WERS 88.9 fm Artist Interview: Pete Rock

December 08, 2006

Watching Pete Rock rifle through his flight bag filled with vinyl (all the while wearing a t-shirt that says "Sucka Free") is a lesson in hip-hop history. 

 Peeping out between Tommy Boy Record sleeves and frayed album covers, worn with time and no doubt love, you can see slivers of Biz Markie, De La Soul, Common,  Dr. Dre, and a huge sampling of his own illustrious catalogue. "The 30's are the new 20's," Pete Rock asserts before putting on his headphones and making WERS history, DJing a 30 minute live set for his first time on 88.9@Night. "I'm starting all over again."

If Pete Rock's 20's were any indication of what he was capable of, then his 30's should be a wake up call and a warning to hip-hop all over again. Dropping two classic albums as one half of Pete Rock & C.L .Smooth (Mecca and the Soul Brother in 1992 and 1994's The Main Ingredient) and then going on to produce for a bulk of hip-hop's finest artists like Heavy D, Nas, Rakim, Busta Rhymes, Slum Village, half of The Wu (Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa and Pretty Tony himself, Ghostface) and Boston's own Edo G, Rock's career credits have never been anything less than stellar.

And that's not counting his solo records.

Whether it's his 1998 solo debut Soul Survivor, his instrumental albums like the impeccable PeteStrumentals (2001) or his 2004 release Soul Survivor II (which reunited Rock and former partner Smooth for two tracks, "Appreciate" and "It's A Love Thing"), Pete Rock has consistently been able to stay both relavant and on top of his game. As one of the innovators of the early 90's jazz influenced sound, Rock has spawned a host of imitators, but none have managed to come close to duplication.

With the impending 2007 release of his latest, NY's Finest,on his new label, Nature Sounds (also home to collaborator and Wu-Tang Clan member Masta Killa) Rock is back with his trademark laid back groove style of production, with some help from his friends. "I'm rapping on like five songs, and the rest is with other artists." Such cameos include Raekwon and Masta Killa, like on the first single "The PJ's."

When asked about his place in hip-hop history, Rock smiled and modestly replied, "right now, I feel good. I'm still alive and I can stil make music, so I'm happy about that. That's the most important thing, to make a difference while I'm still here."

-Isabelle Davis