Block McCloud (born Ismael Diaz Jr.) is an underground Rapper and Singer, who was born and raised in Park Slope, Brooklyn. He is the son of famous salsa singer Ismael Diaz, who grew up with and sang alongside Salsa legend Tito Rojas. His father’s legacy inspired Block McCloud, who was an adolescent at the time, and then began performing for the public in Red Hook and Columbia Street festivals by the age of eight. It was at this age when Block heard the song “Rapper’s Delight” by Sugar Hill Gang and became an avid follower of Hip Hop culture. ^[1]

He is also the founder of Disturbia Music Group.

Block McCloud is known for his constant collaborations with Vinnie Paz and is a member of hip hop supergroup Army of the Pharaohs.

He came up in the underground scene in NY in the late 80s and early 90s and was part of the hip hop movement right from its inception.

As an engineer, he recorded albums for Jean Grae and Pumpkinhead, but he wasn’t always just the man pushing the buttons. He was a also a lyricist and had his own rap style that he had brought to the underground scene for years; soon he started singing choruses and hooks for many of the artists he was recording, eventually earning the nickname “Captain Hook.” His guest spots inevitably led to his own solo career. “I decided to kind of stop being the background guy and continue to the forefront and I became Block McCloud the solo artist,” he said.

Block first made his name with a group called Zooty Zoo, in the mid 90’s, appearing on the Ecko Unlimited Mixtapes that accompanied their line of T-shirts.

He then went on to appear on the seminal independent compilation Lyricst Lounge, Vol. 1 released on Rawkus Records alongside acts such as Q-Tip, Mos Def, Talib Kweli & Pharaohe Monch among others. Shortly after, Block formed the group Brooklyn Academy with Pumpkinhead and Mr. Metaphor releasing several independent singles and albums while remaining active as the engineer of choice for other indie artists like Jean Grae and Immortal Technique.

In 2004, Block McCloud released his first album.

It was distributed by Brooklyn Academy Records Inc and his own Distrubia Music.

^[7] It included guest appearances from Vinnie Paz, Jean Grae, Pumpkinhead and Immortal Technique.

In 2006, Block released his first solo-LP, Spittin Image leading to his inclusion in the aforementioned Army of the Pharoahes projects.

It was during this time Vinnie Paz, member of Jedi Mind Tricks, decided that Block should join hip hop supergroup; Army of the Pharaohs. McCloud joined after the recording of Ritual of Battle, therefore he wasn't on the album.

In 2010, Block appeared on Army of the Pharaohs third studio album; The Unholy Terror. However, he was only featured on the track "Burn You Alive." Crazy Man EP was released on November 2, 2011 as a precursor to his full-length album; Four Walls, which was released early 2012. The EP featured three versions of the song “Crazy Man”, including a remix featuring Celph Titled & R.A. the Rugged Man with the original version with production from DJ Waxwork (formerly of the German production team, The Snowgoons) and additional production provided by Anno Domini Nation and Dj Luciano of The Beatills

2008* The upstart of a Indy Hip Hop label founded by Block McCloud Disturbia Music Group has since released 3 group projects (Suicide Squad, DNA Vol 1 and 2) and a slew of solo projects from Block McCloud Though the label is still active little to no success was seen, this was rumored to be the break up of Brooklyn Academy and fingers pointed to label CEO Fresh Jones (Blocks Baby Mother). A roster of up and coming artist have since signed to the label have yet to release and projects Some have lashed out in a recent interview on (ViceGrip.Net Audio) "having to be disgruntled working with a dysfunctional "Label" put on a shelf and play positions while the label frontman gets to shine. And seems to be Block and Fresh Jones rocky relationship and bad habits is somewhat of a roadblock in the path of his artist. " Quoted by DMG artist in recent interview. DJ Waxwork from Germany produced Four Walls, and McCloud was able to bring his lyrics to the forefront of an album for the first time. “Sometimes an artist will spend a long time on something and in the end they hate it, but I can honestly say that I’m really proud of this project,” he said, adding that “I’m happy to be relevant and impacting people musically at this stage in my career.” The album features guest spots from La Coka Nostra, Army of the Pharaohs, and Vinnie Paz amongst others.

The Book of Ishmael released as a solo album in 2014 along with featuring on 2 AOTP albums, In Death Reborn and Heavy Lies the Crown.

Block also quotes Krizz Kaliko (founder of Strange Music) as a huge influence. And what has seem like a recent drunken out reach on Twitter from the crazy man himself tweeting @KrizzKalico and @Block Mccloud collab soon? Numerous times. We all hope and cross fingers for this. And if not we can always count on hearing Block on just one song for Aotp albums. Dmg Artist touched on that stating. "Can't blame Paz he needs people to bring Their A-Game. " (ViceGrip.NetAudio) Block McCloud was inspired from acts such as LL Cool J, Run DMC and EPMD. This enticed him as a performer to use his vocals. Block states, “I became a fiend, staying up all night listening to DJ Red Alert and Chuck chillout, but it wasn’t until Brooklyn rappers started killing it that I started spitting.”Big Daddy Kane and Rakim were his primary inspiration, “They’re the guys that made me want to rhyme, so I did!” [12]

Block McCloud forges partnership with Well Done Entertainment via his own record label Disturbia Music Group which he founded in 2004.

In an Interview with Intrigued Music Blog, McCloud stated that Well Done Entertainment is now defunked and said that it was only created to help with the Crazy Man music video.

As of Disturbia Music Group, Block went on to say "Disturbia Music Group is an Artist run Label so to speak in that we move as one, we are a family, and we are what all the other groups I was affiliated with before DMG and AOTP could not ever be or even understand. We are a Group. We move in perfect harmony. And I am thankful I was able to prove all them people wrong who didn't understand what I was trying to do, or didn’t believe enough to play there position and do what they were supposed to do to get us there that much quicker." Artists including F.T., Suicide Squad, Demunz the Dark Apostle, Kromeatose, Misk, Fresh Jones, Genghis Khan, Just One, Exacto, and Castro Fidel amongst others are part of the roster of Distrubia Music Group.