The Main Ingredient

The Main Ingredient
Studio album by Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth
Released	October 8, 1994
Recorded	August 1993 - June 1994
Studio	Greene St. Recordings (New York City, New York)
Genre	Jazz rap, East Coast hip hop, Conscious hip hop, Boom bap, Alternative hip hop
Length	76:13
Label	Elektra Records
Producer	Damian Blyden (exec.), C.L. Smooth (also exec.), Pete Rock (also exec.)

Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth chronology
Previous	Mecca and the Soul Brother (1992)

The Main Ingredient is the second album by American hip hop duo Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, released in October 8, 1994 through Elektra Records. Recording sessions took place at Greene St. Recordings in New York City from August 1993 to June 1994. Production was handled solely by Pete Rock himself. It includes guest appearances from Deda and InI members: Rob-O and Grap Luva. It would become the duo's last album together. Characterised by sultry soul and jazz samples, The Main Ingredient saw a more polished sound than the duo's debut album, building on the praise that they had already garnered. The album is notable for its snappy, crispy drums and extensive use of vocal scratches.

Continuing a theme initiated by Mecca and the Soul Brother, brief instrumental interludes are placed at the beginning and end of songs. With the exception of just a few tracks, this feature is present throughout the album. In addition, The Main Ingredient saw Pete Rock fleshing out and defining his trademark production style, which is now recognised for often containing smooth basslines, swirling horns, filtered samples, and spacious grooves. The production on this album proved to be influential upon a legion of latter day producers, with the album being a favourite of the late producer J Dilla.

The album peaked at #51 on the Billboard 200 and #9 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The Main Ingredient released the singles: "I Got a Love", "Take You There" and "Searching". Though overlooked at the time of its release, the album has since been re-evaluated with high critical acclaim. The duo broke up in early 1995 citing creative differences, although both parties have since admitted that an unstable working relationship was the main cause of their split.

Track listing

All songs produced by Pete Rock and co-produced by C.L. Smooth.

No.	Title	Performer(s)	Writer(s)	Time
1.	"In the House"	C.L. Smooth, Pete Rock	Duke, Odindo, Penn, Phillips	5:27
2.	"Carmel City"	C.L. Smooth	Penn, Phillips	3:52
3.	"I Get Physical"	C.L. Smooth	Penn, Phillips	4:54
4.	"Sun Won't Come Out"	C.L. Smooth, Pete Rock	Penn, Phillips, Scales	4:24
5.	"I Got a Love"	C.L. Smooth	Lewis, Penn, Phillips	5:04
6.	"Escape"	Pete Rock	Lind, Odindo, Phillips, White	5:14
7.	"The Main Ingredient"	Pete Rock, C.L. Smooth	Penn, Phillips	5:17
8.	"Worldwide"	Rob-O, Pete Rock	Odindo, Phillips	3:02
9.	"All the Places"	C.L. Smooth	Mizell, Mizell, Penn, Phillips	5:39
10.	"Tell Me"	C.L. Smooth	Penn, Phillips	4:17
11.	"Take You There"	C.L. Smooth, Pete Rock	Burke, Felder, Penn, Phillips, Wright	4:47
12.	"Searching"	C.L. Smooth	Penn, Phillips	4:45
13.	"Check It Out"	C.L. Smooth	Lyle, Penn, Phillips	3:57
14.	"In the Flesh"	C.L. Smooth, Rob-O, Deda, Pete Rock	Dida, Odindo, Penn, Phillips	5:48
15.	"It's on You"	C.L. Smooth	Penn, Phillips	5:21
16.	"Get on the Mic"	C.L. Smooth	Penn, Phillips	3:50

Credits

• Mixed by: Jamey Staub (track 1-7, 9-14, 16), Rod Hui (track 8, 15).
• Recorded by: Jamey Staub (track 1-7, 9-14, 16), Rod Hui (track 8, 15).
• Production Coordinator: Ruddy Phillips.
• Art Direction/Design: Mary Ann Dibs.
• Photography: Danny Clinch.
• Styling: Cathie Arquilla.
• Management & Direction: All Out Management

Samples

In the House

• "September 13" by Deodato (Intro)
• "Make the Music With Your Mouth, Biz" by Biz Markie (Intro)
• "The Sorcerer of Isis (The Ritual of the Mole)" by Power of Zeus
• "Capricorn" by The Cannonball Adderley Quintet
• "Verses From the Abstract" by A Tribe Called Quest
• "Ain't Got Time" by Roy Ayers Ubiquity

Caramel City

• "You're Getting a Little Too Smart" by Detroit Emeralds
• "Enchanted Lady" by Milt Jackson and The Ray Brown Band
• "Dizzy" by Hugo Montegnegro
• "Spoonin' Rap" by Spoonie Gee

I Get Physical

• "Just Rhymin' With Biz" by Big Daddy Kane feat. Biz Markie
• "Face It Boy, It's Over" by George Benson
• "It's a New Day" by Skull Snaps
• "Freedom" by Sons of Champlin (Outro)

Sun Won't Come Out

• "Get Into It" by Big Daddy Kane
• "Outside Love" by Brethren
• "Nautilus" by Bob James
• "Sun Won't Come Out" by Harvey Scales
• "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" by Bob James (Outro)
• "Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel (Outro)

I Got a Love

• "Ain't Got the Love (Of One Girl on My Mind)" by The Ambassadors
• "Groovy Situation" by Mel & Tim
• "Cool V's Tribute to Scratching" by Biz Markie
• "Just Rhymin' With Biz" by Big Daddy Kane
• "Hydra" by Grover Washington, Jr. (Outro)
• "Sittin' Duck" by Gene Harris and The Three Sounds (Outro)

Escape

• "Outside Love" by Brethren
• "Sun Goddess" by Ramsey Lewis
• "Escape-Ism" by James Brown
• "Take It From the Top" by Biz Markie
• "The Do Do" by Biz Markie
• "Yes We Can Can" by The Pointer Sisters (Outro)
• "Enchanted Lady" by Milt Jackson and The Ray Brown Band (Outro)

The Main Ingredient

• "Submission" by Tyrone Washington
• "Sound of Da Police" by KRS-One
• "Psychedelic Shack" by Albino Gorilla
• "North Beach" by George Duke
• "Harlem Buck Strut Dance" by Les McCann
• "Love" by Doggone (Outro)
• "Festival Sketch" by The Modern Jazz Quintet (Outro)

Worldwide

• "Feel" by Buck Clarke
• "Do the Funky Penguin" by Rufus Thomas
• "Worldwide" by Akinyele

All the Places

• "The Payback" by James Brown
• "Places and Spaces" by Donald Byrd
• "Fool Yourself" by Little Feat
• "Vapors" by Biz Markie
• "Far Out" by Crown Heights Affair (Outro)

Tell Me

• "Keep Dreamin'" by Stan Getz
• "Funky President (People It's Bad)" by James Brown
• "You're Getting a Little Too Smart" by Detroit Emeralds
• "Beats to the Rhyme" by Run-D.M.C.
• "On the Hill" by Oliver Sain (Outro)
• "Don't Tell It" by James Brown (Outro)

Take You There

• "Risin' to the Top" by Keni Burke
• "Coastin' and Crashin' Part 2" by The Rimshots
• "Upon This Rock" by Joe Farrell (Outro)
• "Long Red" by Mountain (Outro)
• "Zimba Ku" by Black Heat (Outro)

Searching

• "Searching" by Roy Ayers Ubiquity
• "I Got Soul" by Bama the Village Poet (Outro)

Check It Out

• "This Is Something for the Radio" by Biz Markie
• "Bumpin' on Young Street" by Young-Holt Unlimited
• "Just Rhymin' With Biz" by Big Daddy Kane
• "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now (Special Disco Version)" by McFadden & Whitehead (Outro)

In the Flesh

• "The Sorcerer of Isis (The Ritual of the Mole)" by Power of Zeus (Intro)
• "Ralph's New Blues" by The Modern Jazz Quintet (Intro)
• "Face It Boy, It's Over" by George Benson
• "Space Intro" and "Fly Like an Eagle" by Steve Miller Band
• "You're a Customer" by EPMD
• "School Boy Crush" by Average White Band (Outro)
• "Dujii" by Kool & the Gang (Outro)

It's on You

• "The Awakening" by Ahmad Jamal Trio
• "Outside Love" by Brethren
• "Strictly Business" by EPMD
• "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" by Gil Scott-Heron
• "Never My Love" by Tom Scott and The California Dreamers
• "Poinciana" by Ahmad Jamal Trio (Outro)

Get on the Mic

• "Soul Girl" by Jeanne & the Darlings
• "Just Rhymin' With Biz" by Big Daddy Kane feat. Biz Markie
• "Hey Young World" by Slick Rick
• "Hi-Low" by Curtis Knight (Outro)
• "You're My Everything" by Ahmad Jamal Trio (Outro)