Smoothe Da Hustler

As is the trend for many an aspiring MC, appearing on underground mix tapes throughout the New York Metropolitan area was this Brooklyn rapper's jumpoff. In 1995, having circulated his name and created a buzz, Smoothe made a power move with the release of "Broken Language," an exercise in thug-life linguistics that helped influence a new style of MCing. The track was actually the B-side of their original single for Profile Records, "Hustlin'." "Hustlin'" was better-than-average hip-hop, but the B-side sleeper became Smoothe's claim to fame. With free verse stanzas littered wit...