Natalia Inoue

Gift Card Exchange Day Is Today [Augusta Chronicle]

Thank You, Etta: 5 Awesome Etta James Samples [TRU]

Nelly Sued By American Express [NME] Read the rest of this entry »

On “If U Down,” the first single from the Diamond District member’s sophomore album The Earn, yU combats empty rhetoric with harsh truth about himself, his surroundings and his art form. Less a song than a call to action, yU spits like a man at the end of his rope. Read the rest of this entry »

yU’s best known for his work on the microphone, whether he’s on the solo tip or doing his thing as one-third of Diamond District. But over the years, he’s crafted some gems behind the boards as well. Read the rest of this entry »

Following a pretty kickass verse on “Tol’ U So,” Oddisee’s back behind the boards for his new instrumental album, Rock Creek Park, and its first single, “Still Doing It.” Read the rest of this entry »

Uptown XO links with Diamond District brethren yU, Oddisee and fellow DMV-repper Fat Trel for “Tol’ U So,” a track set to be included on XO’s next project Monumental 2.

Diamond District Feat. Fat Trel – “Tol’ U So” (Prod. By AB The Pro)

A while back, yU, one-third of Diamond District, released his solo effort, Before Taxes to critical acclaim. At that time, Gotty described the man’s music like this: “When I listen, I don’t hear ‘what’s next’ when he rhymes. Instead, there’s traces of “what was” and that is well-crafted rhymes, founded on some semblance of intellect.” Sounds about right to me. Read the rest of this entry »

The holiday season is in full swing which means it’s time for long shopping trips, putting up the Christmas tree & gatherings among friends and family. The one constant throughout these and any other holiday traditions one may hold is holiday music. Growing up, we heard holiday themed music 24-7 from the day after Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. Sweeping in to save your ears from redundant tunes, the Low Budget Crew have remixed & flipped some of our favorite songs. Read the rest of this entry »

First and foremost, thanks to all that entered the yU “Before Taxes” Giveaway. While we couldn’t bless everyone with goodies, three lucky cats will be receiving free goods. The second prize winner is Thaddeus Y. of Freemont, CA. Thaddeus will be receiving receive a signed CD copy of yU’s Before Taxes and a vinyl version of the album. The third prize winner is Andrew K. of Philly and Andrew gets a whole bunch of stuff out of the TSS goodie bag.

But for the big shebang, the grand prize winner is Pythian W. of Chicago. He’ll be receiving a signed copy of yU’s Before Taxes CD as well as a vinyl copy of the album plus the NikeID “Before Taxes” Dunks.

Respect to yU, Diamond District & the Mello Music Group for putting the giveaway together and our good friends Dan & Michelle @ Audible Treats for helping to make it all happen. Make sure to check out yU’s solo album Before Taxes and show your support by purchasing a copy.

RMF!

– Basketball is a team game (how else do you explain this dunk?). But similar to how quarterbacks & pitchers absorb the losses in their respective sports, the wins and losses fall on the star’s shoulders.

– Tila’s bringing real Hip-Hop back one DJ at a time & David D. will be there to capture it all for our enjoyment.

– Relive our adventures with B.o.B & peep his album review. Read the rest of this entry »

Reminder: Make sure your name is in the hat. Enter to win yU’s “Before Taxes” Nike Dunks.

RMF!

yU, one-third of the celebrated group Diamond District, recently released a new solo album, Before Taxes, released April 13th via Mello Music Group. To celebrate and promote the release, yU and Mello Music Group are putting together a giveaway to award one lucky fan & TSS reader the opportunity to win a special, yU “Before Taxes” customized pair of Nike Dunks. Once the winner has been awarded, the Dunks will be customized using Nike ID and sent along according to the winner’s shoe size. Yep, free shoes! All you have to do is sign up below using legit info so that we can contact you once you win and then process your order. And if you’re really game, send us a photo of you rocking the kicks. Read the rest of this entry »

Constantly bombarded with what every artist/manager/publicist hopes is the next thing, I’m always looking for and listening to a healthy dose of boom-bap that may not agree with everyone’s tastes. But I think anyone who listened to Diamond District’s In The Ruff last year will cosign how thorough it was. Right on the heels of the group’s critical acclaim, one part of the DD team, yU, has released his solo effort, Before Taxes, and it’s ripe with similar sound patterns but perhaps more gritty & conscious lyrics.

“I sing a song of truth, courage, and respect/Jumping out there like Geronimo, we stand up for that/And our plan of attack is straight Cherokee strategy/You can kill me, but you cannot kill my legacy…”

When I listen, I don’t hear “what’s next” when he rhymes. Instead, there’s traces of “what was” and that is well-crafted rhymes, founded on some semblance of intellect. Read the rest of this entry »