Diamond District Mixtape

Some really beautiful things are happening for hip hop in the greater DC area right now. I don't know if it's just because Mark Ronson helped Wale step into the shine that folks started taking a look into what was happening in DC, or whether it's just the magic of the internet and a little marketing savvy that more independent cats are finding ways to reach more geographically diverse audiences, but whatever it is, I'm glad that I can live in Georgia and find out about some artists like the crew that makes up Diamond District.

They're dropping a mixtape with DJ Buddy in preparation for a proper release of In the Ruff on Oct. 27.



Here's a choice cut, "Back to Basics" off the mixtape, and presumably, the forthcoming album:


The Diamond District team is X.O. who I stumbled across thanks to Cocaine Blunts after he released one of the nicest mixtapes I heard last year, The Takeover Pt. 2, Oddissee, who is in the running for one of the nicest producers on the mic right now in my book, and YU, who I don't know anything about, but who must be pretty dope judging by the company he keeps.

Here's a nice cut from X.O.'s last tape called "Tru"

And a nice joint from Oddissee called "Hip Hop's Cool Again"

A single off the Diamond District album, "I Mean Business", is for sale, and which you should go buy (link to iTunes)