Diamond District 'In The Ruff' album

Washington DC is home to our nations politics and some of the wealthiest African-Americans in the country. It is also home to one of the nations largest income gaps with some of the highest crime rates. It is a culmination of these statistics that defines DC Hip-Hop. Emcee/Producer Oddiseee formed Diamond District with fellow emcees XO and YU. The idea was to create a mid-90's boom-bap record for the DC metropolitan area. With their debut album In The Ruff destined to appeal to fans of Hip-Hop's golden era, Diamond District is poised to simultaneously travel back in time and push the boundaries of DC Hip-Hop.

The group is comprised of emcee/producer Oddisee and emcees X.O. and YU. Greatly influenced by their surroundings and love for the sound of 90's East Coast hip-hop, Diamond District is on a mission to bring back the sounds of old with a new twist while representing for the DMV.

X.O. who was born & raised in the North West quarter of DC defines what it is to be a black male raised in the district. With lyrics that depict street life and harsh surroundings, X.O. has a way of philosophizing that raw, gutter reality of DC life that is rarely looked at or spoken about when we discuss our nation's capitol. Oddisee defines the experience of growing up in black middle class Maryland. Bordering the poverty that his and many other families fled to escape, they found out over time that the troubles of the inner city came along with them. Oddisee’s soulful, haunting samples over bass-heavy beat breaks create the perfect instrumentals for Diamond District to match the street savvy, politically conscious lyrics that capture the dynamic of being from the DMV.

Y.U., having been raised in the district, Maryland & Virginia, brings that extra variety to the group and shows that DC culture has a huge influence beyond its 10 mile radius. Being that YU has lived in all areas of the DMV, his lyrics and stories compliment the rest of the group and define what it means to be from the DMV. In The Ruff, the debut album from Diamond District is poised to become the official soundtrack for the DMV region.

In The Ruff is the answer for any lover of hip-hop who asks the question "Where did that grimy East Coast sound go?" Oddisee, who has a long list of production and collaboration credits with the likes of Freeway, Talib Kweli, Saigon, Little Brother, Trek Life, Charles Hamilton, Buck Shot, Skyzoo and many more, creates the proper soundtrack for emcees X.O. and YU to accompany lyrically and paint the picture that is Washington DC and it's outlying areas. In The Ruff will be released on October 20th through label Mello Music Group.

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Diamond District - In The Ruff