Pete Rock and CL Smooth will go down as one of the greatest hip-hop groups of all time. During the early ’90s, Pete Rock’s use of soul samples in his production created a foundation for producers such as Kanye West, Jay Dilla, and NO I.D. CL Smooth’s contemplative rhymes about life influenced emcees such as Nas, AZ and Jay Electronica.
On Sept. 16, the two performed for the first time in five years at The Shrine in Chicago. Fans packed the venue early to witness hip-hop history and Pete Rock and CL Smooth reminded the crowd of what the genre has been missing since their breakup in 1995.
CL Smooth opened with “Return of the Mecca,” “Skinz,” and “Straighten it Out” before allowing Pete Rock to show off his superior deejaying skills and production credits that include “The World is Yours” by Nas; “Down With the King” by Run-DMC; and “Juicy” by The Notorious B.I.G.
Pete Rock also performed “Soul Brother #1.”
CL Smooth reclaimed his position as the lead emcee while performing “Lots of Lovin” and “It’s Like That.”
However, the crowd went into a frenzy once Pete Rock played a snippet of the mesmerizing trumpets at the beginning of their biggest hit, “They Reminisce Over You.” CL Smooth’s reflective verses about his family life and the group’s deceased friend, Troy.
Nearly 20 years after Pete Rock and CL Smooth released their classic album, Mecca and the Soul Brother, their live performance will cause hip-hop enthusiasts to wonder about the great music they could have continued to make together had they not disbanded. –amir shaw
