It was really impressive to release an EP as great as “All Souled Out” for a first project, but to reproduce that type of energy and level of Hip Hop mastery on a full length album is a whole other ball game! Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth did more than that on “Mecca and the Soul Brother”, they completely surpassed anyone’s expectations by dropping what is widely known as one the best Hip Hop albums of all time. In the same category of great duos as GURU and DJ Premier aka Gang Starr, the match between C.L. sharp but always smooth flows (he chose his name well!) and Soul Brother #1 magnificent sample collage is nothing short of incredible. Even if the album clocks in close to the 80 minute mark, there are no boring moments, thanks to the variety of subject matter, all the dope interludes and the thick, fat and melodic sound of the beats created with a multitude of samples blended in perfect harmony. Every damn track is a masterpiece, but we can’t close this little presentation without saying a word about “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)”, a dedication to their good friend Troy “Trouble T-Roy” Dixon, arguably the best Hip Hop song of all time and greatest beat ever. If you hear those horns coming in (sampled from Tom Scott’s cover of Jefferson Airplane’s “Today”), and you don’t have chills, we are not the same…
You can stream the LP, watch the videos and a couple of live performances related to this album below. But the best way to jump back in this classic is to listen to the RawSoul special 30th anniversary mix, including album cuts, remixes and tons of original jazz & soul tracks used to create this gem.
30th Anniversary Mix:
DOWNLOAD Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth “Mecca and the Soul Brother” 30th Anniversary Mix
Tracklist:
1.Cannonball Adderley Quintet – Country Preacher
2.Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – Return Of The Mecca
3.The Three Degrees – You’re The Fool
4.Little Richard – The Rill Thing
5.Dorothy Ashby – Come Live With Me
6.Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – For Pete’s Sake
7.Freddie McCoy – Gimmie Some!
8.Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – Ghettos Of The Mind
9.Mountain – Long Red
10.Ohio Players – What’s Going On
11.Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – Lots Of Lovin
12.Eugene McDaniels – Freedom Dance
13.Eddy Senay – Cameo
14.Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – Act Like You Know
15.Woody Shaw – The Awakening
16.Ernie Hines – Our Generation
17.Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – Straighten It Out (Original & Remix)
18.Kool & The Gang – Chocolate Buttermilk
19.Simtec & Wylie – Bootleggin’
20.The 9th Creation – Bubble Gum
21.Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – Soul Brother #1
22.Eddie Harris – Turbulence
23.Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – Wig Out
24.Johnny Lytle – Jungle Child
25.Les McCann – Talk To The People
26.Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – Anger In The Nation
27.Tom Scott With The California Dreamers – Today
28.Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) (Original & Vibes Mix)
29.The Beginning Of The End – When She Made Me Promise
30.Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – On And On
31.Jimmy McGriff – The Bird
32.Gentlemen & Their Ladies – Party Time
33.Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – It’s Like That
34.5 Stairsteps & Cubie – Don’t Change Your Love
35.Alyn Ainsworth – Where Do I Go
36.Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – Can’t Front On Me
37.Sister Nancy – Bam Bam
38.Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – The Basement
39.Keni Burke – Risin’ To The Top
40.Skull Snaps – Trespassing
41.Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – If It Ain’t Rough, It Ain’t Right
42.The Coasters – Down Home Girl
43.Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – Skinz
44.Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – Lots Of Lovin (Remix)
45.Don Covay And The Jefferson Lemon Blues Band – If There’s A Will There’s A Way
Full album on YouTube:
Stream on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer & Tidal.
Videos:
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They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)
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Straighten It Out
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Lots of Lovin
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It’s Not a Game
Remixes & B-Side:
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They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) (Remix)
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Straighten It Out (Vocal Remix Version)
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Lots of Lovin (Remix)
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It’s Not a Game
Live Performances & Interview:
The RawSoul & Mr Dan
