The Main Ingredient

About

The Main Ingredient is the second album by Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Released in late 1994. It would become their last album together. Like their previous album, Mecca and the Soul Brother, The Main Ingredient was very well received by critics but overlooked by the mainstream. Characterized by sultry soul and jazz sample, The Main Ingredient saw a more polished sound than the duo’s debut, building on the praise that they had already garnered. The album is notable for its snappy, crispy drums and extensive use of vocal scratche. Although missing a centerpiece on the scale of "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)", the album contains some of the duo's best known work, in the form of tracks such as the upbeat "In The House", and the catchy "Sun Won't Come Out", which features a lush vocal sample from the song of the same name by Harvey Scale. Continuing a theme initiated by Mecca and the Soul Brother, brief instrumental interludes are placed at the beginning and end of song. With the exception of just a few track, this feature is recurrent throughout the album. In addition, The Main Ingredient saw Rock fleshing out and defining his trademark production style, which is now recognized for often containing smooth bassline, swirling horn, filtered sample, and spacious groove. The production on this album proved to be influential upon a legion of latter day producer. Though overlooked at the time of its release, the album has since been re-evaluated with high critical acclaim. Allmusic's Stanton Swihart called it "an album that is far more focused" and "just as good as the first record, perhaps an even more satisfying single listen." Swihart described Rock's production work as "among some of the most seductive in hip-hop", and CL as "lyrically on point, spitting out intellectual rhymes and narratives that are just as propulsive and engaging as the music." .

via Last.fm

The Clerk says

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