Although KRS-One is not as commercially viable as many other rap artists, he is credited by many as being one of the greatest lyricists of hip-hop, while Buckshot, on the other hand, is a fairly unknown underground rap artist. The extremes of a pioneer and a little known emcee collide to create Sur- vival Skills, but is this concoction worth listening to?

First let me start by saying Sur- vival Skills is not a hip-hop album for the casual rap listener. This album is directed more to those who are engrossed with hip- hop and those who have a problem with the rap produced today. KRS and Buck- shot really go out of their way to explain how bad rap is these days. In fact it is with this fact that the CD’s first single, “Ro- bot,” and the song, “Survival Skills,” is concerned. For this reason Survival Skills can only be considered a hip-hop album and not a rap album.

The album’s subject matter does vary, but most songs do have a serious un- dertone to them. Songs like “Think of all the Things” featuring K’naan deal with the flaws men in the entertainment business possess when dealing with their children. Although the tone is heavy, you never sense that the pessimism will weigh you down. Another great aspect of the album is the collaborations. Survival Skills contains features from some of hip-hop’s greatest (but fairly unknown) artists such as Talib Kweli, K’naan, and Immortal Technique. Each feature is powerful and greatly adds to each song.

Overall, if you are a fan of an old school type hip-hop, Survival Skills is one of the best this year, but unfortunately those who are casual listeners might want to shy away from this album. Although the lyrics are flawless, the delivery is perfect, and the production is solid, people who do not listen to that much rap will find this album overpowering. •

Score: 8/10

Best Songs: “Survival Skills,” “Robot,” “Clean Up Crew” featuring Rock, “Run- ning Away” featuring Immortal Technique, “Think of all the Things” featuring K’naan