Sidney Thomas

Diamonds in the Raw: The Past, Present and Future of DC's Hip-Hop Movement Sidney Thomas

Diamonds In The Raw will take you on a trip through Washington DC's inner-city streets in search of talented lyricists struggling to survive in a game in which the odds are stacked against them. This story is about the brilliant musicians from the DMV (Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia).




This book is based on first hand accounts from the artists themselves. They poignantly describe the trials and tribulations of making an honest living in the often dishonest realm of the music industry. It is a story of perseverance and redemption.



You will read about the complicated relationship between DC rappers and the local radio stations; the competition between hip-hop and DC's indigenous go-go culture; and about the difficulty to keep pace with the constantly advancing technology of music.




To create this portrait, Mr. Thomas has interviewed some of the most important names in the industry. You will read about colorful musicians and entertainment figures like: Raheem DeVaughn, Dre "All Day In The Paint", 20 Bello, DC Scorpio, Paul Porter, DJ Flexx and Toni Blackman.




Diamonds In The Raw is equal parts autobiography, text-book and almanac. For the first time ever in a literary format - step into the world of the DMV!