CL Smooth

CL Smooth (born Corey Brent Penn, Sr., October 8, 1968, New Rochelle, New York) is an American rapper. He is best known as the vocal half of the hip-hop duo Pete Rock & CL Smooth.[1]

CL Smooth
Birth nameCorey Brent Penn
Also known asCaramel King
The Mecca Don
C.L.
El Presidente
Corey Kingpenn
Born (1968-10-08) October 8, 1968
OriginNew Rochelle, New York, United States
Genres
  • Rap
  • East Coast Hip Hop
Occupation(s)MC, Producer, Actor
Years active1989–present
LabelsElektra, Shaman Work/Koch, All Grind Entertainment
Associated actsPete Rock, Heavy D, AZ, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Nujabes, DJ Krush

Career

After the pair split in 1995 Pete Rock, whose work with CL had garnered him a reputation as one of the most acclaimed producers 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. CL 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, 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 2006. 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 freestyles and a remixed version of the track "Impossible". He was also 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 Smooth and Pete Rock headlined the "Clean Energy Tour,"[2] 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.[3]

February 2019 CL Smooth teamed up with new some producers and release a hit single titled "Just In Town" featuring and produced by Fleezy E and Wayno Da Producer for Da Watchmen. This record is currently spinning on Hot 97 radio on the DJ Funk Flex show weeknights.

Discography

Solo albums

Pete Rock & CL Smooth albums
Album information
Mecca and the Soul Brother
The Main Ingredient

Collaborations
  • Johnny Gill feat. CL Smooth "Rub You The Right Way (Extended Hype I)" (1990)
  • Basic Black feat. Pete Rock & C.L Smooth "She's Mine" (1990)[4]
  • Heavy D & The Boyz feat. Big Daddy Kane, Grand Puba, Kool G Rap, Q-Tip & Pete Rock & CL Smooth "Don't Curse" (1991)
  • Greg Osby feat. CL Smooth "Raise" (1993)[5]
  • Da Youngsta's feat. Pete Rock & CL Smooth "Who's the Mic Wrecka" (1993)
  • Run-DMC feat. Pete Rock & CL Smooth "Down With the King" (1993)
  • DJ Krush feat. CL Smooth "Only the Strong Survive" (1996)
  • Pete Rock feat. CL Smooth "Da Two" (1998)
  • Pete Rock feat. CL Smooth "Back on the Block" (2001)
  • Pete Rock feat. CL Smooth "Appreciate" (2004)
  • AZ feat. CL Smooth "Magic Hour" (2006)
  • Nujabes feat. CL Smooth "Sky Is Falling" (2007)
  • Vee feat. CL Smooth "Da Piano" (2009)
  • Cradle Orchestra feat. CL Smooth "All I Want" (2009)
  • Cradle Orchestra feat. CL Smooth & Jean Curley "Married To The Game" (2010)
  • John Legend & The Roots feat. CL Smooth "Our Generation (The Hope of the World)" (2010)
  • Supafuh feat. CL Smooth Act Of Faith (2011)

References
  1. Allmusic biography
  2. "Clean Energy Tour". cleanenergytour.com.
  3. C.L. Smooth Raps About Stopping Dirty Energy. YouTube. 13 October 2010.
  4. Basic Black - She's Mine (Feat. Pete Rock & C.L Smooth. Youtube).
  5. Greg Osby Feat. CL Smooth - Raise (1993). Vimeo.


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