DJ Spinna: Here To There

Since launching with Jay Dee's excellent solo debut, Welcome 2 Detroit, the Beat Generation series has quickly become one of hip-hop's most exciting and consistent institutions. Further acknowledgement of hip-hop's status as a producer's genre, the series offers legendary and up-and-coming beatsmiths an opportunity to strut their sonic stuff with total artistic freedom. Previous Beat Generation albums have leaned heavily on revered veterans (Pete Rock, Marley Marl, Jay Dee, DJ Jazzy Jeff) who've left an indelible mark on hip-hop, but the series' sixth installment features DJ Spinna, a producer whose best work is probably still ahead of him. One half of the acclaimed underground duo Jigmastas, Spinna doesn't have the track record of Pete Rock or Marley Marl, but on Here To There, he proves that he belongs in their company. Perhaps best known for his work with J-Live, Spinna doubles as a sought-after remixer and has worked extensively in house music. That eclecticism shines through on Here To There, which segues effortlessly from rap to dance to spoken-word to jazzy instrumentals. Like previous installments, the album is at its strongest when Spinna sticks to relatively straightforward rap. On "Dash," Apani B. Fly Emcee and Jean Grae illustrate why they're one of rap's tightest, most underrated tag teams, over a beat that gives the echo-laden Spinna treatment to "Heartbeat." The aptly named Rise makes a similarly striking impression on "Tune You Out," which fuses humor and social consciousness to mix-tape-worthy effect. Here To There is primarily a showcase for Spinna's chillout-room mastery, but the album's smattering of hungry young rappers contributes uniformly stellar work. By this point, the Beat Generationseries has hardened into formula, with sophisticated beats, inspired turns from up-and-coming rappers, a few blissed-out R&B tracks, and a few instrumentals. But it's a formula that's produced six winners in a row.