Diamond District releases this remix LP of their early 2014 release, featuring new versions by Oh No, Large Professor, Apollo Brown, Black Milk, Diamond D, Doppelgangaz, Paul White, Jonwayne, and more. Stream and purchase via Bandcamp below.

Black Milk remixes Diamond District “Ain’t Over” from the Diamond District remix record March on Washington (Redux), hitting December 15th. Remixers include Black Milk, Diamond D, Large Professor, Jonwayne, Quelle Chris, Nottz, Paul White, Oh No, Apollo Brown and L’Orange. Peep the tracklist below as well.

1. First Step (14KT Remix)
2. These Bammas (Oh No Remix)
3. The Backup (L’Orange Remix)
4. Working Weekends (Large Professor Remix)
5. Purveyors of Truth (Apollo Brown Remix)
6. Say What You Mean (Quelle Chris Remix)
7. Ain’t Over (Black Milk Remix)
8. Erything (Diamond D Remix)
9. You Had To Be There (Doppelgangaz Remix)
10. Lost Cause (Nottz Remix)
11. March on Washington (DJ Skizz Remix)
12. Bonus Flow (Paul White Remix)
13. I Mean Business (Jonwayne Remix)

Words from Jonathan Kim: “DMV representatives, Diamond District, the group consisting of Oddisee, yU and Uptown XO, are preparing to release their March on Washington album on Oct. 14th via Mello Music Group. Today, enjoy the first music video from the album for the song “First Step.” Directed by Jay Brown, the video follows all three members on their individual travels who later come together to form as one. Both the video and song showcase the diversity in styles and approach but with a similar message and outcome, which is characteristic of the group as a whole. “First Step” was produced by Oddisee, who produces the entire upcoming album.”

Diamond District are back with their upcoming October 14th album “March on Washington.” Consisting of Oddisee, yU and Uptown XO, Diamond District first released their critically acclaimed 2009 album “In The Ruff.” After countless solo projects, the group is back a half-decade later to provide ‘wisdom over rhythm’ over neck-snapping drums.

Entirely produced and arranged by Oddisee, all three members are in top form on mic duties, continuing from where they left off while never looking back.

In celebration of the upcoming album and album pre-order, enjoy the first track for the song “First Step” which features all 3 members handling mic duties over an Oddisee produced beat.

Diamond District “March on Washington” Album Tracklisting:

1. March On
2. First Step
3. These Bammas
4. The Backup
5. Working Weekends
6. Purveyors of Truth
7. A Part of It All
8. Way What You Mean
9. Ain’t Over
10. Erything
11. You Had To Be There
12. Lost Cause
13. March Off
14. Bonus Flow (Bonus Track)

**All Tracks Produced & Arranged by Oddisee**

As part of the triumvirate of Diamond District, XO has been pushing DC street rap to the forefront for the past few years. Before XO reconvenes with Oddisee and yU for their sophomore group effort (March On Washington), XO is gearing up for the release of his new mixtape “The Color Gray” October 1st. To be followed by his new solo project “Colour de Grey”, to be released on Mello Music Group this winter.

The first taste from the pre-album mixtape is “Errybody.” The uptown Washington, DC native named the track phonetically to reflect the area dialect, highlighting the culture of the DMV. Much like the place, XO is a convergence of different styles and influences that created his uniquely sharp talent. Produced by AB the Pro, XO’s longtime collaborator and sole producer of the upcoming solo album, the menacing and militant track is a perfect example of the intricate and gritty energy that’s been bubbling out of the district.

The video for “Errybody” was shot at SXSW earlier this year, blending the street banger with images from the crew’s trip to Austin. Nipsey Hussle, Peter Rosenberg, Killer Mike, Danny Brown, and Oddisee are some of the cameos that pop up throughout, recognizing and giving XO his props. Capitalizing on the momentum of earlier projects, the mixtape “The Color Gray” (October 1st) and the upcoming album “Colour de Grey” (late winter) will further ensure the rest of the world is hip to that DC slang when it drops through Mello Music Group.

Out Da Box TV is proud to bring you our 1st episode of the year featuring the truly talented DMV Emcee “yU” (of Diamond District). We caught up with yU at a recent NY show show. He took the time to speak on a range of topics relating to his life and music career including how he prefers to approach his music, connecting with his audience, being a parent/artist, working with Oddisee and more. He even spoke a bit on the growing DMV music scene. We had a great pleasure working with such a humble and talented emcee. yU’s new album “The Earn” is now out on Mello Music Group and is also one of our favorite albums of 2011. When it comes to rhymes, flows, subject matter and beats, we believe this brother has the full package. He delivers well in all areas and we wish him the best of success as his career continues to grow. If you got the bread, feel free to go cop his album on itunes. In the meantime, check out this insightful interview with the man himself. Enjoy!

]]> http://www.hiphopsite.com/2012/01/21/yu-speaks-with-out-da-box/feed/ 2 http://www.hiphopsite.com/2011/08/12/uptown-xo-black-america-video/ http://www.hiphopsite.com/2011/08/12/uptown-xo-black-america-video/#comments Sat, 13 Aug 2011 02:41:01 +0000 http://www.hiphopsite.com/?p=37365

New video from Washington DC emcee, Uptown X.O (member of the Diamond District) off his upcoming solo LP Monumental II. The album will be available August 30th and produced entirely by A.B. The Pro. Nino bitches!

New video from Diamond District member XO. The D.C. emcee’s new project Monumental II is scheduled to be released on August 30th.

HHS: What’s up man? Can you introduce yourself to our readers?

yU: Yeah, one third of the group Diamond District and also one half of the 1978ers with myself and Slimkat78.

HHS: Just peeped your new album, Before Taxes. Can you talk a little bit about that?

yU: Yeah, it’s features Grap Luva, I made about half of the beats on there, and Slimkat produced the other half. Oddisee did one on there, Kev Brown did one on there.

HHS: As far as promoting your album, are you doing a lot of things in the states or are you going more overseas? Where are you focusing more to get your buzz going?

yU: There’s no specific place really. We went out to New York and got a lot of love at Fat Beats. But I also get a lot of love overseas. People flew in from Switzerland and France to see us. So I have to go wherever the influence is. I just do my music, and let people find it and then see where it reaches.

HHS: The Diamond District Album, In The Ruff dropped about a year  age. Can you talk a little about the group?

yU: It’s me, Oddisee and XO. I met Oddisee at a beat event at a spot called Mirrors. My boy Slim Cat was there, Oddisee was playing beats and Roddy Rod was playing beats. I came up to rhyme over some beats and I met Oddisee then and there. We were both using the ASR-X, the red one, and it took him forever to load beats (laughs). It took me a long time to load beats too, so I asked him questions about that. We started talking mainly off of that [topic] and slowly but surely we started building.

HHS: How’d you hook up with XO?

yU: I met XO at this spot called Capitol City Records, at this Friday night open mic thing and he started rhyming over one of my beats. And it built from there. Oddisee just said for us to both kick a verse for “Foot In The Door”. The track we did ["Gully"] ended up on his album and got a nice response.So while he was out in Europe he said he’d bring us out as long as we finished the album. And we did.

HHS: What kind of response have you gotten on the album so far?

yU: It’s been a good response so far man, can’t complain. It was actually supposed to be an EP, but as I was recording, it went from a 20 minute EP to a fifty six minute album. A couple cats out in Europe remixed the track “Fine”, as both a house and dubstep track. It’s wild how you can just freak a song different ways and give it a different feel.

HHS: The scene in DC has gotten a lot bigger over the years. I remember going to an EPMD show a few years ago where Kev Brown opened up for Black Sheep and EPMD…

yU: You were there? I performed at that show with Kev. The track “It’s Almost Time” on Before Taxes is all about that show. Kev called me the day before and asked if I wanted to drop a 16, we met up the next day with Roddy Rod, Cy Young and go the show tape together. The song is about that whole day.It’s funny that you brought that up.

HHS: It was a dope show, man. It was great just seeing known artists from this homebase out there.

yU: There needs to be more of that. I see it happening a little more now with Wale and Tabbi Bonney, so it’s happening. Let it keep happening.

HHS: So what are you doing now, just out touring, promoting the album?

yU: Yeah doing small things now, but will be touring with Oddisee in the next couple of weeks. There are few things in motion right now with In The Ruff and Before Taxes being out.

HHS: Any last words?

yU: Yeah, just trust in yourself and don’t allow the populous to affect how you think. I do things that work for me and let people know that it’s cool to be yourself. People think you have to be glamorous to get somewhere and you don’t. But on another level, there’s a lot of good music coming out. Slimkat put a beat tape called Sound Freakers, google that. Oddisee [just dropped] Odd Spring, which has a new Diamond District joint on there. Kev Brown is putting out a new album with LMNO called Selective Hearing Sean Born, Ken Starr and  Roddy Rod are dropping new projects. You can find them all at Fat Beats and online.

HHS: Thanks your time man. We appreciate it.

yU: Good rappin’ with you man.

Check yU out via Twitter: www.twitter.com/yuthe78er and Myspace: www.myspace.com/yuremainz

In the Ruff and Before Taxes are available on Amazon.Com, iTunes, ughh.com. Or contact yU directly to purchase.

To celebrate the release of his new album, The Reset, which drops today, Apollo Brown is excited to give fans another treat from the album, this time the “Streets Won’t Let Me Chill Remix.” For the track, Apollo Brown remixed Diamond District’s “Streets Won’t Let Me Chill,” originally produced by Oddisee and featured on the group’s debut In The Ruff, and provides a darker perspective on the song when compared to the original’s brass-lined soul beat. The James Brown drum break, which Apollo uses along with an eerie guitar riff, creatively compliments vocals from Oddisee, yU, and X.O. “I wanted the remix to have the same gritty feel to it. The original is drum heavy to me so I wanted to keep that going with a classic drum break. You can’t go wrong with ‘funky drummer’”, says Apollo. “I picked something that I know I could have done a lot of justice to. The lyrics on that song are ill as hell.”

Apollo Brown’s The Reset is now available via Mello Music Group.

In further celebration of today’s release, Apollo Brown is inviting all of his fans out tonight for a special meet-and-greet in-store at the legendary Fat Beats New York. Joining Apollo Brown at the in-store will be Hasaan Mackey. Come out, grab a CD, get it signed, and chop it up with Apollo and Hasaan tonight from 7pm – 9pm EST.

LISTEN: Apollo Brown – “Streets Won’t Let Me Chill Remix (feat. Diamond District)”

Apollo Brown – “Streets Won’t Let Me Chill Remix (feat. Diamond District)” (MP3) (Right Click To Save)

Two more tracks from Apollo Brown, the first one featuring Rapper Big Pooh and the second track featuring Diamond District. Both tracks are off Apollo Browns upcoming album The Reset which hits stores May 25th.

LISTEN: Apollo Brown + Rapper Big Pooh + Black Milk – “Hungry”

LISTEN: Apollo Brown + Diamond District – “Streets Won’t Let Me Chill”

DMV trio Diamond District are proud to announce the release of a trifecta of beats from their celebrated album In The Ruff. The instrumental triple threat includes tracks “Streets Won’t let Me Chill,” “In the Ruff,” and “Off the Late Night”.

Released at the end of 2009 through Mello Music Group, In the Ruff garnered much praise and acclaim from the hip-hop community, making countless year-end lists including hip-hop heavyweight websites KevinNottingham.com, PopMatters.com, and DJ Premier’s blog, to name a few. The album also brought an avalanche of well-deserved attention to the until-now underrated DMV hip-hop scene. The past meets the future on In The Ruff, where beats steeped in the boom-bap of yesteryear collide with dynamic verses from the DMV crew, giving fans the world over a taste of the D.C. flavor to savor.

To celebrate the triumph of In the Ruff, Diamond District are now dropping a special triple pack of instrumental beats featuring the tracks “Streets Won’t let Me Chill,” “In The Ruff” and “Off the Late Night.” Combining an infectious drum pattern, a simple chord progression and an addictive hook, “The Streets Won’t let Me Chill” instrumental lays the foundation for a backbeat driven street anthem. Stripped down to its instrumental form, “In the Ruff” reveals an essence of rawness that the DMV hip-hop scene is renown for, while the “Off The Late Night” instrumental gives beat junkies a generous fix of Diamond District’s soul-infused sounds.

This special release of In the Ruff instrumental tracks is available now through Mello Music Group. The original vocal version of In The Ruff is available via Itunes now.

(Right Click and Save)
- Diamond District – “Streets Won’t Let Me Chill” (Instrumental) (MP3)
- Diamond District – “In The Ruff” (Instrumental) (MP3)
- Diamond District – “Off The Late Night” (Instrumental) (MP3)