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Exclusive Interview with Pete Rock: ‘Music Is Medicine, It’s a Gift from God’

Beyond The Stage

Few names carry the weight of Pete Rock, the legendary producer, DJ, and MC whose soulful beats helped define hip-hop’s golden era. From They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) to collaborations with everyone from CL Smooth to Nas, Rock’s influence runs deep across decades of music history. We caught up with the icon backstage at Music at the Intersection 2025 in St. Louis, where he performed alongside Common and Keyon Harrold, to talk about the next 50 years of hip-hop, the key to longevity, and why he believes music is medicine. 

  1. Hip-hop celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. What do you hope to see in the next 50 years?

Hopefully, we’ll keep hearing more real music in the future. And people taking this seriously and knowing that this is a gift from God. Music is medicine; it’s a healer. And people need to understand that and not abuse it. For the next fifty years, that’s what I would like to see. Even when I’m gone, people remembering who I am and my music being a blueprint for someone. 

  1. You’ve been in the game for over 40 years. What’s the key to longevity?

Passion and love. When people see that in you, and they start believing in you and they hear your music, how good it sounds and the passion you put into it, I think that has a lot to do with it. 

  1. How do you approach performing at festivals versus working in the studio?

When I’m in the studio, I’m thinking about my audience. Concepts and ideas is what does it for me when it comes to festival performances. And I’m saying to myself ‘Wow, this would be a great outdoor experience if we can get this record done right’. Those things play a part in my creativity. 

  1. You’ve collaborated with Common for years and performed with him here at the festival. How would you describe him in one word?

Dope. Since the 90’s, nothing has changed about him. Everything about him is like 100%. I like to model after people like him and I would like MC’s to model after him too because he’s one of the greats.

  1. What does it mean to you to be here at the MATI festival where the infusion of jazz, hip hop, and soul is prevalent? 

I’m a digger. So I find certain records and I see certain places where the producers and artists are from. Saint Louis, Alabama, Georgia… And we sample them now. So it’s like they were doing hip hop before we even knew it. And then with our mindset and the creativity that we have, we just kind of put it all together. And I feel like those artists were important to me, like a James Brown or Aretha Franklin who put that actual energy back into the young generation.  

  1. What do you want people to take away from the message here at MATI? 

That real hip hop is still alive. It’s important at this day and time, now that we’re in, that we make great music and not anything that’s going to cause more negativity.

  1. What does it mean to be called a legend? 

It means a lot. Those words actually inspire me. We have to keep pushing through music and keep being positive, and it’s because we can now get a positive message out to the world. And hopefully they follow suit respecting what real music is about. To be a legend is an amazing feeling. It really is. And I’m very grateful to have people think of me this way, and to have made the good music that inspired those same people. 

  1. Who would you put in your realm? 

I would say Michael Jordan, of course. 

  1. How do you approach producing music for yourself versus for others? 

It’s funny because, when I find samples that I like, I’m like, I’m taking this for me. That’s how I do it. Working with so many artists, and knowing their style of music when I’m making beats, I’m like, oh, this sounds like such and such. And then I’ll make some for me and say, ahh. 

  1. Who are some artists you’re really excited about?

I like Earl Sweatshirt, Tyler the Creator, Kendrick, Cole, you know the norm. I just hope we can mix it all together and make hip hop larger than it’s ever been. 

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Beyond The Stage

Beyond The Stage Magazine is a digital music publication based out of the United States. With more than 25 issues, the publication has covered artists like Noah Cyrus, Logan Henderson and more.