It’s always a treat to witness veteran musicians perform, and to see artists squeeze passion out of tracks they’ve been performing for decades. To spectators, it never gets old.

So when legendary New York hip hop duos Camp Lo and Pete Rock & CL Smooth showed up at the Pyramid Cabaret on November 6, fans reveled in the opportunity to celebrate rap’s golden age and nod along to some of their favourite 90s anthems.

Headliners Pete Rock & CL Smooth, the rapper/DJ combo out of Mount Vernon, did not disappoint, playing tracks from both their LPs: 1992’s Mecca and the Soul Brother and 1994’s The Main Ingredient. While they’ve been disbanded as a pair for over a decade, the two are fresh off the 20th anniversary of Mecca, and frequently reunite for tours around the world. On this night, they delivered an energetic and memorable set well into the early morning.

Always inspired by jazz and classic motown, Pete Rock made sure to impart some of his vast musical knowledge on the crowd. Between songs he spun Keni Burke’s 1982 soul hit “Keep Rising to the Top”, which was sampled on the duo’s single “Take You There”, along with plenty of James Brown and some notable East New York jams. He was sure to display some of his solo work, too, perhaps to remind fans of the impending release of a sequel to his 2001 beat compilation, PeteStrumentals.

Meanwhile, emcee CL brought his characteristically mellow and methodical rhymes to the stage, interacting with the crowd and laying down some freestyles in between. Amazingly, his voice hasn’t changed in 20 years, a factor benefiting his delivery of “Straighten It Out” and “I Get Physical”. The latter samples George Benson’s “Face It Boy, It’s Over” from his album Shape of Things to Come.

For fans of vintage American jazz and soul, and the hip hop music it influenced, Pete Rock & CL Smooth are a joy to watch. They exude a generational connection to the sounds of their childhood, and connect it with fans of very diverse origins. It’s what hip hop is all about.

Openers Camp Lo, consisting of emcees Geechi Suede and Sonny Chiba, kicked off the event after various local acts warmed up the crowd. Notable for its 1997 release Uptown Saturday Night, a well-known jazzhop fusion record, the duo performed a disappointingly small selection of tracks, somehow omitting fan favourite “Sparkle”. They had stage presence, though, and their youthful charm sent the audience buzzing.

Despite the lackluster openers, Pete Rock & CL Smooth proved they’ve still got it. Capping off with “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)”, fittingly dedicated to Pete’s cousin Dwight Myers (Heavy D) who passed away in 2011, the show ended in a reflective, positive mood. Evidently, it’s a wonderful feeling to know that classic hip hop is still so relevant with the youth of today.