I couldn’t think of a more appropriate song to cover for my return to writing Remix Tuesdays than Diamond D’s 1997 comeback single, “The Hiatus”. It’s been almost a month, folks. Not quite weekly, I know. Shouts to DJ01 for doing his own remix feature.
First, let’s start with the video:
Diamond’s beat centers around stately horns and a mix of light hi-hats and thick kick drums. The chorus consists of a sung “la la la”s from both male and female singers (cue Diamond shouting “Ladies!”) and a scratched hook:
There’s a new hombre in town/it’s Diamond D
Diamond remixed “The Hiatus” for the CD single (pictured above is promo 12′). The beat employs some gorgeous, gorgeous strings, probably one of the dopest string loops ever*.It’s a simple loop of David Axelrod’s “The School Boy” but that doesn’t change how nice it sounds. The remix starts with just strings, and some quiet singing. The “La la la” chorus is resung to the tune of the new instrumental, and there’s more scratching on the chorus. Diamond spits a new, hilarious verse, and Chaddeo and Yogi of CRU come in for guest verses. The drums are a bit harder on the remix, replacing the hi-hats with hard snares. Instant head nod, period – this is what a remix should be.
Let me leave you with my favorite Diamond couplet:
Recline with dimes who blow me and breeze/while your broke ass is home eating baloney and cheese
Download: Diamond D – The Hiatus
Diamond D – The Hiatus (Remix ft.CRU)
BONUS BEATS: Shouts to The Meaning Of Dope, who did a nice feature on their favorite remixes a while back. Worth checking for Diamond’s remix of Outkast’s “Southernplayalisticadillacmusik”, which I’d never heard before.
Ace also did a nice comp of his 13 favorite Diamond tracks. Lots of shit I’ve never heard here.
*”Boom” and “Worldwide” probably have this locked.
[EDIT: I misquoted the chorus, esteeminatti from BronxRap corrected me. Thanks!]
One of the greatest remixes of all time. Those strings get me every time. Shits just make you believe. This was a tough record to find when it dropped- promo only- but he dropped it several years later on the b-side of Diamond D with the Dope Sound if I recall correctly. Cru came and went too quick and have disappeared into hip hop’s potter’s field. Dirty 30 was a quality album.
This was when a remix was a remix, not just an extra verse or guest appearance.
Word to Diamond D and Forest projects. The scratched hook is actually:” there’s a new HOMBRE in town”.
Damn, I could’ve sworn it was “R&B”. That does make much more sense.
Thanks man.