**1/2 Pete Rock

SOUL SURVIVOR

(Loud)

With rap music these days aiming more for hyper-stimulation than relaxation, Pete Rock's solo debut Soul Survivor is a true rarity. Despite his limitations as an MC, Rock remains one of hip-hop's most consummate beat-makers, and Soul Survivor easily vies to be one of this year's most listenable rap releases. But like many other producer-based albums, Soul Survivor's reliance on cameos guarantees an uneven mix. Method Man ("Half Man/Half Amazin' ") and CL Smooth ("Da Two") take impressive turns at the mic, which isn't the case when Big Pun and Peter Gunz get their chance. And Rock's own monotone rhymes simply can't carry an entire album. But, from the stunning drum breaks on "#1 Soul Brother," to the lively Barry White reworking for "Rocksteady Pt. II," to the sultry, jazzy tones of "Mindblowin'," Rock proves that his production skills can stand on their own.

-- Oliver Wang