Pete Rock and CL Smooth were one of those rap groups that were never really mainstream but were very important for hiphop particularly their albums Mecca and The Soul Brother and The Main Ingredient. I personally like The Main Ingredient better solely because the beats, music and samples seem to be much catchier and have a funky yet hardcore feel to them.
The Main Ingredient is the second album by Pete Rock & CL Smooth, released on November 8, 1994. It would become their last album together.
Music[edit]
Characterized by sultry soul and jazz samples, The Main Ingredient saw a more polished sound than the duoâs debut, building on the praise that they had already garnered. The album is notable for its snappy, crispy drums and extensive use of vocal scratches, usually from songs by Biz Markie. Although missing a centerpiece on the scale of 'They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)', the album contains some of the duo's best known work, in the form of tracks such as the upbeat 'In The House', and the catchy 'Sun Won't Come Out', which features a lush vocal sample from the song of the same name by Harvey Scales.
Continuing a theme initiated by Mecca and the Soul Brother, brief instrumental interludes are placed at the beginning and end of songs. With the exception of just a few tracks, this feature is recurrent throughout the album. In addition, The Main Ingredient saw Rock fleshing out and defining his trademark production style, which is now recognized for often containing smooth basslines, swirling horns, filtered samples, and spacious grooves. The production on this album proved to be influential upon a legion of latter day producers.
Reception[edit]
Though overlooked at the time of its release, the album has since been re-evaluated with high critical acclaim. AllMusic's Stanton Swihart called it 'an album that is far more focused' and 'just as good as the first record, perhaps an even more satisfying single listen.'[1] Swihart described Rock's production work as 'among some of the most seductive in hip-hop', and CL as 'lyrically on point, spitting out intellectual rhymes and narratives that are just as propulsive and engaging as the music.'[1]
'I Got A Love' was the album's lead off single, followed by 'Take You There' and 'Searching', released in 1995. That same year, the duo appeared in a well received Sprite commercial; however, they soon announced their breaking up citing creative differences, although both parties have since admitted that an unstable working relationship was the main cause of their split. The album was a favorite of the late producer J Dilla, who played it while meeting with Pete Rock to record Slum Village's 'Once Upon A Time' for the album, Fantastic, Vol. 2 in 1998.
Track listing[edit]
Album singles[edit]
Chart history[edit]Album[edit]
Singles[edit]
References[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Main_Ingredient_(Pete_Rock_%26_CL_Smooth_album)&oldid=935089648'
Pete Rock & CL Smooth are a hip-hop duo from Mount Vernon, New York. They made their debut with their 1991 EP, All Souled Out and followed with 1992's Mecca and the Soul Brother LP. [1]
The Golden Age (1991â94)[edit]
As a producer, DJ Pete Rock (Peter Phillips) gained notoriety for his use of obscure soul and jazz records, frequently making use of horn-driven hooks. Lead vocalist CL Smooth (Corey Penn) delivered more conscious style of rap which contrasted with the popular gangsta rap records of the time, and he mostly avoided profanity, similar in style and delivery to positive East Coast rappers like those associated with the Native Tongues Crew. Their signature hit was 'They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)', a requiem for fallen friendsânamely Troy 'Trouble T-Roy' Dixon, a member of Heavy D & The Boyz, who died in 1990. They were first signed to Elektra Records, managed, and Executive Produced by Eddie F of Heavy D and The Boyz and Untouchables Entertainment who also then managed Pete Rock as a producer. Pete Rock was one of the original three 'Untouchables' producers along with Eddie F himself and Nevelle Hodge.[1]
In 1994 the duo followed up with The Main Ingredient, and they appeared as frequent guest artists collaborating on remixes, soundtracks, and other works. Public Enemy, EPMD, Heavy D and Johnny Gill were among the artists they collaborated with, and they can also claim credit for producing (and performing on) RunâD.M.C.'s 1993 comeback single 'Down with the King'.[1]
Creative differences (1995â2009)[edit]
The group broke up in 1995 (shortly after a Sprite TV commercial), however they have collaborated several times since on a handful of cuts from Pete Rock's solo recordings: Soul Survivor (1998), PeteStrumentals (2001) and Soul Survivor II (2004). The duo also went on a brief reunion tour as a warm up for their then-anticipated new album, which ended with a show at London's famous Jazz Cafe. Despite these intermittent collaborations, the pair has exchanged dismissive comments toward each other in separate interviews, disavowing plans for a full-fledged reunion.[1]
Their best-of compilation, Good Life, was released on Elektra/WEA in 2003.
During this period, CL Smooth went on to release two solo albums - American Me in 2006 and The Outsider in 2007. Pete Rock would produce tracks for numerous artists, including CL Smooth's It's a Love Thing and Love is a Battlefield from each of his solo albums. Pete Rock had confirmed that among his promised new slew of releases in 2011, that one of the albums would be the third album between himself and CL Smooth, that as of 2012, is still in the works.
Reunion (2010â2018)[edit]
A deluxe CD box set of Mecca and the Soul Brother was released on September 14, 2010 by Traffic Entertainment Group. The package includes a remastered CD of the original album, a second disc of remixes, instrumentals and a cappellas, a fold-out poster and a detailed booklet with interviews and insights from Rock and Smooth by Brian Coleman.
In late 2010, the two finally ended their creative differences after 15 years of being at odds with each other. The duo has officially reunited for the sake of hip-hop and are respectfully working with each other again. The death of hip-hop pioneer Guru earlier in the year was a major catalyst which led to inspiring their reunion. They wanted to avoid the fate which befell Gang Starr, in which lead rapper Guru had not been on speaking terms with DJ Premier for roughly seven years and could not resolve their differences before his untimely death from cancer.
While touring in London with CL Smooth in early December 2011, Pete Rock stated that a new album was already in the works and would be released by year's end, or as soon as it was completed. The album will be the duo's third album, and the first album since 1994's The Main Ingredient. As of 2018, it has been stated that there won't be any third album by the group, due to tensions between Rock and Smooth.
Discography[edit]Studio albums[edit]
EPs[edit]
Compilations[edit]
Singles[edit]
References[edit]
External links[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pete_Rock_%26_CL_Smooth&oldid=877365715'
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