Diamond D | |
|---|---|
 Diamond D at A3C in Atlanta | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Joseph Kirkland |
| Also known as | Diamond D |
| Born | (1968-04-05)April 5, 1968 (age 56) The Bronx,New York City, U.S.[1] |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Labels |
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| Formerly of | D.I.T.C. |
Joseph Kirkland (born April 5, 1968), better known by his stage nameDiamond D (or simplyDiamond), is an American hip hopMC and record producer fromThe Bronx, New York City,[1] and one of the founding members of theDiggin' in the Crates Crew, abbreviated as D.I.T.C.[2]
Growing up inForest Houses in The Bronx, Diamond D was influenced by local DJs, DJ Hutch and DJ Supreme. During his youth the two DJs would let him perform on their turntables.[3] At the beginning of his career as a producer, Diamond spent many hours atJazzy Jay's studio on Allerton Avenue in The Bronx. He credits Jay for inspiring him to buy a sampler and teaching him various production techniques.[3] In a 2017 interview he said, "I learned about 95% of my production skills from him. And he was ahead of his time."[4]
In addition to Jazzy Jay's teachings, Diamond creditedBrand Nubian memberGrand Puba as his inspiration to start rapping.[5] An early guest appearance onA Tribe Called Quest'sThe Low End Theory track "Show Business" helped make people more aware of him as an artist.[3]
The following year he released his debut recordStunts, Blunts and Hip Hop. In a 2017 interview Diamond described the album as, "just a collection of beats and records I was just setting aside. It was more about, 'One day I want to do something with this' ideas. And about 80% of that album I got from those records."
Diamond's favorite experience from makingStunts, Blunts, and Hip Hop was recording the vocals for the song "Check One, Two."[4] He credits producerThe 45 King with clearing the samples for that beat.[4] It took him 30 minutes to construct the beat for one of the album's best-known tracks, "Sally Got A One Track Mind".
In 1996, Diamond won aGrammy Award for his production on the title track fromThe Fugees'The Score album. He later described the experience as "just a bad memory" and declined to talk about it in an interview.[6]
To promote his 1997 albumHatred, Passions and Infidelity, Mercury Records compiled a promotional vinyl calledDiamond Jewels that included theStunts, Blunts, and Hip Hop songs"Best Kept Secret', "*!*! What U Heard", and "Sally Got A One Track Mind".[7]
| Album information |
|---|
Stunts, Blunts and Hip Hop
|
Hatred, Passions and Infidelity
|
Grown Man Talk
|
The Diamond Mine
|
I'm Not Playin'(with Master Rob as Ultimate Force)
|
The Huge Hefner Chronicles
|
The Diam Piece
|
The Diam Piece 2
|
Gotham(withTalib Kweli)
|
The Rear View
|
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | US Rap | |||
| "One for the Money" (Royce da 5'9" featuringSkillz and Diamond D) | 2012 | — | — | — | Non-album single |
| Song | Year | Artist | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Show Business | 1991 | ATCQ, Sadat X, Lord Jamar | |
| Diggin' in the Crates | 1992 | Show & A.G., Lord Finesse | |
| Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down (Remix) | Brand Nubian | ||
| Still Diggin' | Show & A.G. | ||
| CrumbSnatcher | 1993 | Illegal | |
| Watch the Sound! | Fat Joe, Grand Puba | ||
| I Can't Take No More | Class A Felony | ||
| Slappin' Suckas Silly Remix | Yaggfu Front | ||
| Keep It Real | 1994 | A.D.O.R. | |
| Word Iz Bond | House of Pain | ||
| I Got Planz | Scientifik | ||
| Ya Don't Stop | Dana Barros &Cedric Ceballos, A.G., Sadat X, Grand Puba | ||
| The Next Level | 1995 | The Alkaholiks | |
| You Want It | Show & A.G. | ||
| How They Want It | Big Red | ||
| What I Wanna Do.... | Veronica, Sadat X | ||
| Speak Ya Piece | 1996 | Lord Finesse, marquee, A.G. | |
| Diamond's Are a Girl's Best Friend | DJ Polo | ||
| The Score | The Fugees | ||
| When the Ship Goes Down (Diamond's Seafaring Remix) | Cypress Hill | ||
| Hot This Year | 1998 | Kid Capri, Brand Nubian | |
| Time to Get This Money; Put It in Your System | Show & A.G. | ||
| Nowhere to Go | 1999 | A.G. | |
| When It Rains It Pours | Diamond D | ||
| Got Dat?; Live Shit | 2000 | El da Sensei | |
| X-Man | Sadat X | ||
| Lyrical Talents | Muro, O.C. | ||
| Best at That | 2001 | Da Beatminerz | |
| The Omen | 2002 | Aim | |
| Welcome to the World of Joni Rewind | Joni Rewind, Lord Finesse | ||
| Feedback | 2003 | Akrobatik | |
| Pressure | 2005 | Med | |
| CD Only Bonus Track | 2022 | Open Mike Eagle, Aesop Rock |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
