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• 1. 🏢 About Forest Houses

     The Forest Houses are a housing project in Morrisania, Bronx. The project consists of fifteen buildings, 9, 10 and 14-stories tall with 1,350 apartment units. It covers a 17.72-acre expanse, and is bordered by East 163rd and East 166th Streets, and Trinity and Tinton Avenues.1 Forest Houses was constructed in 1956 and was part of New York City’s urban renewal project, which aimed to revitalize neighborhoods characterized as blighted and whose inhabitants lived in substandard and unsanitary conditions.2

     Notable residents are Diamond D, Lord Finesse, Showbiz, and Fat Joe.2 Together, these artists formed the backbone of the legendary hip-hop collective D.I.T.C. (Diggin’ In The Crates Crew), one of the most revered underground groups in hip-hop history.

     🎤 Fat Joe — Rapper, Actor, Entrepreneur

     Fat Joe is the most commercially successful artist to emerge from Forest Houses.

     Joseph Antonio Cartagena was born on August 19, 1970 in the Bronx, New York City, where he was raised by parents of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent. Living in the Forest Houses, a public housing project in the Morrisania neighborhood, Cartagena began stealing at a young age to support his family.3

     Joe grew up in the Forest Houses Projects, where his neighbors included Diamond D, Showbiz, and Lord Finesse, who would all go on to form the pioneering Diggin’ In The Crates Crew (which also includes luminaries such as AG, OC, Buckwild and the late Big L).4

     Career Highlights:

     • Fat Joe debuted his solo album, Represent, which was released in 1993 and included the hit single “Flow Joe.”5
     • “Lean Back” debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks3 — arguably his biggest hit, recorded with Remy Ma and produced by Scott Storch as part of the Terror Squad compilation.
     • Joe made Trinity Ave, one of the streets that enclosed Forest Houses, a household name on arguably his biggest hit, “Lean Back.”4
     • He’s also made hip-hop history himself, with more than three decades in the game. He owns his own record label, mentored, helped or launched the careers of Remy Ma, Tony Sunshine, Cuban Link and a then-unknown DJ Khaled, as well as discover producers Cool & Dre and last but not least the late great legendary rapper Big Pun.5
     • The rapper Fat Joe, who grew up in the Forest Houses, recalls watching Grandmaster Flash, one of the pioneers of hip-hop, doing DJ sets in the parking lot across the street from his building in the mid-’70s.6

     🎤 Diamond D — Hip-Hop Producer, MC & DJ

     Joseph Kirkland (born April 5, 1968), better known by his stage name Diamond D (or simply Diamond), is an American hip hop MC and record producer from The Bronx, New York City, and one of the founding members of the Diggin’ in the Crates Crew, abbreviated as D.I.T.C. Growing up in Forest Houses in The Bronx, Diamond D was influenced by local DJs, DJ Hutch and DJ Supreme. During his youth the two DJs would let him perform on their turntables.7

     Career Highlights:

     • Along with his fellow flagship colleagues in the Diggin’ In the Crates crew – Showbiz & AG and Lord Finesse – producer/emcee Diamond D was amongst the brightest young talents to come out of the BX in this period. Raised in Forest Houses and mentored by the legendary Zulu Nation DJ/producer/studio and label owner Jazzy Jay (who signed Diamond’s first group, Ultimate Force) he was already something of a rap industry veteran when he dropped a sage and savvy guest verse on A Tribe Called Quest’s “Show Business” from the group’s classic 1991 LP, Low End Theory.8
     • As a solo artist, Diamond D released his debut album Stunts, Blunts and Hip Hop in 1992 on Mercury Records, a critically acclaimed project featuring 23 tracks that highlighted his dual role as producer and rapper, with standout singles like “Best Kept Secret.”9
     • His work on The Fugees’ breakthrough album The Score (1996) earned him a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album as part of the production team, solidifying his status in the industry.9
     • Follow-up albums such as Hatred, Passions and Infidelity (1997) and The Diam Piece (2004) further demonstrated his versatility, while his production credits extended to artists like Busta Rhymes, KRS-One, and The Roots.9

     🎤 Lord Finesse — Rapper, Producer & Battle MC Legend

     He was raised in the South Bronx during the 1970s. His grandmother raised Finesse when he was younger living in Forest Projects, a public housing project in neighborhood of Morrisania in the Bronx.10

     Lord Finesse (born Robert Hall, Jr., February 19, 1970) is a hip-hop artist and producer, from The Bronx, New York, best known as the leader of the D.I.T.C. crew. About.com ranked him number 29 on its list of the Top-50 Hip-Hop Producers.11

     Career Highlights:

     • His debut album Funky Technician (1990) featured production from future star beat-makers DJ Premier, Diamond D and Showbiz. Soon after, Finesse formed the popular New York underground crew D.I.T.C., together with Showbiz and A.G. and Diamond D. Future members included Fat Joe, O.C., Buckwild, and Big L.10
     • The album’s title track peaked at number 13 on the Hot Rap Singles chart. Return of the Funky Man also included a couple of songs that were produced by Finesse himself, and this would be the start of a career as a much respected hip-hop producer.10
     • In 1995, he produced a big portion of Big L’s debut album Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous, including the single “M.V.P.” and made an appearance on one of the album’s highlight songs “Da Graveyard”.10
     • In 1998, Finesse provided the vocal sample on the hook to “The Rockafeller Skank”, a hit single by British musician Fatboy Slim from his album You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby.10
     • His confident drive to stay true to his roots growing up amid the sink-or-swim Forest Homes projects has long defined the fabled DITC co-founder’s discography.12

     🎤 Showbiz (Rodney LeMay) — Hip-Hop Producer & Rapper

     Showbiz and A.G. is an American hip hop duo from The Bronx borough of New York City, composed of record producer Rodney “Showbiz” Lemay (born July 7, 1969) and rapper Andre “A.G.” Barnes (born September 26, 1970).13

     Diamond D confirmed: “We all grew up in the same neighborhood, Forest projects and the surrounding area.”14

     Career Highlights:

     • D.I.T.C. was founded by Diamond D and Showbiz and its name is from the art of finding records to sample for production.15
     • Debuting in 1990 as a producer on Lord Finesse’s 1990 album Funky Technician, he has since produced songs for artists such as KRS-One, Fat Joe, Big L, Diamond D, Nice & Smooth, Das EFX, Big Pun and The Pharcyde.16
     • On September 22, 1992, the duo released their debut studio album, Runaway Slave, with guest appearances from Diamond D, Lord Finesse, Dres, and the first album appearance of Big L. In 1993, Showbiz became popular for producing KRS-One’s single “Sound of da Police”.13
     • The most successful song from the album was DJ Premier’s ‘Nyte Time’ remix of the track “Next Level”, an instrumental version of which was later featured in the 2002 film 8 Mile.13

     🎨 Glenn Ligon — Contemporary Artist

     An important non-hip-hop notable from Forest Houses is acclaimed visual artist Glenn Ligon.

     He revealed: “I was implicated long before either of those entanglements arose, and this is likely what prompted my friend’s question about the community members and occasioned Farmer’s invitation for me to address them: I’d grown up in the Forest Houses.”6 Ligon is one of the most celebrated contemporary American artists, known for his text-based paintings exploring race, language, and identity. His works are in the collections of major museums worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum, and the Tate.

     ✊ Erik Farmer — Resident Association President & Community Leader

     “This project has energized everyone, the community really needed this,” said Eric Farmer, President of the Forest Houses Resident Association. “It will bring jobs and teach residents about contemporary art, something that the community is not used to.”17 NYCHA Chairman John B. Rhea and Forest Houses resident leader Erik Farmer joined artist Thomas Hirschhorn and the community for an unveiling of the art project, Gramsci Monument, developed on the grounds of the Forest Houses in the Bronx.17

     📝 Summary — Forest Houses’ Incredible Hip-Hop Legacy

     Forest Houses stands as one of the most significant NYCHA developments in hip-hop history. Some of the famous residents of Morrisania, Bronx, NY are members of the group Diggin’ in the Crates (DITC) — Fat Joe, Lord Finesse, Diamond D, Showbiz. These famous people grew up in the Forest Houses in the NYCHA houses on Trinity Ave. Being that the South Bronx is the birthplace of Hip-Hop,18 many of its famous residents are heavily involved in the music industry.

     Childhood friendships were formed between Diamond D, Lord Finesse, and Showbiz. The trio would later become the backbone of the group with shared duties as both MCs and producers.19 Fat Joe would later join as well, becoming D.I.T.C.’s biggest mainstream star.

     Despite the problems residents encounter, Forest Houses is a place filled with resilient people and a thriving culture.2

     I hope this was helpful! Forest Houses is tr

     Fat Joe (Joseph Antonio Cartagena)

     Born August 19, 1970, and raised in the Forest Houses, a public housing project in the Morrisania neighborhood of the Bronx1, Fat Joe is one of the most successful hip-hop artists to emerge from NYCHA housing.

     Career Highlights:

     • His 1993 debut album “Represent” featured the lead single “Flow Joe” which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart2
     • Founded Terror Squad Entertainment record label and discovered/signed artists including Big Pun, Remy Ma, and DJ Khaled
     • Known for massive hits including “Lean Back,” “What’s Luv?” (featuring Ashanti and Ja Rule), and “Make It Rain”
     • A 1996 New York Times article highlighted how Fat Joe gave back to the neighborhood, employing many of his friends from the Forest Houses at a barbershop he owned in the Bronx3
     • Has remained active in hip-hop for over 30 years and transitioned into television hosting

     Diamond D (Joseph Kirkland)

     Born April 5, 1968, Diamond D is a hip hop MC and record producer from The Bronx who grew up in Forest Houses4.

     Career Highlights:

     • Founding member of the influential Diggin’ in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.)4
     • Released his debut album “Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop” in 19924
     • Made an early guest appearance on A Tribe Called Quest’s “The Low End Theory” track “Show Business”4
     • Respected as both a producer and rapper, contributing production to numerous East Coast hip-hop classics
     • Credits Jazzy Jay for teaching him production techniques, saying “I learned about 95% of my production skills from him”4

     Lord Finesse (Robert Hall Jr.)

     Raised in the South Bronx during the 1970s in Forest Projects, a public housing project in the Morrisania neighborhood5.

     Career Highlights:

     • Formed the influential D.I.T.C. crew together with Showbiz, A.G., and Diamond D, with future members including Fat Joe, O.C., Buckwild, and Big L5
     • Released debut album “Funky Technician” in 1990
     • Produced a significant portion of Big L’s debut album “Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous” in 1995, including the single “M.V.P.”5
     • His vocal sample “Right about now, the funk soul brother. Check it out now, the funk soul brother” was featured on Fatboy Slim’s hit single “The Rockafeller Skank” in 19985
     • Highly respected hip-hop producer who worked with numerous artists throughout his career

     Showbiz (Rodney Lemay)

     Notable resident and member of D.I.T.C.6 who also grew up in Forest Houses alongside Diamond D and Lord Finesse.

     Career Highlights:

     • Part of the trio with Diamond D and Lord Finesse that became the backbone of D.I.T.C., with shared duties as both MCs and producers7
     • Neighbor of Diamond D, Showbiz, and Lord Finesse in Forest Houses Projects, who would all go on to form the pioneering Diggin’ In The Crates Crew8
     • Known primarily as a producer and one half of the duo Showbiz & A.G.

     All four of these artists were instrumental in shaping 1990s East Coast hip-hop and were founding members of the legendary Diggin’ in the Crates (D.I.T.C.) crew, which became one of the most respected underground hip-hop collectives of the era.

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