Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth, “Back on the Block” Thes One remix

I forgot how much I love this record. I can remember how elated I was to find this on Hip Hop site that I bought two copies! (well, I always bought two… DJs you know what’s up).

I was already obsessed with this track in two other forms, the first was the original Produced by Pete Rock, from the album Petestrumentals. Besides his record nerd inspiring master sould and jazz sampling, a characteristic of his production was that smooth bass bounce over some rugged drums! The second was an amazing DJ Krush remix. I love this track so much I actually included both versions in a mixtape I made back then.

But THIS version, produced by Thes One of The People Under the Stairs (P.U.T.S., more on them in a future post)… I actually I remember hearing this at a venue on Grand, in DTLA, that is probably now defunct. It was in a sets of playing after a DJ battle, I remember seeing the freestyle dancers grooving and the DJ had slipped this into his set. I love this record so much I that I think of this for two things when listening to it:

1.) the feel good vibe I had running around Los Angeles in the early 2000’s probably ‘01-‘03 chasing those underground Hip Hop shows and checking out various DJ comps (even got to see both DMC and ITF USA finals back when the scratch scene could fill a theater).

2.) one of the reasons why I stopped DJing. Mostly because I couldn’t book parties that would allow me to play songs like this that I loved to hear.

It may sound sad that such a favorite record of mine is connected to something so traumatic as giving up something I love to do. However it wasn’t that I won’t spin anymore, I’m just looking for the right venue for the right type of party that I want to play. So right now I got one eye open that I might be able to find a nice spot to play once or twice a month. 

On that note, I can happily say that since then I’ve never bought records that I wouldn’t enjoy listening to. Well… except for sampling… but that’s another story.

Stedapol CC Watt, Samba Soul.

I been on this song for a little while now… it’s pretty AMAZING.  Heard them at the Rootdown last fall, before it closed up.  Download it from the band’s website.