#5 - KRS-One & Buckshot - Survival Skills
In a world filled with money-hungry music industries, the main purpose of many is to achieve profits over skills. Numerous of emcees became victims as they fell trap of pursuing a chase of their very-short career filled with fifteen-minute success, rather than taking their time to hone their craft. Many rappers are more concerned with selling ringtones and having a hit single accompanied with a silly dance than making music that last for generations to come. Like the season of summer, many emcees become the hottest sun for the season, but when the temperatures starts to drop, they fade and wither away like the leaves of fall. Listeners of the real hip-hop starts to feel desperate as they throw up their hands and look up to the sky for hope of an upcoming rescue.
That's when the legendary duo from New York KRS-One & Buckshot come in. Both men have been in the hip-hop game for over two decades as they prove that having survival skills is essential for any musicians looking to make their names big. While the big bad wolf, known as the industry, huffs and puffs and blow away the straw and stick houses built by microwave popcorn rappers, KRS-ONE & Buckshot stands as the two wise men who used bricks to build their foundation. Two men. One label. One album. Known as {*explosion*} Survival Skills.
"Survival Skills" (feat. DJ Revolution)
Excuse me gettin' my late Don LaFontaine on in the last two paragraphs. When I found out KRS and Buckshot was doing an album together, I initially thought, "Wow, what an odd combination." But the further you dig in these cats, the more you realize they both represent one thing: REAL...HIP....HOP. You can clearly see that in this Illmind-produced title track that KRS & Buck aren't about any games.
The brilliant scratches of DJ Revolution should prove that this album starts off in its authentic start. When KRS warned that "you want that soft pop shit, you better book another sound," then you better get another CD if you're not down with the realness, enough said.
"Robot"
I know, I know. Jay-Z's "D.O.A." generated better results than this anti-Autotune track, however I think this track produced by Havoc equally has the same punch as Jigga's version. Too many rappers and saingers over-abuse Autotune as a guaranteed REQUIREMENT for hits. It's 'bout time someone do something about it and KRS and Buckshot does it well.
"The Way I Live" (feat. Mary J. Blige)
It's a pleasant surprise to hear my childhood crush Mary J. Blige appearing in this song. It's also pleasant to hear the booming drums of Black Milk in the background, as well. Buckshot and KRS stays on their A game throughout this track and I can't complain on this one.
"Clean Up Crew" (feat. Rock of Heltah Skeltah)
Illmind bumps up a track that sounds like it was solely made for the Boot Camp Clik. KRS adjusted to it well like a chameleon, but Rock has the most shine in this song as he name numerous of cleaning brands to show how much grime and dirt he's cleaning away in the rap game while staying grimey himself.
"Oh Really" (feat. Talib Kweli)
This track is strictly for the BOOM BAP heads. If the "Robot" as a single wouldn't get to you, this this one will. Marco Polo drops a beat that bangs as Talib Kweli spits only a chorus that sounds better than a lot of rappers' verses this year. The BDI Thug and the T'Cha eats wack emcees for breakfast and lunch all over this song. This is the lyrical joint that keeps Buckdown and South Bronx (the South South Bronx) jumpin'.
"Connection" (feat. Smif-N-Wessun)
KRS and Buckshot recruit MoSS behind the boards, as Tek-n-Steele of the Smif-N-Wessun get together and form the Reservoir Dogs of rap (Not taking anything from the HOJ team who dropped a dope mixtape of the same name). KRS certainly wasn't overstating when he said, "You ain't heard an album like this in a minute!" Ain't that the truth!
"Runnin' Away" (feat. Immortal Technique)
Black Milk gets behind the drums again as he gives the duo the Vitamin D-troit flava they need for the lyrical boost. Immortal Technique certainly got on his vibe as he spit one of the most boldest lines in history regarding our country's leader ("Get a black Pinocchio president to lead, but controlled by an old white Geppetto on Wall St."). Ouch. Buckshot gives us his usual flow we love as KRS gets intense at his third verse (Although his less-inspiring "freestyle" at the end of the song almost took away the vibe of the song). However, this song remains dope overall.
"Think of All the Things" (feat. K'NAAN)
First things first, I was thrilled to hear that the Somalian rookie of the year K'NAAN would be on the same track with the two legends. That being said, this track is the "ehh..." of the album. I get their message they're sending about deadbeats fathers not taking Ed O.G.'s advice and being a father to their child. The beat provided by DJ Mentplus is dope too. But when it's ruined by a rendition of Harry Chapin's "Cats in the Cradle" on the chorus and some lackluster lines (Buckshot raps "Up in the club like 'YEA NIGGA YEA'/but your seed's in the crib like 'Where's my dear?'"), this track could've been father just a LIL' better.
"One Shot" (feat. Pharoahe Monch)
For those who are fan of hard-hitting beats by Nottz, they won't be disappointed by this one. Thankfully, KRS and Buckshot gets back to their classic lyrical level we all love. And Pharoahe Monch only appears in the chorus, but he gives a brand new meaning to the title of this song. It's an "Ohhhhh, I get it" type of riddle, just hear it.
"Amazin'" (feat. Sean Price & Loudmouf Choir)
KHRYSIS ON THE BOARDS WITH THE HEAT!!! This track will definelty bump in your trunk as KRS' first eight bars ends with the words "and shit," which is far better than the T-Baby's "It's So Cold in the D" version. Buckshot proudly proclaims himself as a "dot-com don" as the Loudmouf Choir remains the gulliest choir I EVER heard. They sounded like they've been smoking that "la-la-la-la-la-la-la-laaaah" before they got on the mic. The brokest rapper you known Sean Price remains one of the O.G. of rap as he goes ape all over the track that King Kong ain't got nothing on. Just amazin'!
"Hear No Evil"
Yes, this is one of the rare tracks on the album without any guest appearances as Khrysis gives another go to drop another slow-ridden beat for the album. This proves that the duo can do bad on their own if they ever decide to make a next album without any guest appearances.
"Murder One" (feat. Bounty Killer)
I never try to pretend to have an accent that I never had. That being said, I'm not sure what Bounty Killer was saying and the loud gunshots in the background doesn't help either. Fortunately it doesn't take anything away from track itself although there are a few PAUSE moments on this track, also (KRS says, "I'm like Tina Turner with long legs").
"We Made It" (feat. Slug of Atmosphere)
This is the inspirational track of the album as KRS, Buckshot, and Slug gives reasons why you should celebrate how far you've come in life and where you're going in the future.
"Past, Present, Future" (feat. Melanie Fiona & Naledge of Kidz in the Hall)
The best is certainly saved for last as Buckshot, KRS, Melanie Fiona and Naledge (of Kidz in the Hall) turns this 9th Wonder-produced track into a party. Subtract the vapid materialism and add truth-filled rhymes they represent best and you get this bangin' track. Cherish what's learned from the past to create a track for the present that helps build a foundation for the future.
Overall, if Survival Skills was the only album I play while trapped on a desert island, I wouldn't be mad at all and play it on repeat. There were a few chinks in the armor as I described in certain songs, but overall, the album brings you that REAL hip-hop that none would be disappointed by.
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