Every so often an artist comes along who redefines our definition of what music is, and how it should be delivered. In the early 90s an innovative young man named Pete Rock showed the hip-hop nation how to make dope beats and uncompromising records. Since then the prolific producer/deejay/MC has become a legend in his own time.

About to turn the hip-hop world upside down, Pete Rock takes his first solo artist album turn on Loud records with SOUL SURVIVOR, featuring the hip-hop intensive lead single "Tru Master." Amped by guest rap flavor from WU-Tang's Inspectah Deck and the Dogg Pound's Kurupt, it no doubt adds to Pete's already globally recognized reputation that took root a decade ago when he was the deejay for Marley Marl's "In Control" radio show on New York's WBLS. Even then, Pete broke some of the best records and finest artists, displaying his turntable wizardry in the process. Later, appearing on his cousin Heavy D's classic hit "Don't Curse," Pete showed us that he could also handle himself on the mic with the best of them.

Producer of entire hit tracks like Mic-Geronimo's "Unstoppable," Pete also went on to rip smash remixes of Public Enemy's "Shut'em Down," Run-DMC's "Down With The King," Common Sense's "The Bitch In You," Naughty By Nature's "Hip-Hop Hooray," EPMD & LL Cool J's "Rampage," and many more.

Soon the airwaves were assaulted with Pete's signature production style, equipped with blaring horns and punctuating drum kicks that are to this day imitated but rarely duplicated. Pete, the originator, forged a new production standard, which saw his stock, bank account and notoriety soar. In fact, his extensive production influence still fuels street music's raging fires. However, digression aside, not content to sit on his laurels behind the boards, Pete and his friend C.L., formed one of hip-hip's greatest alliances: Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth.

In 1991, signed to Elektra, they dropped the genre elevating E.P. ALL SOULED OUT. Next came MECCA AND THE SOUL BROTHER, then a groundbreaker, now a timeless collector's item. The group's third set, MAIN INGREDIENT, offered even greater production values on Pete's part. However, after that album he and C.L. parted company. "All I have to say about it is that C.L. and I made some great records, and I wish him mad success in future," Pete expressed sincerely. In retrospect, together he and C.L. made hip-hop history. Of course, for Pete Rock history was and still is in the making.

Sans C.L., Pete continued working with artists like INI, The Young Guns, and the Rough House Survivors. On the film soundtrack front, Rock contributed class-A tracks to "Menace II Society," "Who's The Man" and the Janet Jackson/Tupac Shakur starrer "Poetic Justice." Also, in the interim, Pete honed his mic skills. But as Hip Hop turned its ears to the West, Pete wisely decided to monitor the trends and wait for the right time to hit'em hard with the new flavor. Well, the wait is finally over.

Inking a solo deal with Loud last year, Pete's outstanding SOUL SURVIVER cd is a genuine hip-hop masterpiece. His tenure on founder Steven Rifkind'd hot mutil-platinum label began when he was caught blowing up the dj spot on Marley Marl's HOT 97 "Future Flavas" radio show. Commenting on why it took a year for him to complete his album the New York based 6'2" Pete Rock explained, "I just wanted to make sure each joint was hot and unique. Hey this is my first solo shot, so nothing less then the best was acceptable."

The year it took for Pete's vision to come to fruition was certainly well spent. In addition to his bottomless well of bomb beats and razor sharp rhymes, SOUL SURVIVOR is testament to his dedication. It features a virtual who's who of heavy hitters from both coasts, and abroad, including Britain's veteran soulsters, Loose Ends. Among the other guest artists are: Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killer, Cappadonna, Big Pun, MC-Eiht, Large Professor, Prodigy, and Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz, who explode with "Deja Vu" of the Pete Rock persuasion on the bangin' track "Rock Steady II."

A hype old school jam with a "nasty" new school edge, commenting on the song and his CD's powerhouse introductory single, "Tru Master," also guaranteed to appeal to a wide array of hip-hop heads, Pete says, "You can't help but to bob your head when you hear those cuts. That's my job as a producer," adds a candid, confident Pete Rock, whose fierce lyrical flow adds to the power of both songs. Nonetheless, despite having mad MC skills, the down-to-earth artist inevitably keeps his ego in check. "I ain't trying to be the best rapper even though I write," he adds. "What I'm trying to do is make sure that people remember me."

Checkin' for the unforgettable Pete Rock is not difficult. A serious listen to his CD certifies that. Case in point, "The Game," also featuring Raekwon, Ghostface Killer and Prodigy (of Mobb Deep). It's a rugged street anthem that booms with the intensity of the neighborhood. "I stepped my game up with the beats on this album as well as the lyrics," assures Rock." Other CD cuts that standout include Pete's solo jam "#1 Soul Brother," which, he says is dedicated to the "Godfather of soul," James Brown, who Pete gives mad props for his invaluable contributions to Black music; "Truly Yours '98," featuring Large Professor and Kool G. Rap; "It's About That Time," wherein' Pete, Black Thought (The Roots), and Rob O push the funk/hip-hop envelope; "Verbal Murder," an all out lethal lyrical assault lead by Pete, Big Pun and Noreaga; and "Strange Fruit," a treacherous track ripe with Pete Rock's powerhouse production and mic work, combined with awesome rhymes ala Tragedy, Cappadonna and Sticky Fingaz. "I tried to have something for almost everybody on the album," Rock says, "but the most important thing for me on all of them was to stay Tru to the game, myself and real hip-hop heads everywhere."

Although his solo artist introduction is his priority, Pete continues to spread his creative wings. He recently produced All City's (Onyx's new group) first single "Priceless," making a cameo appearance in the video as well; and, for Rakim's platinum comeback CD The 18th LETTER, he studio directed "The Saga Begins" and "When I'm Flowing."

Always looking forward, Pete Rock plans to take us into the new millennium with his unmistakable flavor for beats and his conscious effort to make each one better than the last. Beginning with "Tru Master" and the future classic SOUL SURVIVOR CD from which it was spawned, are just the first hit-making steps of many to come from his new solo journey. That said, with the current trends in hip-hop leaning more toward the lavish life of guns, drugs and money, Pete's motivation is to take the music back to its basics. "Hip-hop is emceeing, deejaying and beat making," he emphasizes. "It seems a lot of rappers have forgotten that. See it ain't about how many guns you got or how much drugs you sell; it's about how well you can hold yourself down with a mic, turntables or beat machine. I'm here like a living reminder, that's what being a 'Soul Survivor' is all about."