In 1995, the Elektra rejects the two new Pete Rock albums, "Center of Attention" and "The Original Baby Pa", which in 2003 the Rapster Records label manages to publish. This record should have been the debut album of InI, hip-hop group by Mount Vernon, New York, composed of Gregory "Grap Luva" Phillips, Pete Rock's Brother, Robert "Rob-O" Odindo, Marco Polo and Rahsaan "Ras G" Rousseau. Pete Rock isn't part of the group, and produces the album entirely. Grap Luva is credited to the rhythm of "Step Up".
The production of Pete Rock is enveloping and perfect, jazz boom bap at its brightest, is one of the best of him, if not the greatest: overall, in these 65 minutes, the soundscape chosen by the producer is light, essential, simple, fresh, soul, magnificent. The execution provided by the four rappers doesn't hold the production, but not elevates it: their rapping style is effortless, relaxed, rough, fit with rhythms, never intrusive, never pressing, but it never feels essential, it's regular and totally functional to music. This is a document in which Pete Rock proves to be one of the best producers of the nineties and is one of the most beautiful works of him. The album is a masterpiece, from a musical point of view: thinking about the fact that Elektra didn't come out in 1995, along with all those classic cousins, will drop a tear to your soul. 8/10.
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