Vincent E. Williamsbetter known by his stage name DJ Spinna, is an American hip hop and deep house producer from

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

. According to

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

, he has "remained strictly an underground artist despite his astonishing talent."

Life and career

Spinna who is of

Panamanian Panamanians (Spanish: ''Panameños'') are people identified with Panama, a transcontinental country in Central America (a region within North America) and South America, whose connection may be residential, legal, historical, or cultural. For mo ...

background, began experimenting with turntables at age 11 and is known for combining dance music with hip hop,

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...

, and

soul In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being". Etymology The Modern English noun ''soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest attes ...

. He remixed artists such as

De La Soul De La Soul () is an American hip hop trio formed in 1988 in the Amityville area of Long Island, New York. They are best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative ...

Mary J. Blige Mary Jane Blige ( ; born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Often referred to as the " Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and " Queen of R&B", Blige has won nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, four American Music Award ...

, and

Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris ( Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, Pop musi ...

. He also collaborated with

Eminem Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...

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 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. Jigm ...

, was with the emcee Kriminul. He is also a member of

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. Polyrhythm Addicts ...

, an underground hip-hop 'supergroup' composed of him,

Apani B. Fly Apani Nicole Smith (born September 17, 1974) known professionally as 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 a ...

Mr. Complex 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. Polyrhythm Addicts ...

, and

Shabaam Sahdeeq Marcus Vialva (born January 13, 1974), better known by his stage name Shabaam Sahdeeq, is an alternative hip hop artist from Brooklyn, New York. He first reached fame with Rawkus Records and was featured alongside artists including Busta Rhy ...

. The group's album ''Rhyme-Related'' was released in 1999 on Wreck/

Nervous Records Nervous Records is a UK rockabilly music independent record label. It was formed in 1979 by Roy Williams, a DJ on the UK rock'n'roll scene. Nervous Records is credited by many as the leading record label behind the emergence of the British neo ...

and featured a song with

Pharaohe Monch Troy Donald Jamerson (born October 31, 1972), better known by his stage name Pharoahe Monch, is an American rapper from South Jamaica, Queens, New York. He is known for his complex lyrics, intricate delivery, and internal and multisyllabic rh ...

Apani B Apani N. Smith (born September 17, 1974) known professionally as 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 appeara ...

Fly MC was replaced by

Tiye Phoenix 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. Polyrhythm Addic ...

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 InI was an American hip hop group that formed in 1990 and broke up in 1997. The group was composed of members Rob-O, Grap Luva, Ras G a.k.a. I Love H.I.M., Marco Polo (now known as Jolomite), and DJ Boodakhan. History ''The Life I Live'' ...

, whose brother is legendary hip hop producer

Pete Rock Peter O. Phillips (born June 21, 1970), better known by his stage name Pete Rock, is an American record producer, DJ and rapping, rapper. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest hip hop producers of all time, and is often mentioned alongs ...

Discography

Studio albums

*''Heavy Beats Volume 1'' (1999) *''

Here to There This article represents the discography of progressive bluegrass band Nickel Creek. They have released six studio albums, one compilation album, as well as eight singles. Their debut live album was announced on October 2, 2020. Nickel Creek's fi ...

'' (2003) *''Intergalactic Soul'' (2006) *''Sonic Smash'' (2009) *''Compositions4'' (2015) *''1996 Beat Tape, Vol 1'' (2017) *''Unpicked Treats Volume One'' (2018) *''Unpicked Treats Volume Two'' (2018) *''1997 Beat Tape'' (2019)

Compilation albums

*"Beyond Real Experience Volume 1" (1998) *''Beat Suite'' (2000) *''Strange Games and Things'' (2001) *''Mix the Vibe: Eclectic Mindset'' (2002) *''Beyond Real Experience Volume 2'' (2002) *''Raiding the Crates'' (2002) *''Fueled for the Future'' (2003) *''The Wonder of Stevie: Melody Man'' (2004) (with Bobbito) *''The West End New York City Classics Mix'' (2008) *''The Boogie Back: Post Disco Club Jams'' (2009) *''Strange Games & Funky Things Volume 5'' (2010) *''Underground Forever'' (2010) *''The Beat Generation 10th Anniversary Collection'' (2011) (with Mr. Thing)

EPs

*''Jiggy Breaks'' (1996) *''Compositions'' (1996) *''Compositions 2'' (2004) *''Compositions 3'' (2005) *''Compositions 4'' (2015)

Singles

*"Rock" b/w "Watch Dees" (2000) *"DJ Song" (2000) *"Deep-Rooted" (2001) *"Fall in Love" (2002) (with Tortured Soul) *"Drive" b/w "Rock (Unplugged)" (2002) *"Music in Me" (2003) *"Rock (The Grand Finale)" (2003) *"Reality" (2003) (with Rich Medina) *"Outta Time" (2004) *"We Can Change This World" (2006) *"Back 2 U" (2006) *"Living My Life" (2007) *"You Should Be Loving Me" (2007) (with Ovasoul7) *"Dillagence" b/w "The Spirit of '94" (2008) *"Motion Picture" (2013) (with Shabaam Sahdeeq) *"Chalk on Asphalt" (2014)

Productions

7L & Esoteric 7L & Esoteric (7LES) are an underground hip hop duo from Boston, Massachusetts, known for battle rhymes and boom bap production. 7L is the duo's DJ/ producer and Esoteric is the MC. 7L & Esoteric are both prominent members of underground hip ...

- "The Soul Purpose” from ''

The Soul Purpose ''The Soul Purpose'' is the debut studio album from Boston underground hip hop duo 7L & Esoteric. The album was released on July 24, 2001. After years of doing guest verses for other acts, and releasing songs such as "Be Alert" on their own; th ...

'' (2000) *

J-Live Jean-Jacques Cadet (born February 22, 1976), better known by his stage name J-Live, is an American rapper, DJ, and record producer. Life and career J-Live released his debut studio album, '' The Best Part'', in 2001. It featured production by ...

- "R.A.G.E." and "True School Anthem" from '' The Best Part'' (2001) *

Thirstin Howl III Victor DeJesus, better known by his stage name Thirstin Howl the 3rd, is an American rapper, producer, author and entrepreneur from Brownsville, Brooklyn. Howl owns and operates his own label, Skillionaire Enterprises. He is also a founding membe ...

- "Watch Deez" from ''

Skilligan's Island ''Skilligan's Island'' is the fourth studio album by American rapper Thirstin Howl III, who also served as producer and executive producer for the album. It was released on July 23, 2002 through Landspeed Records. History ''Skilligan's Island' ...

'' (2002) *

Sadat X Derek Murphy (born December 29, 1968), better known as Sadat X, is an American rapping, rapper, best known as a member of alternative hip hop group Brand Nubian. Originally known as Derek X, Sadat takes his name from former Egyptian president ...

- "Still on Deck" from ''Wild Cowboys II'' (2010) *

Homeboy Sandman Angel Del Villar II (born September 24, 1980), better known by his stage name Homeboy Sandman, is an American rapper from Elmhurst, Queens, New York, United States. Career Homeboy Sandman recorded and released his first EP, ''Nourishment'', in M ...

- "Being Haved" from ''The Good Sun'' (2010) *Homeboy Sandman - "1,2,3" from '' Hallways'' (2014) *

Aesop Rock Ian Matthias Bavitz (born June 5, 1976), better known by his stage name Aesop Rock, is an American rapper and producer from Long Island, New York. He was at the forefront of the new wave of underground and alternative hip hop acts that emerge ...

& Homeboy Sandman - "Vertigo" from ''Lice'' (2015)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Spinna, DJ 1971 births Living people American electronic musicians American house musicians American hip hop record producers American DJs American people of Panamanian descent Musicians from New York City Place of birth missing (living people) Electronic dance music DJs Record producers from New York (state)