Album of the Week: Common & Pete Rock – The Auditorium Vol. 1 (Loma Vista) (Video)

 

A reminder that the shine of two of hip-hop’s most brilliant talents has only gotten brighter over time. 

 

 

 

The amalgamation of storytelling rhymes from the ever erudite Common that bob and weave around Pete Rock’s spectacularly sculpted beats on the pair’s new album, The Auditorium Vol. 1, doesn’t feel dated; on the contrary, the project is so well crafted by a duo that sounds on top of their game that it feels vital, relevant, and future-proofed.

 

 

Here’s my favorite song from the release as performed “from the basement” on the Tonight Show with the Roots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Auditorium Vol. 1 is out now via Loma Vista.

 

 

 

 

Spin the album on Spotify here.

 

 

 

 

Check out more of my favorite songs by Common here

 

and

 

hear more of my favorite artists on the Loma Vista label here

 

and

 

hear me talking about this album on my latest WNXP radio show here

 

and

 

listen to the tracks I’m very into right now on my 2024 Essentials playlist here.