Released in Japan only. Circa 1999.

This one is a classic but rather rare mixtape by Pete Rock that I’ve been revisiting a bit again lately. For some odd reason this fantastic mix was strictly limited to a Japan release where it was available on cassette and CD via EMI’s Toshiba label in 1999. Now be warned that this is not your average hip-hop mixtape and is certainly not for everyone. The project is sort of Pete Rock’s way of paying tribute to the jazz legends whose music he grew up on and would inspire him to become one of the best hip-hop producers the world has ever seen. As the title suggests the 16 tracks picked by Pete for this mix all comes from the Blue Note catalouge, one of the most succesful and famous jazz labels there ever was. These artists and songs have inspired hip-hop artists for decades, and many of them have been used in sample form to create new timeless classics by groups like A Tribe Called Quest, Gang Starr, D.I.T.C. and of course Pete Rock himself.

Words by the Vinylcologist

Pete Rock “Diggin’ On Blue” | Download

Tracklist:

01. Gene Harris & The Three Sounds – “Sittin’ Duck”
02. Ronnie Foster – “Summer Song”
03. Stanley Turrentine – “Little Green Apples”
04. Reuben Wilson – “We’re In Love”
05. Herbie Hancock – “Ollliqulli Valley”
06. Bobby Hutcherson – “Shirl”
07. Gene Harris – “I Remember Summer”
08. Lee Morgan – “In What Direction Are You Headed?”
09. The Three Sounds – “Repeat After Me”
10. Jack McDuff – “Hunk O’Funk”
11. Lou Donaldson – “Summertime”
12. Ronnie Foster – “Mystic Brew”
13. Grant Green – “I Dont’ Want Nobody”
14. Lonnie Smith – “Turning Point”
15. Bobby Hutcherson – “Wrong Or Right”
16. Bobbi Humphrey – “Smiling Faces Sometimes”

Many thanks to the Vinylcologist for putting me onto this mixtape.