The production is good - homeboy ain't lost his golden touch. That is always a plus. A lot of people don't listen to lyrics, just the beat, and those will be happy with this album, but the combination of these beats with some of the best wordsmiths plying their trade here is an aural treat. Listening to the album, their is no weak track, solidity all the way through. The trademark horns are less resplendent here, the production more jazzy in feel incorporating many elements from his beloved soul music and other inspirations. Indeed the songs incorporating R&B vocals are successes in only that the artist understands soul - why do you think he's called soul brother #1? The vibes here are sensual, with Carl McIntosh and Jane Eugene of Loose Ends working well with Pete rocking the mic. "Mind Blowin'" has Vinia Mojica crooning her vocals amidst another track that complements rather than detracts, while Miss Jones provides the hook on "Soul Survivor". Luckily, there is none of the commerciality in these tracks that engenders the usual R&B-with-rap-break track or the rap-track-with-R&B-hook.

Don't forget though, Pete Rock is not only a producer, but he can get nice on mic too in a way that Puffy and Jermaine Dupri can only wish they could. He has a gritty voice aiding him, and he's not just after simplistic rhymes, and so we find him lyrically sparring with many of the heavy hitters that have been called in to lend support. His best moment probably comes on his remake of Noreaga's favourite Kool G. Rap classic, "Truly Yours 98", featuring Kool G. fresh-faced from Arizona, and another man who been missing for more than a minute, Large Professor. Tragedy Khadafi, Cappadonna and a paranoiac Sticky Fingaz appear on another remake, "Strange Fruit", a strange combination that works, as does Noreaga, Pun and surprisingly Common on "Verbal Murder 2".

His production on the single "Tru Master" almost sounds like it is using a similar style to Gangstarr's "Militia" but much less hard hitting, and more jazz-influenced and features dart-thrower Inspektah Deck and Kurupt. One thing that seems to stand out more to me now than before, is his use of scratches instead of a hook a la Primo, which ain't no bad thing. Don't be forgetting that this guy's a DJ too, following his father around at parties, and then practicing on cousin Heavy D's 1210s, who also appears here. He's paired with top dancehall DJ Beenie Man on "Massive (Hold Tight)", which is likely to get commercial cats wild due to the burgeoning popular reputation of the Jamaican who's paid his dues since starting out at the age of 13.

There are some tracks with more of the Wu-fam, namely Method Man the guitar strumming "Half Man Half Amazin" and the classically-tinged "Tha Game" with Raekwon, Ghost Face Killah and Prodigy. All of the tracks are good, check out OC on "Respect Mine", and Rob O with the Roots' Black Thought on "It's About That Time". There's even time for a shout to the Bronx with "Rock Steady Part II" with bombers Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz. Fans of the dynamic duo will be pleased to see CL Smooth on "Da Two", and there is even a solo joint, "#1 Soul Brother". I was suprised to see MC Eiht appear on this New York platter, but it's good to see him attempting new collaborations, and not just the norm, and as it is, "One Life To Live" is tight. Hmmmm Pete Rock & MC Eiht, anyone?