Pete Rock & CL Smooth
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Pete Rock & CL Smooth is a rap group from the 1990s.
Hailing from Mount Vernon, New York, this DJ-MC duo first made noise in the rap world on the 1991 EP, All Souled Out. It sold moderately well enough to justify Elektra Records clearing the way for 1992's Mecca and the Soul Brother LP. As a producer, DJ Pete Rock (Peter Phillips) tended to prefer obscure soul and jazz sides for sample sources, frequently making use of horn-driven hooks. Lead vocalist CL Smooth (Corey Penn) tended to be philosophical in his raps, and he mostly avoided profanity. Their signature hit was “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)”, a dirge for fallen friends.
1994's The Main Ingredient was the follow up, and they appeared on a string of guest appearances for remixes, soundtracks, and other works. Public Enemy, EPMD, Heavy D and Johnny Gill were among the artists they collaborated with, and they can also claim credit for producing (and performing on) Run-DMC’s 1993 comeback single “Down with the King”. Despite all this, the duo failed to go gold on any of their own releases.
Separating in 1995 (shortly after a well-received Sprite TV commercial), they eventually reunited on a handful of cuts from Pete Rock’s solo recordings: Soul Survivor (1998), PeteStrumentals (2001) and Soul Survivor II (2004). They also went on a brief reunion tour as a warm up for their then-anticipated new album, which ended with a show at London's famous Jazz Cafe. Despite these intermittent collaborations, the pair has exchanged dismissive comments toward each other in separate interviews, disavowing plans for a full-fledged reunion.
Their Best-of compilation, , was released on Elektra in 2003.
Discography
Albums- All Souled Out (1991)
- Mecca and the Soul Brother (1992)
- The Main Ingredient (1994)
Compilations
- (2004)
- "Mecca and the Soul Brother"
- "Good Life" (1991)
- "The Creator (Remix)" (1991)
- "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" (1992)
- "Straighten It Out" (1992)
- "Lots Of Lovin'/ It's Not A Game" (1993)
- "Take You There" (1994)
- "I Got A Love" (1995)
- "Searching (Remix)" (1995)
- "Back On The Block" (2001)
- "Shine On Me" (2003)
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