Hip hop artists come a dime a dozen, but every now and then a group emerges from the underground with the talent, the charisma and the ambition to make it to the top. Smilez & Southstar (S&S) first burst through the upper ranks of hip hop in 2002 with their freshmen album Crash the Party and its hit single Tell Me (Whats Goin On). That song landed them a top spot on the Billboard music charts, BETs Rap City video countdown and a performance on BETs 106 & Park. Now they're back with their sophomore album "The ReIntroduction" to remind everyone of who Smilez & Southstar really are.
Smilez, 27, hails from the Bronx, NY, and Southstar, 26, was born in Hawaii but raised in Los Angles, CA. The two present a delicious but vicious flow that could only emerge when east meets west. When these two cold fronts collide they create a lyrical storm that guarantees to keep heads nodding, trunks bumping and booties shaking from one end of the continent to the other. While in their teens, the two moved to Orlando, FL, to fulfill their destinies in the town they now call home.
Before joining forces Smilez & Southstar were fixtures in Orlandos competitive hip hop underground scene. Both enjoyed strong local lyrical support, showcasing their skills by free styling some of the hottest underground mix tapes. After garnering much home front love and street credibility, whenever national hip hop acts would converge on Orlando it was a given that Smilez or Southstar would bless the stage as the opening act. They have independently opened for such luminaries as Ja Rule, Mobb Deep, Jadakiss, the Beatnuts and D12. After recording their first song together in 1999 as a favor to their friend, DJ Ekin, it became evident that the two became even more potent when combined. In 2001, at the suggestion of Trans Continental Records Producer Dakari (NSync, O-Town, LFO, & 95 South) Smilez & Southstar took to the studio to record their first full-length collaboration, Crash the Party.
"The ReIntroduction", their new sophomore album, promises to deliver those same hypnotic, fo da street beats mingled with their signature storytelling lyrics. Their underground hit "U Know" featuring Treal beckons all to recognize their power and behave accordingly. The official first single "U" featuring KC starts where "Tell Me" left off. We have no doubt this song is just a foretelling of whats to come.