Pete Rock & CL Smooth The Main Ingredient 25th Anniversary Mixtape

What can we even say about Pete Rock and CL Smooth’s classic The Main Ingredient that hasn’t already been said? A classic record in every way, we were really excited when the legend Chris Read put together this special 25th Anniversary mix for Wax Poetics x WhoSampled. Chock full of original samples, songs that were constructed out of the samples, and quotes, and drops, this just under an hour mix is exactly what the good doctor ordered. This is what WhoSampled had to say about the mix:

“This month marks the 25th Anniversary of Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth’s 2nd (and final) full-length LP ‘The Main Ingredient’. Following in the footsteps of 1992’s Mecca and the Soul Brother, the album comprises tracks built from densely layered samples, frequently previously un-sampled jazz fusion cuts mixed with crisp drums and short vocal snippets plundered from well-known 80s/90s Hip Hop tracks. The use of a number of go-to tracks defines the sound of the album and the presence of vocal samples from Biz Markie and Big Daddy Kane, in particular, is a key ingredient in the album’s sonic palette. In celebration of the album’s 25th year, we’ve partnered once again with Wax Poetics to present this mixtape of album tracks, alt versions, interview snippets and of course original sample material, mixed by Chris Read.”

So if you’ve been a fan of this classic since the first drop or just getting into Pete rock’s catalog of bangers, here’s a list of what was used to make the record, deconstructed and put back together in mix form by the master Chris Read. All done in impeccable taste and skill throughout.

Track list:

1. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – I Got A Love (Remix)
2. Chris Read – Theme #3 (Scratchapella)
3. Ramsey Lewis – Sun Goddess (sampled in Escape)
4. Pete Rock & CL Smooth Interview Extract
5. James Brown – Escape-Ism [Loop] (samped in Escape)
6. Brethren – Outside Love [Loop] (sampled in Escape)
7. Biz Markie – Take It From The Top [Extract] (sampled in Escape)
8. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Escape
9. George Benson – Face It Boy, It’s Over (sampled in In The Flesh)
10. EPMD – You’re a Customer [Loop] (sampled in In The Flesh)
11. Steve Miller Band – Fly Like An Eagle (sampled in In The Flesh)
12. Big Daddy Kane feat Biz Markie – Just Rhymin’ With Biz [Extract] (sampled in In The Flesh)
13. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – In The Flesh
14. Ahmad Jamal – The Awakening (sampled in It’s On You)
15. Brethren Outside Love [Loop] (sampled in It’s On You)
16. Tom Scott – Never My Love [Extract] (sampled in It’s On You)
17. EPMD – Strictly Business [Extract] (sampled in It’s On You)
18. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – It’s On You
19. Jeanne & The Darlings – Soul Girl (sampled in Get On The Mic)
20. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Get On The Mic
21. Big Daddy Kane feat Biz Markie – Just Rhymin’ With Biz [Extract] (sampled in Get On The Mic)
22. Little Feat – Fool Yourself [Loop] (sampled in All the Places)
23. Donald Byrd – Spaces and Places (sampled in All the Places)
24. Biz Markie – Vapors [Extract] (sampled in All the Places)
25. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – All the Places
26. Roy Ayers Ubiquity – Searching (sampled in Searching)
27. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Searching
28. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Searching (Remix)
29. Jonny Pate – The Look of Love (sampled in Searching (Remix))
30. George Benson – Face It Boy, It’s Over (sampled in I Get Physical)
31. Big Daddy Kane feat Biz Markie – Just Rhymin’ With Biz (sampled in I Get Physical)
32. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – I Get Physical
33. Tyrone Washington – Submission (sampled in The Main Ingredient)
34. KRS One – Sound of Da Police (sampled in The Main Ingredient)
35. Albino Gorilla – Psychedlic Shack (sampled in The Main Ingredient)
36. Big Daddy Kane feat Biz Markie – Just Rhymin’ With Biz [Extract] (sampled in The Main Ingredient)
37. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – The Main Ingredient
38. Milt Jackson & The Ray Brown Big Band – Enchanted Lady (sampled in Carmel City)
39. Hugo Montenegro – Dizzy [Extract] (sampled in Carmel City)
40. Detroit Emeralds – You’re Getting A Little Too Smart [Loop] (sampled in Carmel City)
41. Spoonie Gee – Spoonin’ Rap [Extract] (sampled in Carmel City)
42. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Carmel City
43. Bob James – Nautilus [Loop] (sampled in Sun Won’t Come Out)
44. Harvey Scales – Sun Won’t Come Out (sampled in Sun Won’t Come Out)
45. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Sun Won’t Come Out
46. Stan Getz – Keep Dreamin’ (sampled in Tell Me)
47. Run DMC – Beats to the Rhyme [Extract] (sampled in Tell Me)
48. Pete Rock & CL Smoooth – Tell Me
49. Detroit Emeralds – You’re Getting A Little Too Smart [Loop] (sampled in Tell Me)
50. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Worldwide
51. The Cannonball Adderley Quintet – Capricorn (sampled in In The House)
52. A Tribe Called Quest – Verses from the Abstract [Loop] (sampled in In The House)
53. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – In The House
54. Keni Burke – Risin to the Top (sampled in Take You There)
55. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Take You There
56. Young Holt Unlimited – Bumpin On Young Street (sampled in Check it Out)
57. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Check It Out