When Smif-N-Wessun ( Steele and Tek) dropped their debut Dah Shinin’ in 1995, they cemented themselves as icons of the gritty, basement-dwelling New York sound. But by the time the calendar flipped to the new millennium, the landscape of hip-hop had changed. The shiny suit era was fading, and the underground was simmering with a return to lyrical hardness.
: Lends a verse to "Let Me Tell Ya," which serves as a continuation of their previous collaboration on the Super Fly soundtrack.
Verse 2 ( Steele): Steele steps through fog, breath cold like coin clutched tight, Soul stitched seams, a tongue that trades the darkness for the light. Block-level sermons, barber-shop philosophy in chairs, Truth's currency traded in glances, in the media glare. We move like seamstresses on asphalt, mending holes with names, Patchwork of futures sewn from yesterday's flames. Let 'em unzip the rumors; let the fabric speak the proof — All Zip: every hood, every heart under the same roof.
In the late 1990s, Smif N Wessun went on hiatus, during which time Tek and Half-Pint pursued solo projects. Tek released his debut solo album, "The Life of Tek," in 2000, while Half-Pint released his own solo album, "The Clown Prince," in 2001.
The 2019 album Smif-N-Wessun widely regarded as a solid, mature return for the . Produced entirely by 9th Wonder The Soul Council