Mecca and the Soul Brother
Mecca And The Soul Brother | ||||
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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) |
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Label | Elektra 60948 |
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Producer | Pete Rock, CL Smooth, Large Professor | |||
Pete Rock & CL Smooth chronology | ||||
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Singles from Mecca and the Soul Brother | ||||
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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).
Contents
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 | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Baltimore Sun | (favorable)[6] |
Robert Christgau | ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | C+[8] |
The New York Times | (favorable)[9] |
RapReviews | (9.5/10)[10] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spin | (favorable)[12] |
Virgin Encyclopedia | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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 |
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1 | "Return Of The Mecca" |
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Pete Rock, *C.L. Smooth |
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5:42 |
2 | "For Pete's Sake" |
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Pete Rock, *C.L. Smooth |
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5:48 |
3 | "Ghettos Of The Mind" |
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Pete Rock, *C.L. Smooth |
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5:01 |
4 | "Lots Of Lovin" |
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Pete Rock, Nevelle Hodge, *C.L. Smooth |
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5:07 |
5 | "Act Like You Know" |
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Pete Rock, *Large Professor, *C.L. Smooth |
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4:01 |
6 | "Straighten It Out" |
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Pete Rock, *C.L. Smooth |
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4:12 |
7 | "Soul Brother #1" |
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Pete Rock, *C.L. Smooth |
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4:30 |
8 | "Wig Out" |
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Pete Rock, *C.L. Smooth |
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4:10 |
9 | "Anger In The Nation" |
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Pete Rock, *C.L. Smooth |
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5:31 |
10 | "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" |
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Pete Rock, *C.L. Smooth |
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4:44 |
11 | "On And On" |
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Pete Rock, *C.L. Smooth |
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5:10 |
12 | "It's Like That" |
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Pete Rock, *C.L. Smooth |
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3:55 |
13 | "Can't Front On Me" |
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Pete Rock, *C.L. Smooth |
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4:18 |
14 | "The Basement" | Pete Rock, *C.L. Smooth |
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5:22 | |
15 | "If It Ain't Rough, It Ain't Right" |
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Pete Rock, *C.L. Smooth |
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5:04 |
16 | "Skinz" |
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Pete Rock, *C.L. Smooth |
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4:14 |
Album singles
Single information |
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"They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)"
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"Straighten It Out"
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"Lots of Lovin"
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Chart history
Album
Year | Album | Chart positions | |
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Billboard 200 | Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | ||
1992 | Mecca & The Soul Brother | 43 | 7 |
Singles
Year | Song | Chart positions | |||
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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 | ||
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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
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Stewart, Stanton (March 3, 2008). Review: Mecca and the Soul Brother. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-10-24.
- ↑ Considine, J.D. (July 10, 1992). Review: Mecca and the Soul Brother. The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved on 2010-10-24.
- ↑ Christgau, Robert (1992). "Consumer Guide: Mecca and the Soul Brother". The Village Voice. Retrieved on 2010-10-24.
- ↑ Browne, David (July 17, 1992). Review: Mecca and the Soul Brother. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2010-10-24.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Mennella, Dan (September 30, 2003). Review: Mecca and the Soul Brother. RapReviews. Retrieved on 2010-10-24.
- ↑ Hoard, Christian (November 2, 2004). "Review: Mecca and the Soul Brother". Rolling Stone: 695.
- ↑ Malone, Bonz (October 1992). "Review: Mecca and the Soul Brother". Spin: 26.
- ↑ Larkin, Colin (March 1, 2002). "Review: Mecca and the Soul Brother". Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Retrieved on 2010-10-24.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.