Welcome to Detroit
Having produced tracks for the likes ofCommon,The Pharcyde,Busta Rhymes, andD'Angeloamong  others, producer Jay Dee has more than proven his ability to make beats  that move the masses' asses. But what happens when the music plays  without those celebrity voices? The answer: fewer distractions.Welcome to Detroitis a delectable set of concoctions from theSlum Villagedweller's laboratory. From the percussion and live guitar on "African  Rhythms," to the handclaps and succinctly programmed bass lines on "The  Clapper," the Detroit native further explores the virtues of his  belovedlow end theory. Guest  verses from Detroit undergrounders Phat Kat, Blu, and Beej add a little  Midwestern flavor to the record's universal feel. And the spacy vocals  and variety of keyboard and synthesizer sounds on songs like "Come Get  It" and "Big Booty Express" take you out of this hip-hop world and into  the next.Welcome to Detroitis hip-hop hospitality at its best.--Kenji Jasper