Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth

An emblematic duo of the East Coast jazz rap/boom bap wave, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth formed in 1987 and enjoyed success a few years later with two landmark albums, Mecca and the Soul Brother (1992) and The Main Ingredient (1994). Bringing together two rappers and producers from the Bronx, the duo contributed to what has been dubbed "The Golden Age of Hip-Hop" with their clever samples and fluid flow, urban poetry and swaying rhythms. From the first album, the track "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" is a tribute to Heavy D & the Boyz's Trouble T-Roy. After a second album that wasn't as well received as expected, tensions arose between the two members, leading to a split in 1995. However, they reunited occasionally, performing live in 1998, 2001 and 2004, then for a longer period between 2010 and 2018. Only a few singles were released, but no new album, as everyone was already busy with their own projects. The 2003 release of the compilation The Best of Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth [Good Life] testifies to the vitality of the tracks, which have not aged a day, by a duo that has inspired vocations and influenced many artists, including J Dilla, The Roots, Common or Anderson .Paak, Flying Lotus and Kendrick Lamar.

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