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Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth were a hip-hop duo hailing from Mount Vernon, New York. They made their debut in 1991 with the EP "All Souled Out," followed by the LP "Mecca and the Soul Brother" in 1992. DJ Pete Rock, whose real name is Peter Phillips, was known for his preference for obscure soul and jazz samples, often incorporating horn-driven hooks in his productions. Lead vocalist C.L. Smooth, born Corey Penn, was recognized for his philosophical lyrics and minimal use of profanity. Their most notable track, "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)," serves as a tribute to their late friend Troy "Trouble T-Roy" Dixon of Heavy D & The Boyz, who passed away in 1990. The duo released "The Main Ingredient" in 1994 and contributed to various remixes, soundtracks, and collaborations with artists like Public Enemy, EPMD, Heavy D, and Johnny Gill, as well as producing Run-DMC’s 1993 single "Down with the King." Despite their influence, they did not achieve gold status for any of their own albums. Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth parted ways in 1995, shortly after appearing in a Sprite TV commercial. They reunited for a few tracks on Pete Rock’s solo projects, including "Soul Survivor" (1998), "PeteStrumentals" (2001), and "Soul Survivor II" (

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