Scion Brings the Chocolate Boy Wonder

Last time Scion did something in town, it was their lackluster art showing at Roq La Rue. It was marketing that felt like marketing, so it just made you want to tune out from the whole experience. We won't hold that one against them too much though, since they've gone back to their roots a bit with this year's installment of the Free up Your Mix series (at least we're fairly certain it's a series), bringing world-class talent to chosen cities (and for free - with RSVP). They're starting off the series with the can't-miss booking of Pete Rock, and future installments look to be strong as well based on who's involved.

Pete Rock kicks off the series tonight, and even if this weren't free it'd be the place to be. Pete Rock is a master of his craft, and will go down as one of the greatest producers in hip-hop history. He came to prominence during the nineties golden era of hip-hop with his pairing with rapper C.L. Smooth, and has more bona fide classics under his belt than most artists have albums. Since that duo's breakup, he's maintained his reputation with his productions and remix work. His signature sound, featuring jazz and soul samples, is never obvious, but still manages to be instantly familiar. He's kept his aesthetic through the years, always making music although primarily on the indie side of things. Recently he's stepped out of the underground a bit, with productions for Raekwon and Ghostface and the Black Eyed Peas and James Brown.

Pete Rock owned hip-hop in the mid-nineties. Go out and show the man your appreciation.

If you need more convincing, here's video of him talking about his production process.

Pete Rock
Wednesday May 31, 9pm-2am
The War Room, 722 E. Pike Street
FREE with RSVP