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 | (1968-10-08)October 8, 1968 (age 56) New Rochelle, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | Pete Rock & CL Smooth |
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-hop duoPete Rock & CL Smooth.[1]
Corey Brent Penn Sr. was born on October 8, 1968, inNew Rochelle, New York, to 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 School, where he met future producer/DJ/rapperPete Rock.[3]
After the duo Pete Rock & CL Smooth split in 1995,Pete Rock produced 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 seven tracks over the course of ten years, namely "Da Two," "Back On Da Block," "Shine On Me," "Climax," "Fly 'Til I Die," "Appreciate," and "It's A Love Thing." In 2004, there was talk of a reunion and a new album, both of which were 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 Krush in 1996.
Starting around the year 2006, CL Smooth began making guest appearances 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"), and Supafuh ("Act of Faith"). As of 2022, his most recent guest appearance was on the song "The Masters" by theCanadian rapper–producer duo ofGhettosocks and 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 Fire in late April 2006, featuring 36 minutes offreestyles and a remixed version of the track "Impossible". He was also featured on theDJ Jazzy Jeff albumThe Return of the Magnificent on 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 comprised six shows acrossCalifornia, and focused on voter mobilization leading up to the November 2010 midterm elections. CLSmooth 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.
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Mecca and the Soul Brother
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The Main Ingredient
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| International | |
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