Rah Digga f/ Ghostface – “Intro”
Rah Digga f/ Fabolous – “See It In Your Eyes”
Rah Digga – “I’m Coming Back”
Rah Digga f/ Brooklyn – “Straight Spittin’“
Rah Digga f/ Young Zee – “You Don’t Wanna Know“
from Everything is a Story (J Records, Unreleased, 2003)

So Digga Digga’s shelved Everything is a Story finally found it’s way to the internet. Or maybe it was already on the internet, but it finally found it’s way to my hard drive. (Shout to MGP for the hook up.)

Falling through the cracks when Busta’s move to Aftermath got Flipmode’s J contracts cancelled like Homeboys in Outerspace, Everything’s absence broke the hearts of myself and three other New Jersey natives (one being Young Zee). Like her debut, Dirty Harriet it’s way too long (this one inexplicably clocks in at 90 minutes with 23 songs) and sort of a mess. The two singles – “Party & Bullshit 2003,” which no doubt had Biggie rolling over in his grave and “Party Ova Here,” featuring the ever engaging Lloyd Banks – were both pretty much horrible. I almost feel bad for Digga and her awkwardly choreographed dance moves in the former video. She really needs to stick with the lean backage.

Much of the record’s production is in a similar vein to the singles – jarring, shuffly space bounce from eternal second stringers like Megahertz and Scott Storch. Dudes who try to fit into slick Neptimbaland suits and end up looking all awkward, with shit that’s built neither for dancing or head nodding. Understandably, Digga has a hard time getting comfortable on those beats. I’m rarely one for boom bap revivalism but it probably wouldn’t hurt if she were to dig out Primo and Pete Rock’s numbers again. Failing that, I could also see her shining over some of the darker shit that Denaun Porter has been slipping Busta and Monch as of late. But I think her opportunity to make a hit single has passed.

Even in her weaker moments Digga’s one of the better female rappers alive (admittedly this isn’t an accomplishment to write home about). The Outsidaz have always trafficked in punchlines of charmingly awkward construction, and there’s no shortage here: RUN SHIT LIKE THREE ADABISI’s; I’M THE TRUTH, N*GGAZ CALL ME SOJOURNER; MORE PRESALES THAN A HARRY POTTER THING; PUT A RAPPER OUT OF WORK LIKE THEY LIED ON APPLICATION; GET IT POPPIN LIKE CHICKEN GREASE IN A PAN; SWIMMIN IN GREEN LIKE SHRIMP IN BROCCOLI; I’M LIKE THE VIRGIN MARY I AIN’T FUCKIN WIT YOU, GOD; etc.

Really though this record just makes we want to revisit the psychedelic addled records of the Outz’ heydey. Incidentally, their demos are still available here in megaupload biggie sized zip file. Listen to them so you can understand that Homeboys In Outerspace reference.

Rah Digga Myspace