My Diary

Album: Harlem: Diary of a Summer (2005)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the opening track of Jim Jones' second album, Harlem: Diary of a Summer. The track was produced by Antwan "Amadeus" Thompson, who was a member of Bad Boy Records production team, The Hitmen. He recalled to Billboard:

    "I had did 'Take Em to Church' for Cam'ron which was the Ma$e diss. I remember going to Juelz's [Santana] studio to track out the beat. Back then, you would go to the actual studio session, plug up your equipment, and track the beat into the Pro Tools. So I did that at his studio and I met Juelz, I met Jim [Jones] and Jim said he needed some heat.

    So I sent him some beats and I remember getting that phone call like. 'Yo come down to the studio I laid this joint. It's me.' I remember walking to the studio hearing the track while it was being mixed and I knew this wasn't no party record, this wasn't no turn up joint. This is a joint where you have to sit down and really listen and take it in. It was one of his favorite records because it meant a lot to him. It kind of told his story from his point of view in regards to Harlem. It's definitely a classic."
  • Amadeus' beat samples "Living Inside Your Love" by Earl Klugh. He recalled: "I found that sample off a song from the Above the Rim soundtrack titled 'Pain' by 2Pac. Obviously Jim felt it, he's from Harlem. Above the Rim was shot in Harlem so it just all came together."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions Answered

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions AnsweredSong Writing

10 Questions for the author of Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).

Paul Williams

Paul WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

He's a singer and an actor, but as a songwriter Paul helped make Kermit a cultured frog, turned a bank commercial into a huge hit and made love both "exciting and new" and "soft as an easy chair."

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine Band

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine BandSongwriter Interviews

Harry Wayne Casey tells the stories behind KC and The Sunshine Band hits like "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way (I Like It)," and "Give It Up."

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.