C.L. Smooth is one of Hip-Hop's most prolific M.C.'s. His effortless flow graced Pete Rock's Jazz heavy tracks for the duration of their four year association as a recording entity, resulting in some of the most brilliant and noteworthy tracks of an era. Over two full length albums and several singles and soundtracks Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth brought a sophisticated yet rugged sound to Hip-Hop, creating an incredible discography in their short time together.

After his separation from Pete Rock, C.L. Smooth released American Me (2005),The Outsider (2007), and Da Odd Couple with Peter Gunz (2024). Check out C.L. Smooth live at the 2025 Rock The Bells Festival as part of DJ Eddie F's Uptown Records Celebration.

1. "Carmel City" - Pete Rock & CL Smooth, 1994

"Carmel City" appeared on 1994's The Main Ingredient, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth's sophomore album. A fan favorite, "Carmel City" featured Pete's signature "swing" style cuts and scratches and jazzy production. C.L. Smooth's abstract flow acted as the icing on an a perfect cake. "Carmel City" is an example of Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth's magical synergy as a duo.

"Let me take you on a journey through Carmel City/Where CL's God, and the ladies gotta hit me off/
Ballin on the set now baby what's the matter/When all this is Hot Sex served on a platter"

2. "One In A Million" - Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, 1993

From the time when the soundtrack many times eclipsed the movie, the Poetic Justice soundtrack featured Mista Grimm, Naughty By Nature, 2Pac Tha Dogg Pound, Nice & Smooth and more. Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth's "One In A Million" with its infectious horn sample and hook was a soundtrack fav and still endures today.

"I'm one in a mil and from the Vernonville/I work it out and wait to get curled/I'm here to sell more joints than "We Are the World"/Flows and old bros and new foes are open and closed shows/So never doze attention, the Mecca's representing/The uptown jazz sound and the chicks start mingling
Now let's watch a flick by John Singleton/Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth is in the Mecca house building
Cause this funk is one in a million"

3. "Mecca & The Soul Brother" - Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, 1991

"Mecca & The Soul Brother" debuted on Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth's 1991 six song EP, All Souled Out. Mecca & The Soul Brother is also the title of Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth's 1992 debut full length album. This is the single which introduced many Hip-Hop heads to the Mt. Vernon duo. Pete's horn heavy production and C.L. Smooth flawless flow and smooth delivery were a welcomed change in '91.

"Okay, you wanna act trife and flip the script/With your Wonderama drama slash coma riff/That you're kickin like Pelé, flows even Bo knows/My versatility capability is simply bougie/Y to the o-u-n-g, another G-to the u-n-s/Let's back up, shortie, from the naughty like shorty/Berry Gordy with a forty gettin papes, so naughty"

4. "I Got A Love" - Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, 1994

Even on a love joint C.L. flips it abstract, requiring multiple listens before the full meaning is understood. "I Got A Love" appeared on Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth's sophomore project, the critically acclaimed, and highly underrated, The Main Ingredient.

"Feel the vibe, when it's bumping in my tribe, steps the Goodfellas/Live on screen now you protect the Black queen/Takin' my time from the black on Black crime/Cause the night Mecca hits, Victoria runs out of secrets/Doing trials in latex Lifestyles Boo; I make you/Call my name, and ask who it belongs to/Brand new, with CL, in Carmel, living well/And never cease to flip the hottest dime piece
Now the legend increase into a great, truly Mecca made/So in every escapade there's a panty raid"

5. "T.R.O.Y." - Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, 1992

Crafted as a dedication to the fallen Trouble T-Roy of Heavy D & The Boys, who died in a freak accident on tour, "T.R.O.Y.", a brilliant acronym and combination of his name and "They Reminisce Over You" has become a signature song for Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth. On a producers panel on the Rock The Bells Cruise, Pete Rock shared the emotional making of the Pete Rock & CL Smooth hit "T.R.O.Y."

"When I mixed that song I had Charlie Brown [of Leaders of the New School] and a bunch of people in the studio, and everybody started crying," the "Lots of Lovin'" producer shared. "I was flushed with emotion and I had to leave the room, and it was crazy because my man just passed away. This song was torturing my soul."

"I reminisce for a spell, or shall I say think back (yeah)/22 years ago to keep it on track (uh-huh)/The birth of a child on the 8th of October (it's like that)/A toast, but my granddaddy came sober (crazy fact)/Countin' all the fingers and the toes/Now I suppose (uh) you hope the little black boy grows (yeah), huh/18 years younger than my mama (mama)/But I rarely got beatings 'cause the girl loved drama (yeah)"