Pete Rock & CL Smooth

History

Formation

Pete Rock (Peter Phillips) and CL Smooth (Corey Penn) first met in Mount Vernon High School. They begin shopping demos to labels until Elektra Records signed the duo to a production deal, The Untouchables management, which was handed by DJ Eddie F. The duo released their first EP All Souled Out on June 25, 1991.

1991–1994: The Golden Age

As a producer, DJ Pete Rock (Peter Phillips) gained notoriety for his use of obscure soul and jazz records, frequently making use of horn-driven hooks. Lead vocalist CL Smooth (Corey Penn) delivered more conscious style of rap which contrasted with the popular gangsta rap records of the time, and he mostly avoided profanity, similar in style and delivery to positive East Coast rappers like those associated with the Native Tongues Crew. Their debut album, Mecca and the Soul Brother was released on June 9, 1992. Their signature hit was "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)", a requiem for fallen friends — namely Troy "Trouble T-Roy" Dixon, a member of Heavy D & The Boyz, who died in 1990. They were first signed to Elektra Records, managed, and executive produced by Eddie F of Heavy D and The Boyz and Untouchables Entertainment who also then managed Pete Rock as a producer. Pete Rock was one of the original three "Untouchables" producers along with Eddie F himself and Nevelle Hodge.

In 1994 the duo followed up with The Main Ingredient, and they appeared as frequent guest artists collaborating on 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–D.M.C.'s 1993 comeback single "Down with the King".

1995–2009: Creative differences

The group broke up in 1995 (shortly after a Sprite TV commercial), however they have collaborated several times since on a handful of cuts from Pete Rock's solo recordings: Soul Survivor (1998), PeteStrumentals (2001) and Soul Survivor II (2004). The duo 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, Good Life, was released on Elektra/WEA in 2003.

During this period, CL Smooth went on to release two solo albums - American Me in 2006 and The Outsider in 2007. Pete Rock would produce tracks for numerous artists, including CL Smooth's It's a Love Thing and Love is a Battlefield from each of his solo albums. Pete Rock had confirmed that among his promised new slew of releases in 2011, that one of the albums would be the third album between himself and CL Smooth.

2010–2018: Reunion

A deluxe CD box set of Mecca and the Soul Brother was released on September 14, 2010 by Traffic Entertainment Group. The package includes a remastered CD of the original album, a second disc of remixes, instrumentals and a cappellas, a fold-out poster and a detailed booklet with interviews and insights from Rock and Smooth by Brian Coleman.

In late 2010, the two finally ended their creative differences after 15 years of being at odds with each other. The death of hip-hop pioneer Guru earlier in the year was a major catalyst to inspire their reunion. They wanted to avoid the fate which befell Gang Starr, in which lead rapper Guru had not been on speaking terms with DJ Premier for roughly seven years and could not resolve their differences before his untimely death from cancer.

While touring in London with CL Smooth in early December 2011, Pete Rock stated that a new album was already in the works and would be released by year's end, or as soon as it was completed. The album will be the duo's third album, and the first album since 1994's The Main Ingredient. The album was still in the works in 2016, but as of 2018, it has been stated that there won't be any third album by the group, due to resurfacing tensions between Rock and Smooth.

As of June 1, 2024, on an interview with Drink Champs, Rock addresses the split between him and his partner CL Smooth:Rock continued in an Instagram post about the breakup:

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Soundtracks

• April 1993: Who's the Man?: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, track 3, "What's Next on the Menu?"
• May 1993: Menace II Society: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, track 10, “Death Becomes You”
• June 1993: Poetic Justice: Music from the Motion Picture, track 6, “One in a Million”

Compilations

• 2003: Good Life: The Best of Pete Rock & CL Smooth

Singles

References

References

1. "Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth". Discogs.
2. (November 28, 2016). "After 22 Years, Pete Rock and CL Smooth Are Finally Ready to Make New Music". Spin.com.
3. (5 December 2012). "The 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time". Penske Media Corporation.
4. (November 28, 2016). "After 22 Years, Pete Rock and CL Smooth Are Finally Ready to Make New Music".
5. (June 4, 2024). "Pete Rock Address Split With CL Smooth: "Take The High Road"". DeMicia Inman.