The Main Ingredient (Pete Rock & CL Smooth album)

The Main Ingredient is the second studio album by the American hip hop duo Pete Rock & CL Smooth, released on November 9, 1994, by Elektra Records. The album followed their critically acclaimed debut, Mecca and the Soul Brother (1992).

The Main Ingredient is characterized by its soulful sample-based production courtesy of Pete Rock, and CL Smooth's smooth, introspective, and socially conscious lyrics. The album features a blend of boom-bap beats, intricate jazz-influenced samples, and lush arrangements.

Lyrically, the album explores themes of love, loss, social commentary, and the duo's experiences within the hip hop culture. CL Smooth's storytelling ability and lyrical dexterity are prominently showcased throughout the album.

Singles released from The Main Ingredient include "I Got a Love" and "Take You There." While not achieving the same commercial success as Mecca and the Soul Brother, The Main Ingredient received positive reviews from critics and is regarded as a significant and influential album in hip hop history. It is often cited as a classic example of 1990s East Coast hip hop.

The album features guest appearances from various artists, although the specific list is often not explicitly detailed. The album's lasting legacy is its contribution to the golden age of hip hop and its impact on subsequent generations of producers and rappers.