Mecca and the Soul Brother

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Mecca And The Soul Brother
File:Pete & cl - mecca & the soul brother.jpg
Studio album by Pete Rock & CL Smooth
Released June 9, 1992
Recorded 1991-1992
Genre Golden age hip hop, jazz rap, East Coast hip hop
Length 77:23 (CD)
85:14 (2xLP/MC)
Label Elektra
60948
Producer Pete Rock, CL Smooth, Large Professor
Pete Rock & CL Smooth chronology
All Souled Out
(1991)All Souled Out1991		 Mecca And The Soul Brother
(1992)		 The Main Ingredient
(1994)The Main Ingredient1994
Singles from Mecca and the Soul Brother
  1. "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)"
    Released: 1992
  2. "Straighten It Out"
    Released: 1992
  3. "Lots of Lovin"
    Released: 1993

Mecca And The Soul Brother is the critically acclaimed 1992 debut album from the Mount Vernon duo, Pete Rock & CL Smooth. The album contains their best known song, "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)." Mecca And The Soul Brother has been widely acclaimed as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.[1][2] The album was mostly produced by Pete Rock and Executive Produced by DJ Eddie F of Heavy D & The Boyz (co-group member with Trouble T-Roy).

Background

Mecca And The Soul Brother followed on the heels of the duo's EP; All Souled Out, released in 1991. Despite being a critical success, it had little commercial success in comparison to other noteworthy releases of 1992, such as Dr. Dre's The Chronic. The first single, "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)", a dedication to their deceased friend; Trouble T Roy (a dance member of Heavy D. & The Boyz), has gone on to become not only their signature hit, but also one of hip hop's most highly regarded songs.[3][4]

Other topics on the album range from life in the ghetto ("Ghettos of the Mind"), the teachings of the Nation of Islam ("Anger in the Nation"), bootlegging ("Straighten It Out"), and love ("Lots of Lovin'").

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 5/5 stars[5]
The Baltimore Sun (favorable)[6]
Robert Christgau (neither)[7]
Entertainment Weekly C+[8]
The New York Times (favorable)[9]
RapReviews (9.5/10)[10]
Rolling Stone 5/5 stars[11]
Spin (favorable)[12]
Virgin Encyclopedia 4/5 stars[13]

Mecca And The Soul Brother brought considerable acclaim to the duo. They were often compared to the group Gang Starr, which also featured one MC, and a producer/DJ.[14] Although the album garnered a great amount of acclaim, sales were slow. The group only grew more popular, however, and next appeared on the Menace II Society soundtrack, followed by Who's The Man?, and Poetic Justice, respectively before returning in 1994, with The Main Ingredient.

Track listing

  • The cassette and 2xLP versions contain two bonus tracks: "The Creator (Remix)" and "Mecca And The Soul Brother (Remix)"
  • (*) Symbolizes co-producer
# Title Performer(s) Producer(s) Samples Time
1 "Return Of The Mecca"
  • Intro: Pete Rock
  • Verses: C.L. Smooth
  • Chorus: Pete Rock
 Pete Rock,
*C.L. Smooth		 5:42
2 "For Pete's Sake"
  • Intro: Pete Rock
  • First verse: C.L. Smooth
  • Second verse: Pete Rock
  • Third verse: C.L. Smooth
  • Outro: Pete Rock
 Pete Rock,
*C.L. Smooth		 5:48
3 "Ghettos Of The Mind"
  • C.L. Smooth
 Pete Rock,
*C.L. Smooth
  • "Ghettos of the Mind" by Bama - the Village Poet
  • "Long Red" by Mountain
 5:01
4 "Lots Of Lovin" Pete Rock,
Nevelle Hodge,
*C.L. Smooth		 5:07
5 "Act Like You Know"
  • Verses: C.L. Smooth
  • Chorus: Pete Rock
 Pete Rock,
*Large Professor,
*C.L. Smooth		 4:01
6 "Straighten It Out"
  • C.L. Smooth
 Pete Rock,
*C.L. Smooth		 4:12
7 "Soul Brother #1"
  • Pete Rock
 Pete Rock,
*C.L. Smooth
  • "Pain" by Ohio Players
  • "Bubble Gum" by 9th Creation
  • "Soul Man" by Charles "Sweet" Sherrell
  • "Headless Heroes" by Eugene McDaniels
  • "Long Red" by Mountain
  • "The Grunt" by The J.B.'s
  • "You're A Customer" by EPMD
 4:30
8 "Wig Out"
  • Intro: Pete Rock
  • Verses: C.L. Smooth
 Pete Rock,
*C.L. Smooth
  • "Turbulence" by Eddie Harris (intro)
  • "Jungle Child" by Johnny Lytle
 4:10
9 "Anger In The Nation"
  • Intro: Adofo Abdullah Muhammad
  • Verses: C.L. Smooth
 Pete Rock,
*C.L. Smooth		 5:31
10 "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)"
  • C.L. Smooth
 Pete Rock,
*C.L. Smooth		 4:44
11 "On And On" Pete Rock,
*C.L. Smooth		 5:10
12 "It's Like That"
  • Intro: Pete Rock
  • Verses: C.L. Smooth
 Pete Rock,
*C.L. Smooth		 3:55
13 "Can't Front On Me"
  • Intro: Pete Rock
  • Verses: C.L. Smooth
 Pete Rock,
*C.L. Smooth		 4:18
14 "The Basement"
  • First verse: C.L. Smooth
  • Second verse: Grap Luva
  • Third verse: Heavy D.
  • Fourth verse: Pete Rock
  • Fifth verse: Rob-O
  • Sixth verse: Deda
 Pete Rock,
*C.L. Smooth		 5:22
15 "If It Ain't Rough, It Ain't Right"
  • C.L. Smooth
 Pete Rock,
*C.L. Smooth		 5:04
16 "Skinz"
  • First verse: C.L. Smooth
  • Second verse: Grand Puba
  • Third verse: C.L. Smooth
  • Fourth verse: Pete Rock
  • Fifth verse: C.L. Smooth
 Pete Rock,
*C.L. Smooth		 4:14

Album singles

Single information
"They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)"
  • Released: 1992
  • B-side: "The Creator"
"Straighten It Out"
  • Released: 1992
  • B-side: "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)"
"Lots of Lovin"
  • Released: 1993
  • B-side: "It's Not A Game"

Chart history

Album

Year Album Chart positions
Billboard 200 Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
1992 Mecca & The Soul Brother 43 7

Singles

Year Song Chart positions
Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Hot Rap Singles Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales
1992 They Reminisce Over You [T.R.O.Y.] 58 10 1 20
Straighten It Out - 65 7 37
1993 Lots of Lovin - 66 1 -

Accolades

The information is taken from AcclaimedMusic.net.[15] and other website links below.

Publication Country Accolade Year Rank
About.com USA 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums 2008 #37
Ego Trip USA Hip Hop's 25 Greatest Albums by Year 1980-98 1999 #8
Exclaim! Canada 100 Records that Rocked 100 Issues 2000 *
Rolling Stone USA The Essential Recordings of the 90s 1999 *
The Source USA The 100 Best Rap Albums of All Time 1998 *
Mojo UK Mojo 1000, the Ultimate CD Buyers Guide 2001 *
(*) designates lists that are unordered.

In popular culture

The first single "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" appeared in the 2003 video game NBA Street Vol. 2 and the 2011 video game Madden NFL 12.

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Stewart, Stanton (March 3, 2008). Review: Mecca and the Soul Brother. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-10-24.
  6. ↑ Considine, J.D. (July 10, 1992). Review: Mecca and the Soul Brother. The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved on 2010-10-24.
  7. ↑ Christgau, Robert (1992). "Consumer Guide: Mecca and the Soul Brother". The Village Voice. Retrieved on 2010-10-24.
  8. ↑ Browne, David (July 17, 1992). Review: Mecca and the Soul Brother. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2010-10-24.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Mennella, Dan (September 30, 2003). Review: Mecca and the Soul Brother. RapReviews. Retrieved on 2010-10-24.
  11. ↑ Hoard, Christian (November 2, 2004). "Review: Mecca and the Soul Brother". Rolling Stone: 695.
  12. ↑ Malone, Bonz (October 1992). "Review: Mecca and the Soul Brother". Spin: 26.
  13. ↑ Larkin, Colin (March 1, 2002). "Review: Mecca and the Soul Brother". Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Retrieved on 2010-10-24.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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