In May of 2019, Diggin’ In The Crates co-founder Diamond D released The Diam Piece 2 album. The 16-track LP features Raekwon, Snoop Dogg, Fat Joe, Elzhi, David Banner, and Xzibit, as well as many more that have worked with the Bronx producer/MC/DJ over a career that dates back 30 years.

Released through his Dymond Mine/EMPIRE, Diamond has been aggressive with the visuals. He released “Maintaining” featuring Lord Tariq, Peter Gunz, and a-Kash, “I Can’t Lose” featuring Elzhi and Blake Moses, “Watch Yo Back” featuring Buckshot, General Steele, and Rockness, before “Bodied,” featuring David Banner, Big Rec, and Edson Sean. Now comes “Hold Up,” featuring A-F-R-O, Dillon, and onetime Guinness record-holder, Twista.

When speaking to AFH TV earlier this year, Diamond D went into detail about the process of making the record. He said, “For a while, I just had Twista’s verse. So I’m like, ‘Yo, who can I put on here that can at least keep up with Twista?’ I was about to put [the song] on hold for The Diam Piece 3.” Once D’s engineer, Amond Jackson, suggested to add A-F-R-O to the track, he had a change of heart. He adds, “I wasn’t thinking about A-F-R-O, because I already had a solo joint from A-F-R-O that I’m gonna release [on my next album]. Then I said, ‘f*ck it,’ and I just shot it to him. Man, yo, A-F-R-O said as soon as he heard it, he jumped on it. He sent me the vocals maybe two days later. He jumped right on it.” The self-proclaimed “best producer on the mic” went on to say, “In the case with Twista, I just shot him the beat. I said, ‘I don’t really have no concept for the beat at this point. But wherever you take it, whoever I put on there will have to follow your lead.’ That’s all I told him. When I got it back, I was blown away.”

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