6th Sense gets some props right from the get-go for keeping his beats short and sweet on It’s a 6th Sense Beat Yo!!, as opposed to making us sit through a four-to-five-minute piece. While it seems like this should be the norm, some producers still reduce those convoluted efforts that many times turn into spinning snooze-fests. Of course there are always exceptions but either way, the mixtape, rapid-fire approach is much appreciated.

According to 6th’s intro, he put this collection together for several reasons, two of which are for emcees to use during ciphers and for anyone interested in using the tracks for future mixtapes. Also, the 33 tracks on here tell the story of what 6th has been up to over the past year. Clearly, he’s been very busy. From the phenomenal “Stakes is High” remix off U-N-I’s mixtape to the catchy and inspiring “Ignite the People (Like Obama)” finger-snapper, 6th has certainly left his mark in the underground. But as strong as those beats and others are, this otherwise solid collection is not one you’ll return to that often; well, except for “Stakes is High” and some others. And, as expected with so many tracks on here, there are a handful of duds. Compared to similar works in this style, it doesn’t stack up. But what it does show is that 6th Sense is a producer to keep an eye on—and don’t forget, he’s just as competent in the booth as a rapper.

• Mixtape Download Notherground
• Multiple songs MySpace