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Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth were a hip-hop duo hailing from Mount Vernon, New York. They debuted in 1991 with their EP, "All Souled Out," and followed up with the acclaimed LP "Mecca and the Soul Brother" in 1992. DJ and producer Pete Rock (Peter Phillips) was known for his preference for obscure soul and jazz samples, often incorporating horn-driven hooks into his beats. Lead vocalist C.L. Smooth (Corey Penn) brought a philosophical approach to his lyrics, generally avoiding profanity. The duo's signature track, “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.),” served as a tribute to their late friend Troy "Trouble T-Roy" Dixon of Heavy D & The Boyz, who passed away in 1990. They released "The Main Ingredient" in 1994 and contributed to various remixes and soundtracks, collaborating with artists such as Public Enemy, EPMD, Heavy D, and Johnny Gill. Notably, they produced and performed on Run-DMC’s 1993 comeback single, "Down with the King." Despite their contributions to the hip-hop scene, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth did not achieve gold status for any of their own albums. The duo parted ways in 1995, shortly after appearing in a Sprite TV commercial, but later reunited for select tracks on Pete Rock’s solo albums, including "Soul Survivor" (1998), "PeteStrumentals

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