Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 25, 2026

Diamond D

Joseph Kirkland, better known by his stage name Diamond D, is an American hip hop MC and record producer from The Bronx, New York City, and one of the founding members of the Diggin' in the Crates Crew, abbreviated as D.I.T.C.

Last revised
Jun 25, 2026
Read time
≈ 5 min
Length
1,140 w
Citations
13
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Diamond D
Diamond D at A3C in Atlanta
Diamond D at A3C in Atlanta
Background information
Also known asDiamond D
Born
Joseph Kirkland

(1968-04-05) April 5, 1968
The Bronx, New York City, U.S.1
GenresHip-hop
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • rapper
Years active1987–present
Labels
Formerly ofD.I.T.C.

Joseph Kirkland (born April 5, 1968), better known by his stage name Diamond D (or simply Diamond), is an American hip hop MC and record producer from The Bronx, New York City,1 and one of the founding members of the Diggin' in the Crates Crew, abbreviated as D.I.T.C.2

Early years

Growing up in Forest Houses in The Bronx, Diamond D was influenced by local DJs, DJ Hutch and DJ Supreme. During his youth the two DJs would let him perform on their turntables.3 At the beginning of his career as a producer, Diamond spent many hours at Jazzy Jay's studio on Allerton Avenue in The Bronx. He credits Jay for inspiring him to buy a sampler and teaching him various production techniques.3 In a 2017 interview he said, "I learned about 95% of my production skills from him. And he was ahead of his time."4

Career

In addition to Jazzy Jay's teachings, Diamond credited Brand Nubian member Grand Puba as his inspiration to start rapping.5 An early guest appearance on A Tribe Called Quest's The Low End Theory track "Show Business" helped make people more aware of him as an artist.3

The following year he released his debut record Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop. In a 2017 interview, Diamond described the album as, "just a collection of beats and records I was just setting aside. It was more about 'One day I want to do something with this' ideas. And about 80% of that album I got from those records."

Diamond's favorite experience from making Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop was recording the vocals for the song "Check One, Two."4 He credits producer The 45 King with clearing the samples for that beat.4 It took him 30 minutes to construct the beat for one of the album's best-known tracks, "Sally Got A One Track Mind".

In 1996, Diamond won a Grammy Award for his production on the title track from The Fugees' The Score album. He later described the experience as "just a bad memory" and declined to talk about it in an interview.6

To promote his 1997 album Hatred, Passions and Infidelity, Mercury Records compiled a promotional vinyl called Diamond Jewels that included the Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop songs "Best Kept Secret', "*!*! What U Heard", and "Sally Got A One Track Mind".7

Discography

Albums

Album information
Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop
  • Released: September 22, 1992
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: No. 47
  • Singles: "Best Kept Secret"/"Freestyle (Yo, That's That Shit)," "Sally Got a One Track Mind"/"Check One, Two," "Fuck What U Heard"/"I'm Outta Here"
Hatred, Passions and Infidelity
  • Released: August 26, 1997
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: No. 40
  • Singles: "The Hiatus"/"No Wonduh (The Projects)," "J.D.'s Revenge"/"This One"
Grown Man Talk
  • Released: March 1, 2003
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: -
  • Singles:
The Diamond Mine
  • Released: September 15, 2005
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: -
  • Singles:
I'm Not Playin' (with Master Rob as Ultimate Force)
  • Released: June 2007
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: -
  • Singles: "I'm Not Playing", "Girls/I'm in Effect/Supreme Diamond D"
The Huge Hefner Chronicles
  • Released: October 14, 2008
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: -
  • Singles:
The Diam Piece
  • Released: September 30, 2014
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: -
  • Singles: "Rap Life"
The Diam Piece 2
  • Released: May 10, 2019
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: -
  • Singles:
Gotham (with Talib Kweli)
  • Released: April 16, 2021
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: -
  • Singles: "On Mamas", "The Quiet One", "Attention Span"
The Rear View
  • Released: August 19, 20228
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: -
  • Singles:
The Diam Piece 3: Intrium
  • Released: August 16, 2024
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position
  • Singles: "The Kings", "My People"
The Diam Piece 3: Duo
  • Released: January 10, 2025
  • Billboard 200 chart position: -
  • R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: -
  • Singles: "T.S.N.Y.", "Get With It", "Keep on Steppin'"
List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US US
R&B 		US
Rap
"One for the Money"
(Royce da 5'9" featuring Skillz and Diamond D) 		2012 — — — Non-album single
Song Year Artist
Show Business 1991 ATCQ, Sadat X, Lord Jamar
Diggin' in the Crates 1992 Show & A.G., Lord Finesse
Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down (Remix) Brand Nubian
Still Diggin' Show & A.G.
CrumbSnatcher 1993 Illegal
Watch the Sound! Fat Joe, Grand Puba
I Can't Take No More Class A Felony
Slappin' Suckas Silly Remix Yaggfu Front
Keep It Real 1994 A.D.O.R.
Word Iz Bond House of Pain
I Got Planz Scientifik
Ya Don't Stop Dana Barros & Cedric Ceballos, A.G., Sadat X, Grand Puba
The Next Level 1995 The Alkaholiks
You Want It Show & A.G.
How They Want It Big Red
What I Wanna Do.... Veronica, Sadat X
Speak Ya Piece 1996 Lord Finesse, marquee, A.G.
Diamond's Are a Girl's Best Friend DJ Polo
The Score The Fugees
When the Ship Goes Down (Diamond's Seafaring Remix) Cypress Hill
Hot This Year 1998 Kid Capri, Brand Nubian
Time to Get This Money; Put It in Your System Show & A.G.
Nowhere to Go 1999 A.G.
When It Rains It Pours Diamond D
Got Dat?; Live Shit 2000 El da Sensei
X-Man Sadat X
Lyrical Talents Muro, O.C.
Best at That 2001 Da Beatminerz
The Omen 2002 Aim
Welcome to the World of Joni Rewind Joni Rewind, Lord Finesse
Feedback 2003 Akrobatik
Pressure 2005 Med
CD Only Bonus Track 2022 Open Mike Eagle, Aesop Rock
References

References

  1. Colin Larkin, ed. (2000). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 121/2. ISBN 0-7535-0427-8.
  2. John Bush. "Diamond D | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  3. Isenberg, Daniel (July 14, 2011). "Diamond D Tells All: The Stories Behind His Classic Records". Complex Networks. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  4. Ducker, Jesse (December 29, 2017). "INTERVIEW: The Enduring Duality & Dynamism of Hip-Hop Legend Diamond D". Albumism. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  5. Garcia, Bobbito (June–July 1995). "Sound Check: Bobbito Garcia plays the tracks; Diamond D states the facts". Vibe: 35 – via Google Books.
  6. Ettelson, Robbie (February 12, 2014). "Diamond D – The Unkut Interview". Unkut. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  7. Nelson, Havelock (August 2, 1997). "Diamond D's Hip-Hop 'Hiatus' Ends with 'Hatred' on Mercury". Billboard. pp. 27 and 32 – via Google Books.
  8. "Diamond D - The Rear View". Apple Music. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.