“Smooth Sailing” by Pete Rock
What can be said about Pete Rock. He was the architect behind some of hip hop’s finest moments such as Nas’ classic “the world is yours” on his career defining album “Illmatic”. Pete Rock personifies “feeling”. His ability to translate samples from one context to another is unparalleled.
Smooth sailing was released in 2001 on the critically acclaimed instrumental album Petestrumentals. This was the joint that got me immediately when I heard the album from my boy Vaine. As an MC, the beat begs for a verse, but you are almost scared to tarnish its flawlessness, which partly explains why I have yet to write a line to it after about 6 years…lol.
My emotions when listening to this track range from anxiety to relaxation. It takes me face to face with my daily struggles, but at the same time gives me a sense of confidence: all will be alright. Calm…..Tension…..Resolution….all lined up on a sort of continuum. The motion is linear, even progressive.
The simplicity of this track is what makes it great: a great sample, knocking drums, a slick bass line with a few sprinkles of string elements here and there. It flows smooth but still maintains that “dusty” element. Hiphop heads know what I mean….
This track is best consumed at 4 am on the highway while slightly intoxicated (passenger seat of course). So spark something, sip something or indulge in whatever your vice is (we all got one), while you digest this gem. Long live Pete Rock. Hiphop may still be alive but it’s definitely on a respirator. Just my thoughts man…
- Artist: Pete Rock
- Title: Smooth Sailing
- Album: Petestrumentals, 1998
- Link to Purchase Album
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3 Responses to ““Smooth Sailing” by Pete Rock”
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Ssidy is what my friends call me. I was born in Senegal of Malian parents (hence my Mali nationality). I grew up all over the place…Bamako, London, Accra, Cape Town, before I went to college in Miami and finally got a job in Sydney where I’ve been living since August 2008.
When I’m not working on The Timbuktu Project, or as a financial analyst (full-time), you can usually catch me somewhere on a football pitch or involved in anything music related. Music is everything to me. Whatever mood I am in, there is always a song that captures the moment perfectly. Anyone who has spent more than 10 minutes around me will probably attest to this: I listen to all types of stuff.....possibly because no single genre holds enough songs to quench that musical thirst of mine... 
this is f***ing crazy, i heard this on adult swim last night…i was wondering what song it was…
dont think i didnt catch your lil “hiphop is dead” comment. Between u and osas i dont know who is the fanatic of that movement….lol…..
lol yeah nice track…yeah man..hiphop is pissing me off right now lol….I’m just venting because Lupe wasn’t on that MTV top 10 list…..and 50/beanie siegel need to get off that WWF sh*t…Drake is aight…he’s no Hov…they need to chill with the hype…. I’m bumping that Clipse and Camron track though…fire!
Yeah the 50/siegel thing is alil funny….50 has no one else left to “WWF” with so he lit a fire under Siegel’s ass to try to start something cause his album is coming out and u know he needs publicity…siegel is f***ing around, Jay’s gonna end that guy’s career…(he’s quite notorious for destroying rappers)…
on the flip side, there’s this article you gotta read, its a lil exaggerated but its basically true – http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=mv6mva&s=4
And the definitely the Clipse and Cam is fire, there’s another one i heard with Wale and Pharrell (Gotta promote the Nigerian boy but just cause he’s good tho)