Soul Survivor [EXPLICIT LYRICS]

Pete Rock

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 10, 1998)
• Original Release Date: November 10, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B00000DFS1
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #128,870 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
With his first solo album, Pete Rock reminds us why his past work with partner CL Smooth resulted in some of the most luscious hip-hop beats the art form has ever known. While Rock's lyrical presence falters, his musical craft makes up the difference as the Soul Brother No. 1 switches from the sublimely soulful ("Mind Blowin'") to the ultrafunky ("Da Two") to the dramatically sinister ("The Game"). Soul Survivor may lack the lyrical credentials to contend to be the year's best hip-hop album, but it easily ranks as one of the year's most listenable efforts. Sit down, max, and relax to the sultry sounds of Pete Rock. --Oliver Wang

Product Description
Debut solo album, released in 1998. Features collaborations with, Method Man, Raekwon, Kool G. Rap, Black Thought, MC Eiht and Heavy D. Features the original 17 tracks. BMG. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pete's soulful masterpiece, April 4, 2006

By	ctrx - See all my reviews

Four years since The Main Ingredient, Pete Rock dropped his first solo LP, the outstanding "Soul Survivor." Without partner CL Smooth, he is given space to work with his favorite artists and produce the kind of beats he wants to. He stays right on track, producing many peaceful, laid back, and beautiful beats with complex instrumental and drum patterns, along with a few harder, streetwise ones. Pete is not the greatest lyricist on the mic, but his guests hold their weight, for the most part delivering lyrics to fit the beats. Pete sings most of the hooks, and his chilled baritone voice is perfect for the job. With a guest roster that reads like a who's who of 90s hip hop, the collaborators provide fun performances, but Pete's beats are always in the spotlight. The album is best toward the end, where the slowest and deepest songs are found. "Soul Survivor" is a great album that should definitely not be slept on.

After his intro, he bursts in with the great "Tru Master", with the unlikely team of Inspectah Deck and Kurupt. The beat has horns, flutes, and bass, very well done, and the MCs reminisce over old times. On "Half Man Half Amazing", Method Man and Pete rock over a stringed production. "Respect Mine" has a great hook, head bobbing beat and good lyrics from OC. "Tha Game" is Pete's hardest track, with a tough instrumental and rappers Prodigy, Raekwon, and Ghostface Killah delivering hard raps. On "#1 Soul Brother", Pete boasts of his DJ skills over a spinning xylophone. "Rock Steady" uses an altered Eric B beat for a catchy track with Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz. "Truly Yours" teams some of the greatest ever (Pete, Large Professor, and Kool G Rap) for a diss track with a great beat directed at various people, and the sax loop is the same as in Nas's "It Ain't Hard to Tell", but he gives it new life. My favorite here is "One Life to Live", with a surprising appearance by west coast vet MC Eiht. The phenomenal beat has muted horns and a peaceful drum pattern, and Eiht and Pete chronicle their careers. "Take Your Time" and "Mind Blowin'" are both beautiful, toned down tracks with creative production. "Soul Survivor" is Pete's best solo rap here, dropping philosophy and thought over a great instrumental. "Da Two" is Pete and CL's reunion, and the excellent song with great lyrics, hook, and beats brings back memories. The last three tracks are all very strong efforts with an impressive roster, including Noreaga, Big Pun, Common, Tragedy Khadafi, Heavy D, Sticky Fingaz, Cappadonna, and Beenie Man.

"Soul Survivor" is one of the more complete albums of the 90s and a great compilation of the best MCs combined with the best producer of all time. This is one of Pete's greatest releases ever, and he shows exactly why he should be remembered as the world's greatest DJ.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid Album by one of Hip-Hop's pioneers , February 21, 2005

By	G$ "Z-Wad" (B-More, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soul Survivor (Audio CD)

As his first "solo" album, Pete Rock delivers what he is known for, good lyrics, and great beats reminiscent of late 80's "Golden-Age" Hip-Hop. Out of the 16 songs on the album, there is only one solo (he has 3 songs where someone else does the chorus). Guests are plentiful and fill the album but still Pete Rock delivers lyrically on the tracks he is on (1 track he isn't on, and 2 he only does the hook). It has 7 or 8 good songs, 4 or 5 that I skip and the rest are ok. He produces all 16 songs as well. A must have album for fans of the old school hip-hop sound.

#2 - 9 (f/ inspectah deck & kurupt of the Dogg Pound)
#3 - 7.5 (f/ method man)
#4 - 7 (f/ O.C.)
#5 - 8.5 (f/ Raekwon & Ghostface of Wu-Tang Clan * Prodigy of Mobb Deep)
#6 - 8
#7 - 8 (f/ lord tariq & Peter Gunz)
#8 - 6 (f/ kool g rap & large professor)
#9 - 6 (f/ black thought of the Roots and Rob O)
#10 - 8.5 (f/ MC Eiht)
#11 - 9 (f/ loose ends on the hook)
#12 - 6.5 (f/ vinia mojica on the hook)
#13 - 8 (f/ miss jones on the hook)
#14 - 8.5 (f/ CL Smooth)
#15 - 8.5 (Big Pun, Noreaga, Common & Pete Rock does the hook)
#16 - 6 (Tragedy Khadafi, Sticky Fingaz of Onyx & Cappadonna of Wu-Tang -- Pete Rock does the hook)
#17 - 3.5 (Beenie Man f/ Heavy D)

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Underrated Masterpiece, January 19, 2001

By	[e-mail] (New Haven, CT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soul Survivor (Audio CD)

This album has been a difficult one for me. The reviewers didn't care for it esp. the stupid Source when it dropped back in 98. However, I didn't really like it when I first heard it relative to the first 3 albums with CL Smooth. However, now I really enjoy this album quite a bit.

At first, I missed the constant use of horn samples on the first album (full length) Mecca and then the switchover to the keyboard feel of the second masterwork The Main Ingredient. Soul Survivor continues in the tradition with a light (occasional hard edge) old school sound with keyboard. He doesn't employ horns as much as he used to but that's the evolution of his style. Each craft is well crafted with some obscure treasures and definitely I'm still trying to figure out samples on the tracks such as Respect Mine. The only track which seems rather out of place is Tha Game because it sounds quite foreign with a off kilter loop but I guess that harpsichords are fair game for production.

Anyways, the production kills virtually everything in sight. Primo is a genius but the use of the same drumbeats are getting rather boring. Pete Rock is smarter by changing up the drum beats occasionally and using a different edge for each track. He is willing to undergo risks but maintain that soul edge which makes Primo looks like a beat making factory (very competent one at least).

On the other hand, his lyrics are squarely in the old school. Pete Rock talks about money but it's not so much about showing off ice but about surviving in a harsh world where making money is America (which it is). The guest artists compliment Pete Rock Lyrics.

There are similarities with the other albums. For example, Mind Blowin is similar to Lots of Loving on Mecca and also All My Love on Main Ingredient with that light hearted samples and also the subject matter of love and romance and celebration of women. Indeed, you can't go wrong with Pete Rock production to describe the mood. We all wish that CL Smooth come back from his car sales job and his kids, but family is more important than rap in many ways.

All the same, Pete Rock got the game on lockdown and definitely 2 years later it makes us wish that sample clearances didn't exist and also that love is simpler and celebratory and that old school rap comes back with a odd funky edge. Chocolate boy wonder ought to have another album coming out soon in 2G you all hear?

Peace and I'm out.