| Smif-n-Wessun | |
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Also known as |
Covoa Brovaz, Tek-n-Steele |
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Origin |
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States |
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Genres |
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Years active |
1993-present |
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Labels |
Wreck (1994-1995) |
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Associated acts |
2Pac, Black Moon, Boot Camp Clik, Heltah Skeltah, O.G.C., Pete Rock |
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Members |
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Smif-n-Wessun, also known as Cocoa Brovaz, is an American hip hop duo from Brooklyn, New York. The duo consists of rappers Tek and Steele, who comprise a quarter of the supergroup Boot Camp Clik. Both members are known for their utilisation of Jamaican Patois, which was more evident during the earlier stages of their career.
The duo debuted in 1993 on the album Enta da Stage by Black Moon, and released their debut single "Bucktown" the following year. The single became an underground smash, and gave the group considerable hype for their debut album, Dah Shinin', released in 1995. The album became an influential album in the hardcore New York hip hop scene of the mid-1990s. Soon after the release of their debut, Smif-n-Wessun were sued with a cease and desist order over their group name by the Smith & Wesson firearms company, and changed their name to Cocoa Brovaz in 1996 to avoid a lawsuit.
In 1997, the duo released the album For the People with the Boot Camp Clik, but it was seen as a disappointment and led to the eventual decline of the Camp's popularity. In early 1998, Cocoa Brovaz released their second album The Rude Awakening, which was met with mixed reviews and moderate sales. After signing to Rawkus Records, they appeared on a number of the label's compilation albums. They rejoined Duck Down Records for the release of the Boot Camp Clik's second album The Chosen Few in 2002. In 2005, they changed their stage name back to Smif-n-Wessun for the album Smif 'n' Wessun: Reloaded, which received good reviews. Smif-n-Wessun's fourth album, Smif-n-Wessun: The Album was released in 2007. The duo collaborated with producer Pete Rock for their 2011 album, Monumental. In 2019, Smif-n-Wessun released, The All, their first studio album in over ten years.
Discography
Studio albums
- 1995: Dah Shinin'
- 1998: The Rude Awakening
- 2005: Smif 'n' Wessun: Reloaded
- 2007: Smif-n-Wessun: The Album
- 2019: The All
Collaborative albums
- 2011: Monumental (with Pete Rock)