It feels like Smif-n-Wessun have changed their name more times than Diddy. From the original billing of the Brownsville, Brooklyn duo to Cocoa Brovaz, to Tek & Steele and back, this early ’90s hardcore Hip Hop outfit’s albums might be alphabetically scattered in a record store, but their impact stands strong. The pair has been among the most active members of the Boot Camp Clik, and as Buckshot veered off to do collaborative and experimental projects and Ruck transformed into Sean Price, S-n-W simply stayed the course. While past projects may have appeared more stale compared to BCC peers, Monumental aligns them with legendary producer Pete Rock for strong dividends in a project that’s the group’s best in 15 years.
Monumental feels, in many ways, a celebration of Tek & Steele’s career. Guests are not there because they’re needed, but rather it shows that unlikely supporters like Bun B or Memphis Bleek fit well into the Smif-n-Wessun world. Although there are only three unassisted moments on this album, they are some of the better. “Go Off” has the energy needed to match a song about losing control in times of needed. Pete Rock lays out a simple chopped sample loop with great drums and accented scratches. Throughout the album, Tek and Steele talk about three things: the streets, Hip Hop and the status of their evolution. “Roses” 
calls on fans to acknowledge the pair’s work more than ever, and Monumental certainly makes a case as to why. “Time To Say” is a more inspirational track that revisits the street soldier taps that rallied the BCC in the first place, by almost posing the question, “how much do you want us?” No, this work does not overtly hint at retirement or hiatus, but as great solo albums like 24K Smoke and Welcome To Bucktown went largely unnoticed, it’s time to audit the love and importance of a group every bit as significant as street rhyme ’90s fellow duos Mobb Deep, Capone-N-Noreaga and Tha Dogg Pound. Pete Rock’s scattered rhymes add a Hip Hop context, but the rhyming-producer’s greatest lyrical asset is his legendary voice, reminding all those nostalgic sound lovers just who mastered the track.
Like Black Moon, it’s been difficult for Tek and General Steele to shake Da Beatminerz’ absence on their projects. If anybody could fill those shoes with care and credentials it is Pete Rock. The Soul Brother’s Babe Ruth sampling on “Do It” pulls Rap back into the early ’90s on a record that feels straight out of the pre-Giuliani-era, complete with a rare Hurricane G appearance. The title track’s (“Monumental” ) careful sampling plays a Brooklyn street montage, complete with double-parked cars in front of project housing, sweeping shop-keepers and rumbling F trains. The horns, stabs and choruses employed by the Mt. Vernon icon are different than those sounds he’s used for other emcees, making this project feel like Tek and Steele’s lyrical vision was beautifully executed sonically. “Roses” feels like a modified interpretation of Dah Shinin’ blueprint. The lyrics are about sincerity and high-stakes street living. P.R. lays out a crying-sample and resonant drums that make any listeners’ Tims tap on the dirty pavement.
Sixteen years later, the magic of Dah Shinin’ still unravels some of its street wisdom in every play. Tek and Steele have had some solid works since, where they tried new things, while also tried to retain their core. Monumental comes at just the right time, and certainly presents an album that has more excitement and punch than any work since. It is crowded with guests, but Tek and Steele still hold court at their own party. With Pete Rock providing an album’s worth of detailed sounds, the group has the foundation that they’ve lacked since the ’90s. Moreover, Smif-n-Wessun reclaim a place at their own family table. As Black Moon and Heltah Skeltah’s brands remain focused on solo works, this pair stomps the Boot back into 2011’s cement in reminding us all who, along with Jay and Biggie, made Brooklyn so audio cinematic throughout the 1990s.
Love the album. The production is near flawless. Just wish the second half had cut some of the weaker features. Not enough of Solo Tek N Steele
another 4?
Did you expect any different?
The lack of imagination on this site is startling.
Out of 5 numbers, 10 variations, you’re expecting Baskin & Robbins?
lol slickness from the above.
BCC baby, love the album it reminds me of HIP HOP. The track with Rae is sick!!!
Its a 5 star in my book.
Pete Rock and the Beatminerz should be the steady production team on Duck down records
Best Smif N Wessun album since 1995.
3 stars . Decent shit!
decent album 3/5 … and another inaccurate review…
we need more of this…..
Hold up….how come anyone hasn’t commented on the shitty-ass quality of some of the beats on here? Anyone notice that? Some of the beats maybe are not mixed right or somethin?? That really downgrades the album, man WTF is with that? Especially with such a “monumental” release, how could Duck Down let that happen?
oh ur on point. SUPER PRODUCER FOH
If you’re talking about the Freeway track, it’s suppose to sound like that. The sample was taken off a vinyl. That’s why you hear the dust and the cracks.
You’re obviously too used to that pop radio sound sir…this is a hip hop forum…dirty samples = dopeness…
yup.. Rory’s right. it’s called gritty. get the fuck out
see niggas that remember copping the hottest TAPES, would never cry about somethin like that. fucking soft ass rap fans, that think a hip hop beat sounds like something drake or beyonce can croon over. fags. literally. this is anti fag rap. tek and steele are sill dope as fuck. steele never lost a step. and pete rock just cooked up some of the hardest beats in his career. ya’ll faggots stick to big sean records, leave smif n wess for the niggas that still smoke dutches and remember talking “who’s the best emcee” in the FLESH.
god bless duck down, incredible label.
You dudes are dumb as shit. I’m NOT talkin about the grittiness or vinyl pops an cracks hahaha WTF man. I’m talkin about the fucked up, shitty mix of some of the tracks. Maybe there’s somethin wrong with the copy I got, who knows. Been listeneing to hip hop longer than u been alive, ur stupid.
Did somebody really cry about the “sound quality” on a Smif N Wessun album? These niggas made Dah Shinin. If Dah Shinin dropped 2marrow the internet would shit on it. Dope beats hot raps. 1973, 86, 94, 2011, or 2020, a dope hip hop record is a dope hip hop record. Weedsmokers are currently flying to this. Respect to the Cocoa Brovas and Chocolate Boy Wonder for dropping this gift. Where Mac Miller gets play, this album is a 5.
Sound quality? It sounds good to me here.
I give this 4.5. It would be 5 but Black Rob ruined it for me.
5/5
This album is sick right here. Pete Rock is still a beast on the boards and Tek and Steele deliver solid rhymes as usual. One of the best this year. 4.5/5
5 nothing less
Production is insane, this is why Pete Rock is my top producer of all time. Rhymes are solid, nothing special though, wish the beats could have gone to NaS or a Wu-Tang member, that could have been classic.
GREAT! 5/5
YOU CAN HATE ME NOW!
oooow. your names cold blood- you must know the deal. lol
album is dope but only a 3.5/5- better cameos needed, better beats and better content and lyrics. but smif and wessun are real cats that put out solid shit and have earned their striped and pete rock is just an old weirdo… just joking he is the man with the mpc plan and sp1200-
Very solid. Best PR productions in years… wasnt lookin forward to it after the mediocre first leaked track but its a pleasant surprise that the album is much better than that.
Dope as fuck.
This album is dope. If this came out in 97-98, it would already be a classic. Pete studied Da Shinin before making this album and it shows. His production on this joint fits Smif N Wessun perfectly. They have some great featured artists on here too.
you know nothing.
Indeed, this album is very mediocre
3.5 pete rock is my main mans but his beats are lacking and smif-n-wessun’s raps are stale and predictable. DuckDown had been on a role lately too. If you want that real boom bap dl Skyzoo’s Great Debator Mixtape, loved Da Shinin but how these guys have managed to stay around so long with stale flows & raps behooves me. Favorite Album this Year is a tie between Pharoahe Monch’s W.A.R. and Saigons Greatest Story Never Told
Mediocre beats by Pete.
3.5
i thought this for a while and now people are saying it- pete rock has a hard time holding down a whole album. dope album- mr smif and mr. wessun come through o.k., but pete did some recycling and used some played out samples and some beats sound mad repetitive as usual for pete. respect the legend, but petes best beats were in 19990-1995. gave the album 4 stars for real hip hop- really like it..but!
for petes sake peter, break out some more heat for the smif-n- wessun or are you saving it all for c.l. smooths comeback album due out in 2019.
2019…lol
Dope album, a little feature heavy but Steel and Tek still got it. To me “Go Off” is the standout track on here because it has that old back-and-forth flow that most groups/duos can’t do. DOPE SHIT
Love it!
5
coo
Pretty solid effort, I would give it 3.5. I agree that for the most part that beats weren’t memorable and lyrics are OK.
If Beyonce is 4/5 this has to be 6/5!
CO-SIGN! 6/5!
YOU CAN HATE ME NOW!
PETE ROCK IS A LEGEND! REAL HIP HOP!
Dare I say Classic
yep
okay
Of course this album could not go wrong… Thank you Pete Rock and Smif N Wessun…..
4/5
Man… I thought I was the only person that thought this album was meh. Props to pete and snw though.
Dope album! One of the best in the year 🙂
My rate: 4.5/5
I can’t stop playing “This One,” “Monumental” & of course my fave “That’s Hard”! BONG!
3.5
what a fuckn frisbee!!!
its a frisbee!!!!! damn I want my $10 back
YEAH THIS SHYT IS SUBPAR
i love pete rock and i love smif-n-wessun, but this shit is fucking horrible.
Very Fresh.
Fav track is Roses, no bullshit on this one just nice lyrics and nice beats. Lovin The Mexican on Do It.
great album! you all hating on this joint must be deaf. go back to listening to your top 40 shit. busters!!!!
Pete came thru on here, I’ve heard better beats from him, but none of them were terrible. Smif n’ Wessun sound old as hell and uninspired. I kept listening to this and was surprised that these were the same guys who made “Onetime” and “Bucktown”. Maybe that’s why there are so many guest stars on here, to try to save the album (but then again, how would you explain Bleek and Hurricane G). I played this album two times and never again.