CL Smooth
Long before it was prevalent for todays posturing rappers, who fabricate stories of lavish living with boastful dreams of killing innocent citizens and rivalries, there existed a dynamic duo dubbed Mecca & The Soul Brother. Hailing from a small suburbia area [Mount Vernon] located on the outskirts of the place that gave birth to hip-hop [Bronx], the dynamic duo known as C.L. Smooth and Pete Rock left a lasting imprint on the culture of hip-hop. Churning out hits that were critical acclaimed for its uniqueness and cleverness, a marriage was made in hip-hop that does not exist today. Pete Rocks production acumen was highly praised along side of his partner in rhyme [C.L. Smooth] who possessed a distinctive flow matched with a perfect delivery. Classical songs such as They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.), a tribute song packed with emotions that havent been duplicated up to this day, showed the conscientious of the lyrical rhyme slayer C.L. Smooth. After successfully releasing three albums the soul-tight brothers departed ways leaving die-hard fans in a frenzy for the signature horn loops of Pete and the verbal play of the Smooth one. While Pete Rock went on to become a much in demand producer, industry insiders and fans alike wonder the fate of C.L. Smooth. Fast forward to a decade later, C.L. is ready to give back what the game is missing by releasing his first EP in a decade as a solo artist with out the Boy Wonder Pete Rock, titled AMERICAN ME on Shamwork Records. Initially released as a mixtape heater, Multi Bar of Fury is a woofer blower single that will permeate through the air waves into the homes of C.L. Smooth loyalist while leaving jeeps rattling from his hometown of Mount Vernon to the far reaches of California. I Cant Help It keeps C.L. Smooth on a winning streak, bringing back old fans while garnering the attention of those who are novice to one of hip-hops legend. The song finds the Mount Vernon native spitting it like hes getting it, Im with the hood study/ good and right up in the cutty/ Sit real pretty/ but the shit can get ugly/ with no love for me you people think Im made out of money/ The illest niggas are under my thumb like puddy/. Production on this standout track is courtesy of in-house producer Mike Loe. When Its Warm Outside is a irresistible radio friendly song produced by Arsonist (Heat Makers) that everyones favorite drunken uncle will be blasting at the family barbeque. The Smooth one sets the tempo letting todays pro tool rappers know that hes not far removed from scene. In fact he is back to claim his position, rightfully so with the one line shot warner, Simple wife-beater bouncin off the tennis sneaker/ CL is that trend setter born leader/ No rapper has taken a 10 year sabbatical only to return better than ever in an industry that shuns ole heads and pioneers, but C.L. Smooth is the exception to this unwritten rule. AMERICAN ME is sure to be a classic album delivered with lyrical merits, tight production and substantial story lines.
