Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - Take You There (Official Video)

From the album "Main Ingredient" (1994)

Pete Rock & CL Smooth are a hip-hop duo from Mount Vernon, New York. They made their debut with their 1991 EP, All Souled Out and followed with 1992's Mecca and the Soul Brother LP.

As a producer, DJ Pete Rock (Peter Phillips) gained notoriety for his use of obscure soul and jazz records, frequently making use of horn-driven hooks. Lead vocalist CL Smooth (Corey Penn) delivered more conscious style of rap which contrasted with the popular gangsta rap records of the time, and he mostly avoided profanity, similar in style and delivery to positive East Coast rappers like those associated with the Native Tongues Crew. Their signature hit was "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)", a requiem for fallen friends—namely Troy "Trouble T-Roy" Dixon, a member of Heavy D & The Boyz, who died in 1990. They were first signed to Elektra Records, managed, and Executive Produced by Eddie F of Heavy D and The Boyz and Untouchables Entertainment who also then managed Pete Rock as a producer. Pete Rock was one of the original three "Untouchables" producers along with Eddie F himself and Nevelle Hodge.

In 1994 the duo followed up with The Main Ingredient, and they appeared as frequent guest artists collaborating on remixes, soundtracks, and other works. Public Enemy, EPMD, Heavy D and Johnny Gill were among the artists they collaborated with, and they can also claim credit for producing (and performing on) Run–D.M.C.'s 1993 comeback single 'Down with the King'.

The group broke up in 1995 (shortly after a Sprite TV commercial), however they have collaborated several times since on a handful of cuts from Pete Rock's solo recordings: Soul Survivor (1998), PeteStrumentals (2001) and Soul Survivor II (2004). The duo also went on a brief reunion tour as a warm up for their then-anticipated new album, which ended with a show at London's famous Jazz Cafe. Despite these intermittent collaborations, the pair has exchanged dismissive comments toward each other in separate interviews, disavowing plans for a full-fledged reunion.

Their best-of compilation, Good Life, was released on Elektra/WEA in 2003.

During this period, CL Smooth went on to release two solo albums - American Me in 2006 and The Outsider in 2007. Pete Rock would produce tracks for numerous artists, including CL Smooth's It's a Love Thing and Love is a Battlefield from each of his solo albums. Pete Rock had confirmed that among his promised new slew of releases in 2011, that one of the albums would be the third album between himself and CL Smooth, that as of 2012, is still in the works.

A deluxe CD box set of Mecca and the Soul Brother was released on September 14, 2010 by Traffic Entertainment Group. The package includes a remastered CD of the original album, a second disc of remixes, instrumentals and a cappellas, a fold-out poster and a detailed booklet with interviews and insights from Rock and Smooth by Brian Coleman.

In late 2010, the two finally ended their creative differences after 15 years of being at odds with each other. The duo has officially reunited for the sake of hip-hop and are respectfully working with each other again. The death of hip-hop pioneer Guru earlier in the year was a major catalyst which led to inspiring their reunion. They wanted to avoid the fate which befell Gang Starr, in which lead rapper Guru had not been on speaking terms with DJ Premier for roughly seven years and could not resolve their differences before his untimely death from cancer.

While touring in London with CL Smooth in early December 2011, Pete Rock stated that a new album was already in the works and would be released by year's end, or as soon as it was completed. The album will be the duo's third album, and the first album since 1994's The Main Ingredient.

[garlandgarrison]

Pete Rock is easily one of the greatest producers of all time.

I'll fight over that.

[LuciousWeatherby]

No Guns, No Drugs, No Violence just dope beats and fly lyrics

[Crunchysopa]

CL still has one of the illest voices and butter-like flows of all-time.. classic cut.

[fredo]

This generation has no idea what type of music they missed out on.

[alfredomata]

Shedding tears cuz they don't make them like this no more...

[hebrewcommandmentspower]

Their will never be another era like the So many magical moments 😧😁

[MCCABEWORLD]

Classics! 🌴🔈🎶 the 90s were unbeatable.

[pacificriverstorm]

That gorgeous lady harmonizing the hook killed it 🔥🔥🔥

[rodneydye]

If anyone is listening to this song
Knows true hip hop and that’s for real
Until next time peace and I’m out here banging this song

[MartellThaCool]

This song ages like fine wine. Perfecto!

[pacandpal]

A masterpiece and Not a single curseword required.

[proseminded]

RIP to the legends, RIP to my mother who just passed this year, long live the culture and everyone in it...so many stories are told through this song...1 love

[omosurulere]

I graduated in 1994 [at 23yrs young]; now some 30years later still struggling to move beyond 'replay'; a true 90's classic!

[lillianno]

Pete Rock & C l Smooth is one of the dopest duos I've ever heard in hip-hop history! Classic.

[shawnsta]

One of the best feel good hip hop songs ever 😌

[aidanfox]

Pete Rock: Great Producer
C.L. Smooth: Great lyricist

[derrickmcmillian]

I loved when hip hop sounded like this! It had so much substance, originality and power!! It's so dumbed down now til its ridiculous!!

[da]

Listening to this makes me sad. The good old days when life was simple 😩😞...

[wordsworth]

Broke my heart when these two parted ways.

[proklaimrapper]

One of the smoothest and articulate mcs to ever bless a mic. Perfect balance of big daddy kane lyrical and ll cool j slick..underrated great.