The Official Digger: Diamond D from Diggin In The Crates Crew

Certified digger checked: Diamond D from Diggin In The Crates Crew is one of the hip hop legends that earned a master in sampling.

The long time ago self-acclaimed “best producer on the mic” dropped beats on the classic Fugees album The Score, House of Pain’s Same As It Ever Was and his own 1992 debut album Stunts, Blunts & HipHop which is considered an all time classic. One year later Diamond D teamed up with now legendary Big L, Fat Joe, Showbiz & A.G., Lord Finesse, O.C. and Buckwild for the Diggin In The Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.), a name derived from the crew’s sample-heavy productions. Being famous for his skills in production and MCing, Diamond D is also a master on the decks. Fortunately the great people at the Berlin “Raphistory” party series got him to deliver an all 45s DJ-set. Have you ever seen a DJ starting a 45 with a fingertip and immediately gaining the right speed? Well, you missed it! But we saved some words for you…

When did you start DJing?

I was a DJ first, remember when I was in that group called the Ultimate Force? I was the DJ of that group. Me and Master Rob, before I’m Not Playin. So I started out as a DJ.

What interested you in it to begin with?

When I was a little kid I would go to jams, blockpartys, and see people like Grandmaster Flash, Bambaata, Kool Herc, Grandmaster Theodore, and I was a little boy, I would stand outside the ropes and watch them just trying to get a peek of what they were playing. I was always interested into the beats, into the breakbeats. Thats what got me into hip hop at first. It wasn’t rhyming, it was trying to be a DJ and trying to figure out what records I could play. I am sure that tonight there probably have been records that I played that people never heard before. I would go and look at them, and try to peek, that is what first got me and that is what still keeps me going.

When did you start collecting records?

Maybe like 1980, as a kid, when I was 10 years old.

Which of your records do you love the most??

Probably… there’s an album called The Stark Reality that came out like 1974, ’73. It’s worth like 1000 dollars on ebay. I copped that for like maybe 10 dollars back in the days. That’s one of my pricy possessions.

Today I saw Stunts, Blunts & HipHop on discogs for 99 Dollar. Would you buy that record?

Yes, I would.

Playing with 45s is so special, would you ever use digital devices like Serato?

Oh yes, sometimes I use Serato. But I like using the 45s, because it’s special. Serato is cool, nobody likes to carry records no more. But I like 45 because it combines two skills. Everybody can’t cut 45s, you have to be very light. It combines DJing and digging, so thats why I like 45s. A lot of my 45s are very hard to find one. To find two is incredible. That’s why I do what I do.

You start a record just by pushing it with your fingertipps and it immediately has the right speed. How long have you been trying this?

I have been doing this a long time. I am glad everybody enjoyed the show, I didnt know what to expect. But everybody seems like they have been into it, that made me happy.

What do you like about vinyl?

Vinyl has a certain sound to it. Just heavier, just bass heavy. When I was kid, they were still selling 45s. A lot of vinyl is being phased out right now, because of Serato. But as I said: I like cutting 45s myself, and also Cut Chemist and DJ Shadow, DJ Rocky Rock the 45 king, DJ Spinna, Kenny Dope – there is a few people doing it. The 45s just add another element to it, it’s just special doing it. You have to be a digger, and you have to be a very, very good DJ to be able to cut 45s.

When was the last time you went digging and what did you find?

Today I went to somebodys house here in Berlin and he has a big, big collections of records. He let me come to his house. He has a tons of 45s, tons of records. I try to go digging everywhere I go, London, Paris, Munich, everywhere I am at. You never know what you gonna find.

What do you like about digging?

I might find something that I am looking for or maybe I can sample. I still sample when I do my productions. I still dig, wherever I am at. When I have the time, I go digging.

What’s the difference between the sound of analogue and digital media?

Analogue is more bass heavy. Digital is more clear. That’s the only difference.

How many records do you own?

Over 10,000. I have them in my garage, and some in my studio. I have them in alphabetical order. It’s easier to find stuff. I have all my music in alphabetical order, I have all my movie soundtracks together, all my drum breaks together, and I know where everything is at.

So if you want to find a special record, you will find it.

Immediately.

How do you keep your records in good condition?

I keep all my records in sleeves. That helps a lot. A lot of people, you go to their house, and they have records on top of each other with no sleeves. The records get messed up that way. So I just keep mine in sleeves, I got all my 45s in sleeves. That’s the best you can do.

How do you clean them if they get dusty?

Water and alcohol. I get a spray bottle and put in half water, half alcohol and mix it up, and then take a towel.

Do you use a special needle system when you are DJing?

No. Normally I use the Shure M447. They are good for DJing.