Blaqstarr can drop big names—the Baltimore native toured with Diplo, produced tracks for Mos Def and Talib Kweli, and discovered the heir to M.I.A.’s musical throne, Rye Rye. The DJ is also credited for both songwriting and production on M.I.A.’s  albums, Kala and MAYA.

Yet Divine, Blaqstarr’s debut EP on M.I.A.’s label N.E.E.T., proves that the producer should stay behind the boards. His collaborations with M.I.A. and Rye Rye are energetic, whether pulsing with a low-grade fever, as in “Lemme Hump You,” or bouncing with irresistible club-ready beats, like “Shake It to the Ground.”

 

That insistence is largely missing from this EP, replaced instead with either droning melodies or intentionally off-key warbling. There are moments that seem primed for takeoff, notably in “Divine” and “Oh My Darling,” but ultimately, they stall.

The lone standout track, “Wonder Woman,” reminiscent of Tricky’s seminal 1995 album Maxinquaye, is stripped down to an acoustic guitar and sparse syncopation. Still, it manages to build in intensity both lyrically and musically. Unlike the rest of Divine, the song doesn’t just drive towards its destination; it reaches it.