HHDX: I noticed you took it back in the day there with Lords of the Underground and Chip-Fu.
Pete Rock: Definitely, ‘cause these guys are still talented. It’s like, to me if all our talent is still here why not just keep putting something together?

HHDX: Is the sound of those joints ’92, or is it futuristic stuff?
Pete Rock: It’s definitely futuristic. But it gives you the ’92 feel with just a little bit of a twist.

HHDX: I know some eyebrows might be raised by the Jim Jones and Max B features. So how did a Pete Rock and Dipset union come about?
Pete Rock: Basically through my man Andre Neal from Violator. He had called me up and basically told me that Dipset was looking for beats. And that’s how I ended up doing “G’s Up” for Jim Jones second album. And then from there on we just… I played ‘em a couple beats and asked ‘em to jump on something, and they did it.

HHDX: And I think you forgot to name one other MC spittin’ on the album – Pete Rock?
Pete Rock: Oh yeah, of course, Pete Rock… I mean, it’s my album so I figured I didn’t really have to [mention myself]. I don’t really count [laughs].

HHDX: I gotta ask this, just ‘cause I’m curious what you think, is Kanye West the greatest producer/rapper ever?
Pete Rock: Nah. I’m not gonna say he’s the greatest producer ever. He’s a great producer, but he’s not the greatest producer ever.

HHDX: Well I meant producer/rapper.
Pete Rock: I mean, I like when he spits. And I like his beats. But there’s other people that I loved before Kanye West. I got an appreciation for what he does, and what he’s brought back to the game. He basically opened the doors back up for cats like me. They weren’t playing Pete Rock-ish beats. Like, if you listen to the radio they play a bunch of radio-friendly records that’s wack. He’s bringing that soul back.

HHDX: Is the sound of NY’s Finest comparable to that of Soul Survivor II?
Pete Rock: Sort of, but not really. It’s new. It’s basically Pete Rock with a twist – different sounds in the music, trying to do different things.

HHDX: Are you a live instrument guy? I never knew if you get down.
Pete Rock: Yeah, I play the bass. On the Lords of the Underground song I used a live bass.

HHDX: I don’t know if you like hearing this, but a lot of fans – myself included – thought the best moments on Soul Survivor II were the 3 songs C.L. Smooth appeared on. So was C.L.’s claim on “Da Two” from the first Soul Survivor to be “the best that ever did it on a Pete Rock track” accurate?
Pete Rock: Well, I’m not gonna say that. But that basically was the last of Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth that you’re ever gonna hear again. I just did it for the fans because they wanted it. But [us recording together] still doesn’t work. We’re oil and water. We don’t mix. We’re two different people. I’m about my music, and about my business, and that’s it. I’m about putting this music out for my fans. I do it for them. Continued on page 3 »