(Excerpt from Complex Magazine)
Public Enemy f/ Pete Rock “Shut ‘em Down (Remix)” (1991)
Album: "Shut ‘em Down" Single
Label: Def Jam
Pete Rock: “I had a relationship with Def Jam and at the time I was with a company called Untouchables with Eddie F. They would go out and get us work. I got a shot with Public Enemy, and then after that I had a huge relationship with Chuck D.
I made that beat in like fifteen minutes, that’s what’s ill about it. Immediately when I got the opportunity to do it, I got so excited that I just started working on the beat.
I was a fan and I used to always see them work because we used the same studio as Keith and Hank Shocklee. I used to be in there watching them. I saw Ice Cube’s album being produced, I saw a couple of Public Enemy joints being made. From then, I think they wanted to give me a shot because they were hearing about me on the come-up.
“I made that beat in like fifteen minutes, that’s what’s ill about it. Immediately when I got the opportunity to do it, I got so excited that I just started working on the beat. I got everything I needed, did it real quick fast [at home before the session] and got the sounds down, then I got in the studio and tweaked it. I chopped it, lined it up better, and perfected it in the big house.
“I [rapped on it] on my own. I just did one version with [my verse] and one without it. They picked the one with it. They loved it.”
Read more from Pete Rock Tells All: The Stories Behind His Classic Records
Métissages Mix 23.04.2011 - Spécial Pete Rock by DJ Green Giant
