NEW ROCHELLE, NY (October 9, 2025) — CL Smooth, the golden-era hip-hop wordsmith born Corey Brent Penn Sr. on this day in 1968, continues to inspire generations through his seamless chemistry with producer Pete Rock and their enduring contributions to conscious rap.
Raised amid soul samples and boom-bap beats on the streets of New Rochelle, New York, Smooth developed a love for music that fueled his smooth, lyrical flow and thoughtful storytelling. As a key member of the influential duo Pete Rock & CL Smooth, active primarily in the early 1990s, he complemented Rock’s soulful, jazz-infused production with introspective rhymes that defined the era.
Their 1992 album, Mecca and the Soul Brother, stands as a hip-hop classic, delivering poignant tracks like the iconic single “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.),” a tribute to their late friend Troy Dixon. The duo followed with The Main Ingredient in 1994 before parting ways due to creative differences.
Smooth pursued a solo career, releasing albums including American Me in 2006 and The Outsider in 2007, though neither matched the commercial success of his collaborative work. Respected for his contributions to golden-era hip-hop, he and Rock have reunited occasionally for performances and tracks, with their last joint project being the 2016 EP Lost Sessions.
A recent X post from @SVG_Collection paid tribute: “Happy birthday to CL Smooth, born on this day in 1968! A golden-era hip-hop wordsmith whose love for music, sparked in New Rochelle’s streets amid soul samples and boom-bap beats, fueled his seamless chemistry with Pete Rock. Their duo masterpieces like Mecca and the Soul Brother (1992) delivered poignant classics such as ‘They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.),’ blending introspective lyrics and jazz-infused production that defined conscious rap and inspired generations.”
The post, which garnered 28,000 views, highlighted Smooth’s lasting impact on hip-hop fans searching for golden-era rap tributes and Pete Rock collaborations.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.