At a recent podcast and book signing at D.C.'s National Hip-Hop Museum, Dante Ross revealed that Pete Rock offered to produce Puba's debut solo album Reel To Reel.

"It was too easy for Puba," Ross explains. "All of my artist looked up to him; DOOM and everybody. Max [Grand Puba Maxwell] was like the apex, and he was referred to within the clique as the God." Ross spoke of Puba's talent and how it related to his drive and work ethic. "When things are so easy for you, you tend to take them for granted. He was lazy and didn't like to work hard. We all know those kinda dudes, the dude that can dunk on anyone, but didn't play high school basketball because he was too cool. Puba is kind of that dude, he could do anything."

Dante explained that Grand Puba is a talented producer who produced first Brand Nubian's debut album All For One, and his solo album Reel To Reel.

"I felt that his solo album Reel To Reel was good, but not fantastic, but it could have been fantastic," Ross explains. "He was supposed to work with Pete Rock, but he didnt wanna do it. Pete was supposed to produce half of the album, but Puba said no. Early on Pete and Puba had a song together, 'Yes Sir Honey' that was never released. Puba appeared on "Skins" from Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth's debut album, Mecca And The Soul Brother and Pete revealed to Soren Baker that Puba wrote some of his very first rhymes. "