Common x Pete Rock - The Auditorium Vol. 1 (2xLP) 2024 (Mint (M))

The Auditorium Vol. 1, released July 2024 on Loma Vista, is produced entirely by Pete Rock, with Common calling the pairing a longtime dream on the album's Bandcamp page. He describes being surrounded by Rock's records and MPC as reconnecting him with why he wanted to make hip-hop in the first place, saying it let him "MC freely" and "felt like I was home." The fifteen tracks bring in Bilal, Jennifer Hudson, PJ and De La Soul's Posdnuos, with Pete Rock also contributing scratches and vocals. Mastered by Dave Kutch, the record earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album, alongside reviews from Rolling Stone and Mojo calling it a fitting tribute to both artists' decades in hip-hop.