This article needs additional citations for verification .(October 2011) |
D.I.T.C. | |
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Origin | New York City, U.S. |
Genres | Hip hop |
Years active | 1992–present |
Labels | Tommy Boy |
Past members |
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The Diggin' in the Crates Crew, commonly known as D.I.T.C., is an American hip hop collective formed in 1992 in New York City. The collective's name derives from the act of seeking out records to sample for production. The collective is composed of Lord Finesse, Diamond D, Big L, O.C., Fat Joe, Buckwild, Showbiz and A.G. Its members have achieved substantial and consistent recognition in underground rap circles, having often collaborated with undiscovered talents and underground hip hop artists alongside mainstream rappers.
On December 4, 2008, D.I.T.C. member Party Arty unexpectedly died of unspecified health complications, aged 31. In 2008, Freddie Foxxx (using his Bumpy Knuckles pseudonym) released the long-shelved Crazy Like A Foxxx album. The second of two discs featured DITC produced demo versions of the original tracks dating to 1993. [1] DITC production contrasted with the Jailhouse version of production from 1994.
In 2011, Showbiz stated that the crew itself is now defunct and will no longer create any new albums in the future citing musical creative differences. [2] However, member O.C. confirmed that the group would indeed record a brand new album with production so far from Diamond D and Lord Finesse, while awaiting Buckwild. He stated that their deceased member Big L would not want them to end their legacy like this. [3] On October 28, 2016, D.I.T.C. released Sessions, preceded by the lead single "Rock Shyt". [4] [5]
Lamont Coleman, known professionally as Big L, was an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Emerging from Harlem in New York City in 1992, Big L became known among underground hip-hop fans for his freestyling ability. He was eventually signed to Columbia Records, where, in 1995, he released his debut album, Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous. On February 15, 1999, he was fatally shot nine times in a drive-by shooting in Harlem.
Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous is the debut studio album by American rapper Big L, and the only to be released during his lifetime. It was released on March 28, 1995, by Columbia Records. The recording sessions took place primarily at Powerplay Studios in Queens, New York, in mid-to-late 1994. The album was produced by Buckwild, Lord Finesse, Showbiz, and Craig Boogie. The album title is a play on the television series, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.
Robert A. Hall Jr., known by his stage name Lord Finesse, is an American rapper and hip-hop producer from The Bronx, New York, best known as the leader of the D.I.T.C. crew. About.com ranked him number 29 on its list of the Top-50 Hip-Hop Producers.
James Campbell, is an American rapper and record producer, better known by his stage names Freddie Foxxx and Bumpy Knuckles.
Industry Shakedown is the second studio album by American East Coast hip hop artist Freddie Foxxx, and his first release under his 'Bumpy Knuckles' alias. It was released on June 27, 2000, via KJAC Music and Landspeed Records, and was produced by DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Diamond D, the Alchemist, and Foxxx. It featured guest appearances from Afrika Bambaataa, M.O.P., Terisa Griffin, and DJ Rukas. The album peaked at number 179 on the Billboard 200. The first single was the DJ Premier-produced "Part of My Life".
Omar Gerryl Credle, better known by his stage name, O.C., is an American rapper and member of the group D.I.T.C. He has been involved with several underground hip hop groups, namely Crooklyn Dodgers '95, Luv NY, and Perestroika.
Joseph Antonio Cartagena, better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper. He began recording as a member of hip hop group Diggin' in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.) in 1992, and pursued a solo career with the release of his debut studio album, Represent (1993) the following year. Cartegena formed the hip hop group Terror Squad and its namesake record label in the late 1990s, through which he has signed fellow New York artists including Big Pun, Remy Ma, Tony Sunshine, and Cuban Link, as well as then-unknown producers DJ Khaled and Cool & Dre.
Showbiz and A.G. is an American hip hop duo from The Bronx borough of New York City, composed of record producer Rodney "Showbiz" Lemay and rapper Andre "A.G." Barnes. The duo formed soon after their debut on the song "Back to Back Rhyming" from Lord Finesse's Funky Technician album and joined the hip hop collective D.I.T.C. along with Lord Finesse, Diamond D, Fat Joe, O.C., Buckwild and Big L.
Word...Life is the debut album from underground hip hop artist O.C., who came to prominence in hip hop because of the album. It was released on October 18, 1994 by Wild Pitch Records. It also helped establish his membership in the legendary hip hop crew D.I.T.C., which includes Lord Finesse, Showbiz and A.G., Diamond D, Fat Joe, Big L and Buckwild, who produced the majority of this album.
Anthony Best professionally known as Buckwild, is an American hip hop producer. Hailing from The Bronx borough of New York City, he is a member of Diggin' in the Crates Crew, along with Lord Finesse, Showbiz and A.G., Diamond D, Fat Joe, Big L, and O.C. He has produced a number of tracks for prominent rappers in the music industry, including The Notorious B.I.G.'s "I Got a Story to Tell" and Black Rob's "Whoa!". In 2013, he was described by HipHopDX as "one of Hip Hop's most prolific and acclaimed producers".
Soul Clap is the debut extended play by American underground hip hop duo Showbiz and A.G. It was self-released in 1991 via their own independent record label Showbiz Records; and re-released on March 17, 1992 though London/Payday Records after signing a record deal. Production was handled by Showbiz and Diamond D. It features guest appearances from Lord Finesse and Diamond D on the posse cut "Diggin' in the Crates", which later became the name of hip hop collective D.I.T.C. Songs "Party Groove", "Soul Clap" and "Catchin' Wreck" later was featured on the duo's debut LP Runaway Slave.
Runaway Slave is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Showbiz and A.G. It was released on September 22, 1992, via Payday/London Records. The album was produced by Showbiz and fellow D.I.T.C. crew member Diamond D. It features guest appearances from DeShawn, Diamond D, Dres, Lord Finesse, and Big L. It includes many interludes between songs that feature the Legion, Freddie Foxxx, Fat Joe, and Kid Capri.
Full Scale is an album by American hip hop duo Showbiz and A.G., first released in early 1998 through D.I.T.C. Records as a nine-track extended play. Recording sessions for the EP took place at D&D Studios and at Battery Studios in New York with production was handled entirely by Show & AG. The EP, composed of five songs together with the instrumentals, featured guest appearances from Big Pun, KRS-One, O.C. and the Ghetto Dwellas. A CD version titled Full Scale LP appeared around 2002 included the 5 songs found on the EP together with ten additional tracks which had originally been released on various 12" singles and projects in the late 1990s. Beside artists involved in the EP version, the LP features guest verses from Big L, Diamond D and Lord Finesse, as well as production from DJ Greyboy and Amed Harris.
The Dirty Version is the first solo studio album by American rapper and producer A.G. of Diggin' in the Crates Crew. It was released on September 21, 1999 through Silva Dom Records with distribution via Landspeed Records. Production was handled by several record producers, including Buckwild, Diamond D, DJ Premier, Lord Finesse, Showbiz and A.G. It features guest appearances from Big Pun, Fat Joe, Guru, Kool Chuck, KRS-One, O.C., and the Ghetto Dwellas among others.
D.I.T.C. is the debut studio album by American New York-based hip hop collective Diggin' in the Crates Crew. It was released on February 22, 2000, via Tommy Boy Records. It features contributions from all the eight members of the group: Lord Finesse, Showbiz and A.G., Diamond D, Fat Joe, O.C., Buckwild and the late Big L, as well as Big Pun, Milano, Cuban Link, KRS-One, and production from DJ Premier, Amed Harris and Rockwilder. The album peaked at number 141 on the Billboard 200, number 31 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 9 on the Independent Albums in the United States.
Buckwild: Diggin' in the Crates is a compilation of rare hip hop songs and remixes produced by Buckwild.
The Movement is a compilation album from D.I.T.C. Records. It features all new songs, exclusive to this release only. Rather than a proper D.I.T.C. release focusing on the eight members of the original group, the compilation showcases the work of long-time affiliates such as The Ghetto Dwellas, Bo$$ Money and A-Bless alongside OC and AG of the main crew. Lord Finesse, Buckwild and Show all contribute beats to the project, however neither Diamond D nor Fat Joe had any involvement whatsoever. The Movement features one of the last tracks recorded by The Ghetto Dwellas member Party Arty, who died shortly after the release of the album due to health complications. Show acts as the project's executive producer and the album was self-released through D.I.T.C. Records.
Oasis is the collaborative studio album by American rappers and Diggin' in the Crates Crew members O.C. and A.G. It was released on November 24, 2009, through D.I.T.C. Records/Nature Sounds, after several pushbacks dating as far back as the spring of 2008. The album was first premiered in its entirety on the duo's Myspace page a week before the official release.
The Danger Zone is the fifth and final studio album and fourth posthumous album by American hip hop artist Big L, released May 31, 2011 on RBC Records. L's brother Donald Phinazee produced most of the album and other production came from DJ Phantom. The album was originally announced on April 12, 2011, and features artists such as Gang Starr, O.C., Herb McGruff, A.G., Roc Raida, Lord Finesse as well as other D.I.T.C. members. It is the second album that contains unreleased and unheard tracks and freestyles. after Return of the Devil's Son.
The following is a discography of production credited to Diamond D.