Diamond District Featured In The Huffington Post

Diamond District Brings D.C. Hip Hop to L.A. (VIDEO)

The venerable DJ store Fat Beats on Melrose was welcome to L.A.'s first visit by Hip Hop artists Diamond District, an infectious charge of old school rap flavored by the emcees' region, the "DMV" -- the area spanning D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, a merging of affluent areas with impoverished neighborhoods wrapped around the heart of America's government. The group gets its name from the diamond-shaped layout that is the District of Columbia.

Oddisee, the group's producer and one of Diamond District's three emcees, explains that the juxtaposition of the poorest neighborhoods and the richest centers of power makes for "a terrible combination." Nonetheless, he asserted that having traveled the country and around the world, the D.C. area is still one of the best places to be African-American. At Diamond District's performance the previous evening at the Self-Help Graphics Center on Caesar Chavez in East L.A., Oddisee introduced himself to the audience as part Arab, part Black.

D.C.'s diverse music scene has been known in the past for Hard Core or Go-Go, and home to such multi-genre masters as Thievery Corporation. The array of cultures and sounds is a theme throughout Oddisee's layered arrangements and moody composition on the Diamond District tracks, and Oddisee openly aspires to the ranks of the late J Dilla, the innovative and influential DJ/emcee. Oddisee Music has put out several solo rap albums, an album of beat instrumentals akin to DJ Dimitri from Paris or DJ Shadow, as well as produced with other local artists.

Diamond District is a collaboration of Oddisee with emcees yU and XO, backed by DJ Quartermaine, all of whom are independently prolific solo artists. Their collective effort is an earnest attempt to revive the sound of early Hip Hop, a styled once termed "Boom Bap" by KRS-ONE for the classic old school rhythm comprised of a booming bass line, complimented by a bumping cymbal/snare sound.

Diamond District's socially conscious lyrics are a welcome relief from the played-out materialism of mainstream rap, removed from thuggery and overindulgence. Their rhymes and alliteration, punctuated with a staccato flow, carve dense portraits of scrapping to get by, direct outrage at corrupt powers, and map out their disciplines and dreams, while asserting their love of soul music with vigor. Their voices seem bigger than their years, their flows sharpened with a DC-area drawl, and their delivery confident and charismatic.

At this in-store performance in West Hollywood, this group that has traveled the world nonetheless warmed to the inauspicious setting as their introduction to the entertainment capital of the world. Oddisee even ripped on his DJ, Quartmaine, for being a Cancer-Leo cusp, a pretty L.A. thing to do. Though their debut album In The Ruff has only been out a few weeks, several in the crowd knew it well enough to request songs and sing along.

In this video, Oddisee explains Diamond District's musical goals, and the group performs their album's opening song, "Streets Won't Let Me Chill." Insisting on getting the small gathering hyped, Oddisee leads those present in call and response during the song, rather amusingly.

Massive shout out to John Ennis for doing this! Check out other music documentary work at www.johnennis.tv

Diamond District LA

Super Late on Diamond District's LA pics, my bad y'all.

DJ Premier Plays yU's "Almost Time"

Shout out to Premier for showing love to the homie yU! Download the podcast here
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Beats From Traveling Man Used By DC Shoes & Quick Silver

Oddisee: Khartoum, Chicago
Featured in: Clay Marzo- Grinding & Surfing
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Oddisee: San Fran
Featured in: Mtn. Lab Winners’ Weekend
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Oddisee: Khartoum
Featured in: Belly’s Blog- Bells Beach, pt. 2
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Diamond District & DJ Quartermaine - Seattle

We recently spent 5 days in Seattle. we had three shows, a live performance on radio and an amazing time. From performing at an underground party (no really... underground) to shutting it down with Diamond District to DJ Quartermaine rocking the dance floor... We did Seattle right. A massive shout out to Samuel Chesneau & DJ100Proof for their amazing hospitality.

[PMOI Exclusive] Odd Spring

Well here it is... has it really been a year? You now, When I first got in to music I did it purely for the fun and excitement of it. As the seasons came an went my hobby transformed into a full on career. The "Odd Seasons" series was a way for me to be creative for no reason other that creativity. That's why they've been free releases. In order to remind my self why I do music, I have to allow some of my works to be created and released for well.... I hate to say it but.... "The Love"

Now That the "Odd Seasons" are complete I'll be pressing them on vinyl in a lovely box set that will contain all four seasons. So yes, the time will come when you'll be able to support and purchase. Enough with this! ODD SPRING!!!

Please visit the good folks over at putmeonit.com they have great taste in music