CL Smooth
Encyclopedia
CL Smooth is an American
rapper, poet, and is best known as the vocal half of the hip-hop
duo Pete Rock & CL Smooth
.
After the pair split in 1995 Pete Rock
, whose work with CL had garnered him a reputation as one of the finest producer
s in hip-hop, went on to produce (and remix
) tracks for dozens of marquee-name and/or well-respected acts, and to release a batch of solo and instrumental albums. C.L. Smooth remained musically inactive.
The pair managed to reconcile their differences only long enough to record five isolated tracks in the ten years since their split: "Da Two," "Back On Da Block," "Fly 'Til I Die," "Appreciate," and "It's A Love Thing." There were talks of a definitive reunion and a new album in 2004; however, the speculation was dismissed by both parties after another fallout.
During his period of hiatus, C.L. Smooth declined even to appear as a guest on other artists' albums, with the exception of "Only the Strong Survive" with DJ Krush
in 1996. Recently, however, he has contributed featured guest vocals to songs by AZ
("Magic Hour"), Nujabes
("Sky is Falling") and Dipset
affiliate J. R. Writer (the remix of "Mesmerize") or Supafuh ("Act of Faith").
He released his debut solo album, American Me
, in 2007. To promote the album, Shaman Work released a promotional mixtape compiled by DJ J Period called Man On Fire in late April 2006, featuring 36 minutes of freestyle
s and a remixed version of the track "Impossible". He was also been featured on the DJ Jazzy Jeff
album The Return of the Magnificent
on the track "All I Know", which was also featured in the video game NBA Live 08
.
In October 2010 C.L. Smooth and Pete Rock headlined the "Clean Energy Tour," which had six shows all over California and focused on voter mobilization leading up to the November mid-term elections. He has developed an interest in climate change and become a vocal opponent of Proposition 23.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rapper, poet, and is best known as the vocal half of the hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
duo Pete Rock & CL Smooth
Pete Rock & CL Smooth
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth are a hip-hop duo from Mount Vernon, New York. They made their debut with their 1991 EP, All Souled Out and followed with 1992's Mecca and the Soul Brother LP.-The Golden Age :...
.
After the pair split in 1995 Pete Rock
Pete Rock
Peter Phillips , better known by his stage name Pete Rock, is an American record producer, DJ and rapper. He rose to prominence in the early 1990s as one half of the critically acclaimed group Pete Rock & CL Smooth...
, whose work with CL had garnered him a reputation as one of the finest producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
s in hip-hop, went on to produce (and remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
) tracks for dozens of marquee-name and/or well-respected acts, and to release a batch of solo and instrumental albums. C.L. Smooth remained musically inactive.
The pair managed to reconcile their differences only long enough to record five isolated tracks in the ten years since their split: "Da Two," "Back On Da Block," "Fly 'Til I Die," "Appreciate," and "It's A Love Thing." There were talks of a definitive reunion and a new album in 2004; however, the speculation was dismissed by both parties after another fallout.
During his period of hiatus, C.L. Smooth declined even to appear as a guest on other artists' albums, with the exception of "Only the Strong Survive" with DJ Krush
DJ Krush
, better known as DJ Krush, is a producer and DJ. He is known for his atmospheric instrumental production which incorporates sound elements from nature and extensive use of jazz and soul samples.-Biography:...
in 1996. Recently, however, he has contributed featured guest vocals to songs by AZ
AZ (rapper)
Anthony Cruz , better known as AZ is a Grammy-nominated American rapper of Dominican & African American descent. He is known for being a long time and frequent rhyme partner of Nas, and also a member of hip-hop group The Firm alongside Nas, Foxy Brown, Cormega and Nature.In a countdown of the 10...
("Magic Hour"), Nujabes
Nujabes
was a Japanese hip hop producer and DJ who recorded under the name , the reverse spelling of his name in Japanese order. Nujabes was also owner of the Shibuya record stores, T Records and Guinness Records and founder of the independent label Hydeout Productions....
("Sky is Falling") and Dipset
The Diplomats
The Diplomats, also popularly known as Dipset, are a Harlem-based hip hop group founded by Cam'ron and Jim Jones in 1997. The original members of the group were Cam'ron, Freekey Zekey, and Jim Jones ; who all grew up together in Harlem...
affiliate J. R. Writer (the remix of "Mesmerize") or Supafuh ("Act of Faith").
He released his debut solo album, American Me
American Me (album)
American Me is the title of the first solo album by Hip Hop artist CL Smooth, released on October 31, 2006. The project is CL's first solo album, since breaking up with partner Pete Rock in 1995...
, in 2007. To promote the album, Shaman Work released a promotional mixtape compiled by DJ J Period called Man On Fire in late April 2006, featuring 36 minutes of freestyle
Freestyle rap
Freestyle rap commonly refers to rap lyrics which are improvised through a acapella or with instrumental beats, i.e. performed with no previously composed lyrics, or "off the top of the head"...
s and a remixed version of the track "Impossible". He was also been featured on the DJ Jazzy Jeff
DJ Jazzy Jeff
Jeffrey Allen Townes , also known as DJ Jazzy Jeff or simply Jazz, is an American hip hop, R&B record producer, turntablist and actor. He is best known for his early career with Will Smith as DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince...
album The Return of the Magnificent
The Return of the Magnificent
The Return of the Magnificent is the follow-up album to The Magnificent by DJ Jazzy Jeff. The album, entirely produced by Townes, has guest appearances by Rhymefest, Posdnous, and Big Daddy Kane...
on the track "All I Know", which was also featured in the video game NBA Live 08
NBA Live 08
NBA Live 08 is the 2007 installment of the NBA Live series by EA Sports. It was released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PlayStation 2, PC , and PlayStation Portable. This is the first NBA video game to include all three next-generation consoles...
.
In October 2010 C.L. Smooth and Pete Rock headlined the "Clean Energy Tour," which had six shows all over California and focused on voter mobilization leading up to the November mid-term elections. He has developed an interest in climate change and become a vocal opponent of Proposition 23.
Solo albums
- American MeAmerican Me (album)American Me is the title of the first solo album by Hip Hop artist CL Smooth, released on October 31, 2006. The project is CL's first solo album, since breaking up with partner Pete Rock in 1995...
(2006) - The OutsiderThe Outsider (CL Smooth album)The Outsider is the second album by African-American hip hop rapper CL Smooth. The album is considered to be a companion to his previous album American Me. In addition to exclusive remixes, The Outsider also has new songs, as well as audio versions of songs performed live.-Track listing:...
(2007)
Featurings
- Supafuh feat. CL Smooth Act Of Faith (2011)
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth albums
| Album information |
|---|
| Mecca and the Soul Brother Mecca and the Soul Brother Mecca And The Soul Brother is the critically acclaimed 1992 debut album from the Mount Vernon duo, Pete Rock & CL Smooth. The album contains their best known song, "They Reminisce Over You ." To date, Mecca and the Soul Brother has been widely acclaimed as one of the greatest Hip hop albums of all...
|
| The Main Ingredient
I Got a Love "I Got a Love" is the first single from Pete Rock & CL Smooth's second album, The Main Ingredient, released in 1994. The song is a horn and guitar-driven love-jam, which sees CL exploring his "ladies man" persona which he first introduced on "Lots of Lovin'". It samples "Ain't Got the Love " by The... ", "Take You There Take You There (Pete Rock & CL Smooth song) "Take You There" is the second single from Pete Rock & CL Smooth's second album, The Main Ingredient, released in 1994. The song samples "Keep Rising To The Top" by Keni Burke. It features vocalist Crystal Johnson on the chorus. The B-side is a remix of the album track "Get On The Mic" from The... ", & "Searching Searching (song) "Searching" is the third and final single by Pete Rock & CL Smooth from their album, The Main Ingredient. This is a downtempo and mellow song about relationships, with singer Vinia Mojica performing the chorus. Released just prior to the breakup of the group, the song received very little... " |
External links
- CL Smooth at MySpace.com