One of J Dilla's favorite albums: enough said right
there. Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth only
made two albums and one E.P. but hot damn, did they set a standard in
hip-hop. A standard that has been grazed
by only a select few. There’s something
poetic about hip-hop groups that called it quits before they went to shit or
sold out or just dissipated. The sophomore
release by the Mount Vernon duo is significantly jazzier than their first, more
keys, more brass, much mellower. The
whole thing is a slow car ride in the woods; it makes you want to lay down on
your bed and just chill. In The House features one of the best
samples I can think of, ripping a classic Tribe song and kicking the harmonies
into outer space; it’s a trip. It’s seductive, but not sexy. The group broke up for reasons unknown (after
a Sprite commercial), but you would never be able to tell by hearing this
album. The songs just roll right into
each other with such guile that you feel like Pete Rock is doing a private show
in your head. C.L. is numero uno, the
man with too many rhymes. He goes fast
and speaks his mind. Put that together
with Pete Rock, Soul Brother #1, and you, are in the good shit.
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