Diamond and the Psychotic Neurotics - Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop

Diamond D's 1992 debut album may not have been hip-hop's first producer-driven album (far from it), but it was one of the first after the new-school era that suggested superior music could overcome lackluster lyrics. Not that Diamond wasn't nice on mic, but his rhymes were a triumph of function over form. It didn't matter though--you couldn't front on his beats, a loop-driven aesthetic that sparked DJs everywhere to dig into the crates to find his original samples. Whether it was the frenetic guitar melody on "Freestyle (Yo That's That S**t!)," the boomin' bass line on "K.I.S.S.," or the raucous riff that powered his first single, "Best Kept Secret," Diamond clearly knew how to milk funk, jazz, and soul loops for their full potential. Along with peers like Pete Rock, Showbiz, and Large Professor, Diamond showed that strength on the board was worth at least as much as skills on the mic. --Oliver Wang Amazon.com

D.I.T.C. Classic - Diamond D's magnum opus (5 stars)

Diamond D is mostly known for his superb work behind the boards with one of the most groundbreaking hip-hop collectives to grace the game - the Diggin' In The Crate's Crew (D.I.T.C.). Besides producing banging cuts for his peers AG, Lord Finesse & Fat Joe; he also produced a plethora of dope beats for non-crew artists such as Brand Nubian, Jazzy Jay, Shadz Of Lingo, Ed O.G, Scientifik, Tha Alkaholiks, KRS-One, The Pharcyde, The Fugees, Organized Konfusion, Busta Rhymes & Mos Def, among many others. Being a much more respected producer would be nearly impossible.

So how well does Diamond D flip the script? He may not have the most mind blowing flow in the game, but similar to D.I.T.C. founding member Lord Finesse, D's got punchlines for days. Moreover, he boasts a intelligent, clear, comfortable, and confident flow. He flips clever lyrics that speak to the average man, and also speaks out on socially conscious matters. I can think of very few producers that rock the mic as well as Diamond D does. 1992's "Stunts, Blunts, & Hip Hop" is simply the complete package.

Usually an album can start to drag at 23 tracks in length (67 minutes). The album pretty much follows the same formula throughout. However, after several, several listens, I'm still not finding any wack beats, rhymes, posse cuts - nothing. The album literally feels complete and worthy of my full attention throughout it's entire length. So I definitely give this album the classic nod. The singles off the album represent it nicely - the certified dope "Best Kept Secret" and the story about the neighborhood skeeza "Sally Got a One Track Mind". My personal favorites would be the co-produced Showbiz cut "Step To Me", "F*** What You Heard", "I'm Outta Here", "A Day In The Life" featuring Brand Nubian, "I Went For Mine", "Check One, Two", "Confused", & the co-produced Q-Tip cut "K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid)". September 29, 2008

Old School Hip Hop

Great album. Brings back memories. This is definitely a must buy for those of you that are into that old school hip hop. October 24, 2007

It's the vibe you desire...(4.5/5)

Diamond D's 1992 debut is a really underrated album from the golden era of east coast hip hop. Diamond would soon gain huge underground status as a member of the Diggin' in the Crates crew, the New York collective that gained acclaim for their clever battle rhymes and artistic beats using obscure samples from old recordings. But even when D.I.T.C. got press, Diamond always seemed to be overshadowed by the more recognizable names of Big L, Fat Joe, Showbiz & AG, Lord Finesse, OC, and Buckwild. "Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop" is a classic that too many people are still sleeping on. In 1992, alternative New York hip hop was evolving with focused LPs on the heels of Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth's Mecca and the Soul Brother and A Tribe Called Quest's The Low End Theory. Diamond went against the grain, and "Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop" is built around single songs. There's no pervading message or idea, the songs are all individually minded compositions. Diamond's a producer first and a rapper second, but here he establishes himself as an expert at both. His beats are wonderfully appealing, emitting a very breezy and light quality that gives off fun and cheerful vibes. The beats are built around simple loops and choppy instrumental samples, and his sound is unique and creative. He can come off as soulful and jazzy, but you wouldn't describe him primarily as either. Diamond is really entertaining on the mic too, and his raps reflect a lot of what was so great about hip hop in 1992. Even though this was a strictly underground album, the genre was in such a state that an LP like this could have major label distribution and even get radio spins. Diamond raps about the life of an urban average-Joe. He tells stories of awkward confrontations, female escapades, and living in New York. His flow and vernacular are pretty average, but he's got such a likable personality and character that you can't help but love his verses. "Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop" doesn't have a bad track on it, and at 23 tracks and almost 70 minutes, that's really saying something. Even the musical interludes are all dope. Add some excellent collaborations and you've got the recipe for an awesome album, one which I highly recommend. If you like the sound of early-90s east coast rap, then you'll love this album, because everything that was so great about it is in abundance here.

After the intro, the album opens with the single "Best Kept Secret." A catchy beat and some light punchlines make this one a winner. The classic "Sally Got a One Track Mind" comes next, which has wonderful breezy production and a nice performance from Diamond, just pure dope hip hop. The thick, rich horns and classic New York attitude of "Step to Me" make the song a real highlight, and "*!*! What U Heard" is similarly nice. "I'm Outta Here" and "A Day in the Life" are the lyrical highlights of this album. The former is some excellent storytelling, telling of isolated troublesome events from the perspective of "John Doe." The latter, a collaboration with Brand Nubian narrating "a day in the life of three black men." Both tracks have nice loops and good vibes. The great "Red Light, Green Light" is upbeat, catchy, and laced with slick stories. "I Went for Mine" is also awesome, with a funky beat and the classic, breezy flute sample that Busta Rhymes would use for "New York S..." fourteen years later. "Check One, Two" and "What You Seek" are both solid products of 1992 hip hop, displaying the innocent, fun state of rap at that time. The beat on "Confused" is phenomenal, a rich and funky track with a soulful hook and clever rhymes, telling party tales, followed by the long D.I.T.C. posse cut "Pass Dat S..." The freestyle "Yo, That's That S..." and "K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid" don't stand out but are both great in their own rights. The upbeat title track and great sax-laced "Feel the Vibe" close the album.

"Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop" doesn't hit you over the head with lyricism or out-of-this-world production, but the incredible consistency and great feel of the album makes it a borderline classic. Diamond would go on to other good things in his career, and his debut remains one of his finest works. Slick punchlines, fun stories, and dope beats are the criteria for any D.I.T.C. album, and it's never more true than on this one. For the fans of D.I.T.C., Gang Starr, Brand Nubian, A Tribe Called Quest, and Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, I hope you'll treat yourself to "Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop." This one doesn't have the same recognition as concurrent releases by the artists previously mentioned, but it's just about every bit as enjoyable, it's feel good music. September 23, 2007

I Dug In The Crates To Find This Classic

I had this on my wish list for a while but never found a decent place to buy it from. I went to a CD outlet one day and dug in one of the Hip Hop crates and found this sitting there all alone. I thought what crazy person sold this CD. This is one of those albums where the beats are so hot that you can't really beat down on the lyrics. That is something you'll hear a lot when anyone is talking about Stunts, Blunts, & Hip-Hop because it's true. The thing about Diamond D is that he didn't do the type of production you hear today. He used all types of crazy jazz instruments that just blow your ears away. My favorite song has to be "Step To Me" because like most of the production on this album the beat is perfect. He starts it off with this hot deep bass cello which he likes to use a lot and then throws in a saxophone, trust me when you hear it you'll be going crazy. It's like you can't really fault Diamond for his OK lyrics because they're OK and not awful so they don't really stick out. But he does rhyme well enough where you might listen to his songs a few times and start rapping along with him. He also has a few skits, the skits are right on this album cause they're funny but he doesn't overdue it with them and kill the rest of the tracks. This is a perfect buy so if you're trying to decide if you should get it stop looking and just get it cause it's worth it. Now all I have to do is go back to that outlet and see if that same crazy person maybe sold a copy of Main Source's Breaking Atoms. June 29, 2007

THE BEST KEPT SECRET IS VOLUMOUS IN THE MEMORY BANK OF ME

all i have to say is this....................if i were making a hip hop classic in the studio, i hope that it would sound like this. i think about quasimoto's joint that samples A DAY IN THE LIFE when i see this album on here. i wanna here that album so badly right now.........the flutes..........the jazz...........the breezy sound of it. i dig beats like the ones from BEST KEPT SECRET and I'M OUTTA HERE..........oh.......and RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT (nice use of leaders of the new school there). anybody who says this is wack, and i have heard people say this is wack before and diamond can't rhyme, needs to just havbe their heads completely severed from their bodies. where is the diamonds of the world these days? i think i'll check "underground". January 25, 2007

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