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Tears of Joy and Pain

Ronnie Samuel | Bx , Ny | 03/28/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Listening the the DITC brings both pleasure and pain. The pleasure is hearing a piece of true hip hop. This album features instant classics like Thick and Get Yours. The only thing lacking is the lackluster Ebonics Remix. Don't get me wrong L blazed this one ( just like everything else on the album ) but the beat is not Premo's best. The Remix pales in comparison to the original. This album is a classic but sadly the DITC's brightest star didn't live long enough to see it. Big L shows us exactly why he was raps MVP. With his Air Tight lyrics and Unmistakeable Flamboyance. GO Cop the album its a classic. Some think the Greatest rapper of all time died March 9 but the greatest Rapper of all time died on Feb. 15 in Harlem NY. " My name rings Bidells / I'm hot as hidell / How can you ever mention Harlem and Forget L "R"

Better late than never...

SmokaJ | TORONTO | 07/26/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"~~NOTE; DON'T KNOCK MY REVIEW JUST BECAUSE I DIDN'T GIVE THIS ALBUM 5 STARS AND DIDN'T CALL IT A CLASSIC! I have alot of legitimate beefs with DITC for this average album. For starters, DITC IS BY NO MEANS AN AVERAGE GROUP (they're one of the best yet and MY PERSONAL FAVORITE) - so there is no excuse for this half-a55ed disappointment of an album they call "Worldwide."~~



Where do I begin...the day I heard that my favorite crew in the game was putting out a compilation album, I went running through the streets praising God and giving all the homeless people quarters and cigarettes. Okay not quite, but I was really, really hyped. Since the dawn of my Hip-Hop obsession, I had always loved DITC's legendary albums and their posse cuts (each solo album always had at least one, to some degree) and had dreamed of the crew putting out a compilation album. Think of Wu-Tang in reverse. Wu crashed into the game with the incredible posse album "36 Chambers," then branched off into dope solo careers. In my mind, the group album will always be their best. Now it was DITC's turn to put out a classic crew album.

After I heard "Thick," the lead single - I loved it and was counting-down the days 'til I could hear the album. I bought it as soon as it dropped.



For those who are unclear, Diggin' In The Crates is: (Founders: Lord Finesse, Showbiz & AG, and Diamond D, the Proteges: Big L, Fat Joe and OC, and the dope resident/freelance/criminally underrated Producer: Buckwild). Having owned and loved all DITC crew members albums (except Fat Joe's 3rd and everyone after) that dropped before "Worldwide" (that's the album's true name, it's not self-titled), my expectations were sky high. I think I was literally drooling at the mouth when I first played it, and after I intricately listened to every verse and every beat, my drooling turned to sobbing. WHAT THE H-E-DOUBLE-HOCKEY-STICKS HAPPENED???



Let's start with the date, 2000 was a terrible year for Hip-Hop and every sequential year since 1998 things have gotten worse. In 2000, blingin' club music was starting to take a strangle-hold on the industry, and therefore all albums that weren't independently released, were full of commercial garbage (there are very few exceptions). I cram to think of one old-school MC/crew/whatever who survived the industry crossover, I honestly can't think of more than 5. Anyways, if this album was dropped when DITC was making the music they were born to make (between '90-'97) there's no doubt in my mind it would have been a 5 star classic.



Next, the album sounds like it wasn't fun to make - it sounds laboured and rushed. I was baffled at the track selection; about 1/4 of the album is disgraceful filler (tracks #6,7,8,13). What's with Milano getting on two tracks? And Cuban Link on one? Why??? Also, one of my favorite producers, Buckwild only crafts ONE beat and unfortunately it happened to be the horrible "Champagne Thoughts."

Another 1/4 of the album are remixes. The remixes are all really dope (except one), I just didn't expect so many:

-"Ebonics Premo Mix" by Big L is a really tight DJ Premier remix of Big L's underground classic.

-"Drop it Heavy" w/ AG, KRS-One & Big Pun, is a remix of the same joint relased in 1998 on Show & AG's independently relased final LP "Full Scale." Both versions are produced by Show and both are bangers.

-"Stand Strong" w/ Big L, Finesse, AG & OC, was originally titled "Dignified Soldiers," and was also a track on "Full Scale." There was also a remix on "Full Scale," making 3 Show produced versions of this track. It's all good, all 3 are pretty different and I love all 3.

-"Thick Rockwilder Remix" no matter how hard I try, I can't feel this remix.

The rest of the album is classics across the board, produced by beat masters DJ Premier, Showbiz, Lord Finesse & Diamond D. Forgive me, but I truly was expecting EVERY track to be on par with "Day One" and "Thick."



That's it; I'm done knocking the album. Wait, not quite yet...do you think it's a coincidence that after this album dropped only 4 members released another official album:

-AG, "The Dirty Version" (2000) which was a disaster.

-OC, "Bon Appetit" (2001), "Starchild" (2005) and "Smoke and Mirrors" (2005). Honestly, "Starchild" is pretty good, but I suggest you avoid the other two.

-Showbiz, "Street Talk" (2005) was so horrible I returned it. My own fault for thinking it might be okay.

-Fat Joe. Need I say anything?

So as you can see, nothing from Lord Finesse, Diamond D or Big L (RIP), and everyone who tried pretty much failed miserably. I think Finesse and Diamond recognized that the game was over - that nobody (except us minority of old-school, loyal, independent-thinking Hip-Hop heads) wants to hear good Hip-Hop anymore.



There I'm done. Even though I spent this whole review knocking "Worldwide," I'm still happy it was made and I'm proud to own it. In a sad way, this album marked the end of the legendary DITC Empire, whose legacy is so strong, that one disappointing album is a mere drip in a bucket. I think no less of my favorite crew, I just get upset sometimes when I think of what this album could have been. I'm so critical simply because I love DITC so much.



Bottom Line: Any fan of DITC should own this album, overall it's really not that bad. However, if you're just getting to know the group, start with each member's classic first albums. It pains me to give this album 3 stars, Peace.

"

This album is an instant classic

Nathan L. Rath | belleville state mental instuitution | 02/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Back in 1988 the D.I.T.C. (diggin in the crates) crew was formed with founding members including Diamond D (formerly of the Psychotic Neurotics) After years of being underground favorites, the crew finally releases it's major label debut worldwide. Today the lineup includes Fat Joe, Diamond D, The late Big L (R.I.P), O.C., Show, Buckwild, A.G. and Lord Finesse. To merely call this album good would be grossly understated. More to the point this phenomonal piece of work will be one of the most slept on classics of the year. From the opeining beats of "Thick" the scene is set with sharp beats and bells courtesy of DJ Premier. The beats get progressively better throughout the album and one thing becomes glaringly apparent. Big L would have been a supertar had he not been murdered one year ago this month during the recording of this album. Most of the production is left to some of the younger cats in the crew, mostly to Show and Mr. Dave, who executive produced the album. Lord Finesse provides beats on one track and Diamond on only one or two. Guest stars in the lineup of this album are far between because of all of the crew is an underground superstar in his own right, but the late Big Pun (R.I.P) makes an appearance on "Where Ya At" and Krs-One lends some vocals on "Drop it Heavy" Heads that are into true hip hop will be sure to get this album, those that live for the bling bling, gold, money, versace, bentley hip hop or those that love beats by ruff ryders, cash money, hypnotize minds, no limit, this isn't for you."