Corey Brent Penn Sr.(born October 8, 1968), known by his stage nameCL Smooth,is an Americanrapper.He is best known as the vocal half of thehip-hopduoPete Rock & CL Smooth.[1]
CL Smooth | |
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 CL Smooth in 2019. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Corey Brent Penn |
| Also known as |
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| Born | October 8, 1968 New Rochelle, New York,U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | Pete Rock & CL Smooth |
Early life
editCorey Brent Penn Sr. was born on October 8, 1968, inNew Rochelle, New Yorkto a mother who was still in high school and a father who was largely absent after his birth. His main caregivers were his grandmother, who worked as a pediatric nurse, and his grandfather, who worked as a dry-cleaning presser.[2]Smooth attendedMount Vernon High Schoolwhere he met future producer/DJ/rapperPete Rock.[3]
Career
editAfter the duo Pete Rock & CL Smooth split in 1995,Pete Rockproduced (andremixed) tracks for dozens of other acts and released instrumental solo albums, while CL Smooth remained musically inactive.
Since their split, the two managed to reconcile their differences only long enough to record five tracks over the course of ten years, namely "Da Two," "Back On Da Block," "Fly 'Til I Die," "Appreciate," and "It's A Love Thing." In 2004, there was talk of a reunion and a new album. This, however, was thwarted by another fallout.
During this period, CL Smooth mostly declined to appear on other artists' albums, with the exception of "Only the Strong Survive" withDJ Krushin 1996.
Starting around the year 2006, CL Smooth began making guest appearances slightly more frequently. Among the artists to whose songs he has contributed guest vocals areAZ( "Magic Hour" ),Raekwon( "Silk", also featuringSauce Money),Nujabes( "Sky Is Falling" ),JR Writer(the remix of "Mesmerize" ), andSupafuh( "Act of Faith" ). As of 2022, his most recent guest appearance was on the song "The Masters" by theCanadianrapper-producer duo ofGhettosocksand DK.
CL Smooth released his debut solo album,American Me,in 2006. To promote the album, Shaman Work released a promotional mixtape compiled by DJ J Period calledMan On Firein late April 2006, featuring 36 minutes offreestylesand a remixed version of the track "Impossible". He was also featured on theDJ Jazzy JeffalbumThe Return of the Magnificenton the track "All I Know," which was also featured in the video gameNBA Live 08.Around the same time, he released a single called "Perfect Timing", featuringSkyzoo.
In October 2010 Smooth and Pete Rock headlined the Clean Energy Tour.[4]The tour had six shows all overCalifornia,and focused on voter mobilization leading up to the November 2010 midterm elections. CL Smooth has developed an interest in, and become an activist in opposition to,climate change.He was a vocal opponent ofProposition 23.[5]
In February 2019, CL Smooth released a single entitled "Just In Town", featuring and produced by Fleezy E and Wayno Da Producer for Da Watchmen.
Discography
editSolo albums
edit- American Me(2006)
- The Outsider(2007)
Pete Rock & CL Smooth albums
edit| Album information |
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Mecca and the Soul Brother
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The Main Ingredient
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Collaborations
edit- Johnny Gillfeaturing CL Smooth - "Rub You the Right Way (Extended Hype I)"(1990)
- Basic Black featuring Pete Rock & CL Smooth - "She's Mine" (1990)[6]
- Public Enemy featuring CL Smooth - "Nighttrain (Pete Rock Mixes)(1991)
- Heavy D & The BoyzfeaturingBig Daddy Kane,Grand Puba,Kool G Rap,Q-Tip&Pete Rock & CL Smooth- "Don't Curse" (1991)
- Rough House Survivors featuring CL Smooth - "Can U Dig It?"(1992)
- Greg Osbyfeaturing CL Smooth - "Raise"(1993)[7]
- Da Youngstasfeaturing Pete Rock & CL Smooth - "Who's the Mic Wrecka" (1993)
- Alexander O'Nealfeaturing Pete Rock & CL Smooth - "In the Middle (Brown Mix)" (1993)
- Run-DMCfeaturing Pete Rock & CL Smooth - "Down with the King" (1993)
- DJ Krushfeaturing CL Smooth - "Only the Strong Survive"(1995)
- Mona Lisa featuring CL Smooth - "You Said (Remix)"(1996)
- Martine Girault featuring CL Smooth - "Revival (Bad Boy Remix)" {1996)
- Tara Thomas featuring CL Sooth - "When You're in Love" (1997)
- Angel Grant featuring CL Smooth - "Knockin' (Hip Hop Remix)"(1998)
- Pete Rock featuring CL Smooth - "Da Two" (1998)
- Cobra featuring CL Smooth - "Gunslingers" (2000)
- Pete Rock featuring CL Smooth - "Back on the Block"(2001)
- Mr. Cheeks featuring Pete Rock, Journalist & CL Smooth - "Reminisce '03"
- Pete Rock featuring CL Smooth - "Appreciate"(2004)
- AZfeaturing CL Smooth - "Magic Hour"(2006)
- Nujabesfeaturing CL Smooth - "Sky Is Falling"(2007)
- DJ Jazzy Jeff featuring CL Smooth - "All I Know" (2007)
- STatik Selektah featuring CL Smooth - "So Good (Live from the Bar)"(2008)
- Vee featuring CL Smooth - "Da Piano"(2009)
- JR Writerfeaturing CL Smooth - "Mesmerized" [Remix] (2009)(alternate version also features Fishscales ofNappy Roots)
- Cradle Orchestrafeaturing CL Smooth - "All I Want" (2009)
- Cradle Orchestra featuring CL Smooth & Jean Curley - "Married to the Game"(2010)
- John Legend&The Rootsfeaturing CL Smooth - "Our Generation (The Hope of the World)" (2010)
- Supafuh featuring CL Smooth - "Act Of Faith"(2011)
- Raekwonfeaturing CL Smooth &Sauce Money- "Silk"(2013)
- Ghettosocks& DK featuring CL Smooth &El Da Sensei- "The Masters" (2022)
- Real Bad Man &Blu- "The Golden Rule" (2023)
- Paul Wall & Terminology - "It's Magic" (2023)
- SPice 1 featuring DJ Premier & CL Smooth - "Since the Day" (2024)
References
edit- ^Allmusic biography
- ^"C.L. Smooth: The True Story of T.R.O.Y. And Corey".
- ^"After 22 Years, Pete Rock and CL Smooth Are Finally Ready to Make New Music".Spin.com.November 28, 2016.Retrieved12 July2024.
- ^"Clean Energy Tour".cleanenergytour.com.
- ^C.L. Smooth Raps About Stopping Dirty Energy.YouTube.October 13, 2010.Archivedfrom the original on December 19, 2021.
- ^Basic Black - She's Mine (Feat. Pete Rock & C.L Smooth.Youtube).Archived fromthe originalon June 11, 2018.
- ^Greg Osby Feat. CL Smooth - Raise (1993).Vimeo.