Press

C.L. Smooth is a lyricist from New Rochelle, New York, and one half of Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth. The duo's first record, the album All Souled Out, arrived on Elektra in 1991. Their next album, Mecca and the Soul Brother, followed in 1992 and carried "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)," written in memory of Troy Dixon of Heavy D & The Boyz. It remains one of the most recognized records in hip-hop and is still the reason his name opens doors three decades later. The Main Ingredient, released in 1994, closed the duo's original run. His solo work began with American Me in 2006, followed by The Outsider in 2007 and the Ground Zero compilation in 2008. He released Multi Barz of Fury in 2011, reuniting with Pete Rock on the title track, and has released steadily since — It's Magic and The Golden Rule in 2023, then Da Odd Couple and Since the Day in 2024, the latter produced by DJ Premier with Mike Epps. Across that catalog he has recorded and shared stages with Mary J. Blige, Raekwon, Run DMC, Teddy Riley, Heavy D, Faith Evans, Johnny Gill, Michael Bivins, BJ the Chicago Kid, Skyzoo, Spice 1, and the late Japanese producer Nujabes — a range that runs from new jack swing through boom bap to the lo-fi lineage Nujabes set in motion. He continues to write, record, and perform, and takes bookings for concerts, festivals, private events, and speaking engagements.