Survival Skills

Krs-One | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 15, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Duck Down Records
• ASIN: B002I9SDNW
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,232 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From the Artist

"Ever since 1993 we've been passing each other on tour or in the studio saying, one day we should tour together, or one day we should do a record together," says Krs-One of the long-awaited union. "Well finally myself and Buckshot have the chance to collaborate on a straight up and down MC'in project."

Throughout, both veterans sound as hungry and invigorated as any of their rap counterparts. "Projects like these are projects that motivate me," KRS says. "The idea to work with another MC that has his own persona and style and do a real collaboration in the studio, that's motivation. I already got 16 albums of my own," he adds.

What KRS-One and Buckshot have created is an album that is socially responsible, lyrically sharp and sonically banging. Buckshot sums it up best, "Hip-Hop was started as an option to not killing each other. We were in the ghettos and we were real fucked up. We created Hip-Hop so we didn't have to do that anymore."

"The album is called Survival Skills, because that is what it takes."

Product Description

After making their indelible marks on the game luminaries KRS-One and Buckshot, arguably two of the games most prolific emcees, will link up to give fans a collaborative album entitled SURVIVAL SKILLS.

With guests ranging from Mary J. Blige, Slug Of Atmosphere, K'NAAN, Talib Kweli, Immortal Technique, Melanie Fiona, Naledge of Kidz In The Hall, Sean Price, Geo of Blue Scholars, Pharoahe Monch, Bounty Killer, Smif N Wessun and Rock of Heltah Skeltah, "Survival Skills" represents a diverse range of topics, all while maintaining a consistent sound. The album has production from Havoc of Mobb Deep, 9th Wonder, Black Milk, ILL MIND, Coptic, Moss, Nottz, Marco Polo, and KHRYSIS!

On the surface the album is a testament to the resiliency of two lyrical titans, but at its root SURVIVAL SKILLS is a blueprint for life. For instance on the infectious head-nodder "Robot," which was released 6 weeks prior to Jay Z's "The Death Of Auto Tune" track, and already available World Wide at Digital Retail Shops, such as iTunes, the duo speak-out against the recent overuse of the Auto-Tune vocal effect in urban music, but under the surface the message is much deeper. "I don't want people to get the averaged clichéd version and thinking that we're dissing people,'" Buckshot clarifies. "What we're calling out here is the biters, the people that feel like because this guy sold X amount of records doing this, that I'm going to turn around and do it as well," KRS says of the array of artists who have followed in the creative footsteps of Roger Troutman, Afrikka Bambatta, Teddy Riley and T-Pain. Despite its heavy message, sonically the track, produced by Mobb Deep's Havoc, is as inviting as anything on the radio today. The video for "ROBOT," directed by Todd Angkaswan, has been added into rotation at MTV & BET. The track has also been included in the sound track for Activision's upcoming Tony Hawk skate game in stores this Fall.

Still gritty tracks like "Clean Up," featuring Rock of Heltah Skeltah and the politically minded "Running Away" featuring Immortal Technique, make Survival Skills a Hip-Hop fan's dream, catering to those that love lyrics and the boom-bap. Equally as rich is the album's Black Milk-produced track, "The Way I Live" featuring the Queen of hip-hop soul, Mary J. Blige. Together they create a triumphant anthem for all those on the grind trying to conquer their dreams. The song's summery feel and soothing melodies make it an instant hit.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars KRS + Duck Down= Classic material!!!!!!, September 15, 2009

By 

Kurupt "God-Body Reviewer" (chicago) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Survival Skills (Audio CD)

This is a classic album from beginning to end. Hip hop Juggernauts KRS-One and Buckshot lead the way with dope battle/knowledge lyrics and are accompanied by many other dope artist (Bounty killer, Heltah Skeltah, Kweli, Mary J Blige, Slug, etc). The production right along with the lyrics are dope. So those that had complaints about "lackluster" beats chosen By KRS will have no complaints on this release at all. The only thing i didn't care for on the album was K'naan's verse on THINK OF THINGS. I am a big fan of K'naan but his verse seemed kinda weak to me. Other than that this is the best album of the year thus far!!!!

Go to songs:

THE WHOLE ALBUM!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars KRS & Buckshot Klassic, September 28, 2009

By 

PK3 "GP Productions" (Houston, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Survival Skills (Audio CD)

After seeing some video clips and such of the single Robot i was looking forward to this release.I usually look for Kris to drop about every year and 1/2 KRS stays in the loop so i too heard some of the hype behind this project but i did not know what to expect but I will say after reading all of the ratings here I do believe that this is a classic cd,I believe mainstreem has dimmed the focus of many of hip hop's fans.hip hop is so diverse you can't compare underground to hip pop,i think so many fans like what they like and i am no different I like raw rhyme flows,sick bangin beats,and my main ingredient deversity,skills.This cd does that i think the production is tight and the lyrics are on point.The best songs on the cd to me are Connection,featuring Smif & Wessin,Oh Really featuring Talib,Runnin Away
featuring Immortal Technique,Murder 1 featuring Bounty Killer,these 4 tracks are great ,good tracks are Robot,The Way I Live featuring Mary J,the production on Hear No Evil is dope w/good message i wish the song would have been longer,Past,Present,Future i like the hook and the throwback 70's style beat,tracks that you shouldn't sleep on Clean Up Crew ,Amazin,and One Shot. I was Impressed by the true Emmceein skills by Buck & KRS and Company not for radio or maybe not mainstream radio but I know they will be bumping this on 91.5 FM Vinyl Frontier,and 90.1 The Groove peace!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this cd is nothin but pure classic hip hop, September 16, 2009

By 

R. Laryea "laryea" (knightdale,nc) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Survival Skills (Audio CD)

and if thats what you wanna hear than pick this mf up!!!! they got a 90's sound up here but it still doesnt sound outdated. dope lyrics by both krs and buckshot but the beats are the stealers on this effort! classic hard hittin beats... omg hip hop is makin a come back!!! thank you!