Editorial Review:

Amazon.com:
Diamond D's 1992 debut album may not have been hip-hop's first producer-driven album (far from it), but it was one of the first after the new-school era that suggested superior music could overcome lackluster lyrics. Not that Diamond wasn't nice on mic, but his rhymes were a triumph of function over form. It didn't matter though--you couldn't front on his beats, a loop-driven aesthetic that sparked DJs everywhere to dig into the crates to find his original samples. Whether it was the frenetic guitar melody on "Freestyle (Yo That's That S**t!)," the boomin' bass line on "K.I.S.S.," or the raucous riff that powered his first single, "Best Kept Secret," Diamond clearly knew how to milk funk, jazz, and soul loops for their full potential. Along with peers like Pete Rock, Showbiz, and Large Professor, Diamond showed that strength on the board was worth at least as much as skills on the mic. --Oliver Wang

Rating: - D.I.T.C. Classic - Diamond D's magnum opus (5 stars)
Diamond D is mostly known for his superb work behind the boards with one of the most groundbreaking hip-hop collectives to grace the game - the Diggin' In The Crate's Crew (D.I.T.C.). Besides producing banging cuts for his peers AG, Lord Finesse & Fat Joe; he also produced a plethora of dope beats for non-crew artists such as Brand Nubian, Jazzy Jay, Shadz Of Lingo, Ed O.G, Scientifik, Tha Alkaholiks, KRS-One, The Pharcyde, The Fugees, Organized Konfusion, Busta Rhymes & Mos Def, among many others. ... Read More

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Rating: - Old School Hip Hop
Great album. Brings back memories. This is definitely a must buy for those of you that are into that old school hip hop.

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Rating: - It's the vibe you desire...(4.5/5)
Diamond D's 1992 debut is a really underrated album from the golden era of east coast hip hop. Diamond would soon gain huge underground status as a member of the Diggin' in the Crates crew, the New York collective that gained acclaim for their clever battle rhymes and artistic beats using obscure samples from old recordings. But even when D.I.T.C. got press, Diamond always seemed to be overshadowed by the more recognizable names of Big L, Fat Joe, Showbiz & AG, Lord Finesse, OC, and Buckwild. "Stunts, ... Read More

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Rating: - I Dug In The Crates To Find This Classic
I had this on my wish list for a while but never found a decent place to buy it from. I went to a CD outlet one day and dug in one of the Hip Hop crates and found this sitting there all alone. I thought what crazy person sold this CD. This is one of those albums where the beats are so hot that you can't really beat down on the lyrics. That is something you'll hear a lot when anyone is talking about Stunts, Blunts, & Hip-Hop because it's true. The thing about Diamond D is that he didn't do the type of production ... Read More

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Rating: - THE BEST KEPT SECRET IS VOLUMOUS IN THE MEMORY BANK OF ME
all i have to say is this....................if i were making a hip hop classic in the studio, i hope that it would sound like this. i think about quasimoto's joint that samples A DAY IN THE LIFE when i see this album on here. i wanna here that album so badly right now.........the flutes..........the jazz...........the breezy sound of it. i dig beats like the ones from BEST KEPT SECRET and I'M OUTTA HERE..........oh.......and RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT (nice use of leaders of the new school there). anybody who says ... Read More