Cocoa Brovaz

Formally known as Smif-N-Wessun, Brooklyn duo Tek and Steele burst on the scene with an appearance on Black Moon's 1993 classic Enta Da Stage. 1995 saw the release of their seminal debut Dah Shinin', which did not sell huge numbers but garnered much love from critics and heads worldwide. With dark, bass-heavy tracks provided by Da Beatminerz, the two charismatic emcees spit fierce verses rife with tales of gunplay, girls and ganja. They put out a few singles and collaborated with their Boot Camp Clik brethren on a number of projects before re-emerging with The Rude Awakening (1998) under the name Cocoa Brovaz. While this album featured some lighter and more diverse production, their trademark flows remained as rugged as ever. On their Internet/White Label single "Super Brooklyn," they flip funky rhymes over crisp beats and a bugged-out, old school Super Mario Bros. track, complete with mushroom and coin sound effects. Although they have yet to hit the platinum mark, Cocoa Bz' are high-rollers in the hip-hop underground, and their always on-point tracks continue to bend the necks of dedicated fans around the globe.