17 years ago today, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth released their classic album, Mecca & The Soul Brother. Pete Rock’s smooth-sailing bassline and sprawling horn riffs revolutionized the soundscape of hip-hop forever. If you don’t already own a copy of that album, stop reading this right now. Head on over to (no, not Pirate Bay) Amazon.com and shell out $5 for a fresh copy. Your iPod will thank you for it.

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• Genius at Work

Soulbrotha ft. RUKUS - “Circus”
The first of many installments of Beat Jakkaz/T.R.U. Exclusives.

Havoc - “I’m the Boss”
I know, I know…So what if I’m one of those “I can’t stand P, but Hav’s cool” types?

Benzino - “Back on My Grizzy”
For fans of senior citizen rap only. Riz doesn’t discriminate.