When I first got the assignment from Complex Magazine to interview Diamond D for a producer feature, I was open. Diamond D was one of my favorite rappers and producers back in the 90’s. Not only was his solo album Stunts Blunts & Hip Hop a classic, but he would have these amazing guest verses on songs that I would recite in my head over and over, plus he produced some of my favorite tracks of all time (like Fat Joe and KRS-One’s duet “Bronx Tale”). I think the first time I ever heard of him was when he rapped on A Tribe Called Quest’s “Show Business,” which was one of the 40 plus songs we discussed for the interview that he produced and/or spit on. Dude was mad cool, and enthusiastic about his catalog, which made the whole process of putting this piece together one of my favorite experiences as a hip hop journalist. Lots of interesting, funny, and insightful stories to go along with two decades of amazing hip hop music made with the most legendary of artists, like Brand Nubian, Outkast, Big L, Lord Finesse, Busta Rhymes, The Pharcyde, and so many more. Enjoy…

Diamond D Tells All: The Stories Behind His Classic Records

Oh, I have to post his video for “Best Kept Secret,” the first solo song he ever released which ended up being the lead single off his debut album. Peep New York Knicks monster Anthony Mason in the video!

And check out all the features I’ve done for Complex Magazine thus far HERE. I’m out!