It is said that many of the greatest positions in Hip Hop were gained informally – “put on” – for lack of a better word. Diggy, son of one of the members of the legendary Run DMC, is quickly rising through the blogs in a fury – however how much of it is based on his background as compared to his talent? Many have detracted from the young emcee’s style and swagger stating that it is cleverly manufactured instead of organically grown. With Past Present’s Future hosted by DJ PREMIER, Diggy is attempting to finally censor the critics and break ground in the mainstream.

DJ Premier cutting over Diggy’s voice is strange yet very comfortable – an unexpected expected clash - paying true homage to the title of Past Present’s Future. Coming in with “Digg is Like” is a tough entrance track – a premier laced classic by Nas – allowing Diggy to showcase his skills. The song itself leaves a little to be desired but exhibits Diggy’s polished flow and clever wordplay. It is great to see how this young artist seems so ahead of his time with only a few projects out.

Before “A Milli” was skewered by your least and most favorite rapper, “Shook Ones” - with its dark demeanor and alien sounds - was tossed around like a hacky sack. “Shoot Ones Pt 3” it plays into the recurring theme of the mixtape – Diggy is aligning himself with the past in order to say that he is the future. “SOP3” is a great track – refreshing to hear a different voice on it – especially with a flow filled with vivaciousness and young bravado.

It is clear that Premier was excited to take on this project – while he may not scream over tracks as well as Cannon or Drama, the enthusiasm is evident in his voice. The two prove to be a great match – listening to Premier’s cuts never get old, with Diggy? It might be a little timeless. “Paid in Full” featured Diggy talking about what he already experiences – making his raps much realer – while showing off versatility. “Electric Relaxation” is another stand out track which features unending rhyme and a sense of young swagger. Diggy seems to continually rhyme out of his age range (which he explains in “Rising to the Top” by saying, “Too young to get in the club?/Well I’m the headline).

Does success run in the family? So far Diggy’s siblings are doing prominent things. Will Diggy prove to be just as successful as the others? Most likely – his pedigree is strong as any with a large industry backing behind it. Industry co-signs can take an artist a long way – however the music is the only thing that will allow them to stay. Has Diggy moved in? We do not know yet – however he is definitely working the market.Tweet