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'Diverse' (born 'Kenny Jenkins' in Chicago, Illinois) is an American rapper. An underground hip-hop artist, he has received critical acclaim "from knowledgeable heads worldwide".^[1][2]

Contents

Early career

Influences

Lyrical style and content

Discography

Albums

Singles

References

External links

Early career

Diverse got his start in the Chicago hip-hop scene while being employed at a post office.^[3] He has worked or associated with Chicago hip-hop mainstays such as J.U.I.C.E., Copperpot and Iomos Marad. His debut EP, ''Move'', featuring the track "Time", appeared in 2001.
He has professional relationships with RJD2 and Prefuse 73. He contributed to Prefuse 73's album ''One Word Extinguisher'', rhyming on the track "Plastic". Prefuse 73 also produced the original beat for "Wylin' Out", a track which paired Diverse with the beloved New York rapper Mos Def. After "Wylin' Out" was well-received,³ Definitive Jux's RJD2 was tapped to remix the song. The remix was selected for inclusion on the 2002 Urban Renewal Program compilation.
Both Prefuse 73 and RJD2 contributed tracks to Diverse's 2003 debut full-length, ''One A.M.'' Prefuse 73's contributions were the ambient-flavoured beats for "Jus Biz" , "Leaving", and the interlude "Amberglis". RJD2's work on the album is some of the most directly rock and funk-influenced work of his career. Other producers who contributed to the project were K. Kruz, Overflo, and Madlib. Guest appearances were made by Cannibal Ox's Vast Aire, the fierce Jean Grae, and Quannum Projects' Lyrics Born.
In the same year, Diverse was featured on the track "Gray Scale" by Montreal-area DJ Ghislain Poirier.
In 2005, Diverse teamed with a Detroit-based crew called Lawless Element, appearing on a track called "...Something." Magnif, the producer associated with Lawless Element, is among those working with Diverse on his second full-length, 'Round About'', which is due in 2006.
Two of Diverse's songs from his ''One A.M.'' album, "Blindman" and "Explosive (Caural Mix)" were featured on the soundtrack of Capcom's 2006 game Final Fight Streetwise for the Sony PlayStation 2 and the Microsoft Xbox. Also featured on the soundtrack was Mos Def's "Wylin' Out (RJD2 Remix)" which featured both Diverse and Prefuse 73.
Summer 2006 saw Diverse participate in the Storm Tour, travelling across North America with tourmates Ugly Duckling, Aceyalone, Mayday! and Wrekonize.^[4]
In June of 2006, Diverse was featured on the ''Chocolate Swim E.P.'', a combined effort of Chocolate Industries, Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, and Mountain Dew. Of the six-track EP, Diverse collaborated with Mos Def for another version of "Wylin' Out," this time a remix by Kut Masta Kurt, and included a remix of his song "Ain't Right" by DJ Mitsu. This EP was available for free download on the Adult Swim website.

Influences

Diverse cites Mos Def, Pharaohe Monch of Organized Konfusion, and Posdnuos of De La Soul as his three main influences.^[5] He also acknowledges Spike Lee and Sidney Poitier.

Lyrical style and content

His style is clear, with a large vocabulary and frequent use of similes and poetic imagery. His tracks, even his battle raps, are more delicate and less confrontational in tone than many rappers'. This can be attributed to his roots in poetry.^[6]

Discography

Albums

★ 2001 ''Move EP''

★ 2003 ''One A.M.''

Singles

★ 2002 ''Certified/Build''

★ 2003 ''Explosive''

★ 2004 ''Jus Biz''

★ 2004 ''Big Game''

References

1. Beatseeking Missives: Diverse. ''The Stranger'', 18 March, 2004. Retrieved 19 June, 2006
2. Diverse Part of Chicago Rap Explosion. ''Chicago Tribune'', cited at Chocolate Industries. Retrieved 19 June, 2006.
3. Diverse: Chicago Postal Worker-Turned-MC Delivers. ''Urb'', cited at Chocolate Industries. Retrieved 19 June, 2006.
4. The Storm Tour. mySpace.com, 10 May, 2006. Retrieved 19 June 2006.
5. ''Alarm Magazine'', cited at Chocolate Industries. Retrieved 19 June, 2006.
6. Bases Loaded: He Digs Baseball and Poetry. Hip Hoppin' Diverse is Aptly Named.... ''Jockey Slut'', December 2003, cited at Chocolate Industries. Retrieved 19 June, 2006.

External links

★ Diverse at Chocolate Industries

★ Diverse at mySpace.com