Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth

Formation

Pete Rock (Peter Phillips) and CL Smooth (Corey Penn) first met in Mount Vernon High School.^[1] 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.

Early years

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.^[2]

Later years

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 would be the duo's third album, and the first album since 1994's The Main Ingredient.^[3]

On June 1, 2024, during an interview with Drink Champs, Rock addressed the split between him and CL Smooth:^[4]

“It should never be like this. Ever. We should still be together but some things, you know, that I can’t tell the whole public. But certain things happen in a partnership that just can’t be… and people won’t understand. I don’t want to be the only one speaking on someone who’s not here, but I wish him the best in life."

Rock continued in an Instagram post about the breakup:^[4]

"This goes for anybody once in a group with a partner or partners. When things go left, take the high road. You have people who rejoice separation! When I make my business my business, people start making up their own story cuz it’s nobody’s business but mine's plain & simple like it or don’t. You have people who tell their stories no problem and be on dem podcast talkin bout personal problems, that's not me mayne! F**k drama. That sh*t happened, that's my business. Let people say and think what they want. Ignorance is bliss and real ones know this but don't believe groups stay 4ever. That only happens when 2 men really respect one another and their boundaries and has had similar experiences happen to them and it gives each individual great understanding. That's the important part! But I wish no ill will on CL Smooth but I kept telling y'all for years I have moved on with all due respect. I can accept it."

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