The Main Ingredient (Pete Rock & CL Smooth album)

The Main Ingredient
File:Pete & cl - the main ingredient.jpg
Studio album by Pete Rock & CL Smooth
Released	November 8, 1994
Recorded	1993–1994
Genre	Golden age hip hop, jazz rap
Length	76:13
Label	Elektra 61661
Producer	Pete Rock
Pete Rock & CL Smooth chronology
Mecca and the Soul Brother (1992)Mecca and the Soul Brother1992 The Main Ingredient (1994)
Singles from The Main Ingredient
"I Got a Love" Released: 1994 "Take You There" Released: 1994 "Searching" Released: 1995

The Main Ingredient is the second album by Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Released on November 8, 1994. It would become their last album together.

Music

Characterized by sultry soul and jazz samples, The Main Ingredient saw a more polished sound than the duo’s debut, building on the praise that they had already garnered. The album is notable for its snappy, crispy drums and extensive use of vocal scratches. Although missing a centerpiece on the scale of "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)", the album contains some of the duo's best known work, in the form of tracks such as the upbeat "In The House", and the catchy "Sun Won't Come Out", which features a lush vocal sample from the song of the same name by Harvey Scales.

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 recurrent throughout the album. In addition, The Main Ingredient saw Rock fleshing out and defining his trademark production style, which is now recognized 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.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Q Magazine
RapReviews	(9/10)
Rolling Stone
The Source
Tiny Mix Tapes

Though overlooked at the time of its release, the album has since been re-evaluated with high critical acclaim. Allmusic's Stanton Swihart called it "an album that is far more focused" and "just as good as the first record, perhaps an even more satisfying single listen." Swihart described Rock's production work as "among some of the most seductive in hip-hop", and CL as "lyrically on point, spitting out intellectual rhymes and narratives that are just as propulsive and engaging as the music."

"I Got A Love" was the album's lead off single, followed by "Take You There" and "Searching", released in 1995. That same year, the duo appeared in a well received Sprite commercial; however, they soon announced their breaking up citing creative differences, although both parties have since admitted that an unstable working relationship was the main cause of their split. The album was a favorite of the late producer J Dilla, who played it while meeting with Pete Rock to record Slum Village's "Once Upon A Time" for the album, Fantastic, Vol. 2 in 1998.

Track listing

All songs written by Peter Phillips and Corey Penn, except as noted.

#	Title	Performer(s)	Time
1	"In The House" (Peter Phillips, Corey Penn, Robert Odindo)	First verse: C.L. Smooth Second verse: Pete Rock Third verse: C.L. Smooth	5:27
2	"Carmel City"	C.L. Smooth	3:52
3	"I Get Physical"	C.L. Smooth	4:54
4	"Sun Won't Come Out"	Verses: C.L. Smooth Chorus: Pete Rock	4:24
5	"I Got A Love"	C.L. Smooth	5:04
6	"Escape" (Peter Phillips, Robert Odindo)	Pete Rock	5:14
7	"The Main Ingredient"	Intro: Pete Rock Verses: C.L. Smooth Chorus: Pete Rock	5:17
8	"Worldwide" (Peter Phillips, Robert Odindo)	First verse: Rob-O Second verse: Pete Rock Third verse: Rob-O Fourth verse: Pete Rock	3:02
9	"All The Places"	C.L. Smooth	5:39
10	"Tell Me"	C.L. Smooth	4:17
11	"Take You There"	Verses: C.L. Smooth Chorus/outro: Crystal Johnson	4:47
12	"Searching"	Verses: C.L. Smooth Chorus: Vinia Mojica	4:45
13	"Check It Out"	C.L. Smooth	3:57
14	"In The Flesh" (Peter Phillips, Corey Penn, Robert Odindo, Sylvester James)	Intro: Deda and Pete Rock First verse: C.L. Smooth Second verse: Rob-O Third verse: Deda Fourth verse: Pete Rock	5:48
15	"It's On You"	Verses: C.L. Smooth Chorus: Pete Rock Outro: Pete Rock and Grap Luva	5:21
16	"Get On The Mic"	Verses: C.L. Smooth Chorus: Pete Rock	3:50

Samples Used

Source: Rap Sample FAQ

In The House

• "Capricorn" by The Cannonball Adderley Quintet (from the 1976 album "Music, You All")
• "Sorcerer of Isis" by Power of Zeus (from the 1970 album "Gospel according to Zeus")
• "Verses from The Abstract" by A Tribe Called Quest (from the 1991 album "The Low End Theory")
• "September 13th" by Deodato (from the 1973 album "Prelude") (intro)
• "Make the Music with Your Mouth, Biz" by Biz Markie (from the 1988 album "Goin' Off") (intro)
• "Ain't Got Time" by Roy Ayers Ubiquity (from the 1972 album "He's Coming") (outro)

Carmel City

• "Enchanted Lady" by Milt Jackson with the Ray Brown Big Band (from the 1970 album "Memphis Jackson")
• "Spoonin' Rap" by Spoonie Gee (1979)
• "Dizzy" by Hugo Montenegro (from the 1969 album "Moog Power")
• "Super Fly" (1972 film) (outro)

I Get Physical

• "Just Rhymin' with Biz" by Big Daddy Kane (from the 1988 album "Long Live the Kane")
• "Face it Boy, It's Over" by George Benson (from the 1968 album "Shape of Things to Come")

Sun Won't Come Out

• "Sun Won't Come Out" by Harvey Scales
• "Nautilus" by Bob James (from the 1974 album "One")
• "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" by Bob James (from the 1975 album "Two") (outro)
• "Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel (from the 1977 album "Stranger") (outro)

I Got A Love

• "Ain't Got The Love (Of One Girl on My Mind)" by The Ambassadors (from the 1969 album "Soul Summit")
• "Groovy Situation" by Mel & Tim (from the 1969 album "Good Guys Only Win in the Movies")
• "Cool V's Tribute to Scratching" by Biz Markie (from the 1988 album "Goin' Off")
• "Just Rhymin' with Biz" by Big Daddy Kane

Escape

• "Sun Goddess" by Ramsey Lewis (from the 1974 album "Sun Goddess")
• "Escape-ism" by James Brown (from the 1971 album "Hot Pants")
• "Outside Love" by Brethren (from the 1970 album "Brethren")
• "Enchanted Lady" by Milt Jackson (outro)
• "Yes We Can Can" by Pointer Sisters (from the 1973 album "Pointer Sisters") (outro)

The Main Ingredient

• "The Harlem Buck Dance Strut" by Les McCann (from the 1973 album "Layers")
• "North Beach" by George Duke (from the 1974 album "Faces in Reflection")
• "Psychedelic Shack" by Albino Gorilla (from the 1970 album "Detroit 1984")
• "Submission" by Tyrone Washington (from the 1973 album "Roots")
• "Just Rhymin' with Biz" by Big Daddy Kane
• "Sound of the Police" by KRS-One (from the 1993 album "Return of the Boom Bap")

Worldwide

• "Do the Funky Penguin" by Rufus Thomas (from the 1973 album "The Crown Prince of Dance")
• "Check The Rhime" by A Tribe Called Quest (from the 1991 album "The Low End Theory")

All The Places

• "Places and Spaces" by Donald Byrd (from the 1975 album "Places and Spaces")
• ""Take Some...Leave Some" by James Brown (from the 1974 album "The Payback")
• "Vapors" by Biz Markie (from the 1988 album "Goin' Off")
• "Far Out" by Crown Heights Affair (from the 1976 album "Do It Your Way") (outro)
• "Fool Yourself" by Little Feat (from the 1973 album Dixie Chicken)

Tell Me

• "Keep Dreamin'" by Stan Getz (from the 1977 album "Another World")
• "You're Getting A Little Too Smart" by The Detroit Emeralds (from the 1973 album Detroit Emeralds)
• "Don't Tell It" by James Brown (from the 1976 album "Bodyheat")
• "Just Rhymin' with Biz" by Big Daddy Kane
• "Louder Than a Bomb" by Public Enemy (from the 1988 album "It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back")
• "On the Hill" by Oliver Sain (from the 1972 album "The Main Man") (outro)

Take You There

• "Risin' to the Top" by Keni Burke (from the 1982 album "Changes")
• "Zimba Ku" by Black Heat (from the 1975 album "Keep on Runnin'") (outro)
• "Upon This Rock" by Joe Farrell (from the 1974 album "Upon This Rock") (outro)
• "Vapors" by Biz Markie (outro)
• "Long Red" by Mountain (from the 1972 album "Mountain Live: The Road Goes Ever On") (outro)

Searching

• "Searching" by Roy Ayers Ubiquity (from the 1976 album "Vibrations")
• "I Got Soul" by Bama - The Village Poet (from the 1972 album "Ghettos of the Mind") (outro)

Check It Out

• "Bumpin' on Young Street" by Young-Holt Unlimited (from the 1973 album "Oh Girl")
• "Just Rhymin' with Biz" by Big Daddy Kane (from the 1988 album "Long Live the Kane")

In The Flesh

• "Face it Boy, It's Over" by George Benson
• "Fly Like an Eagle" & "Space Intro" by Steve Miller Band (from the 1976 album "Fly Like an Eagle")
• "Ralph's New Blues" by Modern Jazz Quartet (from the 1966 album "Blues at Carneige Hall") (intro)
• "Duji" by Kool & The Gang (from the 1974 album "Kool Jazz") (outro)
• "Schoolboy Crush" by Average White Band (from the 1975 album "Cut The Cake") (outro)
• "Just Rhymin' with Biz" by Big Daddy Kane

It's On You

• "Outside Love" by Brethren (from the 1970 album "Brethren")
• "The Awakening" by Ahmad Jamal (from the 1970 album "The Awakening")
• "Never My Love" by Tom Scott (from the 1968 album "The Honeysuckle Breeze")
• "Strictly Business" by EPMD (from the 1988 album "Strictly Business")
• "Poinciana" by Ahmad Jamal (from the 1971 album "Freeflight")

Get On The Mic

• "Soul Girl" by Jeanne & the Darlings (1968)
• "Just Rhymin' with Biz" by Big Daddy Kane
• "You're My Everything" by Ahmad Jamal (from the 1970 album "The Awakening") (outro)

Album singles

Single information
"I Got a Love" Released: 1994 B-side: "The Main Ingredient"
"Take You There" Released: 1994 B-side: "Get On The Mic"
"Searching" Released: 1995 B-side: "We Specialize"

Album chart positions

Year	Album	Chart positions
		Billboard 200	Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
1994	The Main Ingredient	51	9

Singles chart positions

Year	Song	Chart positions
		Billboard Hot 100	Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	Hot Rap Singles	Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales
1994	I Got a Love	-	69	20	2
1994/1995	Take You There	76	67	33	9