TAG: Diamond District

Apr25

Substantial – Home Is Where The Art Is (Instrumentals) (MP3)

Baltimore emcee Substantial released his Oddisee executive produced album, “Home Is Where The Art Is” late last year and quickly garnered acccolades from his strong worldwide fan base. Since then, Substantial has toured with yU (of Diamond District), seen the vinyl release of his record, performed at the Smithsonian in DC, and released a wildly successful tribute album to Jill Scott titled “Jackin’ Jill”. Today, Substantial wanted to share the entire collection of instrumentals from “Home Is Where The Art Is” with his fans. The complete instrumentals will be free for a week before heading up on iTunes, so be sure and grab them now. Beats by Oddisee, Eric Lau, M-Phazes, Algorythm, and more!

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Feb21

Substantial – Resilient (Marcus D Remix) (MP3)

Substantial “Home Is Where The Art Is” continues to grace speakers domestically and internationally after having gained critical acclaim a few months back. Since releasing the Oddisee executive produced album, Substantial has done a quick tour with Diamond District emcee yU, dropped a few bonus tracks with Oddisee, Homeboy Sandman, and others, and even was invited to do an akapelah show at the Smithsonian in DC.

“Speak about it, Then I be about it.”

For the album cut “Resilient,” Substantial brings on Seattle producer and Bop Alloy partner Marcus D to provide a smoothed out, jazz infused remix. The track, originally produced by Eric Lau, is a testament to the strength it takes to claim your identity and walk your own path. The Marcus D …

Oct01

Uptown XO – The Color Grey (Free Mixtape) (MP3)

DMV representative and Diamond District member, Uptown XO, drops a free mixtape download featuring production primarily from AB the Pro and features guest appearances from Kid Daytona, Tranquill, and others.

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Aug20

yU – Dreams feat. Danedra Rowell (MP3)

The A-side of the next installment in Mello Music Group’s 7” Series comes from Diamond District/1978er producer/emcee yU. The gruff DMV MC is known for philosophical street rap but “Dreams” takes a different route – the result a hauntingly beautiful track likely to end up on repeat.

Enlisting Danedra Rowell on vocals, yU eschews the new age boom-bap that got him noticed for something closer to all of our heartstrings. Featuring no rapped bars, “Dreams” is a bittersweet ballad that is less literal than emotive. It captures that late-night, pensive feeling us music heads are very familiar with. yU is able to craft a sound that is universal and hyper-local, breaking new ground for himself musically. The drums sound like they could be on any Diamond …

May20

The Black Opera – Black Superstar (prod. by yU) (MP3)

The Black Superstar has always been a paradox in American Culture. African-Americans, and many racialized ‘others’, have for a long time held this odd allure as naturally cool, while at the same time suffering the effects of a body that is instantly criminalized. This is a dangerous duality that can serve as simultaneous impetus and hindrance. This polarization drives an ill collaboration between yU and the mysterious outfit known as The Black Opera, hosted by Mello Music Group.

yU is most known for his work demolishing microphones as 1/3 of Diamond District, but he is adept behind the beat machine as well. This joint is actually a cut off his humbly titled “A Garbage Beat Tape.” One MC’s “garbage” can be another one’s banger. The faceless Black Opera collective bring life …

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