- published: 13 Feb 2013
- views: 1277888
Peter Phillips (born June 21, 1970), better known by his stage name Pete Rock, is an American record producer, DJ and rapper. He rose to prominence in the early 1990s as one half of the critically acclaimed group Pete Rock & CL Smooth. After the duo went their separate ways, Rock continued with a solo career that has garnered him worldwide respect, though little in the way of mainstream success. Along with groups such as Stetsasonic, A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots and Gang Starr, Rock played a major role in the merging of elements from jazz into hip hop music (also known as jazz rap). He is widely recognized as one of the greatest hip hop producers of all time, and is often mentioned alongside DJ Premier, the RZA, and J Dilla as one of the mainstays of 1990s East Coast hip hop production. Pete Rock is also the older brother and younger cousin, respectively, of rappers Grap Luva and the late Heavy D.
Pete Rock was born in The Bronx, New York, the sixth of seven children of Jamaican immigrant parents. His family moved to Mount Vernon, New York when he was seven years old. During high school, he met his future recording partner CL Smooth. According to Rock, his father was also a part-time DJ who had an impressive record collection. Rock would often accompany his father to a cricket club called Wembley in The Bronx and watch as he spun records for the guests. His first job was as a paperboy, in his neighborhood.
Like wept mother, so wept son
entered the world not welcomed
tears shed in pain never dry
all my days I behold her cry
"Nothing you say
worth hearing
All that you do
brings me back to you
The absence of love I'm sensing
Is it me is it you
makes me bitter makes me hate
And I hate
AND I HATE!!!"
Sucked not love but bitterness
in her arms out of her breast
As the black world fell apart
fear built house in an unborn heart
Wise is the one who dares to hear
Demons howling in his head
At the gate my allies come
Strike dead the evil ones
In wilderness...
Wolves howl me my lullaby
Crow shrieks a fairy tale
Owl speaks wise thoughts
in my head, in my sleep...
"dream my earthly child dream
the eagle and the serpent
will guard your sleep"
Out of the house across the yard
To the garden where memories are cast
seek beloved the dearest one
I see the gate I no longer run
Now drum is broken and hell is loose
In a tree of wisdom they put a noose
Chaos I Breath it's my last sigh