What Nobody Knows…

DJ Roger Diamond was born 15 October 1974, in London. He grew up in Stockwell Park Estate, and started his education in Stockwell Primary school. He then went onto Tulse Hill Boys high school where studied for a while, but finished his secondary education at Lillian Bailey’s also in Tulse Hill, then went on to study electrical engineering at South London College. Mr. Diamond comes from a large family, consisting of 2 sisters & 5 brothers. Mum & dad were born and raised in Jamaica, before settling in the UK. Due to having a very large family, his love and passion for music was installed in him, from as far back as he can remember.

“Mum & dad would throw parties, my brother’s were sound boys & used to take me with, whenever they played out so music was always a big part of my upbringing“

It was while he was at school, that he realized that he wanted start working in the music industry. Mr. Diamond grew up listening to roots & reggae, but also to artists such as Nat King Cole, in which as a child he would listen, but never really took much notice. It was when he began to grow up, that appreciated this type of music more.

Mr. diamond already had the precedent set for him, by his late brother, Andy. Andy was huge in the music industry, promoting artists all over the world. He was the first person to bring Snoop Dogg over to the UK, for his first concert in the Brixton Rec. He was very well known in the rap & hip-hop industry, but also in the reggae industry. It was here that Mr. Diamond started listening to Run DMC, The Beastie Boys & Slick Rick, before moving onto dancehall artists such as Shabba Ranks, General Levy, Roger Robins & Ninja Man. He was shown a lifestyle of promoting some of the biggest artists, going to different events such as sound events & award shows, and started learning to mix music on the turntables.

“I started buying records in 1987, remember the day soo well as we had a hurricane in London, but all I was concerned about was buying my first record”

This went on to buying mixed tapes, and buying other equipment such as turntables, headphones etc bit by bit, as and when he had the money. With such a heavy influence of music in his family life, but especially with an over ambitious older brother whose name was known world wide, this had built his interest making him want to do more.

Mr. Diamond then started Sovereign Syndicate, which, at the time, was the biggest youth sound system in South London, hailing from Brixton & Stockwell mainly. They used house parties to practice, becoming better and better and getting more contracts to play at more parties. They used to produce mixed tapes of their talent, handing them out to everyone including barber shops to spread the word. They started playing at Notting Hill Carnival, as well as other circuits to get the name known, meeting lots of new people in the industry. Working hard, doing these events opened all sorts of gates for him and set the standards especially in the Jamaican & English music scene, so he decided to start producing music. He used to voice dub-plates which showed him that he could do more. In 1997, he released some tracks; I Like It & Erase The Days, on Frankie Paul’s album. By now it had almost done it all!

“Most people do not have the frame of mind that hard graft pays off. As far as I’m concerned you have the power to make a change-make it happen”

Due to his brother’s connections, Mr. Diamond started doing a lot of traveling, however he himself would tell you that he was never really on holiday! He would be out promoting artists and events, no matter where he was. This positive attitude he portrayed, paved the way for him, giving hope to other young men like him as he put “not born with a silver spoon in my mouth”. He and his brother have tried to be an inspiration to what the government would refer to as ‘failing young black youth’. With very strong views & facts about the youth of today, he is not afraid to speak his mind.

Mr. Diamond is a strong believer in knowing yourself, know where you came from, know where you’re going and knowing the power within yourself. Growing up with this attitude showed him that once he knew who he was, everything else came easier, without restriction. Not claiming to be perfect, but having belief in oneself gave him hope to never give up. This in turn taught him how to speak and deal with people in the industry, in order to be professional.

One thing that Mr. Diamond feels very strong about, and would do anything if he could to try and change it, is why the music industry especially rap, hip-hop & dancehall, is heavily blamed for the behaviour & the values of the youth today. He believes that the youth are not being educated enough, are therefore being suppressed, and to some extent do not help themselves. He also believes that the media can affect the music industry, as all it portrays is violence and all the bad stuff. He has long asked himself the question-why do we not see the black A-grade student splashed across the South London Press? Due to standards of life & living being pressurizing enough, the youth are not speaking they are just doing without thinking, whereas if they were actually heard instead of being told to remain silent, everyone involved may learn a thing or two.

“Stop blaming the music-that’s an excuse. In the days of slavery music was our saviour singing the blues got out ancestors through”

Mr. Diamond believes that the judgements that young black people face is what lets them down, however they also let themselves down. With all the work that he has done, he tries to promote nothing but positivity as well as making something of yourself, by not allowing things to make you. He would very much like to see more youth doing what he is doing, becoming the next Puff Daddy, Bob Marley or even Ken Livingston-he believes nothing can and should stop you.

“It only takes one positive person, Rosa Parks made that change for herself & all, I’m making that change for me, do it for you”