Fat Joe, Diamond D & A.G. Show They’re Still Diggin’ For Perfection (Audio)

2016 is off to a promising start for the storied collective known as Diggin’ In The Crates. First, D.I.T.C.’s “underboss,” Lord Finesse released a top-of-year DJ mix. Now, three members are back in action, together. Fat Joe and his onetime mentor, Diamond D join A.G. for “Make Em So Proud.”

The soulful, needle-drop sound (produced by Motif Alumni) is a different approach for the production squadron that includes D, Showbiz, Buckwild, and Finesse. Moreover, the three Bronx, New York MCs on the song reflect on the good ol’ days, and how the hunger and brotherhood is still very much alive. Andre The Giant sets things off with his lengthy bar style, before turning things over to Joe. The Terror Squad O.G. uses the moment to big up his crew, and re-tell some imagery of how he was put on in the late 1980s. Diamond plays clean-up, with his set-up-then-punchline approach that made him so beloved on the mic since the early ’90s.

Related: D.I.T.C. Gives Away The Remix Project, Featuring New Mixes By DJ Premier, 9th Wonder, Alchemist & Diamond D (Download)

Heads who follow the D.I.T.C. storyline know just how big this reunion is. While O.C. and Finesse aren’t rhyming on the song, Joe and Diamond’s return is something that fans weren’t getting on past crew releases like 2008’s The Movement, or 2001’s Wild Life EP (which did not feature Diamond or Buckwild). For many and most, this signals the official return of the crew releases, following 2000’s self-titled Tommy Boy Records LP, and the subsequent alternate, The Official Version.

How do you feel about hearing a classic Hip-Hop crew 16 years later?

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