PeteStrumentals [Reissue] (CD)
PeteStrumentals follows Jay Dee's Welcome 2 Detroit as the second offering in BBE's producer spotlight Beat Generation series. If you approach Pete Rock's joint as a song-oriented pop album, you may feel disappointed. Only two tracks ("Cake" and "Nothin' Lesser [Jamie's Mix]") feature MCs, and the repetitive, consistently midtempo beats get somewhat monotonous by the end of most tracks. If you approach the album as a radical work of sonic architecture, you may also feel disappointed, since Rock's relatively old-school sensibility isn't likely to make you hear music in a completely new way. But if you approach PeteStrumentals on its own terms -- as a laid-back collection of atmospheric beats ideal for late-night chilling or freestyling over -- then you may enjoy Pete Rock's soulful funk-jazz grooves, which are first-rate for this type of recording. The deep bass and whispered "playback" vocal sample on "For the People," big-band sax on "Smooth Sailing," and layered horns and vibes on "Pete's Jazz" all fit together to form a first-rate instrumental joint. The MC tracks with Rock Marciano, Divine, Godfree, and Laku are located near the end of the album; this makes them seem almost like bonus tracks, or perhaps a late attempt to ensure that the listener hasn't nodded off, but they still fit fine in the overall flow of PeteStrumentals. [BBE also reissued the album in 2001 with various bonus tracks.] ~ Todd Kristel, All Music Guide
| Tracklisting | |
| Disk | 1 | |
| 1 | Little Soul |
| 2 | Play Dis Only at Night |
| 3 | Something Funky |
| 3 | Someting Funky |
| 4 | For the People |
| 5 | Hip Hopcrisy |
| 6 | Smooth Sailing |
| 7 | Pete's Jazz |
| 8 | Boss |
| 9 | Get Involved |
| 10 | Give It to Y'all |
| 11 | Walk on By |
| 12 | Cake |
| 13 | What You Waiting For |
| 14 | Nothin' Lesser [Jamie's Mix] |