When two pillars of hip-hop, Common and Pete Rock, come together for a full-length project, you know it’s going to be something special. The Auditorium, Vol. 1, their debut collaboration, is the result of years of separate evolution, but the chemistry between them feels as natural as ever. With Rock’s unmatched production finesse and Common’s reflective lyricism, the album transcends eras, balancing that classic hip-hop vibe with something uniquely modern.

Pete Rock’s production has always been a driving force in hip-hop, and popular music at large. His work behind the boards for icons like Nas, Public Enemy, the Notorious B.I.G., and pop giants like Mary J. Blige and Lady Gaga is the stuff of legend. His signature style - layered samples, complex harmonies, and melodies that feel like a living, breathing thing - remains as influential today as ever. “I was reaching for the euphoria of what we did in the ‘90s, but updated,” Pete says. “The feel of the album is '90s, but it’s not '90s at all. It’s new music.”

Common, the higly-regarded rapper, actor, and activist, needs no introduction. From his 15 albums to his Grammy, Oscar, and Emmy wins, he’s an artist who has managed to push boundaries while staying true to his roots. But even after all these accomplishments, there’s something about this album that’s different. It started with a spark at the Hip-Hop 50th Anniversary concert at Yankee Stadium in August 2023. Common was there as a performer, but the experience moved him on a deeper level. “I stood out in that crowd and watched for five-and-a-half hours. I've never done that in my life,” he recalls. “Seeing EPMD, Lauryn Hill, Nas… it just made me realize how much I love the art form. It made me want to rap again.”

That energy pulled Common into Rock’s studio a month later. “We caught up and I started playing music,” Rock remembers. And that was it. Two creative forces vibing, no agenda but to make music that felt right. “We don’t have to try to make it sound old-school or force it to sound young,” Common explains. “We just had to be ourselves and do what we love.”

The result? Fifteen meticulously crafted tracks that feel like a perfect balance of both artists’ histories and ambitions. “It didn’t take long for us to get the first five songs done,” Rock remembers. “It was fast, but the way we finished it - man, it was heroic.”

Common’s writing came naturally, with his vocals laid down at the legendary Electric Lady Studios. But as fast as things moved, there was an intense focus on getting the right sound. Rock’s attention to detail made sure of that. “Sometimes he would hook up a sample right there in the moment, but other times, he’d wait until it felt perfect,” Common recalls. “That care and precision? It’s all there in the music." Cameos from Jennifer Hudson and De La Soul's Posdnuos only make it better.

And the best part? This is just the beginning. There’s a feeling of momentum, that what started with Vol. 1 is only the start of something bigger. “We’ve got more to say,” Rock affirms. Common echoes that sentiment: “It’s about honoring what we’ve done, but also pushing into new territory. The next chapters are already writing themselves.”