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Reviewed by Chip Matthews

Diaz Grimm: Osiris

Reviewed by Chip Matthews

Diaz Grimm: Osiris

The debut album from Diaz Grimm definitely plots a point on the local music landscape for this MC who hails from Cambridge. Wwdd opens things ominously, before an absolutely stunning, spacial and haunting vocal line takes centre stage. Diaz arrives soon after, stating, “Culture change my main goal, aiming for nothing but net”, and suddenly we are into a 30-minute journey with Grimm. The nine tracks are largely produced by Auckland-based duo Key To The City, others provided by Gasp, CTFD, Chromatic and Sachi. A process that began months earlier, propelled by a 10-day block of recording at Red Bull Studio in November 2014 – where the mixing and mastering where also done – resulted in ‘Osiris’.

Lyrically the album displays an MC with talent and a vision. He refers to culture change on more than one occasion, and for me, it’s a change that the artist doesn’t see as a singular journey. Indeed, throughout his album you feel as though Grimm is exhorting the listener to embark on that culture shift, complete with responsibilities over a benign participation. Joined by a great group of guests including Louie Knuxx, Raiza Biza, Bailey Wiley, Spycc, INF and more, Diaz Grimm’s album is a must-try for music fans in general.