And say, "SWAY, YOU BETTER PLAY IT." NO,
3:21
HE'S NEVER SAID THAT.
3:23
I JUST want to say to him, thank you for
3:25
your contributions to all the artists
3:27
that you produced for, to the songs and
3:29
the music that you produced yourself,
3:31
for staying here this long, sustaining,
3:34
you know, and showing us how to
3:36
transcend and be
3:38
and be utilized in every era. And today
3:41
we're going to celebrate your new
3:42
project, Rearview.
3:43
Mhm.
3:45
Which I got a chance to sit and listen
3:47
to.
3:47
That's right.
3:47
This is my brother right here.
3:50
Come on, man. This is a icon. This is a
3:52
living legend, citizens. Let's clap it
3:55
up and give it up for the one and only
3:56
Diamond D. DIAMOND D.
3:59
WHAT UP? What up? What up?
4:01
He's been on the show before, but we got
4:03
to do it big every time.
4:04
Wow. And that's a fact.
4:06
This is home. This is home right here.
4:08
He got 24K gold on. That ain't 18K.
4:12
You know what?
4:13
The difference, I can see the color in
4:14
the gold.
4:16
Softer.
4:19
Yeah.
4:20
Diamond D, welcome back to the show.
4:21
Yo, glad to be back, man. That was That
4:23
was the crazy intro right there. I
4:25
appreciate that, man.
4:26
You deserve it.
4:27
Word.
4:27
You know, the intro to this album
4:29
Right.
4:30
is a moment that we had with Chris Rock.
4:33
Yes, sir.
4:33
on our show.
4:34
That's right.
4:35
When Chris took it upon himself
4:37
I was not there.
4:38
Yes, Diamond D was not there and Chris
4:40
Rock took it upon himself to say, "You
4:42
know what, Sway?
4:44
You know who else I just really picked
4:45
up on I didn't realize was that great?
4:47
Was Diamond D."
4:49
Mhm.
4:50
So, you get these kind of um
4:52
testimonies from some really reputable
4:54
people. What did that mean to you?
4:55
Uh yeah, it means a lot, you know, and
4:57
then for him to say Dave turned them on.
5:00
Dave Chappelle turned me on. So, I was
5:02
like, you know, that that's what's up.
5:03
You know, Dave's a big hip-hop head, you
5:05
know.
5:06
And um you know, sometimes you know,
5:08
artists got to double back and go into
5:10
your catalog. You know what I mean? So,
5:12
you know, it felt genuine coming from
5:14
Chris and that and I had to start the
5:15
album out like that.
5:16
Yeah, that's how the album started off.
5:18
Well, that's dope cuz we've been having
5:19
a lot of conversation lately and I I
5:22
personally feel like your name doesn't
5:24
come up enough.
5:25
Right.
5:25
And and and I need to let the citizens
5:28
and everybody know and understand what
5:30
it's been like. So, you talking about
5:32
what, '90, '92?
5:34
Yeah, '92.
5:35
And '92?
5:36
Mhm.
5:37
It's 30 years.
5:38
That's right.
5:39
And we keep like we keep throwing out
5:41
these terms, goats, legend, icon.
5:45
30 years, three decades in one industry
5:49
who I'll tell anybody and everybody no,
5:52
I did not start in reality television.
5:54
Real World 92 was the first. I started
5:57
out with KRS-1 and Boogie Down
5:58
Productions.
5:59
talk your [ __ ] after this.
6:00
And and 90s.
6:01
Kenny Parker and all that.
6:03
And and all of that.
6:04
Who y'all start with?
6:04
So, you know what?
6:06
So,
6:07
this industry is hard. It it it it's not
6:11
easy and it ain't designed for you to
6:13
make it.
6:13
Right.
6:14
So, when you sit down with somebody like
6:16
a Diamond D and you start looking at
6:18
people's careers and understanding 30
6:21
year People don't have regular jobs that
6:23
long.
6:23
Right.
6:24
People don't stay in regular jobs that
6:26
long. 30 years in this industry,
6:28
brother, you had to be saluted that way
6:30
today.
6:31
Mhm.
6:31
You have to be saluted that way.
6:33
up, Heather. No doubt.
6:34
92 to 2022
6:37
and you still in it in the midst of all
6:39
of this [ __ ] this game throwing
6:40
people, you got to be saluted that way
6:43
and I'm tired of people not acting like
6:45
that ain't a real thing.
6:46
Yeah.
6:47
30 years.
6:47
30 years.
6:49
That's a real thing. Y'all see me in 30
6:51
years. I want I challenge any artist out
6:54
there, the ones that don't understand
6:55
what that means. You popping right now
6:57
and that's dope. We all celebrate you.
7:00
30 years from now,
7:01
call us.
7:02
Right.
7:03
Let us know what that's like.
7:04
Wait, hold up. Tom, how old are you,
7:05
man, if you don't mind me asking?
7:07
I'm 25.
7:08
Yeah.
7:08
Okay.
7:09
You get it?
7:10
Right. Right. Right. Right.
7:11
You get it, right?
7:11
No doubt.
7:12
Oh, yeah.
7:13
So, at 55, young man,
7:16
if you still doing that,
7:19
salute.
7:21
But, I want you to be owning this
7:22
building or owning a owning a channel or
7:25
owning a That's what you need to strive
7:27
for.
7:27
Right.
7:28
I got you.
7:28
Real talk, cuz it's different now for
7:30
y'all. The opportunities are way
7:32
different.
7:33
Mhm.
7:33
That's right.
7:34
Way different. So, salute to you, cuz I
7:36
see where you going.
7:37
That's right.
7:38
[ __ ] Tom.
7:40
REAL TALK. DON'T Y'ALL, AT THIS POINT IN
7:43
LIFE, BODY BUILDING. WHY YOU WHY you
7:45
renting the room? Body building.
7:47
Mhm.
7:48
We didn't have
7:49
We didn't have that opportunity.
7:51
Did you have ownership of your of your
7:53
work?
7:54
Oh, yeah. Yeah, I own my masters, no
7:55
question. I'm I'm trying to get the
7:56
Unstoppable Hip Hop masters back.
7:59
Back. Mhm.
7:59
Uh-huh. You know, that might be a little
8:01
tricky cuz there's a lot of samples on
8:02
there, but I got my team on it.
8:05
You got your team on it.
8:06
Dope. Congrats. Get Get them all. Get
8:08
them all.
8:09
Yeah.
8:09
What's been the most
8:11
um
8:12
uh without having to say money, but
8:13
what's been most lucrative for you? Was
8:16
it Was it Has it the producer or doing
8:18
the solo projects? What's been most the
8:20
performances?
8:20
The production.
8:21
The production.
8:22
Production, yeah. The production, shows,
8:24
you know, it's a little bit It's It's
8:25
It's It's everything.
8:27
Uh-huh.
8:27
You know what I mean? But, you know, the
8:29
ultimate goal, like Heather said, is
8:30
ownership.
8:31
Mhm.
8:31
Mhm.
8:32
You know what I mean? And um when I
8:33
started Diamond Mine
8:35
um records back in 2012,
8:38
that's when it sunk in with me. So, you
8:40
know, the Don P 1, the Don P 2,
8:43
the Gotham album, you know, I own that
8:45
with with um Kweli.
8:47
And that was just last year, so it's
8:49
just a matter of just being consistent,
8:51
too.
8:51
Mhm.
8:52
In anything you do.
8:53
How you like that road though now? Cuz
8:54
as a producer early on, you just had to
8:56
produce, turn in music mostly. Now you
8:58
got to You got to do the roll out plan,
9:00
the marketing, all that.
9:03
No, I I I
9:03
I I can pick and choose.
9:05
pick and choose.
9:05
what I mean? I I pick and choose now, so
9:08
that's the space I'm in. I'm grateful
9:09
for that.
9:10
Mhm. How has your motivation shifted
9:12
from like day one that you got into the
9:14
game and now? Cuz going into 30 years,
9:16
you know, at a regular job, like Heather
9:18
was mentioning, some of them may retire.
9:20
Or the number of times that people
9:22
complain during 30 years, you know what
9:24
I mean? And try to strategize on their
9:26
exit plan. So, what keeps you at the
9:28
answer plan?
9:29
Well, if you love what you do, it
9:31
doesn't feel like work.
9:33
Mhm.
9:33
You know what I mean? And you You I'm
9:35
I'm still competitive,
9:37
you know, so it's just the drive in me.
9:38
Mhm. love what you do, it don't feel
9:40
like work.
9:41
You know, and you know, growing up, I
9:43
had jobs, you know, UPS, I used to work
9:45
at Alexanders.
9:46
Oh, wow.
9:48
Hamburgers, you know what I mean?
9:51
Metro-North, like, you know, so to be
9:54
self-employed for 30
9:56
and I'm comfortable.
9:57
Yes.
9:57
I don't you know, I I don't want I don't
9:58
want for nothing. I'm I'm in a good
10:00
space.
10:00
You worked at Metro-North?
10:02
Yeah.
10:03
What's up?
10:03
What did you do
10:04
What did you do at Metro-North?
10:06
He was like a stock boy.
10:07
I was a clicker.
10:08
You was the clicker?
10:09
to walk through and count the heads on a
10:12
low.
10:13
Damn.
10:13
Just so they can make sure it match the
10:15
tickets being sold. I don't know if they
10:16
still do that now, but this is like, you
10:18
know, early '90s.
10:19
I wasn't a clicker.
10:21
But you was washing those dishes at that
10:22
spot, right?
10:23
yeah.
10:24
I had somebody DM me that washed dishes
10:26
with me.
10:27
Oh, wow.
10:28
And said, man, just said this whole
10:30
soliloquy, I'm proud of you, the whole
10:31
nine. I was like, wait a minute, bro.
10:33
Who you watching?
10:34
Yeah, no, no.
10:35
I remember him. Okay, cool.
10:36
Right, and he was like telling me [ __ ] I
10:38
forgot. He said, I remember you used to
10:39
come and you used to put your apron on
10:41
and then you would have to leave early
10:42
to try to run up to the radio station
10:44
and do all these different things. I was
10:45
like, you remember that? He remember
10:47
that. He said, I remember the day
10:48
Digital Underground came in and they
10:50
ordered some food. Shock G
10:53
the band. And I'm washing dishes, I'm in
10:56
the background, me and Tech had a song
10:57
on the radio.
10:58
Right.
10:59
I'm like, [ __ ] that's Digital
11:00
Underground.
11:01
Right.
11:02
had to go outside in the front room with
11:04
my apron on and bust their tables.
11:06
Mhm.
11:07
Never forgot it.
11:08
Holy [ __ ] I'm taking it. Shock G was
11:10
like, what are you doing here?
11:12
Wow.
11:12
said, I lied, bro. I said, my mother own
11:14
the place.
11:16
I said, my auntie. I said, my auntie own
11:17
the restaurant. I'm just helping out the
11:19
family.
11:19
Yeah.
11:19
That was the last day I worked.
11:21
That's the last day I worked.
11:23
You know, you eventually got to take a
11:24
leap of faith. This is Sunny MF.
11:26
Hey, Sunny.
11:27
How you doing, man?
11:29
Independent artist.
11:30
That's what's up.
11:31
Been doing her own thing.
11:32
Yeah, crushing it.
11:33
Snuck in on our show couple of times.
11:37
For real though.
11:37
No, seriously.
11:38
This is where you want to be. This is
11:39
where you want to be. I take a leap of
11:41
faith, right?
11:42
Seriously, man. So, yeah, just saying
11:43
like you said, 30 years of
11:44
self-employment like
11:46
you hit it with that one, man. For real.
11:49
Seriously, man. Legend. Definitely.
11:52
This album, what I find fascinating when
11:54
Tracy said, "What's your motivation?" Um
11:56
and I listened to the rearview album a
11:58
couple times. It's a diamond
12:00
deep
12:00
made sure he kept saying, "Y'all better
12:02
live with it." And I was like, "Shit, I
12:04
got to live with it." Which I do anyway.
12:07
I listen to albums from the back to the
12:09
front then the front to the back. That's
12:10
just the way I do my thing. Um
12:13
every song is a parable in there. Every
12:16
song has a gem in there. I feel like
12:18
you're giving the world your philosophy.
12:21
Like you could have called this my
12:22
philosophy, but then it's almost like
12:24
you're looking back in time at some of
12:26
the things that have happened and done.
12:28
And then you're giving your assessment.
12:30
Is that's what this album is? Is this
12:31
your soliloquy? Is this your testimony?
12:34
I mean, you I guess you you could call
12:35
it that. You know, I never really looked
12:37
at it like that, but um everything you
12:39
said made sense, you know? And then, you
12:41
know, just at the point where I'm at
12:43
now,
12:44
um
12:45
all I can do is speak my truth.
12:46
Mhm.
12:47
You know, and talk about, you know, the
12:49
ups and downs and, you know, the highs
12:51
and lows.
12:53
Um you know, it's just grown man talk.
12:55
That's how I would That's how I would
12:56
describe this album.
12:57
Mhm.
12:58
You know, I I don't have nothing to
12:59
prove to nobody.
13:01
You know, I pretty much know the sound I
13:03
want. Um
13:05
the album is basically mid-tempo.
13:08
There's a couple of up-tempo joints in
13:09
there, but I wanted my vocals to
13:10
resonate
13:11
Yeah.
13:12
on every track. I want everybody to hear
13:14
what the [ __ ] I had to say.
13:15
Mhm.
13:15
You know what I mean? And I I think I
13:17
nailed it on this one.
13:19
Crazy.
13:20
Is this one of your favorite projects?
13:21
It is.
13:23
You work with um a couple of people
13:26
um on on this project. Nottz, give it up
13:29
for Nottz, man.
13:30
Yeah. He's incredible.
13:30
Shout out to Nottz, man.
13:31
When you When you say you're still
13:33
competitive, out of producers, who do
13:35
you Do you see as And not not that it's
13:37
no adversarial thing, but who do you see
13:39
as your competition?
13:41
Um
13:44
I don't know about competition, but you
13:46
know, just about people who inspire me.
13:48
Yeah. To want to Okay, I I just saw what
13:50
But, you know, Focus, Nottz
13:53
Focus, wow.
13:53
Um okay.
13:57
Leave with people like Battlecat.
13:58
Uh-huh.
13:59
You know what I mean? Battlecat turned
14:00
me on to musicianship.
14:02
You know, I have to throw Erick Sermon
14:04
in there, too.
14:05
Okay.
14:05
Um I know I'm leaving people out, but
14:07
I'm just rattling off names at this
14:09
point, you know, um Premier, of course.
14:11
Uh-huh.
14:12
You know, so that whole clique.
14:14
What do you mean, Battlecat?
14:15
Dilla.
14:16
J Dilla, of course. Come on. Battlecat,
14:18
what did he teach you about
14:19
musicianship? Because
14:20
Well, you know what? Cat
14:22
he know how to chop samples up.
14:23
Okay.
14:24
But, he also plays on top of them.
14:26
Uh-huh.
14:26
And, you know, just makes your makes the
14:28
song sound bigger.
14:29
Uh-huh.
14:30
You know what I mean? And that's what I
14:31
took from Battlecat.
14:33
That's how to make the song sound
14:34
bigger.
14:34
know, so I incorporated that. Maybe
14:36
Maybe about about 12 years ago, I
14:38
started, you know, playing on top of my
14:40
music. You know, remember we came from
14:42
the filtered baseline.
14:44
That was cool for then. But your music
14:47
got to compete with what's on the radio
14:49
sonically.
14:49
Yeah.
14:50
You know what I mean? I learned that
14:51
from my man, Battlecat.
14:53
That's a Battlecat. Diamond D is here.
14:55
We're going to open up the phone lines.
14:56
888-742-3345.
15:00
You got a song called Well,
15:02
before I get into that
15:04
um
15:06
when I look at the the the credits
15:08
Ashton Martin is on multiple songs.
15:11
Yeah, my young boy from the A. Nice.
15:13
Nice with the rhymes, nice with the
15:15
singing, do it all.
15:16
He does it all.
15:17
Yeah.
15:17
That How did y'all meet? Did y'all meet
15:19
in the A or
15:19
Yeah, you know what? I met him recording
15:21
the the first Diamond D album.
15:23
Mhm.
15:23
He's on the song called Children of the
15:25
Ghetto with Styles P and Xzibit. He's
15:27
singing the hook on there.
15:28
Mhm.
15:29
And that's how we met.
15:30
Okay.
15:31
You know, initially, yeah.
15:32
Styles P, Xzibit, Diggin' in the Crates.
15:35
Um
15:36
you've worked with some of the best
15:38
rappers of all time. Did you get to do
15:40
what much what what Big L at all?
15:43
No. Oh well, yeah, on um on um my second
15:45
album, Five Fingers of Death.
15:47
Okay. All right. Um
15:49
Yeah.
15:50
Mhm. What which which rapper um excited
15:53
you the most in the studio after you
15:54
heard their verse?
15:56
Wow, it's a lot. Pharaoh Monch,
15:59
Mhm.
15:59
Busta, KRS-One,
16:02
um Twista, Xzibit, Styles P,
16:06
um Jay-Z. The joint with Jay-Z and Too
16:09
Short.
16:09
Mhm.
16:10
Um you know, it's a
16:11
Was Jay in the studio when you did that?
16:13
Well, when they did their vocals, I
16:15
wasn't there.
16:15
You weren't there.
16:16
No, but when I came down to mix, that's
16:18
when I heard everything.
16:19
Mhm.
16:20
Yeah, that was on Too Short's album.
16:22
You know, um Pharoahe Monch,
16:25
Yeah.
16:26
you know, Westside Gunn.
16:28
There's a lot.
16:29
There's a lot?
16:29
Yeah.
16:30
You happy right now, Diamond D, man.
16:31
He's been been smiling through the whole
16:33
interview, man. You know, Diamond don't
16:35
always smile, have he?
16:37
He don't always smile.
16:38
Nah, yo, I'm in a good space, you know.
16:39
I'm in a good space.
16:41
Okay. Let's get on some phone lines. E,
16:43
what up? E, you got a question for
16:44
Diamond D?
16:45
Yo.
16:46
Good morning.
16:47
Good morning.
16:48
Hey, how's everybody doing? Shout out to
16:50
you guys. Doing a great job on the
16:51
morning show, Sway.
16:52
Thank you.
16:53
Thank you, bro.
16:54
Hey, much love to you, Sway. I'm from
16:56
Pasadena, California, but I live in
16:57
Houston now.
16:58
That's what's up.
16:59
Yeah, yeah. Just doing a shout out.
17:01
the 626. Shout out to the 626.
17:04
626, baby.
17:05
Yep.
17:07
Yeah, but I'm just giving a shout out to
17:08
Diamond D. I'm a long time fan.
17:11
And I appreciate his love for the for
17:13
the craft and the art and the pop.
17:15
All right.
17:16
And his longevity.
17:17
Yep.
17:17
I just wish more people would share the
17:19
his that he has and
17:21
man, the music that him and Scratch put
17:23
together, I still bump it in my car.
17:25
Oh, the Superman joint?
17:27
Man, the Superman, my son is is special.
17:29
He doesn't talk and he wears a diaper.
17:31
He's 20 years old.
17:32
Uh-huh.
17:33
And I play I play Diamond D's songs or
17:35
Scratch, man, and he moves like he's
17:36
ready to talk.
17:37
Wow.
17:37
You know, so it just moves people in a
17:39
different way, man. Just giving a shout
17:41
out, D.
17:42
Yeah, that's what's up. I appreciate
17:43
that, man.
17:44
What?
17:44
Man, Sway, great job, baby. Bear you
17:46
forever, baby.
17:47
You already know. Yeah.
17:48
Your citizen.
17:49
Sway in the morning.
17:50
What?
17:51
Man, do you ever get used to that, bro?
17:53
Like, I mean, have you been around the
17:54
world and folks approach you about your
17:56
music?
17:56
Yeah, you know, you know, and you know,
17:58
always always show love, you know, don't
18:00
never be an [ __ ] cuz, you know, one
18:02
thing about fans, they might not
18:03
remember everything you said, but they
18:05
remember how you made them feel.
18:08
You know what I mean? So, always rock
18:09
with that philosophy.
18:11
At this stage in your career, do you
18:13
still experience any self-doubt at all,
18:15
or do you feel like you've transcended
18:17
that?
18:17
Not self-doubt, but
18:19
competitiveness.
18:20
Mhm.
18:21
You know, is is it to the is it to the
18:24
level where it can compete and not just
18:27
not just put it out and hope people like
18:29
it because I'm a legend or whatever.
18:32
Right.
18:32
That's why I called the album The
18:33
Rearview.
18:35
I don't want to do interviews and talk
18:36
about what I did 25 years ago. I I
18:38
really don't.
18:39
Mhm.
18:40
You know, whatever I did, I I learned
18:41
from it, I respected it, and I I honor
18:43
everything I did. It made me who I am.
18:46
Mhm.
18:46
But The Rearview is a metaphor for
18:48
moving forward in whatever you do,
18:51
whatever your profession is. Respect
18:53
your past, but always move forward.
18:55
Right.
18:56
You know, and that's why in a lot of my
18:57
projects, I always have new artists
18:58
involved.
18:59
Mhm.
19:00
You know, I'm always thinking forward.
19:02
So, that's that's just me, Heather.
19:03
Mhm.
19:03
I love that, man. And that's a conundrum
19:06
that I think a lot of people, including
19:08
myself, HB, all of us have that cuz we
19:10
have so much history.
19:12
Mhm.
19:12
I'm a little different than Diamond D
19:14
though. I'mma celebrate my [ __ ] and talk
19:16
about it as much as I can.
19:17
Right. Oh yeah, me too.
19:18
You too?
19:18
But I don't live there.
19:20
Yeah.
19:20
Right.
19:20
That's right. I don't live there. There
19:22
you go. Okay.
19:23
Okay. I live here.
19:25
Yes, you glance at the rearview. You
19:26
don't stare at
19:27
Oh, I smile at it.
19:28
I wave at young Swiggety.
19:30
Maybe maybe what you're trying to say in
19:32
in in a way is that it's important
19:35
though for folks to know history.
19:37
Yeah.
19:38
And I think a lot of times what's
19:39
happening especially now where
19:41
everything is so quick and so fast, you
19:43
know, you could easily forget or make
19:46
your own story and make your own version
19:48
of it. It's like if somebody came out
19:49
now and said, "Oh, we D.I.T.C." Somebody
19:53
that knows the history has to go, "Wait
19:55
a second.
19:56
Right.
19:56
That was that happened before. We know
19:59
that here's the history of that and not
20:01
just adapt the name and not understand
20:03
where the history is from. So, I think
20:05
you are are a respect of history and you
20:08
do your best to remind folks and keep
20:11
the history in place so it doesn't get
20:13
misconstrued.
20:14
Cuz otherwise they'll replace you with a
20:16
F
20:17
a F in Mecca.
20:20
I don't know what I don't know what they
20:21
do.
20:21
AI we respect is Allen Iverson. That is
20:24
it. That's the only AI.
20:26
No other AIs.
20:27
That the and then the F in Mecca you get
20:29
another nothing and then they erase the
20:31
history
20:32
and then they erase the struggle
20:33
everything it took to make this what it
20:35
is.
20:36
man.
20:36
You see what I mean? So, I'mma you know
20:38
and that's why I do that. You know is
20:41
cuz I want you don't have to say it.
20:42
Yeah, you shouldn't.
20:43
You shouldn't have to say it, but I'mma
20:45
tell them every time you're around me.
20:47
Understand that cuz I know what your
20:50
contributions have continued to do for
20:52
this culture. Big Mike is on the line
20:54
from New Jersey, boy.
20:55
What's up, Mike?
20:56
Jersey is IN HERE.
20:57
JERSEY BETTER stand up. Mike, what part
20:59
of Jersey first? Let me see let me see
21:00
where you at first.
21:01
Okay. Okay.
21:01
Mike, where you from?
21:03
From Chilltown.
21:04
Just just Jersey City. That's he getting
21:06
his stamp. That's my hometown.
21:08
Look at Heather.
21:09
From your own.
21:10
He just booked up.
21:11
Damn, okay.
21:12
So,
21:13
I just I just want to know like how was
21:15
it working with a young Fat Joe back
21:17
then?
21:18
Like what was it you seen in him?
21:20
You know, Joe had drive. No, Joe had
21:23
drive.
21:24
Um when when he first approached me
21:26
about Raw men, I was like
21:28
you? Like you know, cuz you know, I knew
21:30
Joe
21:32
from you know, from doing graffiti at
21:34
one time.
21:35
Before he got in the streets heavy. He
21:38
was doing graffiti, [ __ ] like that. So,
21:39
when he approached me, I said, "All
21:40
right, cool. If you serious about it,
21:43
book some you know, pay for your own
21:44
sessions.
21:45
And a week later, he started booking
21:47
time and we and that's how we connected.
21:50
I mean, we were already friends. You
21:51
know, we both lived in the same
21:52
projects, but once Joe you know, any
21:55
artist once you start going in your
21:56
pocket and paying for you paying for
21:58
your own sessions, that's the first
22:00
that's the first step.
22:01
That's the first step.
22:02
That's the first step, right?
22:03
Not looking for not not not not
22:06
bothering nobody for free studio time.
22:09
You know, that's the first step. And
22:13
you know, 30 years later, you see what
22:15
you see what you see what Big Mike is at
22:16
right now. Shout out to Fat Joe.
22:18
And when you get to the album Big Mike,
22:20
there's a interlude where Joe actually
22:23
is on the album
22:24
That's right.
22:24
saying that Diamond D is the one
22:26
responsible for him rapping. And it was
22:29
Diamond that opened that door. You
22:31
actually got a clip of Joe saying that,
22:32
right?
22:33
Yep.
22:33
Yeah, so that's
22:34
play it? Can we play it?
22:35
Uh let me see. That's
22:37
uh
22:38
Yeah.
22:39
Seven?
22:39
Number seven.
22:41
Is it seven?
22:42
You got that?
22:43
It comes on before the song Never
22:44
Settle.
22:46
Let me see. Thomas Newson
22:48
Cuz I'm back in the day, we used to be
22:49
like, "Yo, the Spanish kid from the
22:51
Bronx."
22:52
Right, right, right, right. It's before
22:55
It's before It's before Ooh.
22:57
Yeah.
22:58
At the end of Never Settle before Ooh.
23:00
All right, man. Thanks for your call,
23:01
all right? Big Mike. Hey, get the
23:03
project. We need people to stream this
23:05
project, download it, do it however you
23:07
got to do it, but get it. It's called
23:09
The Rearview.
23:10
I'm doing that right now.
23:12
My man. All right, man. I'm down.
23:13
It's Wayne in the morning. You already
23:15
know.
23:17
Who else is on this project that I saw
23:18
Posdnuos?
23:19
Mhm.
23:20
Hey.
23:21
[ __ ]
23:22
De La Soul.
23:23
He don't do too many features.
23:24
Nope.
23:25
Not at all, man. That is one of the most
23:27
biggest success stories this culture has
23:29
ever seen.
23:31
It's De La Soul.
23:32
Stay on the road.
23:33
Stay on the road. Have you seen If you
23:36
haven't seen De La Soul overseas
23:38
and what happens when they perform
23:41
You know, we had a chance that We used
23:43
to do a lot of concert series and De La
23:44
Soul would come to the Bay and LA and do
23:46
these concert series. [ __ ]
23:48
incredible, man. What What do you see
23:50
What do you feel about De La's? Just as
23:52
some hip-hop [ __ ] How do you see them
23:53
as a group?
23:54
Well, no, they came up before me. So,
23:56
you know, I'm looking at them like [ __ ]
23:58
Yeah, you know, yo, if anything, they're
24:00
an inspiration to me.
24:01
Yeah.
24:02
You know, I was I was influenced by you
24:04
know, their first three or four albums
24:06
musically, sonically.
24:08
You know,
24:09
that first album That first album showed
24:11
everybody, you know, leave James Brown
24:13
alone.
24:13
Mhm.
24:14
You know. If you're If you're going to
24:16
sample there's a plethora of artists you
24:19
can pick from.
24:20
And that's one of the things that rubbed
24:22
off about me. You know, I've always
24:24
respected their lyricism, always wanted
24:25
to work with them.
24:27
I was close to getting a spot on the
24:30
Stakes Is High album.
24:32
It didn't happen, but I always No, that
24:34
was always a group I always wanted to
24:35
work with. So, when I hit them up
24:38
at the time, Trugoy was on working and
24:41
he wasn't really feeling too good. So,
24:43
Pos said, "Yo, send me a joint. If I
24:46
like it, I'll jump on it." So, that
24:48
night I crafted the beat. I had to make
24:50
something that I can hear De La rhyme it
24:52
to.
24:53
So, I made the beat for Flying High and
24:55
I shipped it to him. I emailed it to
24:56
him.
24:57
And like 48 hours, you know, he jumped
25:00
on it and sent it right back.
25:02
Wow.
25:02
Yeah.
25:03
Come on, man. Pastor News. Love them
25:04
dudes.
25:05
Crazy. Crazy.
25:06
Who are the new artists? Like when I
25:08
look at artists like
25:10
like a jet or or LaChelle Russell or J
25:15
Walk. You You actually hit me about J
25:17
Walk.
25:18
Yeah. Yeah. No, I got I got I got a
25:19
joint with J.
25:20
You got a joint with J Walk?
25:21
Yeah, I got I got I got 16 tracks for
25:23
the Diamond D 3 already.
25:25
Really? Come on, Sway. Don't It don't
25:27
stop.
25:27
And J Walk is J Walk IN THE BUILDING.
25:35
THE REARVIEW. ALWAYS MOVE FORWARD.
25:37
Move forward. Right. Or who who are some
25:39
of those new artists you would love to
25:41
get in the studio with?
25:42
Um
25:44
Well, you know,
25:45
new artist, my man Terrace Martin Poole.
25:47
I brought him along.
25:48
And he got something for us?
25:49
Oh, no, he's nice. You know, you got
25:51
something T?
25:53
On you?
25:55
But you know, of course, Westside Gunn,
25:58
Stacy Epps, Ashton Martin, my man KP, my
26:02
man Snooze from Harlem.
26:04
My man Blake Moses.
26:06
Uh-huh.
26:06
You know, you know, I yo,
26:09
I'm just immersed in this [ __ ]
26:10
Let's get it, man. You got 16 bars?
26:14
Come over here, my man.
26:15
Yo, yeah, he keep he keep that on him.
26:17
You mind if we do that, Diamond D? We
26:19
can end the show with it.
26:20
Yeah.
26:21
Come on.
26:21
He about to spit?
26:22
About to spit, Heather.
26:24
Can't come up here. Stand next to me.
26:26
Nice spit.
26:27
Nice spit.
26:28
Come on now.
26:29
He ain't playing no dudes over here.
26:31
You know, wait wait before before that,
26:33
Greg, you got a question for Diamond D?
26:37
Oh, come to the mic, Greg.
26:39
That's what the mic's for, Greg. That's
26:40
what the mic's for.
26:41
Yes, sir.
26:42
Okay.
26:43
Uh Diamond, what what uh
26:45
tools are you using? Machine, MPC, what
26:47
do you use?
26:47
Um right now, I'm using
26:50
the the Motif X XF8.
26:55
Um it's a keyboard, it's a sampler.
26:57
Yep.
26:57
Um I seen Erick Sermon [ __ ] with it
26:59
like maybe like like 10 years ago. So I
27:01
picked that up. So I do my
27:03
pre-production on there and then I move
27:05
to the grid either on Logic or Pro
27:07
Tools.
27:08
All right.
27:08
And that's it. But you know if you
27:10
listen if you listen to the Dying Breed
27:12
1, the Dying Breed 2, the Gotham album,
27:14
and the Rear View, it sounds like I'm on
27:16
the MPC.
27:17
Yeah.
27:18
No, I just mastered it and when people
27:19
see I'm using the Motif, they go, "Yo,
27:21
how this dude do it?"
27:23
Uh-huh.
27:23
You know what I mean? But like I said, I
27:24
saw Erick Sermon finesse it.
27:27
And um you know, it just rubbed off on
27:29
me. Shout out to E Dub.
27:30
E E Dub slowly becoming one of the
27:32
greatest producers of all time, man.
27:34
This guy He's in the He's in the
27:36
conversation. Mike Will is on the line.
27:37
Mike, I apologize, man. We got Diamond D
27:40
on here. I know you were tuned in, man.
27:41
You good?
27:42
Mike, Mike.
27:44
Oh, maybe Mike cut out. All right, cool.
27:46
Okay, cool. All right. Yo, this what I
27:48
want to do, man. Introduce some again.
27:50
Hold up. We're going to treat him like
27:51
he brand new. My man Terrace Martin
27:53
Terrace Martin Poole.
27:55
Terrace Martin
27:56
Terrace Martin Poole, what up, family?
27:57
BX all day.
27:58
All day, man. All day, man. What do you
28:00
think of the movement in BX now? Little
28:02
TJ and all these the young artists that
28:04
have been popping up.
28:05
I mean, it's it's about them, man. You
28:07
know what I mean? So I I you know, I'm
28:09
not like that. I I I love the new
28:11
generation popping. It's just, you know,
28:13
as long as you got some bars with it.
28:14
You know what I mean? Don't matter what
28:16
the style.
28:17
Uh-huh.
28:17
Don't matter the style cuz there's bars
28:19
in each
28:20
Yeah.
28:20
style, you know what I mean?
28:21
Yeah.
28:21
So that's how I I respect it, you know
28:23
what I mean? The ones that's dope.
28:25
When When did you first pick up the mic?
28:28
Like what made you do it? Was it Was it
28:29
an option or was it a love?
28:31
No, I came up you know, it was love. I
28:34
came up in the X, you know what I mean?
28:36
Shout out my boy Rich Nice, too. Where
28:38
Rich at? Yo, so
28:39
Rich ain't getting up unless he's
28:40
supposed to.
28:40
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
28:42
Rich in bed.
28:43
What up, Rich?
28:44
It's a wrap. So nah, I came up with
28:46
that, man. House parties, all that [ __ ]
28:47
You know what I mean? BX from I was mad
28:50
young, so from all the legends, man. You
28:52
know, I was able to be like, oh [ __ ] so
28:54
Yeah. Yeah. That's what
28:55
How did you get your name?
28:56
Terravanpoo Well, I was always K
28:58
Terrible before when I was with Diamond
29:00
on the other albums. So,
29:02
you know, as I you know, you keep going
29:04
forward as we saying, you got to adapt
29:06
this [ __ ] So, you know, I had to change
29:08
the name up. So, Terravanpoo came from,
29:11
you know, the K Terra, but the van poo
29:13
came from like Van Gogh like sketching
29:15
verses. So, it was like terra, but not
29:17
like killing you terra. It was like, oh,
29:19
okay, and then the van poo. So, that's
29:21
where it came from, the Van Gogh. So, it
29:23
was Terravanpoo.
29:24
Mhm.
29:24
I like that. Now, shout out to Rich Nice
29:26
though. I always got a clown when we
29:27
were together all day yesterday.
29:29
That's your best friend.
29:30
That's my I got to give Rich a hard
29:31
time. I got to stop doing that though.
29:33
Rich is like, why do you do that all the
29:35
time?
29:35
I agree.
29:36
Yo, Tom, drop a beat.
29:40
Huh. Yeah. Terravanpoo, Diamond D, Sway
29:43
in the Morning, Shade 45.
29:46
Diamond D.
29:47
Terravanpoo.
29:49
Terra.
29:50
Let's go.
29:50
Y'all know what it is. It's how we go.
29:53
For my boy Squiz.
29:55
Vanos.
29:56
Let's go.
29:57
Yo, listen. This is black excellence,
30:00
black Africa, black tacoma. Blacked out
30:02
when I was black ball when I snatched
30:03
the capital. That was after I deep don't
30:05
want your main ambassador was ambushed
30:07
from an airstrike only killed the
30:09
passenger. Terra go ramble with the
30:11
green camo with a new set of guns and
30:13
some new ammo and dust you still tucked
30:16
side panel and his hoodie compartment
30:18
shirt draw all shirts flannel. I come up
30:20
on your block with a different convo.
30:22
Ensemble was straight bongo in the same
30:24
condo. Same color, the same planet, the
30:26
same bongo. Cuz I can get at you anytime
30:29
whenever I want to. Now, listen, the
30:31
verse stepping, but my gun stupid. Bong
30:33
bong put the silencer on and it's all
30:35
muted. Now, who recruited these [ __ ]
30:36
[ __ ] with a [ __ ] student high get a
30:38
upgrade I'm already your A student. 11
30:41
clown for myself from for murder I gab.
30:43
Monkey waters in the farm of 100 reps.
30:46
I've been legend since these reps is up
30:47
in the cats broads. I'm that North East
30:49
slayer, the nicest at this craft. Lights
30:51
on clear path, I don't need guidance.
30:54
And I'm nicer than all these rappers you
30:55
D riding. I'm smoking cannon OG out the
30:58
magic garden. Pen game staying shape,
31:00
you see them verses jogging. You see
31:02
these rappers always running away from
31:03
Terror Logic. They put their house on
31:05
the line and they need dodging. I bounce
31:07
the flower out the pot like it's no
31:08
problem and get a good night sleep with
31:11
your wife gobbling. I'm Terror, I'm
31:12
extreme, a little overboard, overtime,
31:15
openly killing, obsolete, null and void.
31:17
[ __ ] don't be fooling with Van Pooh cuz
31:19
Van Pooh get the punishing [ __ ] just
31:21
like YOU. I'M TERROR.
31:25
DIAMOND D, MY BOY all day.
31:27
Goody boy.
31:29
Stay sharp. Stay sharp.
31:30
All day.
31:31
Stay ready.
31:32
Yes, sir.
31:33
Sway, my god.
31:34
Oh, man.
31:39
Terror Van Pooh.
31:40
Diamond Diamond hooked me up on a Don
31:42
piece too, which I ain't with Talib
31:44
Kweli. And he was on his podcast telling
31:46
me like, you know, I made him write his
31:48
verse over. Wanted to write his verse
31:50
over. Diamond right here, he could, you
31:51
know what I mean?
31:52
Yeah,
31:53
that's all real.
31:53
Oh, [ __ ] He just jumped in. Wasn't even
31:55
expecting to do that today.
31:56
Yo.
31:57
Maybe he was, I don't know.
31:59
Salute.
31:59
Man, hey, uh Diamond D.
32:01
one in the chamber. Yes, sir.
32:02
Keep one in the chamber, you got to do
32:03
that. But first of all, Terror Van Pooh,
32:05
thank you for that, brother. And if
32:07
people want to follow you, how can they
32:08
follow you?
32:09
Yo, Terror Van Pooh, terror_v a n p o o,
32:13
no h. So, Terror Van Pooh on everything.
32:16
Bars.
32:17
And I got albums out too, so, you know
32:19
what I mean?
32:19
up. We got to get you back up.
32:21
No doubt. Salute.
32:22
Absolutely. Diamond D, man. I love you,
32:24
brother.
32:25
All right.
32:25
This is a great project you put
32:27
together.
32:28
Yo.
32:28
I love your stories you're telling. And
32:30
most importantly, these gems you're
32:32
dropping in it. Very entertaining.
32:34
Right.
32:35
Um
32:36
songs like uh Life Is What You Make It.
32:39
Yes, sir.
32:39
That's an incredible song. I'm glad it's
32:41
the first song you started the album
32:43
with. It kind
32:43
That set the whole tone.
32:44
That set the whole tone.
32:45
Mhm.
32:46
Um songs like um
32:48
Faithful.
32:49
Mhm.
32:50
You know, when uh Westside Gunn is on
32:52
there and then you know, you both are
32:54
dropping bars. The rearview. Um the the
32:57
title track is
32:58
Right.
32:59
Just everything about it, I think you
33:00
crafted together a great piece of work,
33:04
you know.
33:04
Appreciate that.
33:05
I remember I was watching Beyoncé
33:06
saying, "Nobody makes albums no more."
33:09
And I felt her.
33:11
I was like, I was like, "Yeah, say that
33:13
[ __ ] B."
33:13
Right.
33:14
You know, but there are some people who
33:15
are making really great albums and
33:17
Diamond D, you're one of them.
33:19
All right.
33:19
have the the
33:22
I don't What's the word I'm looking for?
33:24
Wherewithal.
33:25
The wherewithal, even the stamina to put
33:27
together a album worth of great songs.
33:30
And then you see a lot of people putting
33:31
together double albums worth of songs
33:34
that aren't an album worth of great
33:36
songs, you know.
33:37
You know, so I think from beginning to
33:39
end, you really crafted together a very
33:41
conceptual project. So, congratulations.
33:43
The rearview is the name of the album.
33:44
That's right.
33:45
Make sure y'all pick it up.
33:47
Okay, Diamond D, my brother. Glad we
33:49
made this happen.
33:50
Man, no doubt.
33:51
Every time.
33:52
For the fans, you know, uh my social
33:54
media is Diamond D I T C. It's one word.
33:57
Diamond D I T C
33:59
on Twitter, IG, Facebook. Holler at your
34:01
boy. New album out right now. Oh, and I
34:04
And we got the beers. I just I just
34:05
broke my man Sway off. I know y'all
34:07
can't see it. You know, that's what it's
34:10
all about.
34:11
a beer. He got a beer What's the best
34:12
kept secret?
34:13
Yep.
34:13
India Pale
34:15
Ale.
34:16
IPA.
34:17
IPA. Oh, okay. My bad.
34:19
Obviously, I'm not a beer No, that's
34:21
what it's about. India Pale Ale.
34:22
Create different different different
34:24
avenue different stream avenues.
34:26
Okay, I love this, man. Is this
34:27
available for people?
34:28
Oh, yeah. That's right.
34:29
[ __ ] where you can you get this?
34:31
Um what's the Ask my um my manager over
34:34
here?
34:36
Whole Foods?
34:37
Diamond D, you got a beer in Whole
34:39
Foods?
34:42
Go in there and look at that shelf.
34:47
Levels.
34:48
Levels to it, man. And we'll be back
34:50
tomorrow. Y'all stay on the right side
34:51
of positivity and citizens we have
34:53
nothing.
34:53
All right.
34:54
Left to say.
#Arts & Entertainment