I love Diamond D., and Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop is one of the albums that I deem a certified classic.
Granted, Diamond’s strengths lie mostly behind the boards, but he’s adequately talented on the mic. Think of him as a early-’90s version of Kanye West.
That’s why I was anticipating his sophomore effort Hatred, Passions and Infidelity. Thankfully, my faith was rewarded. “Flowin'” the first song on the album, starts things off with a beat that showcases Diamond’s ability to craft a mellow beat to take the listener on a trip.
“No Wonduh (The Projeccts)” features Diamond’s ability to create clunky and forgettable hooks, which is a bit of a hindrance throughout the album.
“The Hiatus” is another triumph in terms of production—it’s a song where you just want to turn the volume up and pump it out the windows. It’s such a great beat. “Painz & Strife” works despite featuring Phife and Pete Rock. It’s almost like Diamond picked those two because he knew they wouldn’t outshine him on his own song.
The album stumbles a bit when Diamond tries to crossover. “Can’t Keep My Grands to Myself” is just as awkward as the title implies, and the beat sounds like a bad attempt to mimic the Trackmasters. Ditto for “Cream N Sunshine”.
And while I should hate “This One” because of its crass attempt to cater to the fairer sex, along with Diamond’s forced rhymes, I can’t help but love it. The beat totally carries the song and makes it a winner.
Diamond’s on the top of his game when he’s just rhyming about nothing. When he’s got a topic, he actually feels much more strained. “Never”, about the joys of weed, features a predictable sample and boring rhymes.
Still, I’m glad that I gave the album its time to shine. It really was worth the wait between his debut and Hatred, Passions and Infidelity.
