Pete Rock

Born: 1970
Location: The Bronx, New York, USA
Genre: Hip Hop, East Coast Hip Hop
Years Active: 1991 -
Real Name: Peter Phillips
Meaning of the Name:
A.K.A.: Soul Brother Number 1, The Chocolate Boy Wonder
Way of Working: Producer and rapper
Associated: Pete Rock & CL Smooth, InI

Essential Releases

Mecca and the
Soul Brother (1992)

Debut Pete Rock & CL Smooth album. Jazzy boom bap with conscious lyrics.

The Main
Ingredient (1994)

Second and final album by Pete Rock & CL Smooth. Features a darker sound.

Soul Survivor (1998)

Solo album featuring a plethora of rap greats.

Center of
Attention (2003)

Recorded as a part of the group InI. Finishd in 1995 but was shelved.

While not lauded to the same degree as the '90s supremo DJ Premier, time has, perhaps, proved Pete Rock more influential. Hip hop super-producers such as 9th Wonder and J Dilla were inspired by Rock's soulful sound, comprised of layered samples that transformed the source material into more than simple loops.

"Me, I learned from Dilla and Madlib, who learned from Pete [Rock]... " (9th Wonder from an interview with Peace Academy in 2009)

Pete Rock got his start through familial connections in the New York hip hop scene; his cousin Heavy D introduced him to Juice Crew legend Marley Marl and facilitated his access to samplers and DJ equipment. Rock's best-known song, 'They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)', is a dedication to the fallen Boyz member Trouble T-Roy that acknowledges this connection:

Featuring an undeniable emotional resonance lacking in many hip hop tracks, T.R.O.Y., paints relatable scenes of family life with a humorous warmth that is an auditory equivalent to a family reunion:

"We laughed all night about the hookers at the party. My old man standing, yelling 'Good God Almighty'"

This early period of Rock's career is defined by his significant, short-lived partnership with C.L. Smooth. Their two full-length albums, Mecca and the Soul Brother (1992) and The Main Ingredient (1994), helped define hip hop in the early '90s with an eclectic mix of soul, funk, and jazz.

As the golden age was ending, Pete Rock's wah-wah style of production thrived while others failed to adapt. Beatmakers such as Marley Marl and the Bomb Squad struggled to match the darker sounds of the new epoch, while Rock's work was pivotal. His focus on obscure samples was well-suited to the increased enforcement of copyright law, that rendered instantly recognisable loops obsolete.

In 1991, De La Soul and Biz Markie both lost landmark legal cases involving uncleared samples that irreversibly changed the course of hip hop history. In the case of Grand Upright v. Warner, Judge Kevin Thomas Duffy ruled:

"Thou shalt not steal" has been an admonition followed since the dawn of civilization. Unfortunately, in the modern world of business this admonition is not always followed."

The ruling made it clear that all samples, regardless of length, must be cleared by the rights holder. Wealthy producers such as Dr. Dre could afford to simply pay for usage, whereas others, like DJ Premier, RZA, and Pete Rock found workarounds, modifying samples into unrecognisable forms.

The drastic production shift in mid '90s hip hop didn't occur in a vacuum; it was the result of broader industry changes that threatened the genre's very existence. The determined beatmakers who innovated ways to ensure hip hop's survival kept the artform viable as a form of expression for the disenfranchised. The genre wouldn't be the same without them, and the granite-like impact of Pete Rock is still felt today.

Skills

*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.

Emotional Impact

i Does it connect with the heart? What does it make you feel and how much of it?

90

Mental Impact

i Does it connect with the head? Social issues, interesting observations, clever lyrics, similies etc.

70

Originality

i Are they unique? Did they break new ground, use new techniques or create new genres.

85

Artistry

i Using creativity and imagination to present themselves in a unique way. Example, Wu-Tang Clan as Shaolin and Marvel characters etc.

65

Authenticity

i Do they really mean what they say? Is it autobiographical, personal?

85

Live

i Stage presence, working the crowd, performance. Miming, forgetting lyrics reduce this.

85

Production

i Studio techniques. More important for electronic music including hip hop.

95

Musicianship

i Their ability to play individually and as a group. Technical skills. DJing. Freestyling for hip hop.

65

Rapping

i Technical attributes.

70

Songwriting

i Storytelling. Cohesive themes. Is the song about something? Stan by Eminem is an example of excellent songwriting.

85

Danceability

i Does it make you move? Do you tap your foot, nod your head or move your whole body?

65

Fun

i Is listening to it a good time? Are the lyrics funny? Depressing themes lowers value.

60

Consistency

i Have they put out good music across their careers. Two good albums and 5 band ones will reduce this value.

70

Range

i Fast, slow, ballads, party jams. Do they go beyond their own genre?

70

Cool

i Laid-back, icy detachment, unflustered.

65

Charisma

i Factors include appearance, force of personality. Elvis making people faint etc.

45

Commercial & Critical Success

Awards

Certifications

Charts

Critics >>>

• Ego Trip: Mecca and the Soul Brother - Greatest Albums of 1992: 8th
• Rolling Stone: Mecca and the Soul Brother - The 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time (2022): 130th

Similar Acts

• Gang Starr
• J Dilla
• Large Professor
• Apollo Brown
• 9th Wonder

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