Pete Rock - NY’s Finest Album Review

Pete Rock is a production legend. It almost goes without saying. Still every time he drops a new album into the anxiously collective hands of we, the addicted bass-heads, we get reminded of just how meticulous his genius is. Therefore, NY’s Finest, his newest installment, is no exception. More so, aptly named, the album boasts some of New York’s (and New Jersey’s) greatest emcees, and shows what great guest spots on top of headily arranged breaks, can do for an album’s girth.

From start to finish, NY’s Finest has a crisp and clean production, saving it from the bloated and crowed feel poor production can create. This allows “We Roll”, the first track on the album, to fill brightly with every element Rock has included, and still leave plenty of space for Jim Jones & Max B to spit. The track feels like moving in a closed room with infinite space- the boundaries are visible, the opportunities boundless. “‘Till I Retire” sneaks in samples of “King of Rock” that delineates from its source, giving DMC’s vocals new life. “914″, Yonkers’s area code, hypes the hometown and has layers of reminiscent hip-hop circa the 1990’s. Acting as the first single from the album, it both pulls on artist credibly (Styles P. having just released and album, and Sheek Louch nearing the tentative release date of his Silverback Gorilla in March) and the overall throwback feel, to make this a clear standout.

Brick City gets a big up on the album, with Redman’s appearance on “Best Believe” not only is his verse on point ( Get at me/ The Doctor is Fine/ Cadillac transforms into Optimus Prime), but his lyrics mesh well with Rock and LD’s, altogether creating a track that bubbles over an echoing and continuous refill of gallon jugs. “Don’t Be mad” sits in the middle of the album and anchors it in a feel familiar to that first fully realized on Lost & Found, yet was produced by Green Lantern. A sample of Nas’s “Ain’t Hard To Tell” is the most noticeable, but PR has so much going on vocally, along with Lantern’s focus behind the boards, it takes a few listens to absorb all of the work that went into this one track. Even still, with iconic producer’s rhythmic distractions, you quickly see his verses are about his rise to greatness, and how this ascendancy has helped to bring NY with him. It’s true that he has helped to define what hip-hop was and is, as it was moved out from New York and projected onto the world, and “Don’t Be Mad” just makes sure that the son of New York gets his props.

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“The PJ’s” featuring Raekown and Masta Killa, and “Comprehend” round out this album (unless you copped off of itunes, and you have the opportunity to bang out to Gangsta boogie with Slum Village). They add an additional swagger to NY’s Finest, in its final moments, with “Comprehend” acting as the closing theme from the Incredible Hulk. It’s apropos that such a similar piano would walk out this album, a giant among producers, moving off toward his next project, illustrating his great strength when prompted. If further thought is given to it, it could probably be an over analyzed metaphor; Pete Rock and the rest of New York is getting crazy green off of their skills, though their unabashed ability to make albums that are certifiable smash hits. It really is a thing of legend.