This month, Main Source’s Large Professor and K-Cut reunited for their first concert together in 25 years. With Cut’s brother Sir Scratch, the three men made what is widely considered a classic album in 1991’s Breaking Atoms. That LP introduced the world to Large Pro’s sharp lyricism, as well as Nas, Akinyele, and an approach to music-making that permeated Hip-Hop 1990s greatness.

Mass Appeal spoke to Large Professor and K-Cut backstage at S.O.B.’s in Lower Manhattan. Reflecting back to Breaking Atoms, Extra P says, “That album is a statement for the times. It came out in ’91; it was all organic. So much natural stuff happened out of that. You had Nas comin’ outta that. You can’t replace that; you can’t get that feeling, man. People don’t know, man. Fuck them [charts] and statistics and all of that shit, man. That street shit is real, man!” The Flushing, Queens New Yorker recalls getting stopped at red-lights by fans and peers such as Erick Sermon. The people praised the Wild Pitch Records LP. “Ain’t nothin’ that could fuck with that,” says Large, about what truly stands as his debut.

Main Source Are Joined By Pete Rock, Just Blaze & More For Their 25-Year Reunion (Video)

“We were before our time. My father always told me that; I couldn’t accept it,” notes Main Source’s primary producer and first MC. The John Browne High School student, who met with classmates Sir Scratch and K-Cut, deems Breaking Atoms as an “after school hobby.”

K-Cut discusses his own often-understated impact on the 1991 LP. “My family’s a West Indian background, so it was always Reggae and Soca.” Sample sources like Sister Nancy’s “Bam Bam” were used on Breaking Atoms in revolutionary ways. “P always came with the [sample] joints…the Large Professor, to where he had it mapped out. Then we went in the studio and added stuff to it.”

Large Professor Broke More Than Atoms 25 Years Ago. He Broke New Ground.

Cut and Scratch would maintain the group through another album, 1994’s F*ck What You Think. Another Queens MC, Mikey D, replaced Large Pro’ on the mic. Rashad Smith, a former Bad Boy Records hit-maker, stood in on stage for Scratch in the reunion show. Nas did not appear, but The Beatnuts, Neek The Exotic, Just Blaze, and Pete Rock were among attendees.

Although the prospects of reunion recording are not discussed, Large Professor notes that Main Source forever lives as technicians. “Interviews is cool, but we love the music! We love gettin’ on stage, gettin’ on the turntables and mics.”

In 2015, Large Professor released Re: Living on Fat Beats Records. The concert took place in honor of a special limited edition reissue curated by Vinyl Me, Please.