DJ Spinna
Encyclopedia
DJ Spinna is an American hip hop music
artist and producer, who, according to Allmusic.com, has "remained strictly an underground artist despite his astonishing talent."
, funk
, and soul music
. He remixed artists such as De La Soul
, Mary J. Blige
, and Stevie Wonder
. He also collaborated with Eminem
on songs such as "Three Six Five," "Watch Deez," and "5-Star Generals," before the latter went on to superstardom. His first group, the Jigmastas
, was with the emcee Kriminul. He is also a member of Polyrhythm Addicts
, an underground hip-hop 'supergroup' composed of him, Apani B
Fly MC, Mr. Complex, and Shabaam Sahdeeq. The group's album Rhyme-Related was released in 1999 on Wreck/Nervous Records
and featured a song with Pharaohe Monch. Apani B
Fly MC was replaced by Tiye Phoenix when the group reunited and recorded the 2007 release Break Glass, which featured the single “Reachin’,” released on April 24, 2007. He also worked with New York-based live house-music group Tortured Soul as well as being a member of the group Domecrackers with DJ/Producer Joc Max from Kansas City, and Grap Luva
, whose brother is legendary hip hop
producer Pete Rock
.
With Polyrhythm Addicts
With Jigmastas
Solo
With Tortured Soul
With Grand Pianoramax
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
artist and producer, who, according to Allmusic.com, has "remained strictly an underground artist despite his astonishing talent."
Biography
He began experimenting with turntables at age 11 and is known for combining dance music with hip hopHip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, and soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
. He remixed artists such as De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
, Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
, and Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
. He also collaborated with Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
on songs such as "Three Six Five," "Watch Deez," and "5-Star Generals," before the latter went on to superstardom. His first group, the Jigmastas
Jigmastas
Jigmastas are an East Coast underground hip hop group based in Brooklyn. The group consists of DJ Spinna and MC Kriminul.-History:DJ Spinna, was already renowned throughout the 1990s, and as well already knew Kriminul from the mid 1980s. Jigmastas' recording debut was in Rude Rydims' "Everybody...
, was with the emcee Kriminul. He is also a member of Polyrhythm Addicts
Polyrhythm Addicts
Polyrhythm Addicts is a hip hop group composed of DJ Spinna, Mr Complex, Shabaam Sahdeeq, and Tiye Phoenix.The lineup on its first album included Apani B, but she was replaced by Phoenix when the group reunited in 2007 and released the album Break Glass....
, an underground hip-hop 'supergroup' composed of him, Apani B
Apani B
Apani B Fly is an American hip hop emcee.In 1996 her first 12-inch single, “Estragen,” was independently released and shortly followed up by several high-profile guest appearances on projects with Organized Konfusion, Mos Def & Talib Kweli, and Pharoahe Monch...
Fly MC, Mr. Complex, and Shabaam Sahdeeq. The group's album Rhyme-Related was released in 1999 on Wreck/Nervous Records
Nervous Records (US)
Nervous Records is a New York City record label of underground house music and hip-hop, founded in 1991. Noted for early productions by notables including Armand Van Helden, Mood II Swing, Masters At Work and Josh Wink...
and featured a song with Pharaohe Monch. Apani B
Apani B
Apani B Fly is an American hip hop emcee.In 1996 her first 12-inch single, “Estragen,” was independently released and shortly followed up by several high-profile guest appearances on projects with Organized Konfusion, Mos Def & Talib Kweli, and Pharoahe Monch...
Fly MC was replaced by Tiye Phoenix when the group reunited and recorded the 2007 release Break Glass, which featured the single “Reachin’,” released on April 24, 2007. He also worked with New York-based live house-music group Tortured Soul as well as being a member of the group Domecrackers with DJ/Producer Joc Max from Kansas City, and Grap Luva
Grap Luva
Gregory Phillips better known by his stage name Grap Luva is a hip-hop producer and rapper primarily active during the 1990s as a member of the group INI His first appearance was as a guest...
, whose brother is legendary hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
producer Pete Rock
Pete Rock
Peter Phillips , better known by his stage name Pete Rock, is an American record producer, DJ and rapper. He rose to prominence in the early 1990s as one half of the critically acclaimed group Pete Rock & CL Smooth...
.
Discography
With Domecrackers- Take a Look (2004 Single)
With Polyrhythm Addicts
- Rhyme-Related (1999)
- Reachin (2007 Single)
- Break Glass... (2007)
With Jigmastas
- Grass Roots: Lyrical Fluctuation EP (2000)
- Infectious (2001)
Solo
- Jiggy Breaks (1996)
- Heavy Beats, Vol. 1 (1999)
- Bahia Blues (featuring Monet) (2000)
- DJ Song (2000)
- Deep-Rooted (2001)
- New York Times (2002)
- DJ Spinna Presents Beyond Real Experience Volume 2 (2002)
- Rock (Unplugged) Drive (2002)
- Wonder of Stevie (2003)
- Here to There (2003)
- Compositions 2 (2004)
- Compositions 1 (2005)
- Compositions 3 (2005)
- Intergalactic Soul (2006)
- Dillagence 7" (2008)
- Sonic Smash (2009)
- Underground Forever (2010)
With Tortured Soul
- Why Fall In Love (2007)
With Grand Pianoramax
- The Hook (Remixes) - digital single (2008)
- The Hook (Remixes) - 12" vinyl single (2009)