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Oct.8th – C.L. Smooth was born Corey Brent Penn in New Rochelle , New York , on this day in 1968.

C.L. Smooth quietly entered the hip-hop scene in 1991 along with producer , d,j, and fellow m.c. Pete Rock when the 2 formed a duo and released their under-rated debut e.p. “All Souled Out”on Elektra Records.

But the silence wouldn’t last for long when the Dynamic Duo released their classic debut full-length album “Mecca And The Soul Brother” the following year. The album fueled by Rock’s horn laden production and Smooth’s clear articulate delivery became an instant fan favorite. “Mecca And The Soul Brother” also contained the duo’s biggest hit ever , the classic “They Reminisce Over You”(T.R.O.Y.) , an ode to the late Heavy D. And The Boyz dancer Trouble “T”-Roy , who had died in a freak accident a year prior.

In 1993 , Smooth along with Rock produced and appeared on Run-DMC’s big comeback single “Down With The King”.

Smooth recorded one more album with Rock called “The Main Ingredient” , released in 1994 before the 2 went their separate ways.

In 2004 , the 2 reunited and recorded several tracks together but released no album.

In 2006 , Smooth released his debut solo album “American Me” and followed that up with 2007’s “The Outsider”.

In 2010 , Smooth and Rock again reunited and headlined the “Clean Energy Tour” , which went through California and whose focus was voter mobilization.

Over the years , Smooth has collaborated with the likes of DJ Kush , Public Enemy and J.R. Writer to name just a few.