Let's talk about Mecca and The Soul Brother

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon May 25, 2009 6:28 am

What are your favourite tracks off this album?
what tracks do you have the most memories of?
what tracks do you like the least and why?
what tracks would you like to have seen as singles?

I have been listening to this a lot again lately and 2 things I notice, are Pete Rock's incredible production, ill basslines, drums, horns and dope soul and funk samples, and how consistent the album is as a whole (including the interludes) and if you don't feel CL Smooth on this album, then you are a human shaded tree gimp

In my opinion, this is one of the greatest rap albums in history, I find it flawless.

Thoughts

Mark 563 · Post by **Mark 563** » Mon May 25, 2009 7:40 am

Jaz wrote: In my opinion, this is one of the greatest rap albums in history, I find it flawless.

Thoughts

Yeah, I hold this album up there alongside 'Breaking Atoms' and 'Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop'.

'Lots Of Lovin' is by far the weakest moment on the album - I never really got that joint - it shouldn't have been a single.

Aside from the obvious 12" joints - 'TROY' and 'Straighten It Out' - my favourite tracks are 'The Basement' and 'Skinz'.

I saw them in London at Camden's Jazz Cafe a few years back, and the show was incredible.

mud · Post by **mud** » Mon May 25, 2009 7:42 am

Great beats, CL Smooth sucks.

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon May 25, 2009 7:49 am

mud wrote:Great beats, CL Smooth sucks.

ha ha, really you don't think he flowed like water over Pete's tracks?

vaporized · Post by **vaporized** » Mon May 25, 2009 7:51 am

possibly the best produced album of all time. definition of 'dusty' on the samples and drum breaks.

CL Smooth's lyrics are next level. never understood the hate...

"CL can play like Nike, come on just do it/
Pacify the gemini, soul into it/
Beat to my feet is a lock like concrete/
Hard for the street, decipher never incomplete/
A clean editorial, rather historical/
Affordable, recordable, nifty like a portable/
Mecca is the syndrome, when I come back home/
Boogie on a baritone, listen on a phone/
Libra, the achiever, toke a reefer/
CL the girl pleaser, like ebanezer/
So here is the good sign, I incline/
Titties with the bitties when I wine and dine/
Worn like corduroy, comes the bad boy/
But just like anita pita, I bring ya joy/
Agoobilonians with your knowledge/
And take as said so, flow, act like you know"

Mark 563 wrote:
'Lots Of Lovin' is by far the weakest moment on the album - I never really got that joint - it shouldn't have been a single.

I don't agree, that track is a trancendental bliss-out of epic proportions. probably the ultimate hip hop love ballad

Anger In The Nation has to be the ultimate anti-racism track, also. I like this album

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Mon May 25, 2009 7:52 am

Mark 563 wrote:
Jaz wrote: In my opinion, this is one of the greatest rap albums in history, I find it flawless.

Thoughts
Yeah, I hold this album up there alongside 'Breaking Atoms' and 'Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop'.

'Lots Of Lovin' is by far the weakest moment on the album - I never really got that joint - it shouldn't have been a single.

Aside from the obvious 12" joints - 'TROY' and 'Straighten It Out' - my favourite tracks are 'The Basement' and 'Skinz'.

I saw them in London at Camden's Jazz Cafe a few years back, and the show was incredible.

I like "Lots Of Lovin" but don't love it, the thing is though, if they didn't release that as a single then we would never have got "It's Not A Game"

P.S. you lucky bastard @

I saw them in London at Camden's Jazz Cafe

PopsUK · Post by **PopsUK** » Mon May 25, 2009 8:22 am

Faultless album which has aged incredibly well. Never understood the CL hate... his lyrics are great on this and Main Incredient, and he has one of the best rap voices ever.

Classic shit.

strategy786 · Post by **strategy786** » Mon May 25, 2009 8:48 am

The track I've been really feelin lately is "It's Like That." Production on it is incredible.

I'd agree that "Lots of Lovin" is the weakest spot on the album, but you can definitely see Pete's dope production under co-producer Nevelle Hodge's cheesey R&B layers. The track has some appeal.

As for CL as an MC, I admit that I too eventually found myself a little bored with his style. But I think if you really look, there's no question that he is a sharp, highly-skilled MC with more than just a buttery voice. He's an incredible line-by-line writer with content that has real depth. (Nice example vaporized.)

This is a great great great album.

Y@k Bollocks · Post by **Y@k Bollocks** » Mon May 25, 2009 8:53 am

Mark 563 wrote:I saw them in London at Camden's Jazz Cafe a few years back, and the show was incredible.

I went to one of those shows. Maybe my favourite ever live hip hop show.

'Mecca' is an amazing album, that I really don't listen to enough...

vincentlopez · Post by **vincentlopez** » Mon May 25, 2009 9:47 am

This album is #27 on my all time list. It's a rock solid 4.5 out of 5 and gets better with each listen, especially in light of the garbage in the mainstream. I remember seeing this in Tower Records back in '98 for $2.99 and couldn't believe it. They put up a display of all 'good' albums from like '90 to '93 and I bought a copy for a friend.

What are your favourite tracks off this album?
Other than T.R.O.Y., For Pete's Sake, Straighten it Out (this needs to be updated for the current times), and Skinz.

what tracks do you have the most memories of?
T.R.O.Y. Like 'Summertime', I've heard it at so many barbecues that it's permanently stuck in my brain.

what tracks do you like the least and why?
Wig Out. it's just wack.

what tracks would you like to have seen as singles?
It's Like That and Skinz.

Andyman187 · Post by **Andyman187** » Mon May 25, 2009 11:36 am

I got a chance to see them in 2003 here in Toronto just before they split up again. Classic after classic what a night!

On & On has to be one of my favorites on the LP alongside the Remix of Mecca & The Soul Brother!

Lots of Lovin' is one of the best love raps of all time!

I thought the Basement should have been a single...

Its a long listen but solid front to back aside from a couple cuts they could of done without...

PopsUK · Post by **PopsUK** » Mon May 25, 2009 12:31 pm

Does anyonw have a compilation of all the remixes, b-sides, non-album tracks from around this era?

chillhood · Post by **chillhood** » Mon May 25, 2009 12:37 pm

Besides TROY and Straighten It Out, For Pete's Sake and Anger in the Nation are others favs of mine
but PR did enhance his production on The Main Ingredient

YouTube · Post by **Philaflava** » Mon May 25, 2009 12:51 pm

Mecca & Soul had notoriously bigger hits, but Main Ingredient has by far and away the best production and is the most cohesive of all their albums combined. CL was always just an adequate emcee but luckily MI had steller beats, samples and some nice guest spots.

thomasv · Post by **thomasv** » Mon May 25, 2009 2:11 pm

of course T.R.O.Y. & Straighten it Out.

I also like Can't Front On Me.

thomasv · Post by **thomasv** » Mon May 25, 2009 2:13 pm

PopsUK wrote:Does anyonw have a compilation of all the remixes, b-sides, non-album tracks from around this era?

you might be looking for this japan import cd:

stype_ones · Post by **stype_ones** » Mon May 25, 2009 2:23 pm

My favorite joints on this album, aside from "TROY" and "Straighten it Out" are def "For Pete's Sake" and "Can Front on Me".

I like MI better than this album tho, although I think my favorite song of theirs is "Mecca and the Soul Brother" off their EP.

Pete's production just has so many layers. Mad chunky.

CL is a solid MC, but nothing too crazy. They def complimented each other nicely.

aREAL · Post by **aREAL** » Mon May 25, 2009 4:42 pm

You guys heard "Phat Pockets - The Hustle Goes On"? Speaking of best album of all time.

:P

Mark 563 · Post by **Mark 563** » Mon May 25, 2009 4:47 pm

vaporized wrote:
Mark 563 wrote:
'Lots Of Lovin' is by far the weakest moment on the album - I never really got that joint - it shouldn't have been a single.
I don't agree, that track is a trancendental bliss-out of epic proportions. probably the ultimate hip hop love ballad

'I Got A Love' is sooooo much better.

jazztomovethatass · Post by **jazztomovethatass** » Mon May 25, 2009 6:09 pm

pete's effort on the cl smooth collabos is undeniable. for pete's sake and skinz are my joints off that album.

hellriser · Post by **hellriser** » Mon May 25, 2009 9:34 pm

i like skinz , grand puba killed his verse... all tracks are great... classic is the word...

PopsUK · Post by **PopsUK** » Tue May 26, 2009 9:39 am

thomasv wrote:
PopsUK wrote:Does anyonw have a compilation of all the remixes, b-sides, non-album tracks from around this era?
you might be looking for this japan import cd:

I have that, and the "Never Coming Out" EP... just wondered if there is anything else....

Thun · Post by **Thun** » Tue May 26, 2009 11:13 am

Mark 563 wrote:
vaporized wrote:
Mark 563 wrote:
'Lots Of Lovin' is by far the weakest moment on the album - I never really got that joint - it shouldn't have been a single.
I don't agree, that track is a trancendental bliss-out of epic proportions. probably the ultimate hip hop love ballad

'I Got A Love' is sooooo much better.

"Searching" is better yet.

aREAL · Post by **aREAL** » Tue May 26, 2009 1:24 pm

"The Basement" is my track on this CD.

Dragondude R · Post by **Dragondude R** » Wed May 27, 2009 1:37 pm

For Pete's Sake is too god damn hype

Let's talk about Mecca and The Soul Brother

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