This week has seen the release of Pete Rock‘s latest album, PeteStrumentals 2, the follow-up to the first edition from 2001. Unlike the original, which was spiced-up with outstanding appearances from Roc Marciano and The UN, Freddie Foxxx, Nature and CL Smooth, the new one is a beats only affair. As much as I enjoy a good hip-hop instrumental from the like of the 45 King and DJ Spinna, do I really want to listen to an hour of rhyme-free music?
As much as I enjoy a few choice instrumental versions of great rap songs while driving, it’s debatable as to how much value purely beat-driven music has in this day and age. As critically acclaimed as Donuts was, I don’t think I ever went back to it after the first go-round. PeteStrumentals 2 is certainly another solid contribution from PR, and a step above something like the instrumental version of Soul Survivor 2 (which I received free of charge when a well-intentioned BBE intern sent me a copy of everything in their discography on vinyl in exchange for advertising but then didn’t reply when I asked her to send over the ad), but it also lacks the urgency to elevate it above something that you might in the background at a local bar.
The handful of instrumental records that I have actually played more than a couple of times include K-Def‘s Willie Boo Boo: The Fool, MF Doom‘s Special Herbs and Spices series, DJ Spinna’s Compositions series and the 45 King albums on Tuff City. Beyond that, the genre tends to lean towards milquetoast background designed to sip coffee to or pass the time in elevators. I can understand from a producer’s point of view that these beat compilations are an easy way to crank out a release without the hassle of having to find good rappers to match with their music, but it’s also a rather self-indulgent exercise. Making a pleasant sounding track is certainly an achievement, but it pales in comparison to creating a track which showcases a talented rapper dude in the same way that Pete did for Roc Marci on ‘Give It To Y’All’ and ‘Game of Death.’
Am I being too harsh? Are these seemingly endless procession of instrumental hip-hop albums a valid expression or simply a quick cash-in?
I also prefer listening to a dope MC rhyming Ton tracks. One of the few exceptions is the 2007 ‘Dope Beat Edition’ re-release of LSD’s ‘Watch Out For The Third Rail’. The instrumental version is by far superior to the original one.
I find the majority of what Pete Rock makes, boring. And listening to a loop for 4 minutes is great to fall asleep to, or rhyming to while drunk getting your wannabe Nas on. Not sure why these come out as albums either.
It’s good for dj’s. Nice for blends or to practice over without having to bring back the same beat. Other then that I wouldn’t fuck with em..
Donuts was more a listening experience then just beat after beat..that I’d bump in the car or in the headphones after a nice blunt n get lost in the music
Hip hop was built on instrumentals Djs used to cut them up at parties and people danced rapping over the instrumentals came after
I like these instrumental work sometimes, but for me it has to sound rough or have some USP to be engaging over a period of time. The first and best example was entitled “Master of the Game” for a reason.
I have all the Paul Nice breakbeat albums and I listen to them all the time. Part of it is that I have a big instrumental playlist on my iPod so I can read a book on the train, some music isn’t super engaging but it’s useful and pleasant. Not the strongest endorsement but I will say I was disappointed when Marley Marl’s entry in the Beat Generation series was clogged up with a lot of shitty rapping.
I rarely listen to instrumental albums, Dilla being the only exception.
I always prefer rapping but, since having a kid, I don’t get to listen to much rap at home. The scarcity of clean albums means instrumental releases (and even the instrumental version of 36 Chambers, 93 ‘Til Infinity, Living Proof, etc.) means I can listen to hip-hop without psychologically scarring my offspring with wanton gun-clapping and ho-slapping.
It takes a really good instrumental album for me to listen to it let alone cop it
Beat albums are dope. I’m more of a fan of production than I am of MC’s these days, though. For me Donuts is a great listen, and while 70% of Madlib’s instrumental projects are not my thing the Dilla Suites and the Rock ones he did I thought were really amazing. Instrumental versions of songs and beat albums are different, as far as sequencing, changes, and layering in the beats. At least they should be.
Instrumental albums done in a way where they don’t get boring and have really dope beats that don’t need MC’s are welcome. Knxledge Hud Dreems is a good example. Extremely dope, the tracks are short and don’t over stay their welcome. Lot of straight forward bangers, lots of experimental shit. A really good listen.
This new Pete Rock is underwhelming. Boring beats, weak samples. Drum programming is even kind of meh. Not up to the quality that Pete is known for in the slightest. These just sound like complete throwaways. I heard instrumental albums from wack nobodies that are either just as good or even better. Disappointing.
I like listening to instrumentals. To me, the music is like a song in itself. A dope instrumental album is Damu The Fudgemunk’s How It Should Sound. As far as Pete’s new joint, I digs it. Is it on the level of the first one? No but I still rock with it. Instrumental albums are alright with me as long as the beats are dope…
Jeremiah Jae x The Alchemist x K-Def x Ras_G all make dope instro projects. Pete Rock seems to have gone for a much more understated production style going back to after ‘Main Ingredient’, in general.
I love instrumental albums, especially projects by madlib and his brother oh no, they always make really nice instrumental albums with a good theme. I like pete rock his beats but my problem is with his albums that the track durations are way too long. Madlib always keeps it short, throws in some vocal samples or some other weird stuff, that’s much more enjoyable to me than a 4+ minute pete rock beat that sounds like it was meant for a rapper.
When done well it can be great. Like the mf doom ones you mentioned.
I rarely listen to instrumental albums. They have a one spin shelf life for me. Some individual tracks may get the repeat tho. The way I see it, it’s nice to have these projects as an alternative for MCs who either don’t have producers readily available to work with or are looking to make a project without original beats. I’d rather hear a “freestyle” over some shit like that than the 0 to 100, A Milli, Exhibit C and Control beats..
The new Alchemist Israeli album is amazing. It is not just a beat tape but a multilayered album that you Can listen to over and over
Word on Damu and Knxwledge!!!
The Madlib joints are pretty dope to me too. He looses me sometimes bit when he’s on he’s on..
if its from a bomb producer with mad bells and whistle, producer beats albums are great. i could go for a dilla, primo, bomb squad, mf doom instrumental album all day!
these all beats album are collectible, most def. got rid of some kenny dope, mark the 45, masters at work, bdp rare instrumental off of b boy records, and made some nice $$$
As a beatmaker, I’d rather hear “beat/instrumental” albums with 30-40 short (1:30 – 2:00) tracks. I find these type of “demo” albums more enjoyable than 14 long playing 4 minute instrumental tracks.
Imagine 40 throwaway Pete beats playing slightly longer than the interludes he did on Mecca & The Soul Brother/The Main Ingredient.
^^^I will say that the outro beats on Petestrumentals 2 are better than some of the actual beats…
Are Hip-Hop Instrumental Albums A Waste of Time?
Yeah I’m sure every producer that puts out an instrumental album is thinking “I hope I’m not wasting Robbie’s precious time”
@Damien King: If only more people did have that kind of consideration.
Some of the really old singles like Looking for the Perfect Beat and Al-Naafiysh have “bonus beat” tracks which I still enjoy as much as the main tracks. I think Robbie needs to lace us with a Deep Cuts instrumental compilation.
Donuts is a legitimate Bible of breakbeat chopping. If you didn’t obsess over this album you are missing out on some of the best sample flips ever. Workinonit is a monster. The way he flipped the 10cc shit is absolutely peerless. Both versions Petestrumentals 1 were good. The one with all the guest emcees like Foxxx, Nature, and CL was the redo that Pete slapped together after Dilla shit on Pete and the rest of the beatmaking community with Welcome To Detroit. The first version of Petestrumentals had only the UN as guest rappers. Do beat albums have a place in hip-hop? Yes, and especially if they are good. But if you don’t make beats it probably won’t mean shit to you.
Fun fact about that 45 King LP picture you posted (Straight Out the Crate Vol. 4): Track 5 was ganked wholesale by DJ Premier for “Suckas Need Bodyguards.” The first 10 seconds of that song is the same breakbeat that’s on the album. Then it plays underneath the rest of the song.
I always wanted to ask The 45 King or Premier about that. They’re cool with each other, so I can’t imagine either cared.
^^Scott, Guru actually made that beat. Preme probably tightened it up a little but that was Guru…
I’m not talking about the main loop. Listen to the first 5 seconds of the Gangstarr track, then this, which came out a year prior:
http://youtu.be/um_4GovPVno
I guarantee 90% (100%??) of tracks on instrumental albums are unsold/unwanted beat submissions for emcees. Nobody in their right mind would not sell a beat because “it’s pegged for my upcoming instrumental album.” And then Pete Rock got mad when BBE bootlegged an album of unused beats from the Soul Survivor II sessions and called it “Surviving Elements.” He still sold that “Placebo” track to Northern State afterwards (retitled “Time To Rhyme”), so I doubt it hurt him financially much at all.