Biography

Vocalist/songwriter Pete Philly and producer/composer Perquisite met for the first time in Amsterdam in 2002. Perquisite, who also ran Dutch nu-jazz/hip-hop label Unexpected Records, saw potential in the Aruba-born rapper/singer and vice versa, leading to the release of their joint album Mindstate in 2005. It contained a featuring by Talib Kweli as well as a contributions from saxophonist Benjamin Herman. The music could be best described as hip-hop with influences from jazz, sixties and electronic music. Notion Magazine (UK) proclaimed ‘Mindstate’ to be “as much 21st century soul as Hip Hop genius”. After extensive touring with their band, Pete & Perq went back to the studio to work on their sophomore album. Mystery Repeats was released in 2007 and entered first position in the Dutch charts in the week of its release. De Volkskrant described it as being “even richer in sound and more diverse than their debut album”. Pete & Perq embarked on the Mystery Repeats tour with their live band and played at festivals all over Europe, the USA and South Africa for two years straight. In 2009, after six years of collaboration, Pete & Perq decided to go seperate ways. They celebrated their music one last time in different theatres, to conclude with a final show in a sold out Melkweg in their hometown Amsterdam. In the Spring of 2023 it was announced that Pete & Perq will get back together for a big reunion show at AFAS Live on November 17th 2023. New music is on it's way as well.