THE CLASSICS: PETE ROCK & CL SMOOTH, ‘ALL SOULED OUT’ – ELEKTRA | WEA, 1991
Pete Rock & CL Smooth – ‘All Souled Out’
There are more than a few significant area’s regarding Pete Rock & CL Smooth’s first record ‘All Souled Out’ released on Elektra in 1991. First of all it introduced the world to Pete Rock’s sophisticated production style taking sampling and digging to a whole new level beyond looping old records. Also on show was CL’s laidback and mature delivery which was unlike anyone else around at the time. Most of the three records released by the duo represent a calm before the storm period in hip-hop commercialism in the early nineties. Simply put out the grooves. Word of mouth rather than media hype blew these records up.
The early nineties were a time of Native Tongues, Hieroglyphics and DITC who were all taking sampling to a crazy level. It was Pete Rock however that upped the ante with complex harmonisation by grouping a series of sounds at the same time blended so well they sounded like one sample from an individual record. Take the title cut and The Creator. The former see’s CL at his most in your face rapping uptempo over a nice organ sample. The Creator is an instantly recognisable cut, Pete Rock rapping solo at double speed over his soon to be trademark horns and whispers.
CL’s style has been criticised as something of a safer version of Guru. As time went on this could be true (show me some consistent rappers in the last fifteen years huh?) however back in the days he was on point and nice with it. On Good Life he talks about life’s luxuries that are often mentioned on rap tracks. Though like Main Source’s “Watch Roger Do His Thing” he strives for them through honest endeavour. LIkewise on ‘Mecca & The Soul Brother’ he espouses wisdom and having less beef than Saddam Hussein over Pete Rock’s best production.
All Souled Out is an essential record for any self respecting hip-hop fan as well as the following two LPs. Furthermore, it is a phenomenal body of work to present in argument for those that think sampling is merely cutting and pasting old James Brown records. Give it up…
Omar Francis
