About COMMON:

Academy Award, Emmy and Grammy-winning artist, actor, author, and activist, Common continues to break down barriers with a multitude of critically acclaimed roles, and continued success in all aspects of his career. This January, Common released his health and wellness book, AND THEN WE RISE, which encourages people to take care of themselves through mind, body and soul. Last Summer, Common was seen starring in Apple TV+’s “Silo” as Robert Sims, which has been renewed for a second season. In Winter 2022, he made his Broadway debut playing Junior in BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY. His latest album, A BEAUTIFUL REVOLUTION Part 2 was released in September 2021 and served as an inspiring follow up to his previous album, A BEAUTIFUL REVOLUTION Pt, which was released in March 2020. In 2019, Common released his hit album LET LOVE, inspired by his work and experiences writing his New York Times best selling second memoir, LET LOVE HAVE THE LAST WORD. In 2020, Common partnered with Audible to release his podcast “Mind Power Mixtape” as well as the Audible original “Bluebird Memories: A Journey Through Lyrics and Life.” He has dedicated countless hours and has been deeply engaged in social justice and advocacy work around mass incarceration, mental health and voting. Common’s foundation FREE TO DREAM encompasses his 20 years of leadership as a change-maker, using his entertainment platform to advance the world’s most critical social causes, with a focus on education, justice, wellness, and jobs.

About PETE ROCK

Pete Rock is a hip-hop DJ, Grammy award winning producer, and rapper. He rose to prominence in the early 90’s as one half of the critically acclaimed group Pete Rock & CL Smooth. After the duo went their separate ways, Pete Rock continued with a solo career that has garnered him worldwide respect. Pete Rock introduced the merging of elements from jazz into hip hop music which has forever left an indelible mark among hip hop fans. Considered one of the greatest hip-hop producers of all time, he is often mentioned alongside Rick Rubin and Marley Marl.

Pete’s father was a part-time DJ, who had an impressive record collection. Pete would often accompany his father to a cricket club called Wembley in the Bronx and watch as he spun records for the people present. Pete Rock’s first major exposure to the hip-hop audience was in 1987 with Marley Marl, as a DJ on New York’s WBLS radio show “In Control With Marley Marl.” The 16 year old was recognized by the listening audience as the man “putting in work’’ as he would use double copies of each record to cut up every song he played, when most New York DJs would only use double copies on every 3rd and 4th song. Propelled by the growth of his popularity, he began producing in the early 1990’s.

In 1991 he joined with CL Smooth to release the EP All Souled Out. Two full-length albums followed, 1992’2 Mecca and The Soul Brother considered by many to be a classic and 1994’s The Main Ingredient. Both albums were released to wide critical acclaim, cementing their positions as classics in hip hop history. Soon after The Main Ingredient, the duo went their separate ways.

While working as a DJ with Marley Marl on Hot 97’s Future Flavas show in the late 90’s, Pete Rock was able to forge a relationship with Loud Records, allowing him to release his solo album Soul Survivor in the summer of 1998. Pete Rock continued to release solo albums including Petestrumentals in 2001 and Soul Survivor II in May of 2004 which earned Pete Rock a nomination for The Source Awards “Independent Album of the Year” category.

Presently, Pete Rock continues his production work and has amassed an impressive list of collaborators which includes: Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Nas, The Roots, Common, Kanye West, J Dilla, Notorious B.I.G., Madonna, Will Smith, De La Soul, Mary J. Blige, Monica, Run-D.M.C, and more.