Getting a stamp of approval from music snob ?uestlove, who has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of rare and radio-friendly cuts, is like getting a gold star. Bay Area rapper and producer Trackademicks, who’s part of a collective known as the “Honor Roll,” was heralded by The Roots’ drummer as being one of his favorite producers.

Even though he’s been active on the scene for years, only last month did Trackademicks release his debut solo album, State of the Arts. That’s probably because he’s been just too busy with other people’s projects: He upped the ante and made Freddie Gibbs’ pimped-out “Playa” club ready, transformed E-40’s “Tell Me When to Go” from hyphy to near hipster, and tinged Kid Cudi’s lollipoppy “Make Her Say” with ‘80s new wave.

For State of the Arts, he mostly showcases what’s becoming his signature style, glistening synths over smooth beats, the sonic equivalent of a full sun spilling its glittery diamonds into the ocean.

Fall into the feather-soft sound of “Fool on the Hill,” featuring sharp verses from both Trackademicks and Phonte (formerly of Little Brother and current member of The Foreign Exchange). Or slow dance to the early-‘90s R&B of “Show Love,” featuring Spank Pops and silky crooner 1-O.A.K.

Such a feature-laden album might indicate some insecurity on Trackademicks’ part. But he more than holds his own on “More Than Two Ways,” a slap-heavy, easy-riding standout.

A couple of accelerated, hard-edged tracks plopped awkwardly in the middle of the album—“Quit Yo Job,” featuring Kid Sister, and “Score”—venture away from the mellow vibe and towards an electro-pop energy. It’s a strange shift, enough to make you wonder if you’ve accidentally skipped to an entirely different album.

Fortunately, those are momentary blips on an album that plays like a gorgeous Cali day. As the underappreciated Teedra Moses sings, “Opened my heart/and this is what came out/Now I can’t do without the music,” on the final track, “Face the Music,” you have little doubt that for Trackademicks, that’s a beautiful sight.

Buy State of the Arts here, and follow Trackademicks on Twitter for updates and upcoming shows.