Daveed Diggs is a soft-spoken maniacal motherfucker. He’s a quiet fellow when you first meet him–no rapper braggadocio or traces of ‘too cool for school’ bravado to speak of. He does stand out though. Aesthetically, Diggs fuses hyphy fashion sensibilities with a certain eclecticism. You’ll recognize him by his baggy jeans, 3x tees, unkempt Afro covered by a flowing headscarf, and the occasional loose necktie. By the time he steps to the stage, no one is sure what to expect; Jimi Hendrix? Murs? Mac Dre?
When he spits a sixteen into the mic with The Getback crew in tow though, none of your preconceived notions matter. He’s his own animal–A hyphy intellectual with a fervent flow; an acclaimed actor with a cunning self-awareness; and an Oakland boy who represents all the colliding contradictions of his city. His lyricism, flow and flavor have earned the respect of those in the know, but Small Things to a Giant is his first official solo release to date.
The album is dope and diverse, showcasing the many sides of the Oakland emcee. The album’s first track, “Fresh From The Hood” is as a good a introduction to Diggs as one could ask for. Over a sparse but uptempo beat, he reflects on his inspirations, work ethic and the probable permanence of his underground/different status. “Shaking spears, kissing babies / Making peers listen lately / They say ‘Diggs, you on some other shit,’ I tell them ‘Maybe.'” Lines like this showcase his phrasing and annunciation skills, perhaps a byproduct of his primary occupation as a thespian. And it wouldn’t be hip-hop without a little shit talk. But it wouldn’t be Diggs if said shit talk wasn’t infused with a little nerdy wit. He spits, “Not to be a hater, but I feel like something greater than / Alligator face away from the game that I’m playing in.” This reference to the mathematical > symbol is simple, but representative of a brand of witty lyricism that doesn’t lean on the monotony of punch lines.
“Jes Grew” will have you alternating between giggin’ and twisting your face in awe of his breakneck pace, obscure references, rapid fire alliterations and internal rhymes. “Night Time” is a working man’s anthem for the masses who work dead-end jobs in a conciliatory malaise, looking forward to sunset when they can let their hair down and “cut a rug like I’m weaving it.” This track also contains the line, “Party like a rockstar introverted loner,” which might best describe Daveed’s approach to life.
“Trappers” adds a cutting critique of corporate coke rap and society to the cypher. Kahlil Anthony Peoples lends a Roots-esque soulful hook over GetBack drummer Chukwudi Hodge’s “Maybach Music”-inspired instrumental. On “Trappers,” Diggs explores society with an inward eye, keen insights and sobering imagery, an approach that keeps even those wary of “conscious” music engaged and reflective. “And every day is deadly, it’s war just getting dressed / And every day is worthy of the Gettysburg Address/ My address is in the east, my coast is on the west / That coat of arms is heavy, so some prefer the vest.”
Daveed Diggs’s mix of incendiary word play, cultural references, self-aware stuntin, story telling, dated investment in hyphy culture and stand for working class Oakland makes Small Things to a Giant the success it is. He’s admittedly one of the smartest people you’ll ever see going dumb and serves as a reminder that the Bay Area is dope because of the eccentric individuals we produce. Don’t try to put Daveed in a box. Listen, laugh and learn and next time someone asks you what Bay rap is all about, send them Small Things to a Giant and let them draw their own conclusions.
