PeteStrumentals is the second studio album from hip hopproducer/rapperPete Rock. The album is an Instrumental hip hop album and the second installment of BBE RecordsBeat Generation series, following Jay Dee's Welcome to Detroit album. The instrumental songs were originally recorded between 1990 and 1995, but were remixed and continued when putting together the album. All songs featuring vocals (The U.N., Freddie Foxxx, C.L. Smooth & Nature) were recorded exclusively for this project between 2000 and 2001.
Background
There are two versions of this album. On the first version, twelve of the fourteen tracks are instrumentals, and the tracks "Cake" and "Nothin' Lesser" both feature rapping from The UN. On the second, five out of sixteen tracks feature vocals from The UN, Freddie Foxxx, Nature, and Rock's former partner, CL Smooth. The updated version of the album was a result of Rock being blown away by Jay Dee's Welcome to Detroit which made him feel he needed to better his own contribution to the Beat Generations series. The 10 year anniversary expanded and limited edition of PeteStrumentals was released on May 10, 2011. Featuring the original 2001 album tracks on disc one. Disc two is a bonus disc featuring all the 12" inch singles from the album, including a remix of "Back on the Block" featuring CL Smooth, a clean version of "Cake" featuring The UN, and a cappella and instrumental versions of "Back on the Block", "Nothin' Lesser", "Mind Frame" & "Give it to Y'all". Along with "Outro" instrumental.[4]
A sequel, PeteStrumentals 2, was released on June 23, 2015. Another sequel by Rock, PeteStrumentals 3 was released on December 11, 2020.[5] A fourth installment to Rock's PeteStrumentals series, PeteStrumentals 4 was later announced and released on March 31, 2022.[6][7]
Critical reception
A publisher from Sputnikmusic called PeteStrumentals "a musical gem and a definite hip-hop classic, delivering more of the thumping and laid-back grooves that the acclaimed producer is known for. The jazz-laced and soulful production is classic, with easily enjoyable beats that will certainly get you to at least attempt a freestyle or two to the instrumental tracks."[8]Exclaim! wrote "This release is the second in BBE's quickly burgeoning Beat Generation series; unlike the first guest Jay Dee, and as the title suggests, Pete keeps things largely instrumental by only inviting MCs on a couple of tracks."[9]
