Nice & Smooth
Encyclopedia
Nice & Smooth was an East Coast hip hop
duo from New York
that consists of Greg Nice (Greg Mays) and Smooth B (Daryl Barnes). The duo released four albums from the late 1980s to the mid 1990s. Their first collaborate appearance was on the song, "Pimpin Ain't Easy" by Big Daddy Kane
on his album, It's a Big Daddy Thing
in 1989.
Nice & Smooth's biggest radio fame came from "Sometimes I Rhyme Slow...," from the group's second album, Ain't a Damn Thing Changed
, released in 1991. The song was a moderately somber rhyme with introspective lines about poverty, AIDS, and drugs that was set to the guitar loop from Tracy Chapman
's hit "Fast Car
." In the summer of 1992, the music video received heavy rotation on MTV
. "Hip-Hop Junkies," which featured a sample from The Partridge Family
's "I Think I Love You
" was also a hit, and it was once performed live on Keenan Ivory Wayans’ comedy/variety TV show, In Living Color
. The duo is known for its humorous rhymes and catchy hooks
. They often appeared as guest emcees
on albums by the Beatnuts, Gang Starr
, and Tony Touch
among many others. They were represented by Reggie Osse
.
Another notable song by the group is "Funky for You", off of their self-titled debut album. As a single it was released in 1990 and contained the following lyrics:
The line "stick up kids is out to tax" was later sampled by hip-hop group Gang Starr
.
Tupac Shakur
intended to sign Nice & Smooth to his Makaveli label and even recorded tracks with the duo for the One Nation
album. Trugoy from De La Soul paid homage to Nice & Smooth by using each member's rhyming style in verses on the song “Simply Havin'” from De La Soul
's AOI: Bionix
album. Smooth B wrote rhymes for Bobby Brown
that appeared in his debut album King of Stage and second album Don't Be Cruel. In 2005, he released a single titled "Game Over," which was produced by DJ Premier
.
East Coast hip hop
East Coast hip hop is a regional subgenre of hip hop music that originated in New York City, USA during the 1970s. Hip hop is recognized to have originated and evolved first in the East Coast...
duo from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
that consists of Greg Nice (Greg Mays) and Smooth B (Daryl Barnes). The duo released four albums from the late 1980s to the mid 1990s. Their first collaborate appearance was on the song, "Pimpin Ain't Easy" by Big Daddy Kane
Big Daddy Kane
Antonio Hardy better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper who started his career in 1986 as a member of the rap group the Juice Crew. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential and skilled MC's in Hip Hop...
on his album, It's a Big Daddy Thing
It's a Big Daddy Thing
It's a Big Daddy Thing is the second full-length album by American rapper Big Daddy Kane. It was released on September 15, 1989.To date, it is his most successful effort commercially, certified gold by RIAA....
in 1989.
Nice & Smooth's biggest radio fame came from "Sometimes I Rhyme Slow...," from the group's second album, Ain't a Damn Thing Changed
Ain't a Damn Thing Changed
Ain't a Damn Thing Changed is the second album from the East Coast hip-hop duo Nice & Smooth.Released on Def Jam Recordings sub-label RAL Records, it became more successful than its first album, Nice & Smooth, with the stand-out track "Sometimes I Rhyme Slow" becoming a minor hit...
, released in 1991. The song was a moderately somber rhyme with introspective lines about poverty, AIDS, and drugs that was set to the guitar loop from Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her singles "Fast Car", "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution", "Baby Can I Hold You", "Give Me One Reason" and "Telling Stories". She is a multi-platinum and four-time Grammy Award-winning artist.-Biography:Tracy Chapman was born in Cleveland,...
's hit "Fast Car
Fast Car
"Fast Car" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman. It was released as a single in April 1988 from her self-titled 1988 debut album Tracy Chapman...
." In the summer of 1992, the music video received heavy rotation on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. "Hip-Hop Junkies," which featured a sample from The Partridge Family
The Partridge Family
The Partridge Family is an American television sitcom about a widowed mother and her five children who embark on a music career. The series originally ran from September 25, 1970 until August 31, 1974, the last new episode airing on March 23, 1974, on the ABC network, as part of a Friday-night lineup...
's "I Think I Love You
I Think I Love You
"I Think I Love You" is a 1970 single by The Partridge Family, featuring David Cassidy, composed by songwriter Tony Romeo. The song was released at the same time as the debut of the network television sitcom The Partridge Family. During the show's first season the song was featured on the show...
" was also a hit, and it was once performed live on Keenan Ivory Wayans’ comedy/variety TV show, In Living Color
In Living Color
In Living Color is an American sketch comedy television series, which originally ran on the Fox Network from April 15, 1990 to May 19, 1994. Brothers Keenen and Damon Wayans created, wrote, and starred in the program. The show was produced by Ivory Way Productions in association with 20th Century...
. The duo is known for its humorous rhymes and catchy hooks
Hook (music)
A hook is a musical idea, often a short riff, passage, or phrase, that is used in popular music to make a song appealing and to "catch the ear of the listener". The term generally applies to popular music, especially rock music, hip hop, dance music, and pop. In these genres, the hook is often...
. They often appeared as guest emcees
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
on albums by the Beatnuts, Gang Starr
Gang Starr
Gang Starr was an influential East Coast hip hop duo that consisted of the late MC Guru and DJ/producer DJ Premier. Their style combined elements of New York jazz and hip hop.-Background:...
, and Tony Touch
Tony Touch
Tony Touch is an American hip hop break dancer, rapper, DJ, producer and actor of Puerto Rican descent.Tony Touch began as a B-boy during the rap music renaissance era of the early 1980s...
among many others. They were represented by Reggie Osse
Reggie Osse (Combat Jack)
Reggie Osse, also known as Combat Jack, is a former hip-hop music attorney and executive. He currently is the managing editor of the Source and radio host of the Combat Jack show on PNC radio.- Education & Early Career :...
.
Another notable song by the group is "Funky for You", off of their self-titled debut album. As a single it was released in 1990 and contained the following lyrics:
- Hey, yo, Dizzy Gillespie plays the sax!
- Me myself, I love to max!
- Red-Bone booties, I'm out to wax!
- Stick-up kids is out to tax!
The line "stick up kids is out to tax" was later sampled by hip-hop group Gang Starr
Gang Starr
Gang Starr was an influential East Coast hip hop duo that consisted of the late MC Guru and DJ/producer DJ Premier. Their style combined elements of New York jazz and hip hop.-Background:...
.
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
intended to sign Nice & Smooth to his Makaveli label and even recorded tracks with the duo for the One Nation
One Nation
One Nation may refer to:In politics:* One Nation , a nationalist party in Australia** One Nation NSW, a defunct splinter group of the above, operating exclusively in New South Wales* One Nation , a defunct party in Israel...
album. Trugoy from De La Soul paid homage to Nice & Smooth by using each member's rhyming style in verses on the song “Simply Havin'” from De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
's AOI: Bionix
AOI: Bionix
AOI: Bionix is De La Soul's sixth full-length album, released in 2001. The album was the second in a planned three-disc installment, which was originally intended to be a three-disc album.- Overview :...
album. Smooth B wrote rhymes for Bobby Brown
Bobby Brown
Robert Barisford "Bobby" Brown is an American R&B singer-songwriter, occasional rapper, and dancer. After success in pop group New Edition, Brown began his solo career in 1987 and had a string of Top 10 Billboard hits, culminating in a Grammy Award. He was a pioneer of New Jack Swing music, a...
that appeared in his debut album King of Stage and second album Don't Be Cruel. In 2005, he released a single titled "Game Over," which was produced by DJ Premier
DJ Premier
Christopher Edward Martin , better known by his stage name DJ Premier , is an American record producer and DJ, and was the instrumental half of the hip hop duo Gang Starr, together with emcee Guru...
.
Discography
| Nice and Smooth Nice and Smooth (album) Nice & Smooth is the debut album of the hip-hop duo Nice & Smooth. The album is notable for its sense of humor and comedy rhymes. Although the album contains explicit lyrics on it, it is also at its best with Greg Nice's crazy rhyming with humor and Smooth B's slow lover rhymes...
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