Pete Rock

USA, 1989–now

American producer Peter Phillips (b. 1970), a master of the soul and jazz sample. With C.L. Smooth he made 'They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)', whose horn loop became one of hip-hop's most beloved sounds and a cornerstone of jazz-rap.

MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced Pete Rock and 3 artists Pete Rock influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Pete Rock?

• Marley Marl — Marley Marl mentored Pete Rock directly, handing on the sampled-drum craft that Rock then softened with jazz and soul.
• James Brown — James Brown is the record collection at the bottom of Pete Rock's production - the drums and horn stabs he cut his loops from.

Which artists did Pete Rock influence?

• Nujabes — Pete Rock's soul and jazz sampling is the closest precedent for Nujabes's melodic, horn-and-piano loops.
• J Dilla — Dilla took the head-nodding bounce of producers like Pete Rock and pushed it off the grid into his own swung drum programming.
• The Beatnuts — Three searches turned up one named producer for them, and this is it: Street Level carries Pete Rock's sound in its bones.