Daveed Diggs - Small Things To A Giant and The Getback Crew

Few things make me happier than an album I can play without skipping a track. You know? Those albums that play like a film or read like a really good book? They keep you entranced all the way through, listening to every word or instrument, sometimes forcing you to repeat a track just to catch a slick line. Well...that happened again, thanks to Daveed Diggs and The Getback crew. Also, it's pretty awesome to see an album named after an E-40 line.

Daveed Diggs ft. Rafael Casal - (Small Things)To A Giant


I've listened to Daveed Diggs' newest offering Small Things To A Giant over 10 times and I'm still picking up gems like it's the first time through. Diggs utilizes a combination of rapid-fire flows, soulful harmonies and unique production to craft an album that touches on a variety of topics. We learn about the ups and downs of growing up in a disadvantaged city neighboring prosperity, and how Diggs brushes off the negativity and remembers - it's Small Things To A Giant!

We can all relate to that feeling when the end of the work week rolls around, and the undeniable urge to let loose is in the air. Daveed sums it up perfectly with this ode to the night.

Daveed Diggs - Night Time


The Getback crew is comprised of rappers, poets, actors, singers, musicians, writers, graphic designers, video directors...pretty much the most complete set of talented artists you'll find. This allows them to forge projects the way they want to, in-house, and with complete creative control. The result of this is outstanding pieces of work time and time again.

Download the The Getback Mixtape and checkout Rafael Casal's individual song write-up.

Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs - Babysittin' from The Bay Boy Mixtape.

My favorite thing about The Getback collective is that they don't follow any conventions, they do what they want, how they want. Listening to the their older mixtape you can hear some concepts and melodies they were playing around with manifest itself into a more mature sound on their current projects. The use of live instrumentation and professional arrangement elevate their sound to another level. Take a listen to a mix of music (old and new) and you'll see they keep to a high standard of quality.

Here Rafael and Daveed go hook for hook, coming up with some pure gold along the way. Rafael Casal & Daveed Diggs - Diggs Challenges AD (Getback Mixtape)


One of my favorite tracks from the album - Daveed Diggs ft. Moe Green & Lauren Nagel - Don't Let Me Fall (Small Things To A Giant)


Rafael Casal ft. Daveed Diggs - It's A Love Thing (Bay Boy Mixtape)


Daveed Diggs ft. Rafael Casal - Go Boi (Small Things To A Giant)


Rafael Casal ft. Daveed Diggs - Ghostin' (Bay Boy Mixtape)


Daveed Diggs - F With Me (Getback Mixtape)


So there you have it, Daveed Diggs' debut album (for the free) and a brief intro to The Getback. For more music, videos, and information about upcoming performances follow the squad here: Rafael Casal, Daveed Diggs, Chinaka Hodge. And lookout for Rafael Casal's next album The Whoville LP dropping February 2nd, 2012!

- mikhel