By Jamil Weeks

Rap veterans are back outside. Rather it’s AZ, Black Thought, or Nas, legendary emcees in their late 40s and 50s are bucking the trend that rap is a young man’s game. Reviving the formula of locking in with one producer, we have albums from Cormega/Havoc, Nas/DJ Premier, LL Cool J/Q-Tip, and Snoop/Dr. Dre on the horizon. However, this weekend we have been treated to an album that might have set the standard for what 9th Wonder has dubbed “adult contemporary hip hop”. The highly anticipated album from Common and Pete Rock, The Auditorium Vol. 1, has finally been released. The album is a wet dream for “old head” hip hop purists who yearn for a return to traditional boom bap prominence. Chicago and Mount Vernon’s finest have joined forces to deliver something truly special. Both hip hop legends have made classic albums individually. Now they have challenged themselves late in their careers to make an album that can stand the test of time as a duo.

The pair has spent the last couple of months releasing singles to give listeners a preview of what brilliance lies ahead. The lead single, “Wise Up”, features an upbeat monster of a Pete Rock beat allowing Common to reflect on his own self-awareness that prevented him from succumbing to life’s pitfalls. The duo followed up with “Dreamin’”, where Common daydreams of interacting with iconic heroes from the black community that have inspired him to dream big. On “All Kind of Ideas”, Pete Rock puts the beat machine down and picks up the mic to trade bars with Common on how their love for hip hop keeps them tapped in on the pulse of hip hop. The last single released before the official album drop was “Fortunate”, where Common expresses his gratitude for all the victories, big or small, that has led him to where he is today as a man over a melodic Pete instrumental. These well-rounded singles were just the tip of the iceberg for what we were in store for once The Auditorium finally arrived.

Common is probably one of the most under appreciated rappers since emerging on the scene in the early 90s. Quietly he has put together a catalog that rivals your favorite rapper. Common has worked with elite producers before, rather its Kanye West, J. Dilla, or No ID. But his efforts with Pete Rock might be his best work yet. Common’s clever and thoughtful penmanship proved to be a worthy counterpart to Pete’s soul-laden, nostalgic production. Common sounds like he has not lost a step as a writer. With each song, Common layers his rhymes in witty wordplay and clever entendres. An example is on one of the standout cuts, “Chi-Town Do It”, where he rhymes, “At the top of my game, a gladiator/I’m glad I ate her, are you not entertained?” Common is a master at being able to convey deeper meaning with multi-syllable rhymes with ease. Like on “Now and Then” where he spits “I'm from the windy city where we blow trees to get our souls ease/Reality falls like gold leaves”. The Auditorium is a reminder that Common is cut from an elite cloth. After this album, there needs to be a new discussion on his placement on these best rappers lists.

Pete Rock has solidified himself as one of the greatest and most consistent producers in hip hop history. This album will only build on that legend. With a career spanning over 30 years, Pete proves that he has not lost a step on The Auditorium Vol. 1. The production on this album is absolutely flawless. Pete is an expert at making his vintage style sound brand new. On records like “Stellar”, Pete demostrates how he does not have to stray from his signature sound to cook on a beat machine. The noteworthy track, “We’re On Our Way”, makes you feel Pete is showing off with a beat that sounds as if the spirits of our ancestors flowed from Pete’s soul into the beat machine. The instrumental is the perfect song for a rapper of Common’s ilk to catch wreck with an offbeat type of flow. The production on this album is like a delicately seasoned soul food plate from big momma’s kitchen to nourish your soul. The ingredients are carefully selected chopped up jazz and soul samples, complementary DJ scratches, vibrant baselines, and thunderous drums. On The Auditorium, Pete ensures hip hop heads are eating good!

The Auditorium Vol. 1 will dispel the narrative that older hip hop artists are not capable of greatness. Neither Common nor Pete Rock sound “flabby and sick” on this album. Instead they prove they are both true masters of their craft. Still effortlessly cranking out music with timeless potential. Still releasing records that can compete with their best work in the latter stage of their careers. The Auditorium is a statement album that you do not have to compromise your artistic style for the sake of satisfying current rap fans. Common and Pete are putting the entire industry on notice. A certain standard has been set and all future rapper/producer combos are going to have their work cut out for them. The “stuck-in-the-90s” rap fans will salivate when they hear this album. The album is vintage 90s rap, sounding as if you could have released it back in the summer of 1995 and it would be able to compete with the classics from that year. Common and Pete have transformed the planet into their own personal auditorium. One thing is certain, after hearing this album I am eager to revisit this auditorium for volume two!