Common has announced an upcoming collaboration album with Pete Rock. Speaking with MSNBC’s The Beat With Ari Melber, Common said, “I [have] been listening to a lot of ’90s Hip Hop because I [have] been creating a new project. I’m working on a new album with Pete Rock and just, the energy of that music, whether it’s Brand Nubian, A Tribe Called Quest, or De La Soul, because they just got their music on streaming, it’s been inspiring to hear.”
In January of this year, Common also confirmed these plans with Sunday Today With Willie Geist. Common was mentored by the Native Tongues movement, which included Tribe and De La. In 1996, the Chicago, Illinois MC guested on “Da Bizness,” by Posdnuos, Dave, and Maseo and also featuring Mos Def. This March, he performed at the New York City De La Soul event honoring the group’s re-release of their catalog and the passing of Dave. Common also worked with Brand Nubian, on that group’s 1998 Foundation LP.
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Common told Ari Melber, who happens to be a Hip-Hop Head, “I am creating new music right now. I’m in a great space.” Melber interviewed Common after attending Vice President Kamala Harris’ 50 Years Of Hip Hop Celebration event in Washington, D.C. In addition to Common, Lil Wayne, MC Lyte, Jeezy, and Roxanne Shanté performed.
Comm’ has previously partnered with producers on albums. In 2011, he reunited with early collaborator No I.D. for The Dreamer/The Believer, and again on 2014’s Nobody’s Smiling. In 2016, Common linked with Karriem Riggins for Black America Again, reprising that chemistry for 2019’s Let Love. Riggins also led an ensemble for Comm’s last two releases, A Beautiful Revolution 1 and 2.
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Common and Pete first worked together over 25 years ago, when P.R. produced the single “The B___h In Yoo.” The 1996 track from the label compilation Relativity Urban Assault found Common responding to Ice Cube and Mack 10 for “Westside Slaughterhouse.” That song appeared on Mack’s self-titled debut album, and marked an early Westside Connection posse cut whereby Cube jabbed Common for his lyrics in 1994 Resurrection video single “I Used To Love H.E.R.” Although “The B___h In Yoo” landed on Common’s greatest hits compilation, that beef was later squashed, as Common and Cube worked together in film and music. Common would also guest appear on Pete’s solo debut Soul Survivor, courtesy of the song “Verbal Murder 2,” alongside Big Pun and N.O.R.E.
As a producer and an artist, Pete Rock has made a habit out of collaboration albums. Apart from his acclaimed work as one-half of Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, the respected producer/DJ/MC has partnered with Smif-n-Wessun, Skyzoo, Smoke DZA, Camp Lo, and his latest pupil, Amxxr. Last year, he delivered a second volume of previously unreleased beats, Return Of The SP1200, Vol. 2. This year, P.R. collaborated with 9th Wonder and Tha Mussalini on the Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth homage “Carmel City 2.”
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#BonusBeat: Pete Rock recreating the beat to “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)” during a concert: