“The Center Of Attention…”
AUDIO By TSSCrew on August 28, 2008 at 1:45 pmWords By Jesse H.
To put it simply, there hasn’t been a Pete Rock production that hasn’t left my eardrums sufficiently shook. What a nice surprise then, that while spending time at one of the delightful sites that contributes to the tremendously impressive Hip Hop sample set (if you’ve never been, please take a few moments to visit, them folks put in work to create an unequivocal rapture for cratediggers), that I was hipped to a Pete Rock produced nugget of soul from the mid 90’s.
InI was a shortlived, eternally shelved Hip-Hop group from 1995 consisting of Rass, Rob-O, Grap Luva (Rock’s younger brother) and Marco Polo. The group crafted an underground opus with Center of Attention, an album that serves as Rock’s musical pinnacle in one of the most storied careers of any Hip Hop producer.
After the dubbed out, Prince Jammy-esque intro, the instrumental of “No More Words” carries on for 24 seconds before the drums drop. After that point, there’s no mistaking that it’s not a Pete Rock barrage of soul goodness. Track for track, the cohesiveness in production exemplifies the advantages of an album done entirely by one producer (are you reading Nas and Premo?). The emcees hold it down with sprinklings of smooth consciousness, reminiscent of the Native Tongues era, particularly Tribe (Q-Tip even drops by on the five-cig worthy “To Each His Own”), but it’s the sonic soundbed of soul that saturates the ear and makes one wonder just what the fuck happened to Hip-Hop that makes you feel this good.
Horns in abundance, drums that would smash through concrete on the way out the speakers, and those echoing, jazzy samples enslave the ear to whatever device the music’s being pumped through, and insist on being spun several times over.
As good as it is, Center of Attention almost didn’t see the light of day. After a relatively successful single (“Fakin Jax,” in which Rock himself delivers a lyrical slap on the wrist to former ally C.L. Smooth) Rock’s distribution deal with Elektra caved, and dispute over ownership of the masters left the record exiled from a major label. Several bootlegs and a built up underground following later, Rock re-released the album via his Lost and Found: Hip-Hop Underground Soul Classics, in 2003 on Rapster Records.
That’s how it goes I suppose, industry ills and backdoor politics murk a potentially classic album that fit perfectly in the context of 1995. With that in mind, thank God for the bootleggers, the underground faithful and most importantly the Soul Brother for proving that good music lives through, no matter what the circumstances.
Turn the lights down low, dial up the volume and let the music do the talking. To put it simply, you’ll be floored.
Pete Rock – Lost and Found: Hip-Hop Underground Classics Part 1 Part 2
Posted in AUDIO, GENERAL, MUSIC, STRAY SHOTS — Tags: Center Of Attention, INI, Lost & Found: Hip Hop Underground Soul Classics, Pete Rock
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25 Comments
Dj Premier, Pete Rock & Marley Marl !
This joint is amazing.
the production is so lovely on that LP.
we need mo’ Pete Rock, Prince Paul, Extra P& Primo beats!
“Moi, ma gueulle et ma propre personne”. Greumst!
As always, thanks for the love!
WE MAJOR!!!
GREAT ARTICLE
WE MAJOR !!! HI HATER !!
Hip-Hop needs Great events.
Primo/Nas album, PeteRock/??? album.
Redman !?
1. Why post up the Almighty R.S.O. 12″ (complete with Adidas track suits, Adidas and B hats) and turn off the comments?
2. Very few people that aren’t from Boston would appreciate this. Why this single instead of T.D.S. Mob’s “What’s This World Coming To?/T.D.S. Scratch Reaction” or “We’ll Remember You”?
3. Was the SOLE purpose of this post to up some old Benzino material? If so that’s kinda like you’re discounting the 30+ year history of Boston Hip Hop.
One.
god bless pete rock
Never heard the whole album, but I loved the 2-3 cuts I heard back in ‘97.
Brooklyn Academy – Bored Of Education
01. One (Intro) (feat. Jean Grae) 01:31
02. Raise Ya Hands (feat. Jean Grae) 05:46
03. We Don’t Play 04:33
04. Message To Brooklyn (Skit) 01:34
05. This Is Brooklyn (feat. Ill Bill) 05:05
06. That’s Brooklyn 04:22
07. The Growler 03:45
08. Hide (feat. Fresh Jones & Keith Murray) 05:22
09. Tear It Down 04:36
10. Blame It On The Alcohol (Skit) (feat. War Bixby) 02:31
11. Splash (feat. Killah Priest) 05:25
12. Black Out (feat. Jean Grae) 05:03
13. Suicide 03:55
14. Close Your Eyes (feat. Skam 2) 04:24
15. Back In Effect 03:55
16. What’s The Buzz (feat. Will Tell) 03:40
17. Nothing You Can Do (feat. Jean Grae) 03:54
http://rapidshare.com/files/140415178/-Bored_Of_Education-by_killa_kid.rar
The Veronicas – Hook Me Up
Rip Info
——–
Artist: The Veronicas
Album Title: Hook Me Up
01 Untouched 04:14
02 Hook Me Up 02:56
03 This Is How It Feels 04:12
04 This Love 02:59
05 I Can’t Stay Away 03:27
06 Take Me On The Floor 03:31
07 I Don’t Wanna Wait 02:59
08 Popular 02:45
09 Revenge Is Sweeter (Then You Ever Were) 03:43
10 Someone Wake Me Up 03:35
11 All I Have 03:14
12 In Another Life 03:48
13 Goodbye To You 03:12
http://link-protector.com/574475/
Rahsaan Patterson – The Ultimate Gift
01. Holiday 04:30
02. What Christmas Means 02:30
03. This Is The Season 02:21
04. Peace And Joy 04:21
05. That First Christmas 03:24
06. Angels (Sing) 03:00
07. Little Drummer Boy 03:29
08. Christmas At My House 04:44
09. Wonderful Christmastime 03:49
10. The Ultimate Gift 04:24
11. Angels (Reprise) 00:31
http://rapidshare.com/files/140567877/-The_Ultimate_Gift-by_killa_kid.rar
Terrence Howard – Shine Through It
01. Love Makes You Beautiful 05:18
02. Shine Through It 03:49
03. Mr. Johnson’s Lawn 04:55
04. Sanctuary 04:46
05. No. 1 Fan 05:00
06. Spanish Love Affair 04:56
07. Plenty 03:43
08. I Remember When 03:12
09. It’s All Game 04:48
10. She Was Mine 04:06
11. War 04:12
http://link-protector.com/574973/
Rick James – Greatest Hits
1. Superfreak
2. You Turn Me On
3. You And I
4. Mary Jane
5. Ebony Eyes
6. Give It To Me Baby
7. Dance Wit’ Me
8. Cold Blooded
9. 17
http://www.megaupload.com/nl/?d=ICL0T7SI
2_Live_Crew-The_Essential_DJ_12_And_Mega_Mixes-2002-aPC
ÛÛ°°° °°01. Throw the dick 5:32
ÛÛ°°° °°02. We want some pussy 6:39
ÛÛ°°° °°03. Me so horny 4:37
ÛÛ°°° °°04. Mega mixx iv 3:31
ÛÛ°°° °°05. Get it girl 6:00
ÛÛ°°° °°06. C’mon babe 6:01
ÛÛ°°° °°07. Banned in the u.s.a. – What is this? 4:29
ÛÛ°°° °°08. Mega mixx 5:27
ÛÛ°°° °°09. Pop that pussy 4:18
ÛÛ°°° °°10. Bass 9-1-7 4:43
ÛÛ°°° °°11. Mama juanita 3:42
ÛÛ°°° °°12. Get the fuck out of my house 5:03
ÛÛ°°° °°13. We want some pussy 6:00
ÛÛ°°° °°14. Throw the dick 5:26
ÛÛ°°° °°15. 2 live party 6:02
http://rapidshare.com/files/140863236/2_Live_Crew-The_Essential_DJ_12_And_Mega_Mixes-2002-aPC.rar.001
http://rapidshare.com/files/140862078/2_Live_Crew-The_Essential_DJ_12_And_Mega_Mixes-2002-aPC.rar.002
2 Live Crew – Shake a Lil’ Somethin’ (1996)
1. Intro met Melissa 1:56
2. Shake a Lil’ Somethin’ 4:01
3. Table Dance 4:40
4. Buldagger Stole My Bitch 4:34
5. This Thing Is Huge 0:12
6. When We Get Them Hoes 3:38
7. Skeeta Man 3:35
8. Savage in the Sack 4:43
9. Be My Private Dancer met Astrid 3:33
10. My Dick 0:17
11. Do the Damn Thing 4:02
12. PSK’95 5:05
13. Jam Session I met Baby Ced 3:46
14. Anotha Pussy Caper 5:36
15. Mega Mixx 6 1:09
16. Caper Reprise 0:55
http://rapidshare.com/files/140859218/2_Live_Crew-Shake_A_Lil_Somethin-1996-AMP.rar
2_Live_Crew-The_Bomb_Has_Dropped-(VLS)-1988-JCE
Û 01 The Bomb Has Dropped (Drop the Bomb Remixed) 05:59 Û
Û 02 The Bomb Has Dropped (Instrumental) 05:58 Û
Û 03 One and One 02:22 Û
http://rapidshare.com/files/140858343/2_Live_Crew-The_Bomb_Has_Dropped-_28VLS_29-1988-JCE.rar
2_Live_Crew-Me_So_Horny-VLS-1989-FTD
01 04:25 Me So Horny Clean Version ÛÛ
02 04:36 Me So Horny Nasty Version ÛÛ
03 04:36 Get The Fuck Out Of My House Nasty Acid Mix ÛÛ
04 04:24 Get The Fuck Out Of My House Nasty Piano Mix ÛÛ
05 05:02 Get The Fuck Out Of My House Nasty LP Mix ÛÛ
http://rapidshare.com/files/140817615/2_Live_Crew-Me_So_Horny-VLS-1989-FTD.rar
2_Live_Crew-Best_Remixes-(JAP_EDITION)-1992-
[ 01 ] – 2 Live Crew – Banned in the USA 02:09
[ 02 ] – 2 Live Crew – Get Loose Now 00:51
[ 03 ] – 2 Live Crew – Throw the ‘D’ 02:24
[ 04 ] – 2 Live Crew – Mamolapenga 01:38
[ 05 ] – 2 Live Crew – Do Wah Diddy 02:15
[ 06 ] – 2 Live Crew – We Want Some Pussy 02:03
[ 07 ] – 2 Live Crew – Move Somethin’ 01:09
[ 08 ] – 2 Live Crew – Face Down Ass Up 01:47
[ 09 ] – 2 Live Crew – Do the Bart 01:49
[ 10 ] – 2 Live Crew – C’mon Babe 01:09
[ 11 ] – 2 Live Crew – Me So Horny 01:36
[ 12 ] – 2 Live Crew – Fuck Martinez 01:50
[ 13 ] – 2 Live Crew – the Fuck Shop 02:27
[ 14 ] – 2 Live Crew – S&M 02:45
[ 15 ] – 2 Live Crew – Fraternity Record 03:16
http://rapidshare.com/files/140817731/2_Live_Crew-Best_Remixes-_28JAP_EDITION_29-1992-S8.rar
2_Live_Crew-Do_Wah_Diddy-(VLS)-1988-JCE
Û 01 Do Wah Diddy 04:15 Û
Û 02 I Cant Go for that 08:15 Û
Û 03 Do Wah Diddy (Xrated Extended Version) 04:13 Û
http://rapidshare.com/files/140818061/2_Live_Crew-Do_Wah_Diddy-_28VLS_29-1988-JCE.rar
2_Live_Crew-Banned_in_the_USA-CDS-1990-CMS
³ ³ 01 ³ Banned in the USA (Radio Mix) ³ 04:28 ³ ³
³ ³ 02 ³ Banned in the USA (Radio Instrumental) ³ 04:30 ³ ³
³ ³ 03 ³ Banned in the USA (Black Mix) ³ 04:29 ³ ³
³ ³ 04 ³ Banned in the USA (Percapella) ³ 04:38 ³ ³
http://rapidshare.com/files/140818362/2_Live_Crew-Banned_in_the_USA-CDS-1990-CMS.rar
2_Live_Crew_-_We_Want_Some_Pussy-CDM-2007-BLZMP3
ÛÛ² 01.Get the Fuck Out of My House (Nasty Acid Mix) [05:07] ÛÛ²
ÛÛ² 02.Get the Fuck Out of My House (Nasty LP Version) [04:41] ÛÛ²
ÛÛ² 03.Get the Fuck Out of My House (Nasty Piano Mix) [04:28] ÛÛ²
ÛÛ² 04.Me So Horny (Clean Version) [04:28] ÛÛ²
ÛÛ² 05.Me So Horny (Nasty Version) [04:40] ÛÛ²
ÛÛ² 06.We Want Some Pussy (89 House Mix) [06:41] ÛÛ²
ÛÛ² 07.We Want Some Pussy (Liberty City Long Hard Mix) [06:00] ÛÛ²
ÛÛ² 08.We Want Some Pussy (Live in Concert) [02:46] ÛÛ²
ÛÛ² 09.We Want Some Pussy (the Classic Dance) [02:50] ÛÛ²
http://rapidshare.com/files/140818739/2_Live_Crew_-_We_Want_Some_Pussy-CDM-2007-BLZMP3.rar
2_Live_Crew-Banned_In_The_U.S.A.-1990-AMP
| 01 – Banned In The U.S.A. 4:24|
| 02 – News Flash ‘People In The News’ 0:16|
| 03 – Man, Not A Myth 3:52|
| 04 – News Flash ‘350 Men’ 0:27|
| 05 – Fuck Martinez 5:15|
| 06 – News Flash ‘Super Snoop’ 0:10|
| 07 – Strip Club 3:16|
| 08 – News Flash ‘Nation By Storm 0:09|
| 09 – Do The Bart 4:22|
| 10 – In Color-Men On Records 0:39|
| 11 – Face Down Ass Up 3:01|
| 12 – Hey Jack! 0:55|
| 13 – Bass 9-1-7 4:42|
| 14 – So Funky 4:58|
| 15 – News Flash ‘Poll Results’ 0:10|
| 16 – Mamolapenga 3:01|
| 17 – Video No Soul 0:10|
| 18 – I Ain’t Bullshittin’ 2 6:41|
| 19 – Commercial-Nasty M.F.’s 0:15|
| 20 – This Is To Luke From The Posse 5:15|
| 21 – News Flash-British Youth 0:12|
| 22 – Fuck A Gang 3:56|
| 23 – Commercial-Inquiring Minds 0:08|
| 24 – Arrest In Effect 3:25|
| 25 – Mega Mix IV 3:31|
http://rapidshare.com/files/140820058/2_Live_Crew-Banned_In_The_U.S.A.-1990-AMP.rar
2_Live_Crew-Greatest_Hits_Vol_2-2CD-1999-CMS
http://rapidshare.com/files/140820289/2_Live_Crew-Greatest_Hits_Vol_2-2CD-1999-CMS.rar.001
http://rapidshare.com/files/140817882/2_Live_Crew-Greatest_Hits_Vol_2-2CD-1999-CMS.rar.002
Who’s talking about Benzino?
Chopped N Screwed shit:
Eminem – Marshall Mathers LP (C+S):
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IPQWAEMO
50 Cent – The Massacre (C+S):
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=9U0YC509
Eminem – Encore (C+S):
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=92ZJPFDI
50 Cent – Get Rich or Die Tryin (C+S):
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=I800SZTG
Dr. Dre – The Chronic (C+S):
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5QSHUIR3
SUPER slept on.
That Deda pt 2 is the realness too.
I was probably the only dude in portland that bought that when it came out.
Every man for himself was my joint off of that Deda. Anyway P.R. is in a league of his own.
I remember hearing him tell that re-releasing those 2 albums on UK’s BBE imprint brought alot of bullshit to the table.. they didnt respect him and hustled his produkt behind his back. correct me if Im wrong.. this industry is a bitch yo
You’ll never succeed or progress, seeking peace through material objects. You go through extremes in the process, accuse others, when it’s you showin your true colors.
http://www.complex.com/blogs/2008/08/28/the-unauthorized-history-of-hip-hop-chain-snatching/2/
^^^ great article
^jus read that…forgot bout half those chain snatchins
http://www.youtube.com/v/37mYMuySD_k
jaja, i bet the fools that got ganked didnt 4get…
Man, i was trippin about the record collection video…Damn at like 43 seconds into the video it shows one of my favorite records of all time. It’s by a group called the Moody Blues. They got some crazy shit that everyone should hear at least once…I was blown away at the sounds these cats got…
“but it’s the sonic soundbed of soul that saturates the ear and makes one wonder just what the fuck happened to Hip-Hop”
…incredible writing…i hope everyone is really appreciating the quality of writing we get to read daily!
INI, classic album. Grap Luva held it down, but it was all about the beats. Plus, notable for the song with Q-Tip & Large Professor. Now THOSE are some guest spots!
Deda released a good album with Pete Rock production too. I think Large Pro did the same with Neef The Exotic. Good albums to look out for.
Very well said.