Pete Rock & CL Smooth

Biography

• Pete Rock & CL Smooth (formed in 1991) is an artful American hip hop duo, extolled for incorporating the influences of soul and jazz and apt philosophical lyricism, the pair hail from Mount Vernon, New York, U.S.

  The hip-hop duo Pete Rock & CL Smooth first made waves in the rap world with the release of their critically acclaimed debut EP “All Souled Out” in June 1991. Featuring samples from the likes of Kool & the Gang, James Brown, and Aretha Franklin the record highlights the production prowess of Pete Rock a.k.a. Peter Phillips, who forms one-half of Pete Rock & CL Smooth alongside rapper Corey Penn.

  After signing with Elektra Records, the duo issued their debut full-length album ““Mecca and the Soul Brother”, which was greeted with widespread critical acclaim and dubbed an instant classic. The single “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y)” became their biggest single from the album, and cemented Pete Rock’s position as one of three “Untouchable” producers in rap alongside Elektra Records exec Eddie F and Nevelle Hodge.

  Following a collaboration with Mary J. Blige on the single “Reminisce”, Pete Rock & CL Smooth issued their sophomore album “The Main Ingredient” in November 1994. Despite Rock’s revered position in rap culture and the response to their debut, the record was largely overlooked upon release, therefore charted and sold poorly. Upon somewhat of a reevaluation however, the album has performed far more favourably, noted for its intelligent rhymes and propulsive narratives. Led by the singles “I Got a Love”, “Take You There”, and “Searching”, the album proved to be the last the pair would make together, after which they collaborated with the likes of Public Enemy, EPMD, and Heavy D before pursuing solo careers.

  Read more