JR Writer x Vado x Hell Rell x Duke Da God – Started From Nothing | Official Music Video

 

The Double Trouble rollout continues, and this time Vado steps into the frame.

"Started From Nothing" is the latest video off Double Trouble, the Diplomats album from JR Writer, Hell Rell and Duke Da God that we covered a week ago with "Stop Playing With Us." Where that track pulled in Jim Jones, this one brings Vado alongside the core trio. The title says everything about the mindset. Harlem MCs who built their names from the ground up, no shortcuts, reminding everyone that the Dipset movement can never fade to black.

The lineup is pure Diplomats DNA. JR Writer built his reputation on rapid-fire punchlines and one of the most respected mixtape runs of the mid 2000s, his Writer's Block series still studied for pure technical rhyming. His 2006 debut History in the Making hit number 25 on the Billboard 200 and number 2 on both the R&B/Hip-Hop and Rap Albums charts. Hell Rell came up through Freestyle Friday on 106 & Park and never softened his aggressive, street-heavy delivery. Duke Da God shaped the sound and direction of the entire Diplomats catalog from behind the scenes, and here he executive produces while stepping onto the track.

Vado is a natural fit. The Harlem MC built his name through his partnership with Cam'ron on the Gunz N' Butta project, and his connection to the Dipset ecosystem runs deep. Adding him to "Started From Nothing" widens the circle without diluting the concept. This is Harlem rap in its purest form, several generations of the same movement on one track.

Double Trouble is a 12-song album featuring Dave East, Jim Jones and Vado. The OGs, as they have described themselves, see the project as a way to get New York hip-hop that sticks back on the map, and they have credited Griselda for keeping the beloved NYC sound alive in recent years. "Started From Nothing" is another piece of that mission.

Watch the video below.