My Diary

Album: Harlem: Diary of a Summer (2005)
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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."

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