PeteStrumentals follows Jay Dee’s Welcome 2 Detroit as the second offering in BBE’s producer spotlight “Beat Generation” series.
Best known for his work with CL Smooth, and his remixes for artists such as Public Enemy, House of Pain, Mary J. Blige and Mick Jagger, Pete Rock hails from the small town of Mt. Vernon, New York, right next to the Bronx. Pete Rock and CL Smooth first connected in high school, when Pete noticed CL’s distinctive and powerful voice.
After leaving school, Pete secured a weekend hip-hop show on WBLS-FM and quickly became regarded as one of New York’s premier DJs during his four-year run on the station. Around this time, Pete Rock & CL Smooth released their debut EP, All Souled Out. While the duo’s chemistry was clear, it was Pete Rock’s phenomenal production that truly drew listeners in.
If the legendary DJ Mark The 45 King was among the first producers to incorporate horn samples into hip-hop, Pete Rock was the one who truly perfected the sound. His signature style — echoing horn samples layered throughout rich, soulful beats — became a defining feature of his music. This approach was showcased beautifully on two standout tracks from the EP, “Creator” and “Mecca & The Soul Brother”, both of which quickly caught the attention of hip-hop audiences.
Following the strong reception of the Mecca/Creator 12", the duo released what would become one of hip-hop’s most revered albums: Mecca & The Soul Brother. The record featured monumental tracks such as “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)”, “Straighten It Out”, “Ghettos of the Mind”, and “Lots of Lovin’”.
“T.R.O.Y.” in particular struck a deep emotional chord with listeners — so much so that the track was famously played at funerals across the country. As legendary DJ Tim Westwood once said, “One of the greatest hip hop records ever made… it never leaves my box, man.”
Reflecting on the state of the culture, Pete Rock once said:
“Hip-hop to me today is still important, but we are going through a phase right now. Hip-hop has been injected by a virus, and right now we’ve got to find a cure for this — which brings along myself.” (Frank 151)
The press has long praised Pete Rock’s musical approach. BPM magazine wrote in July 2001 that “from downtempo, funkdified sounds to hypnotic hip-hop beats, this is a wonderfully crafted album.”
Mass Appeal added that the record “represents hip-hop’s incredible ability to morph and manipulate a hodgepodge of sounds to create something unique. Although the sound is now industrial, electronic and everything but natural, Pete’s version of hip-hop will remain a classy affair that merges the elements of an orchestra, the roots of Black music, and the cacophony of the streets.”
