Nems, Saigon, Prayah, Tons – ‘T.S.N.Y.’ (prod. by Diamond D)
Grammy-winning Hip-Hop legend Diamond D released The Diam Piece album in 2014, followed by the project’s sequel, The Diam Piece 2, in 2019. Today (1/10/2025), the Diggin’ In The Crates Crew co-founding member shared DUO, the second of three parts to The Diam Piece 3, which serves as the final installment in Diamond D’s production compilation series. The follow-up to last year’s INITIUM (released 8/16/2024), DUO features legendary Hip-Hop guests such as Sadat X, Kid Capri, Lady Luck, B-Real, Camp Lo, and more. The official music video for the album’s second track “T.S.N.Y.” (The Sound Of New York)– which taps Gorilla Nems, Saigon, Prayah, and Tons –debuted on YouTube this afternoon. Diamond D says of the song, which stands out as one of his favorites from the album, that the goal “was to bring four dope NYC emcees together and make a hot, grimy New York joint.” He notes that “Nems, Saigon, Tons and Prayah all represent different parts of the city.” The video was shot by Joe Cherry in midtown, the heart of Manhattan.
“With recent album releases from Common, LL Cool J, Rapsody, Roc Marciano and Ghostface Killah, we know boom-bap Hip-Hop is alive and well. Im just adding on so when you sit with the new album and you’re into lyricism over hard tracks, then you will definitely get into it. As with the previous two in the series, making the LP was a fun experience matching up artists you normally wouldn’t hear together on a joint” – Diamond D on DUO
The Diam Piece 3: DUO arrives on all major digital streaming platforms via Dymond Mine Records/EMPIRE.
The Diam Piece 3: DUO can be purchased on vinyl via Fatbeats here.
DUO will soon be followed by Tria to complete The Diam Piece 3 compilation.
MORE ABOUT DIAMOND D:
“Wow, this guy [Diamond D] is one of the all time greats,” Chris Rock professes on the opening track of the Diggin’ In The Crates Crew founding father’s new album The Rear View. That statement isn’t so much of a stretch when considering a legacy that helped architect a sound, bridge regions in Hip-Hop, and launch the careers of other all time greats like Fat Joe and Big L. And when you call yourself the “best producer on the mic” uncontested for years on end, that reputation is all but solidified. First getting his start as a young DJ in The South Bronx, New York City, Diamond D was inspired by Jazzy Jay to delve into music production and start crafting beats. The now emcee/producer credits Brand Nubian‘s Grand Puba for inspiring him to rap. An early guest appearance on A Tribe Called Quest‘s “Show Business” from The Low End Theory helped Diamond step into his true artistic identity.