I’m still here. I’ve put out 3 solo albums since the split. I’m here giving people the thing they missed [after we broke up], which is Pete Rock’s music. Without the music you couldn’t sell a C.L. Smooth acapella album. So my thing is it’s the music that the people love. I don’t take anything away from him; he’s definitely dope and everything like that. But it was the music that the people loved, and I’m here to keep giving it to them.

HHDX: Right now 9th Wonder is refusing to answer any questions regarding his split from Little Brother. Do you think the fans are owed a detailed explanation of why their favorite group broke up?
Pete Rock: Oh yeah definitely, they have a right to know. And the explanation [for our breakup] is we don’t get along, period. We made a mark on the music world. And I’m sorry to the fans that we had to part, but things like that happen as you grow older. We grew apart from each other and that’s the bottom line. I’m not gonna speak bad about him, but it is what it is.

HHDX: Switching gears here, I mentioned 9th and I’m just curious to know what other disciples of Pete Rock, if you will, impress you? Who all gets the Pete Rock stamp of approval?
Pete Rock: All the new guys – Kanye, Swizz Beatz, 9th Wonder, Hi-Tek, Madlib, Nicolay, Just Blaze, all those cats. They all get my stamp of approval.

HHDX: Are you getting back in the producer-for-hire game? I know you did some tracks on the latest albums from Ghostface and Talib Kweli. So do you have any additional production credits forthcoming?
Pete Rock: Yeah, I did 2 joints on the new Kweli album, Ear Drum. And I did 5, 6 songs originally for Ghost’s first Fishscale but he only used 3. And on the second Fishscale he used 1. I’m working with those guys and a couple more people that I’d rather not mention yet. I wanna make sure that it happens.

HHDX: So what all is on Pete Rock’s plate for ‘07/’08? Besides NY’s Finest, what else you got cooking in the kitchen?
Pete Rock: I got a DVD coming with the album, just basically breaking down the new stuff. And I’m working on production with new acts for Soul Brother Records like my man E-Ville.

HHDX: That DVD, is that like a making of the album?
Pete Rock: Yeah basically. I got Kanye, Swizz Beatz, Just Blaze, Timbaland, a lot of people on there just talking about their Pete Rock moments. Continued on page 4 »