An album to blast in your earphones, walk the streets and maybe climb a tree to. Truly pensive for the passionate Boom Bap follower, the Diamond District boys with razor sharp rhymes and insightful words verbally sound like a cross between Mob Deep and Common with a dash ofMos Def. While rapper/producer Oddisee is the strong adhesive that keeps In The Ruff tight.

The topics of discussion don’t drift further than the street stereotype. From the posse big ups, the grind, the random romance with a beautiful girl – you might yawn at the idea. But reflecting a positive group ideology, they present classic material with intelligence and elegance light years away from Hip Hop’s profanity obsessed mainstream cousin.

Pinpoint raps play team with brilliant production. And it’s these subtle touches of the latter, an ability to leave things unrefined that has Oddisee tickling that extra nerve. Muffled snares, looped beats and sparse sampling genius prevail as the man squeezes the best out of an MPC. And don’t forget the drums. On ‘Streets Won’t Let Me Chill’ the beat is so raw you can literally visualise the dust bouncing of it. The aggressive switch between chorus and verse on ‘Back II Basics’ work a treat too, shouting that rebellious hip-hop attitude—no rules apply. Or maybe you’ll fall victim to soulful romantic ‘Off the Late Night’ or the addictive ra tat tat of ‘In The Ruff’.

Whatever the selection, it’s hard to find a better Hip Hop debut in recent years that corners that early 90’s golden sound. In fact we can’t find one, can you?

words Ali Raymond
Diamond District Myspace
Buy In the Ruff