Search - Pete Rock :: Lost & Found Hip Hop Underground Soul Classics

What could possibly hurt a perfect album???

Scott D. Gribble | Baltimore MD | 09/07/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Let's get one thing to get straight off the top. The Lost and Found packaged is actually two albums marketed as one (much like the recent OutKast "album"). Both of these albums are entirely produced by Pete Rock, one of the greatest producers of all time (only challenged by DJ Premier and Dr. Dre). That being said you should have high expectations for the production. Both albums live up to these expectations and are flawless in production; it would take your little brother going through puberty to screw this up (voice cracking and all).



Disc 1 is the InI's "Center of Attention". It is an incredible album, completely on the same wave as "Mecca and the Soul Brother". The beats are so smooth and jazzy with tons of musical layers, that it really might be Pete Rock's best overall album from a production stand point. Now the trouble with almost any Pete Rock track is finding talent that can even match the caliber of his beats. Before this hearing "Center of Attention" I though no one could even compete C.L. Smooth, but Grap Luva and Rob-O will certainly change more than a few peoples minds. Their smooth flows fit perfectly with Rock's beats, never taking away from them and only adding to its depth. The beats are so much of a showcase the rhymes literally seems like they are a part of the production itself, serving as another instrument of Pete Rock's creation. What you have is a superior album that simply perfect. The two MC's will never make anyone's top 500 list, however the way the album works they somehow achieve perfection, if even for a brief moment in time. This would be considered a classic if it had it's proper release (almost 10 years ago!!!). "Center of Attention" and so many other forgotten classics (Main Source's "Breaking Atoms") slip through the cracks, and it's a shame simply because the avid hip-hop fan misses out on some of the genre's finest. The InI's Center of Attention gets a perfect score easily from me.



Note the track listings on Amazon are wrong. There are actually 16 songs on "Center of Attention":



1. Intro

2. No More Words

3. Step Up

4. Think Twice

5. Square One

6. The Life I Live

7. KrossRoads

8. To Each His Own feat. Q-Tip & Large Prof.

9. Fakin' Jax

10. What You Say

11. Props

12. Center Of Attention

13. Grown Man Sport

14. Mind Over Matter

15. Don't You Love It

16. Microphone Wonderlust





Now the other album in the Lost and Found packaged is "The Original Baby Pa" by Deda. As I said for both albums the production is flawless, however I'd be lying if I told you that this album was decent. Deda might be one of the worst MC's I have heard on the mic. He has a low gruff voice & a horrible flow, not to mention wack rhymes, making every aspect of verses painful to listen to. He becomes so bad & distracting it actually takes away from the listener enjoying the amazing production by Pete Rock. I understand that most reviewers who love Pete Rock (such as myself) will try to overlook this album and pretend like it's ok, in fear of deterring people from picking up a "Center of Attention"... but I just can't lie, "Original Baby Pa" is horrid. There really was a good reason why this never supposed to come out - It really is awful. Do yourself a favor a skip it completely, because it's not even worth listening to. The album might contain Pete's career low point: a crossover attempt by Deda and Pete (which gave me serious thoughts of ripping my eardrums out). Let's just say I wish I could give this album negative rating. I feel worse off after hearing this, knowing that Rock wasted these beats on Deda. For any Pete Rock fan (or even hip-hop fan) "Original Baby Pa" will not just leave you unsatisfied, but frustrated and depressed.



So, in complete honesty "Center of Attention" by InI is really what you're going to be getting, which by all means is more than worth it. Unfortunately it is paired with a horrible album by Deda. If that stops you from buying this package and being blessed by "Center of Attention", then you probably have no real love for this music. Those who have heard know it's worth it: you are getting a Lost classic... although I wish the other one had never been Found.



Center Of Attention: (10/10)

Original Baby Pa: (1/10)





(Please, Please don't let this stop you from getting this, it really is worth it... I just can't lie about "Original Baby Pa" and expect you to believe how good "Center of Attention" is.)"

The Soul Brother's Best Production?

J. B. Ware | Burnin' In Hell | 11/08/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are few producers who can claim to be in the same league as legendary super producer Pete Rock. As one half of Pete Rock & CL Smooth, the Soul Brother held down all of the production on two quintessential hip hop albums, and as a solo artist he is responsible for the incredibly underrated "Soul Survivor" LP, and the instrumental masterpiece "PeteStrumentals." He also perfected the art of the soulful hip hop remix. Having worked with nearly every emcee worthy of his notoriety, it is ironic that he would bless two virtually unknown hip hop acts, the group of INI and an artist named Deda, with his most consistent collection of soundscapes. Perhaps, like DJ Premier with the Group Home and the Neptunes with the Clipse, Pete Rock knew that understated yet skilled acts would provide him with the best opportunity to shine behind the boards. And indeed it is hard not to notice Pete Rock's subtle yet soulful perfection. The mood of every song is perfectly matched by Rock's production, so that if there is any flaw in the production over the course of the two albums it is that there are no lows low enough to provide a proper juxtaposition to contrast the stellar songs.That said, both cds are also remarkably well-rounded lyrically and topically, leaving the listener wondering how these albums could have been shelved until now. And perhaps the greatest gift "Lost And Found" provides us with, is that listening to it is like opening up a time capsule to a period when hip hop was soulful and meaningful. The curse of this release is that it reminds today's hip hop listener that even the Madlibs, Jay-Dees, and Kanye Wests can't duplicate the mastery of the Soul Brother."

Pure listening pleasure, let's take it back to '95

S. Parker | Harrisburg, PA USA | 10/24/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I cannot truly agree with all the elongated points of the previous review. Yes I will agree(as anyone else should) that INI is an instant classic, the beats are nothing short of exquisite, and Elektra should be ashamed for not originally releasing this album when it was due to come out. I felt like a sucker waiting for it. However, let's look at the hindsight of The Original Baby Pa, Deda. This had to be released sometime in late 94 or 95 at the least. Ok, there is no saving the doomed skills of this rapper. But I believe he deserves some credit for somehow impressing The Chocolate Boy Wonder(think about Group Home and DJ Premier, what was he thinking?).



Ok, now that I've spoke my peace on that, back to the real album here. INI was a group that I like to say categorized their own form of thinking man's poetry and hip-hop. Rob-O could weave the mental images with the younger soul brother Grap Luva on "Mind Over Matter" and "Center of Attention", and Marco Polo gets his lil' shine on the most recognizable track "Fakin' Jax" and "Grown Man Sport". Q-tip and the Extra P drop by to trade verses on "To Each His Own" and just add the whipped cream to the already perfect sundae. The clever samples and production by Pete Rock and the more witty wordplay by INI is just too much to mention and makes me wonder why this group didn't soldier on. I also thank whoever decided to also add in the solo joints from Rob-O. "Wunderlust" still gets bumped in the discplayer and has not moved from its slot since I bought it. Of course though, they should have thrown on "Murderville" and "World Premiere", but I'll stay mum on that and thank goodness I had napster when I did.



Alright, I have to give it a four because Deda did mess up the review and I could not truly give a double album 5 stars in good conscience if part of it is wack. Fortunately INI saved the day in a major way on this 2LP. So sucka emcees, please think twice. And for the love of true hip-hop, please cop this joint."