| 1. In the opening line of 's classic 1994 single about hip-hop, "I Used to Love H.E.R.," the Chicago native declares "I met this girl when I was ten years old, and what I loved most, she had so much soul." With that in mind, it seems borderline shocking that a seemingly inevitable pairing with Pete Rock didn't happen until 2024 |
| 2. Timing aside, each figure looms large in the hip-hop community, and it's hard to not know the personas of and Pete Rock respectively. Though the masses may know him as a successful actor, 's progressive and soulful approach to hip-hop embodies the jazz spirit of Chicago, with complex yet free-flowing rhymes delivered effortlessly since 1992's Can I Borrow a Dollar and its classic follow-up, Resurrection. 's butter-smooth vocals helped mold the conscious rap movement, logging early hits with Jay Dilla, Kanye West, The Roots and others along the way. He's not just the villain from John Wick: Chapter 2, is a legend in his own right |
| 3. There's a reason why Pete Rock responds to the classic James Brown moniker of "Soul Brother No. 1." As a producer and member of the golden-era duo Pete Rock & C.L.Smooth, his approach and sampling—a pastiche of classic funk and R&B—were and are second to none. His productions, like rap greats Madlib or DJ Premier, are identifiable immediately, even without his usual tells of "unh!" or "woo!" sprinkled across the up-beats for emphasis |
| 4. Knowing their backgrounds, it is pretty clear to understand how The Auditorium Vol. 1 would land squarely on the "soul" leanings of the pair. Opening with "Dreamin'," Pete Rock somewhat predictably uses the classic Aretha Franklin hook to "Day Dreaming" as its launch pad, punching it up with cascading pianos and horn sections to decorate the propulsive boom-bap. "We're on our Way" borrows a Grant Green-style guitar lick with a tight snare and hi-hat to anchor the soulful vocals that juxtapose with 's delivery. In fact, all of the tracks dip into the characteristic Pete Rock toolkit with the exception of, oddly enough, the first single "Wise Up," which uses a cacophonous sample of "The Bridge" by MC Shan against a piano loop to create a dizzying mash up that seems out of character, yet no less compelling |
| 5. early '00s; some might call it timeless while others might say dated. While the collaboration won't win over any new fans, that doesn't seem to be the goal anyway—it's just to make smooth and clever rhymes over soulful, well-crafted beats. And with that in mind, and Pete Rock have done more than most could ask. ~Fred Pessaro |
| 6. Tracklist: |
| 7. 1.01 - Pete Rock, - Dreamin' |
| 8. 1.02 - Pete Rock, - Chi-Town Do It |
| 9. 1.03 - Pete Rock, - This Man |
| 10. 1.04 - Pete Rock, - We’re On Our Way |
| 11. 1.05 - Pete Rock, - Fortunate |
| 12. 1.06 - Pete Rock, , Bilal - So Many People |
| 13. 1.07 - Pete Rock, - Wise Up |
| 14. 1.08 - Pete Rock, , Jennifer Hudson - A GOD |
| 15. 1.09 - Pete Rock, - Stellar |
| 16. 1.10 - Pete Rock, - Lonesome |
| 17. 1.11 - Pete Rock, - All Kind Of Ideas |
| 18. 1.12 - Pete Rock, , Posdnuos - When The Sun Shines Again |
| 19. 1.13 - Pete Rock, , PJ - Everything’s So Grand |
| 20. 1.14 - Pete Rock, - Now And Then |
| 21. 1.15 - Pete Rock, - Outro |
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