Avg Rating: 
3.1 ( 17 total votes )
The Diamond District - Who I Be
Artist: The Diamond District
Producer: Oddisee
Album: In The Ruff
Label: Mello Music Group
On his Booth debut, Oddisee made the announcement that, thanks to him, “Hip Hop’s Cool Again,” and the combination of scorching hot rhymes and old-school production he brought to the table made the point nigh-impossible to argue. To his credit, though, the emcee/producer’s superhuman ability to elevate the game doesn’t blind him to the fact that there’s strength in numbers—now, he’s joined forces with fellow D.C. natives XO and YU to bring back the classic sounds of mid-‘90s boom-bap as The Diamond District. If new single Who I Be is any indication, the trio have struck a rich vein of retro appeal. Once again doing double duty on the mic and behind the boards, Odd serves up a darkly ambient instrumental driven by woozy arpeggios, and all three bring rhymes as sharp and solid as the stone from which they take their name. If this gem’s piqued your interest, you’ll find plenty more Diamonds In The Ruff on the trio’s forthcoming LP, set to drop April 14th.
Listen to More: The Diamond District Written by richard
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Member Reviews and Ratings
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 11674 |
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Oddisee was right... (some) hip hop CAN be "cool again."
Sidenote: Man, I miss ODB. 
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| Posted on Mar 24, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 267 |
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Raw lyrics backed with a simple, equally banging production from Oddisee
That kind of punch with a song is nasty |
| Posted on Mar 24, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1077 |
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"Woozy" is definitely the word for it, almost unsettling. But for some reason it makes it even "cooler." Haha dude's style is real cool.
I don't feel like this track is classic like his last, but its def some fresh ish. Oddisee is on my radar now as a rapper and a producer, and I like both of the dudes he brought wit him. Can't wait 2 hear more. @Z: Ditto, ODB was one of a kind. |
| Posted on Mar 24, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1642 |
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when i saw "Street, Underground, Northeast" and the 4 star ratings. i knew i wasnt goin like this. but, it turned out ok, seeing how this aint my type of rap.
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| Posted on Mar 24, 2009 |
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| Posted on Mar 24, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 332 |
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this has that feel good old skewl flava to it,feelN it fosho..ryder music baby,u know what it is
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| Posted on Mar 24, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 4267 |
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Talent on the production, talent on the flow, i can dig this for real... Oddisee is on my radar too ...
All 3 deliver tight lyrics ... |
| Posted on Mar 24, 2009 |
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Tastemaker |
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see there are all different types of rap, as many of you have pointed out... though there arent words to classify them, there are different section... this is different then flo-rida style rap, different then styles p type rap, and different then soulja boy type rap... no such thing as killing hip hop.. the constant differentials withing this genre seperate listeners to like one more then another... this track here is different, its ok, beat sounds weird, but i like i like... lyrics and flow go good together, nothin standout to me though, nothing that made me say dam this is dope...good mixtape track, but if he wanna straight banger album or mixtpae he has to step it up some
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| Posted on Mar 24, 2009 |
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Tastemaker |
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Just realized I got bumped up to Resident DJ status, good looks to the Booth! Appreciate it.
I wouldn't say this one is as hot as Hip Hop's Cool Again, but def. somethin that kept me interested throughout. Quality track. |
| Posted on Mar 24, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 198 |
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I like how everybody flow on this. The beat aint bad, but it gets kind of annoying
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| Posted on Mar 24, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 424 |
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Banger!!! The beat just knocks and KNOCKS until your head bops till' it don't stop!
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| Posted on Mar 24, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 868 |
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beat is okay ,kinda boring though ,overall song is just okay
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| Posted on Mar 24, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 3212 |
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I liked their flows but the beat is repetitive and too soft. The song gets boring quite quickly I think
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| Posted on Mar 24, 2009 |
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Tastemaker |
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The beat isnt just working for me a little too dark and poorly produced. The lyrics are alright but nothing really that stands out on this song it is way too repetitive
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| Posted on Mar 25, 2009 |
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Tastemaker |
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this seems a little murky to me, woulda liked the bass a little crisper. overall just ok
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| Posted on Mar 25, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 6 |
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Dope. Put on some quality headphones and listen to that ridiculous bass line.
The ODB sample is killin it. "I never went to college but I'm schoolin' em" - yU The layers in this track add enough complexity to the joint that my ears always have somewhere else to follow. Boom Bap. |
| Posted on Aug 03, 2010 |
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| Posted on Oct 25, 2012 |
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