10 Things You Didn’t Know about Pete Rock
If you’re a hip-hop fan, then you’ve probably heard at least one track that Pete Rock has touched. His career spans the course of of more than 30 years, and he’s nowhere near finished yet. The talented producer is one of the most well respected in rap music, and he’s gotten the chance to work with some of the biggest artists in the game including Kanye West, Nas, and Jay-Z. His unique style allows him to bring something special to each project and his creativity is unmatched. Over the years, Pete Rock has also been a huge inspiration to other producers and artists, and his sound continues to set a high standard. Keep reading to learn 10 things you didn’t know about Pete Rock.
1. He’s A First Generation American
Pete was born in New York City to parents who immigrated to the United States from Jamaica. Although he is originally from the Bronx, he moved to Mount Vernon when he was in elementary school. Still, he always made it a point to go back and visit his old neighborhood.
2. Heavy D Was His Cousin
Pete Rock isn’t the only person in his family who has found success in the music industry. During an interview with Wax Poetic, Pete shared that his cousin was the late rapper, Heavy D. Heavy D became well-known during the 80s as a member of Heavy D & The Boyz and he also had a successful solo career.
3. He Doesn’t Just Make Rap Music
When people think of Pete Rock, rap is the first thing that comes to mind. However, rap isn’t the only genre he’s worked in. He told Wax Poetic, “I’ve done some other things people might be surprised to hear about, like a Mick Jagger remix, a TLC remix, a Madonna remix that never came out. I did the Mick Jagger for London records. They wanted something uptempo and I used “Apache”-it was bugged out. They didn’t go for it. Madonna I did for Warner Brothers.”
4. He’s Married
Pete has always been pretty private when it comes to his personal life. Since we’ve all seen what happens when people in the entertainment industry overshare, it’s easy to see why he’s chosen to keep a lot to himself. One thing we do know, however, is that he is married to an entrepreneur named Shara McHayle. It’s unclear if the couple has any children.
5. His Music Has Been In Several Video Games
Pete has gotten some cool opportunities over the years, and that includes the chance to be part of the video game industry. Pete’s music has been included on several video game soundtracks including Tony Hawk’s Underground (1&2), Grand Theft Auto V, and NBA 2K18.
6. He Judges Albums By Their Covers
We’ve all heard the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover” but apparently, the cover is exactly how Pete Rock used to judge music. While talking to Wax Poetic, he revealed that he used to judge music solely based on how colorful and good-looking he thought the cover was. However, he eventually realized that he was missing out on a lot of good music by doing this.
7. He Isn’t Afraid To Speak His Mind
Speaking your mind is one of those things that’s usually easier said than done, but it’s not something that Pete has a problem doing. Pete has used his social media presence to speak out about issues that are important to him. He has been especially vocal about the COVID-19 vaccine and believes that people should not be forced to take it.
8. He Loves To Travel
When Pete was younger, he probably had no idea that his love for music would eventually take him all over the place. Thanks to the success he’s had in the industry, Pete Rock has gotten the chance to travel to places all over the world. He especially loves visiting places with warm weather and beautiful beaches.
9. He’s Been In Several Music Videos
Music producers tend to stay behind the scenes, but Pete Rock has gotten his fair share of time in the spotlight over the years. He has made appearances in quite a few music videos including the video for Erykah Badu’s hit single “Next Lifetime” which was released in 1997.
10. He’s A Grammy Winner
When you work as hard as Pete does, it’s nice to know that your efforts aren’t going unnoticed. Fortunately, Pete has earned one of the highest honors the music industry has to offer. He won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album of the Year for his contributions to Kanye West’s 2010 album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
