From The Diam Piece album, available now.

Oh word?

From the new album, After All These Years, which will hit September 9th, 2014. Guests include Chuck D, Camp Lo, Guilty Simpson, Special Teamz, jazz great Walter Beasley, with production by Pete Rock, 9th Wonder, Marco Polo, Vanderslice, and Explizit One.

The long-awaited Diamond D’s long-awaited The Diam Piece hits September 30th.

It’s no secret that James Brown, The GodFather of Soul has been a major influence on Pete Rock; arguably the most Soulful hip hop musician of all time.

As James Brown’s highly anticipated Biopic “Get On Up” premieres today, Pete Rock reflects on his meeting with his hero.

“When I met James Brown, I think he passed along something to me when I shook his hand. I look at that today, and I say, “Damn, I think James Brown gave me a piece of his [soul] power.” He came to Mount Vernon and he did a concert with Bobby Bird and The JBS in my hood at a spot called the Left Bank. And I’m telling you I’ve never seen Mount Vernon so poppin’ in my entire life! It was always poppin’–don’t get it twisted–because we used to do little parties in the hood and stuff like that and everybody would come out. But James Brown — I mean I was seven years old, me and my brother Grap, and we walked in the joint and my mother talked to one of James’ bodyguards or managers or something and was asking him, “Yo, can my kids meet James?” And the next thing you know, he came up behind us and I shook his hand and he was like, “God bless you man, God bless you.” And he shook my mother’s hand and he shook my brother’s hand. And it left something with me. This was before he got on stage. He shook our hands and then we watched the show. And I left that place not the same. So you see how strong black music can be. It had a heavy impact on me in my life.”

The renowned producer attributes his creativity to another legend: “I was musically charged, man. I had some adrenaline going on then. I’m serious, ever since I — I think after I met James Brown as a kid. I was seven years old,” says Pete Rock. “I wasn’t the same since.”

The man who made “T.R.O.Y.” and “The World Is Yours” spoke with Microphone Check hosts Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Frannie Kelley about shaking the hand of the Godfather of Soul and attending his funeral, crawling through a dog door to practice on Heavy D’s equipment, the effects of 9/11 on music and J Dilla. “I’m like, ‘Yo, this guy’s gonna have me out of a job.’”

Combat Jack: “From Run-DMC to Kanye West, Soul Brother No. 1 been the go to guy to to make classic material. On top of that, how many countless producers he inspired, from legends like J Dilla and Kanye West to innovators like Madlib? #NeverForget the rap giants he helped birth, like NaS, and the Notorious B.I.G. Pete talks being raised by mentor/family member, the late, great Heavy D, and being encouraged to rap by Grand Puba, the true soul that went into producing “They Reminisce Over You”, and the uncredited classic hits you know but didn’t know was a Pete Rock production. Another session of Rap History is in effect, pull up a seat and learn about your culture.”

Mac Miller delivers two late night leaks of tracks from the Watching Movies With The Sound Off recording sessions. “Movies we didn’t watch,” he writes.

DJ Nu-Mark, Cut Chemist, Ben Blackwell, Z-Trip, Egon, Pete Rock, Just Blaze, Da Beatminerz, and more talk about some of their best finds for a special Record Store Day edition of Crate Diggers.

The Soul Brother #1 pays tribute to great Roy Ayers on this just under 40-minute run through of classics. Produced in conjunction with the 503 Collective t-shirt pictured above, available now (along with some other dope designs) at http://pete-rock.myshopify.com/.

Ten years after its initial & highly slept-on release, Fat Beats Records & Frozen Files are proud to present the first-ever reissue of UN Or U Out, the classic debut album from The UN.

Consisting of Roc Marciano, Dino Brave, Mike Raw, and Laku, the UN first emerged on Pete Rock’s 2001 Petestrumentals album, a primarily all instrumental release minus two tracks—“Nothing Lesser” and “Cake”, both featuring vocals by The UN. At the time, the group hadn’t performed live and had no major release out, although Roc Marciano had already made his name as a member of Busta Rhymes’ Flipmode Squad. Pete Rock fans were at first perplexed by the vocal appearance of an unknown group. Yet Pete not only had the confidence and foresight to introduce the four MCs, he also furthered the collaboration, making it full circle by lending production on “Game of Death (G.O.D.)” , “Avenue” and “Ain’t No Thang” on UN or U Out.

UN or U Out remains a timeless listen, a deeply succinct homage to New York’s bygone era of gritty boom-bap, made with tasteful nods to Queensbridge’s cold-steel aesthetic.

From the forthcoming Jamla Is The Squad compilation, hosted by Statik Selektah from 1/28/14.

Thisis50 & Young Jack Thriller recently spoke with DJ Premier & Pete Rock for an exclusive interview. DJ Premier addresses people not giving their all on the BET Cyphers, and talks about all of the upcoming projects he is working on, and confirms the collaborative LP with Pete Rock is still coming

Unreleased Roc Marciano track produced by Pete Rock, as heard on DJ Premier’s Live From Headqcourterz radio show.

Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth the critically acclaimed Hip-Hop duo have announced their plans for a 25-city US & Canadian Tour. The group who emerged onto the music scene in the early 90’s with their debut EP, “All Souled Out” released three studio projects together; their later work included the release of their classic LP “Mecca and the Soul Brother” and “The Main Ingredient”.

Pete Rock & CL Smooth on what their upcoming tour means to them and to Hip-Hop:

“People will finally get to hear good music and see a good show, they get to come out, have a good time and enjoy the music they loved for years.” ~ Pete Rock

“It means a lot because music is the foundation of the world. It gives you an opportunity to know what we contributed and how inspired we were as very young men to get the opportunity to make good music.” ~ CL Smooth

The Hip Hop duo who have not toured North America together in over fifteen years will kick off their reunion tour on October 15, 2013 at The Howard Theater in Washington, DC.

The show will include performances of their biggest hits including ‘ Straighten It Out’ , ‘Take You There’, ‘They Reminisce Over You (TROY)’ which was named one of the 50 greatest hits of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine and many more. Special guests have been invited to perform with the iconic Hip Hop duo in NYC and LA.

Fusicology.com is the official media partner of The Pete Rock and CL Smooth Reunion Tour w/Camp Lo. Listings with show cities, dates, times and ticket purchase information for Pete Rock & CL Smooth’s reunion tour is available on Fusicology’s website.