10 Essential Pete Rock Albums – Hip Hop Golden Age

In this piece, we’ll talk about one of the illest producers to ever touch a SP1200 – Pete Rock. If you don’t know Pete Rock, you don’t know Hip Hop, straight up. This Hip Hop icon’s been crafting heat since the early ’90s, and he isn’t showing signs of slowing down. Born Peter Phillips in Mount Vernon, New York, Pete Rock got his start spinning records on his cousin Heavy D’s turntables. As a teen, under the wings of Marley Marl, he cut his teeth as a DJ on WBLS in New York City. That’s where he linked up with CL Smooth later. Together, they dropped some of the most soulful Hip Hop you’ll ever hear. Pete Rock is a sound architect. This man can flip a sample like nobody’s business, chopping up obscure jazz and soul records to create beats that’ll make your neck snap. His production style is like a fingerprint – instantly recognizable. When you hear those horns, those filtered basslines, and those crisp drums, you know it’s a Pete Rock joint. Now, we could go on all day about Pete’s classics with CL Smooth like “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)” or “Straighten It Out.” But Pete’s...