Pete Rock gained respect in the late ‘80s as a teenage DJ on WBLS's “In Control With Marley Marl” before following his radio mentor's lead and venturing into producing beats. After Rock joined forces with high school friend C.L. Smooth for the All Souled Out EP, they soon released Mecca and the Soul Brother, a classic album of hip-hop's golden era. Rock favored samples from obscure soul and jazz records, building a brass-accented bed for Smooth's laidback vocal delivery. The duo from Mount Vernon, New York was even tapped by the legendary Run-DMC to assist on the group's 1993 comeback.