When we as hip-hop aficionados get together and discuss rap music past and present, we feel that we cover all grounds and include a “did you know this, and did you know that” into our conversation. Often, at times, we talk about producers that have paved the way, such as: Marly Marl, Pete Rock, DJ Premier, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and a few others, to name a few. Those are the obvious ones. But what about the other pioneering producers that we hardly hear about, or don’t even know exist? In this case, that would be my most recent experience when I first came to know about Pete Marriott.
Thursday, January 26th, 2017, I was inboxing a fellow beat maker/producer who’ve I’ve only known through Facebook for a few weeks. As we discussed the possibility of me interviewing him, I asked him for a brief bio. The return response had me a little on defense because his response was, “You don’t know who I am?” In all truth, I did not know who he was. He then responded, “Google Pete Marriott interview.” I did. I immediately searched his name and his Wikipedia popped up. I was impressed and embarrassed because now I felt like I should have known who Pete Marriott is. In a way I did know about Pete Marriott because Pete has worked with quite a few legends in the music industry, and some of his work I remembered.
Pete Marriott, originally from Brooklyn, New York, and currently residing in Seattle, Washington, has been in the music business since the mid to late 80s. He has worked with legends that include: Chubb Rock, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, Special Ed, Full Force, and Jam Master Jay.
Pete’s history also includes being a radio host, and also pioneering the how to videos way before there was a YouTube or a Vimeo streaming site. In current times, Pete has a studio called the Tool Shed where he combines digital and vintage analog equipment to his work flow. He also has a production company called The Brooklyn Collective. He is currently working with artists.
To learn more about Pete Marriott, you can do like I did and Google his name. I hope you, the reader, has learned something new. You now have a new fact to include in your hip-hop conversations because we learn something new everyday.
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