Smif-N-Wessun

The rap duo Smif-N-Wessun consists of Tekomin Williams and Darell Yates, two New Yorkers who emerged onto the city's rapidly growing rap and hip-hop scene during the 1990s. They made their recording debut on Black Moon's 1993 album 'Enta da Stage' prior to releasing their first single 'Bucktown' which became an underground hit and launched their career. The success of 'Bucktown' paved the way for their debut album 'Dah Shinin'' which entered the Hip-Hop Charts at number five and went on to sell over 300,000 copies. The album brought the duo some unwelcome attention in the form of a cease and desist notice from the US gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson who were uncomfortable with their name being used by a rap duo. To avoid a potentially expensive law suit Williams and Yates changed their name to Cocoa Bruvvaz and recorded the album 'The Rude Awakening'. The album flopped and the duo retreated from the public eye for a few years making sporadic appearances on various compilation albums. In 2005 they duo reprised the Smif-N-Wessun name and released 'Smif-N-Wessun: Reloaded'. The album heralded a return to form for the duo and they have continued to record and release material under their original name.