Hailing from Seattle and boasting a production resume ranging from De La Soul to 50 Cent, Jake One has provided tracks for some of the underground’s finest while making steady moves toward the mainstream.

His debut, "White Van Music," cools things down a few bpm's, letting his heavily percussive beats and slow-rolling soul keep things moving at a leisurely pace.

Which is not to say things don’t get live at times: West-Coast synths that recall early Dr. Dre pair up with a heavy guitar riff as Brooklyn’s M.O.P. blast holes in “Gangsta Boy,” and Freeway brings plenty of energy to the rolling piano of “How We Ride.”

But "White Van Music" is at its best when it’s laid-back and smoothed out: the lilting piano and skittery cymbals in “Scared,” the late-night strings in “Glow” and the slightly-swinging drums in “Trap Door,” one of two songs with tight verses by MF Doom.

It’s a testament to Jake One’s industry-wide respect that he’s able to get a guest list that ranges from Young Buck to MF Doom to Posdnuos from De La Soul. Occasionally, keeping the tempo down causes things to drag a little, but an excellent ear for the right sound to embellish a track makes "White Van Music" a pleasant bridge between underground and mainstream hip-hop.

Listen to samples from "White Van Music" at Amazon.com.

Sussex Countian