Album Review: DJ Spinna – Sonic Smash (2009)
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Potholes
The conundrum of fans wanting to hear artists recreate the quality of the golden era while doing something original at the same time remains as one of the various problems in rap today – so often will albums be enjoyable without offering anything particularly new, while those that do can lack substance and replay value, despite being dignified efforts to push boundaries and create their own styles. Super producer DJ Spinna’s latest effort, Sonic Smash, may not be an entirely definitive solution to this, but it marks an interesting and, at times, highly successful attempt to be willfully unique as well as appealing to the listener’s more conventional sensibilities.
This is demonstrated, for instance, on “Lyrics Is Back” – the album’s lead single featuring Torae. The song calls for a return to rappers concentrating upon lyrical prowess and finesse once more, but this is contrasted with an almost futuristic beat, far from the typical boom bap sounds that one would expect to accompany such a traditional message.
In fact, one of the reasons why Sonic Smash works so well is that it seems equally dedicated to showcasing strong lyricism and interesting song concepts alongside DJ Spinna’s distinctive and enjoyable brand of Jazz and Funk influenced Hip-Hop. There are various talented emcees featured, including Phonte of Little Brother, Elzhi, and a multitude of lesser known rappers who fully warrant their place and hold their own on a number of the album’s more enjoyable tracks.
Though Sonic Smash clearly reinforces DJ Spinna’s reputation as one of underground Hip-Hop’s finest, some of the beats are a lot more memorable than others. The project falls short of being flawless as a result of the few songs where production seems to lack character, especially when compared to the majestic sounds of “Call Me Senor” or “Melody”. One thing that can be said, however, is that even on the occasions where Sonic Smash sounds mediocre, it cannot be described as stale – this is a fresh and intriguing piece of work that serves as a worthwhile listen for those in need of something more.
