Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth · Pete Rock & CL Smooth were an American hip hop duo from Mount Vernon, New York. Pete Rock, real name Peter Phillips, and CL Smooth, Corey Penn, met at Mount Vernon High School. They sent demos to labels, until Elektra Records offered them a production deal via the management company The Untouchables, with DJ Eddie F. On 25 June 1991 their first EP, All Souled Out, was released. In 1992 came their debut album Mecca and the Soul Brother, and in 1994 the second album The Main Ingredient.

Music and breakthrough

Pete Rock made his name as a producer and DJ through his use of obscure soul and jazz records, often with a horn riff as the hook. CL Smooth rapped in a more conscious tone, which stood apart from the gangsta rap of the time. He mostly avoided swearing and resembled, in style and delivery, the positive East Coast rappers such as those in the Native Tongues Crew. Their best-known hit is They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.), a requiem for fallen friends, in particular Troy Dixon, nicknamed Trouble T-Roy, a member of Heavy D & The Boyz, who died in 1990.

Influence

The duo split up. In 2011 Pete Rock said that a new album was in the making, the third and the first since 1994.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 1992Mecca and the Soul Brother
• 1994The Main Ingredient