Smif-N-Wessun (a.k.a. Cocoa Brovaz) is a hip hop duo consisting of members Tek (Tekomin Williams) and Steele (Darrell Yates). Smif-N-Wessun comprise one quarter of the Brownsville, Brooklyn supergroup Boot Camp Clik, with Buckshot, Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C. Both members are known for their Jamaican Patois during their raps, which was more evident during the earlier stages of their career.
The duo debuted on Black Moon’s 1993 album Enta da Stage, appearing on the tracks “Blac Smif-N-Wessun” and “U Da Man”. They released their first single”Bucktown” b/w “Let’s Git It On” in early 1994. “Bucktown” became an underground smash, and gave the group considerable hype for their debut album, Dah Shinin’, released in January 1995. The album debuted in the top 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and went on to sell over 300,000 copies in the United States. Along with “Bucktown,” the album featured the singles “Wrekonize” b/w “Sound Bwoy Bureill” and “Wontime” b/w “Stand Strong.” Dah Shinin became an influential album in the hardcore New York City hip hop scene of the mid-1990s. Soon after the release of their debut, Smif-N-Wessun received a cease and desistorder over their group name by the Smith & Wesson firearms company. To avoid the lawsuit, they changed their name to Cocoa Brovaz in 1996.
reference : Smif-N-Wessun
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