You may be familiar with one or no members of Diamond District, but you will be after today. They just released the follow up to their last album In The Ruff earlier today and the phrase “sophomore slump” must not exist in their vocabulary. But judging by the title of this one, don’t just assume that these are raps directly aimed at only Capitol Hill. To help explain what this new project is about and express their feelings on the current climate of Hip-Hop, we asked the group a few questions, which you can check out below. Be sure to stream the project as well and turn that damn radio down for a minute.
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Do you ever feel like your conscious form of Hip-Hop will ever dominate the airwaves? What would that world look like where it does?
Oddisee: What is conscious? If our music is conscious, are all other forms of rap unconscious? Our music isn’t designed to be dominate music, it’s made to be prominent in the hearts & minds of those who subscribe to it. The world would look exactly as it is regardless of what dominates the airwaves. How important are airwaves anymore?
yU: Will our lane of hip hop music ever dominate the airwaves? That I don’t know. However, I do think there’s a place for everybody. And the more good music we put out, the more folks hopefully will get hip & spread the word, making our movement contagious. In a world full of our listeners, you’d find folks that have respect for those that paved the way, as well as those that are open minded & ready to evolve into sumthin even greater.
Uptown XO: Conscious hip hop will never dominate the airwaves….conscious hip hop told black men they are gods! Don’t the cake, the slice, and the crumb all have the same essence… ? Through METAPhores we gain understanding of who we are …Being “hip” or aware is consciousness… To be unconscious would be the closest thing to death… Hip hop artists know the “hop” is applying what you know… Hip hop is an awareness movement …. And rhythm and music are the fastest ways to adapt… Memorize, process, and learn what they have been made aware of …through music. Black and whites and all races gained respect and understanding for one another through music. And history was preserved in songs–the good ones. In a capitalist society, the ignorant and unaware keep the system in tact…so of course they have music that produce these type of people as well… People in high positions know the power of music and are producing a mindset in people through music. A mindset that motivates a person to do something… whether it be a “f*ck the police” motivation or a “let’s unite” motivation” or a “buy out the Gucci store motivation.” Music is powerful! And if the world was on this conscious mindset (which it will be soon)…Evolution will speed up so fast.
What did you want to accomplish with this album that was similar or different to the last one you guys put out in 2009?
Oddisee: We simply wanted to make an album that could accompany our existing catalog. To hear these songs along with the previous album sewn together in a live performance would be to truly understand its differences & similarities.
yU: With March On Washington, the things similar are the fact that we three are still sparring & sharpening each other throughout the album. Nobody slouches on their rhymes, because it would stand out, therefore we wouldn’t have used that song. The different thing about it, would be our content & the overall feel. We’re not really into repeating the same exact steps that made the first.. Because even when we were doing that, it was sumthin we hadn’t done. Before anyone had heard, “In The Ruff,” we satisfied ourselves, and trusted our instincts that it was what we’re aiming for. Same thing with M.O.W., we set out to begin where we left off, and graduate the sound a bit, to not limit us to only the same thing.
Uptown XO: This is a different album… Different time… Different speed… Sh*t… It’s even different weed now than it was back then lol!!!! We wanted to have the same excitement around us uniting but a different theme this time with the album! Fans will just have to hear the album to understand!
Explain the significance of the title for this album, especially in the sociopolitical climate we’re in now. Is this your barb wired letter to the White House?
Uptown XO: I think Oddisee can answer this 3rd question best!
Oddisee: The title addressed DC’s relentlessness to continue to make hip hop regardless of whether or not DC will ever be a hip hop power house. Washington, DC music will continue to march on.
yU: Music has been known to depict the times.. When we say the title, it goes far beyond the nostalgic term. Stagnant ain’t the style, especially when you recognize that the listener has brand new needs. Nahh, I wouldn’t say it’s a letter to the White House, more so to the people. Letting them know, to be consistent, and to keep on pushing boundaries.
Do you enjoy being lyrically vicious or enlightening the masses more? Is it easy or a challenge to switch between the two?
Oddisee: They are one in the same, one shouldn’t suffer to the other. The focus is to be impactful most of all.
yU: Hmm.. Without placing emphasis, I think the aim is to balance both of those. Personally, I ain’t one of those words of wisdom, fortune cookie writing cats.. Though I am understanding my elders a lot more nowadays. I’m really self analyzing & trynna sharpen my walk. Ultimately, I love comin up with new patterns & telling story’s forreal.
Uptown XO: Lyrically vicious is what, if it’s no truth in it? Enlightening the masses is what, if you can’t dance to it? One is not supposed to be without the other… But you have conscious rappers that don’t understand that a chick ain’t winding to no breakbeat…and refuse to adapt… And end up looking like Jordan when Iverson crossed him up. Evolution is constant. Adaptation should be as well! Adaptation is the foundation of innovation. It’s easy to switch for me because I’m #hip on the conscious side and on the street side. So what I say is conscious but I say it in a way that’s not corny… or soft.
This isn’t so much a question as it is a statement. “Purveyors of Truth” = wow. That’s a dense track. Is that more to get stuff off your chest or to send a message?
Oddisee: All artists weave the need to feed the masses & lighten there own emotional load at the same time. Our external therapy in a perfect world would be an internal one for the audience.
yU: I’d say “Purveyors of Truth” was a way of tellin it how it is, coming from the home of capitalism. Some get over, some fall below… We were just breakin it down, from 3 different angles.
Uptown XO: Once one is made aware of something you have to tell the world! This is spreading the wealth! At least that’s the feeling inside of you, though music information recycles itself. So when I said, “Born in the Bronx the rebuttal to the Willie Lynch theory,” that one line means so much because the Willie Lynch theory had people thinking Black isn’t beautiful. It took our confidence away and direction as a people… Hip hop was the rebuttal to that. Hip hop empowered Black men. America said we were 3/5ths of a man and here is hip hop telling me I am god!
“Peace gooooood!!!” It sounded cool when Nas said it, didn’t it? People started using the words without understanding the meaning. Problems are created to be solved. And through hip hop we evolved as a people not just Black but all people! Frankly Beverly n Maze even said, “We are one.” This is how we gain consciousness–through music.
Bryan Hahn feels enlightened already. He’s on Twitter (@notupstate).
