DITC artist Diamond D's sixth solo album is a sequel to his previous record, released five years earlier. Unlike the first chapter, the artist decides to release an album producer dedicating himself almost exclusively to the rhythms and leaving the rapping to the guests, spitting a few bars every now and then in the middle of Boot Camp Clik, Organized Konfusion, EPMD, Mobb Deep, Slum Village, DITC, Wu-Tang Clan, LOX and Black Star. 36 guests collaborate on the effort, including Buckshot, Steele, Rock, Pharoahe Monch, Snoop Dogg, Erick Sermon, Havoc, Elzhi, OC, Fat Joe, Fred the Godson, Raekwon, David Banner, Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz, Styles P, Xzibit, Raheem DeVaughn, Tony Touch, Termanology, Talib Kweli, A-F-R-O and Twista.
Diamond provides a nice jazzy boom bap rhythm with lean tight drum and pressing gospel samples for the intro, Snooze and Verse flow worthily, the beatmaker places an alt rock bridge towards the end. The second tune is a Boot Camp Clik posse featuring Buckshot from Black Moon, Steele from Smif-n-Wessun and Rock from Heltah Skeltah: the rhythm is a little cheap and bouncy for this excellent trio, however, they manage to lift the track with a good performance. Monch also gets questionable beat in the next choice, with a weak, skeletal and poor jazzy boom bap. Diamond engages in the fourth pick, providing a light and relaxed panorama for the iconic Snoop Dogg, who drops smooth bars, while the chorus is provided by soul singer Case, the host delivers with good style in the second verse. The fifth choice is a track that founds DITC, EPMD and Mobb Deep, with Erick Sermon and Havoc guests, nevertheless, the producer brings out a weak and cheap jazzy rhythm.
The next tune is better, perhaps Joseph Kirkland's only successful production until now, Elzhi flows well on a good jazzy musical carpet. "Got It Covered" boasts an Omar Credle still fit, the guy provides a timeless delivery on another guessed beat. Track eight finishes one of the happiest sections of the project: simple, light and good jazzy boom bap, Fat Joe, Fred the Godson and Raekwon in the rapping side. "Bodied" offers gospel vibes, while in "Maintaining", Diamond D creates a light, alternative and minimal jazzy rhythm, reviving a nostalgic nineties moment: the producer brings to life the mythical Bronx duo Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz, who hadn't appeared on the same official studio album since 1998, in "Rock Steady Part 2" on Pete Rock's "Soul Survivor". Spatial cut. In the second part of the album, the production seems to improve.
The song with Styles P and Xzibit is good but doesn't stand out from the others; the song number twelve is instead the only solo by Diamond D on an essential and glossy jazzy rhythm. Raheem DeVaughn and Wes Felton make a soulful cut, then comes "The Hit": alienating dark funky beat, Doo Wop and Termanology spit something, but Tony Touch overshadows the others with his Hispanic delivery. Talib Kweli is the most familiar guest on "The Zone Out", but in this track something is wrong between light rapping and light funky rhythm, the track is among the least successful on the LP. Closes "Hold Up": Diamond D's splendid rhythm, jazzy soulful, opens A-F-R-O with an unstoppable and spectacular flow, he kills the track, then Twista to close the track with his ultra-rapid style.
As is his habit, Diamond D doesn't disappoint: his DITC production of jazzy boom baps, great samples and robust drums, is enjoyable and accessible, and the rapping provided by the guests is also well-made, with plenty of hardcore bars by 36 guests in those 53 minutes. Despite the quality and quantity proposed, the album passes under the radar of the mainstream and also under those of most of the underground, being completely ignored by critics and the vast majority of the public. Diamond D focuses on production and releases a hidden and easily appreciable album producer.
Highlights: "I Can't Lose", "Get It Covered", "Survive or Die", "Maintaining", "Chivas Blanc", "Hold Up".
Rating: 7.5/10.
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