The copy of CL Smooth's yet-to-be-released American Me that landed on my desk a couple weeks ago came without a press release. The rest of the floor-to-celing high package I received the same week were all embelished with media features, press statements, etc. Granted, this is teleological reasoning but it dawned on me that CL needs no introduction. If you're not familiar with CL Smooth by now, then you've got your work cut out for you.

American Me, CL Smooth's upcoming solo album on Shaman Works, reminds me of two things:

1)Smooth's flow hasn't changed much in ten years. That's not necessarily a bad thing, seeing as he was ahead of his peers when The Main Ingredient and Mecca & the Soul Brother dropped.

2)CL Smooth minus Pete Rock (this is going to be a hard pill for many to swallow when American Me drops) is not unlike Guru without Preem.

That said, there are plenty of souled out grooves on here.

CL Smooth - American Me
CL Smooth - I Can't Help It
CL Smooth - Smoke in the Air