The two hip-hop icons are teaming up for a project steeped in nostalgia.
On Monday (June 11), Common announced on social media the release date of his new collaborative album with fellow hip-hop legend Pete Rock. Titled The Auditorium Vol. 1, the album is poised to evoke nostalgia, paying homage to the culture’s most defining era—the boom bap of the 1990s. It is set for release on July 12.
“For me, this all started with A Dream. A Dream to let the world know I’ve been here. A dream to be a part of Hip Hop. A Dream to MC at a level where De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, KRS-One and Ice Cube knew who I was. It’s been a dream of mine to work with the LEGENDARY @realpeterock (on more than just one song). I’ve been Dreamin’ my whole life,” Common expressed in an Instagram post.
“I am super geeked and supremely grateful to announce our New Album – The Auditorium Vol. 1 dropping July 12. I have to say, the love you all have been showing has been INCREDIBLE. And know, anytime someone says they are ‘looking forward to that album you are doing with Pete Rock’ – It just makes me happy to be a part of this art form. We pray and hope that this music will move your spirit and be with you for the rest of your life. Thanks to all who helped make it happen and to all of you for the Supreme Love. GOD Bless.”
The album has so far spawned two singles, “Wise Up” and “Dreamin’,” both accompanied by vibrant visuals that showcase the sacred hip-hop brotherhood in their most iconic forms.
In the music video for “Wise Up,” the “I Used to Love H.E.R.” emcee and the creator of Mecca and the Soul Brother are seen stationed in Harlem, surrounded by landmarks significant to one of hip-hop’s most influential cultures and schools of thought rooted in Black pride and self-knowledge. The video’s main attraction is the Allah School in Mecca, a street academy founded in 1967 with the aid of the Urban League for the Five Percenters.
In the video for their latest single, “Dreamin’,” Common and Pete Rock are seen in a live session vibing around a microphone in an earth-toned box, solidifying their duality. Not only is the track produced by Pete Rock, but he also features on the hook, a signature move of the hip-hop icon.
The coming of The Auditorium Vol. 1, with the volume mark, insinuates that another album is on the way, which the duo confirmed in an interview with Torae on Hip-Hop Nation’s The Tor Guide. Common also explained the album’s title, comparing it to an experience of attending a performance in an auditorium. “I was thinking of it as a place where people come to commune and just enjoy music and enjoy art. We wanted to take people to that place like we invited them to what we do,” he said.
In Common’s Instagram post confirming the album’s release, Pete Rock commented, describing the moment as a dream come true and a testament to their 33-year-old friendship.
“I honor our friendship since 91 home slice lol. This was a dream i had for years to come together with you on something! Now we get to show everyone the results after working with each other on our 1st album ever! Man this is exciting my bro 😎 Thank you so much for this @common”
This isn’t the first time the two have created musical magic together. Common dropped a verse on Pete Rock’s 1998 debut album, Soul Survivor, on the track “Verbal Murder 2,” featuring N.O.R.E and Big Pun. By then, Rock was already cemented in hip-hop history as one half of Pete Rock & CL Smooth, a formidable force in the early 1990s. Their 1992 debut album, Mecca and the Soul Brother supported by the era-defining hit single “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.),” contributed significantly to the boom bap sound. Pete Rock is widely regarded as one of the greatest producers in hip-hop history.
Alongside his successful acting career, Common has stayed true to his roots as a emcee. His last solo album, A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 2, was released in 2021 and featured collaborations with Black Thought and Seun Kuti on the single “When We Move.” Common is also no stranger to collaborative albums, with his latest being 2018’s August Greene, alongside Robert Glasper and Karriem Riggins.
The Auditorium Vol. 1 is more than just a showcase of two hip-hop icons embracing their unapologetic boom-bap style to deliver the nostalgia that hip-hop enthusiasts crave. It is also a testament to the reality about the longevity of hip-hop culture and a demonstration of how the most esteemed emcees continue to refine their craft.
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