That doesn't mean this is bad, however, as Oddisee's production is solid, and all of the Diamond District members hold their own on it, especially yU, who kills this. The hook on this record is pretty good, but the rest of the song pales in comparison to the preceding two tracks. go in on this, ripping the incredible beat to pieces and sounding as comfortable as ever in doing so. Oddisee works in a sample of Gang Starr's hit "Mass Appeal" and does it flawlessly, as it accompanies the knocker of an instrumental (those are some of the best drums I've ever heard) perfectly. Also, the beat that takes over at the 3:15 mark and plays out for the remainder of the four-minute, thirty-eight second song with Oddissee rapping over it also sounds great. Oddisee's instrumental, made up of a crazy-good piano loop containing some booming kicks and hats, is sick, and all three Diamond District members tear it to shreds. Oddisee utilizes an Ol' Dirty Bastard vocal sample on the beat, which is pretty mediocre.Īhh. It's funny, because In The Ruff really didn't get off to too great of a start, as "Streets Won't Let Me Chill" and "Who I Be" are two of the album's more meh tracks. Anyway, the song is about how you have to be vigilant and on guard no matter what because, well, the streets won't let you chill. That little "criticism" should give you a little taste as to how good In The Ruff actually is as a whole. over a very smooth beat driven by piano hits and some banging kicks.Īs nice as this cut sounds, this is just okay in comparison to the high points of the album. The album kicks off with an intro from Oddisee, who introduces himself, yU, and X.O. The best part about In The Ruff is how well it all comes together as a whole, which you will soon see in the review.īecause I don't really have much more background information to give on Diamond District or In The Ruff, I will just jump right into things. I am certainly inclined to agree, as I not only think it was one of the best projects put out during that year, but one of the best of the 2000s overall. Also, much like Journalist 103 (of The Left), yU, X.O., and Oddisee drop very complex and thought-provoking rhymes.Īs with Gas Mask, In The Ruff received incredible reviews from bloggers and Internet hip-hop heads, many deeming it among the top albums released in 2009. The group certainly adopts a boom bap theme for In The Ruff (its debut album), as Oddisee displays staunch similarities to The Left's Apollo Brown (the main difference is that Oddisee also raps). comprised of producer/rapper Oddisee and rappers yU (who dropped a damn good album of his own, Before Taxes, in 2010) and X.O. I figured that since I mentioned Diamond District's In The Ruff in my review of The Left's Gas Mask, I would go ahead and make it my next project, and if you liked Gas Mask, then there is a very sizeable chance that you will also enjoy In The Ruff.ĭiamond District is a trio from Washington D.C.