Steve 'Flash' JuonPerhaps it was the ill advised idea of Paul Wall trying to give Brooke Hogan credibility by rapping on her debut single that hurt his mainstream appeal. It didn’t work for her and certainly hasn’t ranked as a career highlight for him. On the other hand his long running beef with Chamillionaire ended in 2010, a move which easily got him any lost respect back in droves. Distractions kept him from capitalizing on it though. He tried his hand at acting and had minor roles in some forgettable and bad movies. He launched a mobile game I’m not sure anyone played. He’s continued to release albums and mixtapes yearly with little fanfare or mainstream attention until “Give Thanks” with Statik Selektah in 2019.
The strangest thing of all though may be “Diamond Boyz” from 2017. This is no “Give Thanks.” In fact the lead single “Bust” more prominently features Chicago driller Chief Keef than either Paul Wall or featured co-artist C Stone. If you were thinking Johnny Dang was also starring on this album from the cover art you’d be incorrect — he’s just the jeweler who makes all of their iced out grills. I appreciate that as a friend and business partner of his Paul Wall would want to shout him out that way, but you will hear mention of him in the songs both directly and indirectly and no actual bars. Perhaps the album was conceived of as a way to market his “Diamond” jewelry even more? “Diamonds on Me Dancing” featuring Maxo Kream would have you thinking so.
It’s a curse of the album that the guest features end up being more interesting than the charismatic Paul Wall or generic C Stone. Self described “King of the Nawf” Slim Thug and Screwed Up Click legend Lil Keke are both on “Somebody Lied.” Future does his usual singing raps on “Teach Me.” Underground H-Town representative Doughbeezy is on “Diamonds in My Mouth.” Each time someone shows up they overshadow “Paul Wall baby” badly. I’m not “talking down” Paul, I’m just being real.
In every respect here Paul is sleepwalking through the album, going through the motions of making songs like “Woke Up Thinking Bout Money,” a song which has nothing to say we haven’t heard. It also ends up being incredibly dated in 2025 when I hear him say “Like J.J. Watt, give me that sack” when Watt retired three years ago. I’m glad he “ain’t worried about a trend” but the track is a generic bass and drum affair that was never destined to trend in the first place.
It’s shocking to me that one of the most unique rappers of the early to mid-2000’s could have slid so far down on “Diamond Boyz” to sharing billing with his jeweler and a rapper we’ve never heard from again. Thankfully he got his swagger back when he teamed up with Statik Selektah, but it actually illustrates what’s been a problem for Paul Wall all along. After his major label fame faded, Paul was nothing if not prolific on the independent scene, but if we’ve learned anything from Lil B it’s that quantity should not be mistaken for quality. I think the best thing Mr. Slayton can do is stick to working with producers and projects that make him shine like his bling. Don’t release shit just to release it. “Diamond Boyz” is not worth your time.