Generations
label: uprok

producers: dert, raphi, satruday night freestyle, jermz
guests: sup the chemist, jon gibson, dynamic twins, l.p.g. pigeon john, rpahi, sev statik, macho, propaganda, dokument, others.
year of release: 2003
Are we to understand, that this is Peace's retirement record? Something a lot of artists have announced, but rarely if anyone has ever done. With the veteran status, and the long term involvement of Peace, this second album on the Uprok imprint has a certain chapter closing feel to it. It however is essentially more appealing than the previous album (reviewed here), with this one featuring a grown up approach, and contemporary smooth music, mostly done by DERT, of the Tunnel Rats. And this is the company Peace is walking with, while not just them. There's actually no song on here, where Peace speaks by himself, as he invites a guest on each of the songs.
With many of the Rats dropping by, like New Breed (Macho and Elsie) on "Hard Ballin'", where Macho speaks on his frustrations, with the main theme of the rhetoric then turning into a retrospect (also with Peace's concluding spoken statement), and a discussion on the accomplished. That's why their plotting of 'keeping the music', involves progression with the means of what tradition has shown to be worthy. Macho then again drops by on the posse cut "Here For Years", that also features Propaganda and Dokument. They are treated to an excellent Jermz beat, that features separated horns, plus lone standing bass and drum chops. That's instant neck movement inducing, with the rappers demanding longevity for themselves.

tracklisting
1. Hear Me Now feat. Sup The Chemist
2. Love's Still There feat. Jon Gibson
3. Respect feat. Dynamic Twins
4. Progress feat. Idol King
5. Bond Like These feat. L.P.G.
6. Welcome To The Show feat. Pigeon John
7. No More Yesterday feat. Raphi
8. Solid feat Remnant
9. God Said It feat. Mass Reality
10. Hard Ballin' feat. New Breed
11. Mourning For The Art feat. Sev Statik
12. Everything I feat. Saturday Night Freestyle
13. Here For Years feat. Propaganda, Macho of New Breed & Dokument
A theme that runs through this album continuously, so also on the throwback collaboration with L.P.G. on the"Bonds Like These", where the equally veteran Jurny and Dax state that these three artists do it for twenty plus years or something. What is one of the many boasts they get out to be clear about their status and stance. Raphi is offering his only beat on here, with a lengthy and slow piano loop maintaining the majority of the song. Raphi however is also part of "No More Yesterday", this time on the rhyming front. This track refuses to regret and look back, with it philosophizing about the only cure to what has not been done yet, is to do it when the time is right. The track nevertheless sounds mournful, with that reflecting the struggle of movement. And finally, Sev Statik steps up to do "Mourning For The Art", where the title says a lot, with Peace and Sev filling the gaps. Therefore there's more reminiscing, over a matching not overly melancholic beat.
Besides the Tunnel Rats, there's more guests, like the legendary Sup The Chemist on the opener "Here Me Now". An incredibly jazzy effort brings the best out of these seasoned emcees. Equally known is Pigeon John of LA Symphony, who's taking part in "Welcome To The Show", with the beat turning towards party chapters, with the two matching the upbeat moment with equally spirited verses. When they are not 'let the truth be told', to once again remind the listener of what Peace already has to his track record. And if you're wondering what keeps someone that saw so many moons come and go, then the track "Love's Still There" offers part of the answers. Jon Gibson croons on the chorus, with Peace saying a lot about his relation to his God, through the personal thank you.
Then three's also the names that lack familiarity at this moment, like the Dynamic Twins who get to rhyme over the bouncy "Respect", Idol King is treated to an orchestra sample on "Progress", while Remanant spits over one of the nicest and most straight forward beats on "Solid". Then there's the musical "God Said It", that also features Mass Reality and finally "Everything I" features Saturday Night Freestyle, as guests and as coproducers, with the topic being about lessons learned and the whole vibe is coming in almost arrested developed styles.
So what about the retirement? The rhetoric often turns to speaking on what Peace has already done, accomplished, should be respected for. That seems to point towards a direction of trying to close a segment of Peace's career. Because it's not spoken in a desperate attempt to get props and accolades. What this however should not be mistaken with is the young person helping the old man to cross the street. Peace could have easily get to the other side without anyone leading his way. It's rather him leading them, making his path a schooling walk for his followers.
review: tadah
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