Over the course of nine albums in the 200s for their producer-led Beat Generation series, BBE adopted an unusual stance. Do what you want, their artists were told for probably the first time in their careers. The label s enormous liberal approach was the antithesis of stiff major record label A&R practices, their forward thinking rewarded handsomely by a truly diverse set of albums from some of the world s most capable hip-hop architects. Among those picked to contribute were Golden Era greats (Marley Marl; Jazzy Jeff); acclaimed DJ/producers whose work habitually blurred genre lines (King Britt; DJ Spinna; Madlib); and those whose regular gigs didn t afford them the creative freedom they craved (Will.i.am).
No-one made better use of the brief than Jay Dee, whose inspired Welcome 2 Detroit showed that despite all the techno and soul that seeped into and out of the Motor City there was still room to be influenced by the Carpenters and Sergio Mendes. Pete Rock, the hip hop producer s producer, filled his rapturously received PeteStrumentals disc with classic sample-led tracks packed with drama and finesse.
| A1 | –Jay-Dee* | Beej-N-Dem Pt. 2 |
| A2 | –Pete Rock | Give It To Y'all |
| A3 | –Marley Marl | What Ruling Means |
| B1 | –DJ Jazzy Jeff | Are You Ready? |
| B2 | –Madlib The Beat Konducta* | Blow The Horns On 'Em |
| B3 | –Pete Rock | To My Advantage |
| C1 | –King Britt | Superstar |
| C2 | –Will.I.Am* | Lay Me Down |
| C3 | –DJ Spinna | Surely |
| D1 | –Larry Gold | Loving You |
| D2 | –DJ Jazzy Jeff | We Live In Philly |
| D3 | –DJ Spinna | Rock (Unplugged) |
