Riston Diggs

Riston Diggs has released his debut project, PTSD, which is a blend of hard-hitting yet soulful expressions of his real life experiences.

The project, released as the BLVD Experience, includes a video and album and is being promoted now.

The video displays the awareness of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and how the effects of it can be misunderstood.

It is a mockery of anything that is designed to distract, destroy and kill. Though dark in nature, it sends a message of triumphant celebration.

“We hope this video will enlighten the views and understanding of this disease,” Diggs said.

Diggs is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ray Diggs of Pageland. He is a 2004 graduate of Central High School.

He served nine years in the U.S. Navy and is continuing his education at the Art Institute of California in San Diego.

The project is his truth sculpted in musical form, documenting his struggles, desires and ambition post a nine-year military career.

Want to watch?

Parental discretion is strongly advised - Pageland Progressive

TUNE YOUR EAR IN FOR A LISTEN; Riston Diggs has some things to get off his chest. After a challenging year for new artist Riston Diggs, he’s back with more heat with new record, New Riston Diggs. Addressing everything from so-called friends to social media and everything in between, Diggs has something to say and must be heard.


New Riston Diggs can be found at www.theblvdexperience.com and also available on all digital platforms (iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, Sound Cloud, etc.) Listen, Download & Share. - Hip Hop Weekly

Riston Diggs is the latest voice to emerge from California’s musical haven. His rock star image and message of struggle, and heartache is right on time with hip-hop’s current state of sound.


Diggs, expresses innovative elements of rock-hop, explicit lyrics, and dark melodies with his debut record PTSD. The track “PTSD” is a tale of harsh realities that are faced with the illness, PTSD, and how the effects can often be misunderstood. Riston unapologetically shares his truths, defeats, and victories throughout the album.


Mandee: Who is Riston Diggs? And what is PTSD?


Riston Diggs: I’m just a regular guy, from Pageland, South Carolina. I’m a son, a father, a veteran, and a musician. PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It’s a condition commonly attached to serving in the military, but it’s basically the things that you experience after going through something traumatic and it affects people everywhere of all backgrounds and ethnicities.


M: What were you doing before putting pen to paper?


RD: Before putting pen to paper I did normal things, played sports in high school, graduated, joined the military, lived in Japan, became a father of two beautiful daughters, and relocated to California before ever seriously putting a pen to paper. Pretty much to sum it up, I was just experiencing life.


M: How has your previous career brought you to rhyming?


RD: My previous job is what landed me in California, which would lead me to meeting some people who inspired me to get into the studio and make some music.


M: What inspired the title of the album?


RD: The album was inspired by my life. It was a personal diary for me that allowed me to be artistic, vulnerable, and release over-all stress. The name PTSD represents that exactly, the album gives you my stories post trauma I experienced in life.

M: Why hip-hop? Why now?


RD: I chose hip-hop because I couldn’t sing or play instruments, I happened to be good at rhyming and telling stories so I chose hip-hop as the genre I would use. But I’m becoming more diverse musically each day, wouldn’t want to box myself in, I’m too smart now. I chose to make music now because I finally lived enough life to actually give perspective of my situations.


M: How do you plan on impacting the next generation of rappers?


RD: I only hope to inspire the next generation to be you [sic]. Don’t worry about who you are not, focus on becoming who you are. I hope to inspire everyone I reach to be authentic to themselves and understand you have the power to be what ever you have the true passion to do, but to also know that to achieve something you must work hard at it point blank period. If you decide to be a janitor, be the best damn janitor you can be.


M: Who is your greatest influence?


RD: The usual suspects my Mom and my Dad. But for the sake of a quality interview, one of my greatest influences is Bernie Mac. I admired his stage presence, his showmanship and the sense of having no fear anytime I saw him on stage. R.I.P to the late great Bernie Mac.


M: How has he/she influenced your music?


RD: I applied the same qualities he had in comedy and applied them into music, artistically in my own way though. His stage presence was phenomenal.

M: What’s next for Riston Diggs?


RD: What’s next for Riston Diggs is to continue to work on more music, perfecting my stage show, staying in shape so I can rock out harder. Another thing is overall continuing on my path to enlightenment.


M: What is one thing you want people to know about your music?


RD: My music is authentic.


AR: Reggae or Jazz?


RD: Jazz


AR: Sour Patch or Twizzlers?


RD: Sour Patch


AR: Carnivals or Amusement Parks?


RD: Amusement Parks

To listen to complete album, visit TBE. - Hive Society

La Mesa–based MC Riston Diggs (the Known Unknowns) recorded his debut album, The Blvd Experience, following the completion of a nine-year Navy career where he served as an aviation administrator. I asked him about the title track, which addresses his views regarding local racial (and racist) issues.

“Cuz every nigga’s a victim, u get it/ I ain’t saying I’m racist/ but I’m no longer patient/ waiting with my hand out in this white man’s world/ screaming I can’t breathe with my hands up.”

Is he concerned about potentially alienating white audiences? “Historically, intelligent white people have come to understand the struggle of the black race in America,” he says. “I was just expressing the climate of racial tension going on in our nation at the moment, with the storied police brutality, and also saying I refuse to be victimized by the idea of racism or be a wicked person.

“The police have harassed me. I had an incident where a neighbor called the cops because they heard my daughters yelling and thought I had done something to them. But they were only playing and, being girls, screaming. Next thing you know, I get a call from a number that I don’t know, I pick up, and someone I don’t know is telling me to come out. I thought it was a friend of mine playing with me, so I walk out, and a red dot was on my head. All I saw were a lot of police and I heard a voice giving further instructions. It was the SWAT team: they had me face down on the wet ground and then searched my house with dogs, all while my daughters were in the apartment crying.”

No arrest was made. “It was kind of embarrassing. I believe a simple knock on the door for a noise complaint would’ve fixed that issue.”

The same song also has the lyric, “They steady faking hating acting like they be in the field/ when it’s wartime we’ll see who’s keeping it real.”

He downplays the incendiary tone. “Wartime is any time a challenge from the enemy presents itself, in any shape, form, or fashion. That last line was for people that I knew and I thought were supposed to be my friend.... I just used the military concept to express that, because friendships should be like a platoon in the Marines, strong as shit.”

Diggs’s video for “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” featuring producer/singer Sly Beats, has over 68,000 views. - San Diego Reader

New Riston Diggs is anti; anti-f*** s***! And he's very vocal in calling himself and you out on it. He calls it like he sees it, all he needs is a reason apparently. He questions his friends loyalty and the bit on social media is brilliant as well. "I just wanted to express myself and talk my s*** with no boundaries. I had a lot on my mind." Diggs tells THIS IS 50.

Over the hard hitting instrumentals, Riston Diggs will not be ignored on New Riston Diggs. New Riston Diggs is available on www.theblvdexperience.com also available on all digital platforms (iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, Sound Cloud, etc.) Listen, download & share. - This is 50

Known for powerful criticism of current social issues, Riston Diggs (@ristondiggs) a nine-year Navy veteran, follows his album PTSD with an incredibly poignant tune. Produced by Sly Beats, “Can’t Remember” is meant to remind the masses that the unrest and specifically the number of shootings in America is something that can’t be forgotten with each new ‘trending topic.’

About “Can’t Remember”:
“We feel music should be inspiring and uplifting by discussing current events with socially conscious lyrics. As a result of the unfortunate incidents that have been occurring in our great nation, many Americans feel uneasy when in the presence of police officers. We understand it’s not an easy task keeping our communities safe while maintaining transparency and trust. We wrote this song to raise awareness so that the police can attempt to weed out the few people that keep dragging the department down. We don’t wish to fight the institutions forcing people to choose sides. Instead, we must work to develop trusting relationships so they can once again serve and protect the communities they represent. We’ve created music in the direction everyone has been waiting for so that it exists in your hearts and minds forever, “and now you best remember!” – Riston Diggs - Hype Magazine