By Hardcore Critic
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
At a time when albums are pushed back until they are forgotten, it is surprising when any rapper actually releases their albums. Diggy Simmons finally released his debut album, two years after being signed to Atlantic Records. Born into hip hop, it could have been easy for Diggy Simmons to let the pressure get to him. But, what is evidenced on the first song heard on Unexpected Arrival, Diggy Simmons is confident.
Even the “best” rappers in the game are afraid to be themselves, to a certain degree, but Diggy Simmons accepted himself and introduced himself. There were some who felt Diggy would not be accepted, because of his parentage and his part on the MTV series, “Run’s House.” But, it seems as if the fans resonated with Diggy Simmons, because he came out being himself. Last fall, Diggy Simmons spoke on cursing in his records, which he has opted to not do.
The last thing noticed on Unexpected Arrival is a lack of cursing, though. Diggy Simmons still gets his point across, without having to use offensive language, which would honestly come off as strange, given the life he has lived. One thing Diggy did not do, like other rappers who have wealthy backgrounds have done, is try to come into rap and present himself as a bootstrapper. As far as his own reputation, as a rapper, Diggy Simmons earned it on his own, but he was obviously born into wealth. From a lyrical standpoint, Diggy is far from the best, but he is also far from the young rappers who have come before him. A battle is currently going on between the younger and older hip hop fans about “real” hip hop, Diggy Simmons is trying to bridge the gap.
Just the fact Diggy Simmons is trying to bridge the gap proves he is more invested in rap than many who have been “running” the game for years. A void has been missing on the “teen hip hop” scene, as the teenagers have needed someone to follow and the girls have needed someone to post on their walls. With the music Diggy Simmons has made on Unexpected Arrival, curse-free, yet still hard-hitting, appeals to young men, young ladies, their parents, and possibly grandparents. Most importantly, however, is the respect the veteran rappers have for Diggy Simmons, which he has earned on his own. Jadakiss lent his vocals for Diggy Simmons on a track, which pays homage to the past, “88.”
In previous generations of hip hop, rappers used to attempt to get in good graces with the established veterans. Living in a world of social networking and iTunes, it is easy for rappers to build fan bases, while making the music they want. With this freedom, many scoff at the veterans who criticize them, writing them off as old. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but it has come as shock to many veteran emcees, many of whom went to the veterans for guidance. In this aspect, Diggy Simmons did bring hip hop back. He has been able to mix futuristic sounds with some old school sounds. As previously mentioned, Diggy Simmons is one of the few rappers to even try, which should earn him some points.
Unexpected Arrival is an album full of hits and there are very few topics Diggy Simmons does not touch. He even revisits the “N-word” controversy of 2007, going against his uncle, Russell Simmons, supporting the term “nigga,” but he did denounce “nigger.” Overall, the album is impressive, especially for a man who has yet to reach the legal age of adulthood. In many ways, Diggy Simmons has proven he is very intelligent and ahead of his time. Simmons is intelligent, but not in a way where he goes over people’s heads. He was very successful at bridging the gap, making music all hip hop fans can enjoy and also music parents approve of, which can only lead to more record sales.
Hip Hop Vibe’s Rating: 8/10
