DIABLO

Sometimes it’s simply destiny. Some people are born and do great things; some people are born just TO DO great things. I guess Ms. Honey had that idea in mind when she named her only son Diablo. Born to be a menace and dominate. As a youth hailing from East Baltimore, he was known as a fierce freestyler. Over 10 years ago he proved this skill by destroying Keith Murray in a freestyle battle at Morgan State University. This set his name on fire in Baltimore and saw Diablo battling MC’s all across the city, and even landing on a local Baltimore club song called “Pull ya gunz out”. Around this time, he met Juan Donovan, one half of the production collective Darkroom Productions. They soon formed both a friendship and a business relationship.
Diablo’s style is witty, clever, funny, gangster, but most of all, it’s authentic. He is Baltimore and everything that embodies. Over the years, Diablo and Darkroom created chemistry and a sound that was unparallel to anything Hip Hop had ever heard. They knew they were on to something, so they just continued to work and develop. As Darkroom traveled the country producing and trying to perfect their sound, Diablo worked hard to also perfect his craft and to be heard. In 1999 he signed with a local label named Hung Jury Records. Although the label would fold just a few years later, the experience Diablo got would later help him in his career. As a member of the label, he traveled all over the country performing and working with established artists. And after 2 compilation albums, Diablo was now being heard on a scale larger than just the freestyle battles that made him a local legend. And with a personality that is so gravitating, to this day, artists that he met during that period like Yukmouth are still big Diablo fans.
Most of today’s rappers are just artists that claim to be street soldiers. But Diablo is a street soldier who just happens to be a talented artist as well. As general of the Street Pirate Army (S.P.A. for short), he is the head of the unit known in and around Baltimore as a force to be reckoned with for a lot of different reasons. And although SPA may be looked at as a gang or mob, they are also a collective of talented individuals. But don’t let the smooth taste fool you, there is a part of East Baltimore known as Pirate Land, and if you are not affiliated, I advise you walk lightly.
In 2003, Diablo & Darkroom were finally ready to hit the world with the incredible sound they had worked so hard to create. It was an album called “Shit Hard”. The streets had called for this album for years, so by now, they were thirsty for it. But unfortunately, 2 weeks before the album’s release date, Diablo was arrested. Darkroom still released the album independently, but without Diablo not on the streets to promote it, it didn’t catch on to the masses like the team had hoped. But for those devoted Diablo fans that were lucky enough to get a copy, they labeled the album an instant classic.
Through out Diablo’s stay in prison, he and Juan stayed in constant contact. And during this time, Darkroom continued to solidify their name as a force the Hip Hop game had to become prepared for. Enter 2005. Diablo comes home to see that Darkroom has become an entity. Not only are they doing production for major label artists, but they have a syndicated radio show, they are producing dvds, writing scripts, and making much noise. The team instantly hit the studio to work and everything picked up right where they left off. When Darkroom got the idea to do a mixtape/compilation called “Hamsterdam – The Best of Baltimore”, they knew Diablo had to anchor it with a hot single, and he delivered. He created a song called “Jail Flick” and the rest is history. Powered by his bass-thumping charisma filled single, “Hamsterdam” went on to move nearly 50,000 copies to date, spawning nationwide recognition. Soon HBO came calling wanting to license “Jail Flick” for their Emmy winning series “The Wire”. But after hearing another song by Diablo, they asked Darkroom to do music for the entire 4th season of the show. Diablo ended up with 3 songs on the show and landed a few on season 5 as well.
In 2008, HBO released the highly anticipated sountrack for their hit show The Wire via Nonesuch Records/Warner Music Group. The album was driven by Diablo's single Jail Flick. Soon after the release, Diablo's team Darkroom landed a distribution deal with entertainment's hottest label; Koch Records. The debut release from the label will be 2008's "Hamsterdam - the Album", with Diablo's "Beautfiul Bitches in Bad Neighborhoods" and "Open the Circle" blessing the project.
So with the avenue of Darkroom Enterprises/Koch Records now in place, Diablo is currently working on his debut album "Shop Closed". The album is scheduled for a 2009 release, but in the meantime, be on the lookout for exclusive songs just for myspace, music videos for upcoming singles, and Diablo's album prelude, the free download "Shop Open". From the New York Times, to FADER magazine, to XLR8R magazine, people across the country are falling in love with Diablo and his music. What started as freestyle battles in East Baltimore is soon to become a worldwide phenomonan. Make way for a new era...make way for Diablo.
Check out the debut video for my new single "Smell it"