Perhaps stung by frequent criticism of his rhyming abilities, Pete Rock keeps his appearances on the album to a few ad-libs. Ironically his bumbling verses, much like Kanye West's, have always given his music a personal imprimatur, and his vocal absence makes this little more than a hit-or-miss compilation. Thankfully there's his collaboration with Leela James, "No Tears." "Hold your head high," she exhorts over a classic British soul track; with a few verses, she provides the heart so much of Soul Survivor II sorely lacks.