Smif-N-Wessun

Tek & Steele

Smif-N-Wessun A.K.A. Cocoa Brovaz is the duo of Tek and Steele who comprise one-fourth of the Brooklyn super-group, Boot Camp Clik. The duo débuted on Black Moon's album, Enta Da Stage drooped in 1993. They appeared on the tracks "Black Smif-n-Wessun" and "U Da Man". They released their first a-b side single, "Bucktown"/"Let's Git It On" in early 1994. "Bucktown" was an instant underground smash, giving the pair considerable clout leading up to their début album release in January '95, Dah Shinin'. The album opened on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart within the top 5 and went on to sell over 300,000 copies across the United States. This stood as an influential album in the hardcore New York hip-hop scene of the mid-1990's.

not long after, the pair were forced to change their recording name to Cocoa Brovaz, due to legal proceedings threatened by the firearms company, Smith & Wesson who won a decision to serve the rappers with a cease and desist order. By 1996 they were officially known as Cocoa Brovas and they avoided an expensive lawsuit.

By 1997 the Cocoa Brovaz joined the super group, Boot Camp Clik for their first album, For My People which fell below standard expectations seeing a decline in interest as a group. However the pair dropped their second Cocoa Brovaz release in '98, The Rude Awakening which saw moderate sales. In 1999, the Clik was dropped from Priority Records, leaving the Brovaz unsigned for a period. Soon after, their underground single, "Super Brooklyn", which used a knocked-off sample from Super Mario Bros. lead them to the small-time Rawkus Records despite the single being allowed out commercially due to not clearing the usage of the video game sample. In 2002 they made an album under Rawkus but were not able to release it, although it was soon a hot-cake on underground bootleg circuits.

Over the next few years they were seen guesting on various compilations and other branched-out Clik releases. They were featured in spots on mixtapes, Soundbombing II, Lyricist Lounge 2, Game Over and Soundbombing III. After 2003 the pair rejoined Duck Down Records for a second Boot Camp Clik group album, The Chosen Few in the same year. In September 2005, they returned as Smif-n-Wessun for the album, Smif 'n' Wessun: Reloaded. This received good reviews and sold around 35,000-40,000 copies in the U.S. In 2006, the Boot Camp Clik released their third group album, The Last Stand again to strong reviews.

Smif-n-Wessun: The Album is the upcoming fourth album by duo, Smif-N-Wessun, of the supergroup Boot Camp Clik, to drop the streets on October 23rd, 2007 through Duck Down Records. The album will feature guest appearances from Rock of Heltah Skeltah, Joell Ortiz, the Loudmouf Choir, Million Styles and Chuckii Star. Every song on the album is produced by rapper and producer Ken Ring from Sweden with co-production by Rune Rotter, Tommy Tee, Collen and Webb and Soul Theory. The first song released from the album is "Stomp", featuring Rock and Joell Ortiz. The song can be heard at the Duck Down Records website.

Discography:

• 1995 Dah Shinin'
• 1998 The Rude Awakening (as Cocoa Brovaz)
• 2005 Smif 'n' Wessun: Reloaded
• 2007 Smif-n-Wessun: The Album

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