Pete Rock is widely recognized as one of the greatest hip hop producers of all time. His name is oft included in the pantheon of the greatest, alongside DJ Premier, RZA and J Dilla. In addition, Pete has one of the world’s most extensive vinyl collections, the sort of collection who’s size can only be estimated – and that estimate stands in excess of 100,000 LPs. 2019 will see the launch of Pete Rock’s own imprint, Tru Soul Records. And being a lover of all things vinyl, he’s decided that the label’s inaugural release has to be for Record Store Day.
Rock’s production forte is the melding of Jazz with early 90s East Coast boom bap, as demonstrated though his work with partner in rhyme CL Smooth. But there was a time before Pete met CL, a time before the world came to know Pete Rock & CL Smooth, a time when Pete was a 19 year old in his basement in Mount Vernon, NY making beats with his SP-1200. These are those beats. Released for the first time ever on “Return Of The SP-1200” debuting on Record Store Day 2019.
