# Smoothe da Hustler

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African-American rapper (born 1975)

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Smoothe Da Hustler Background information Born Damon Smith (1975-02-08) February 8, 1975 (age 51) Origin Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. Genres Hip hop Occupations Rapper record producer songwriter record executive actor Years active 1994–present Labels Profile SMG Records Website smoothedahustler.com

Musical artist

**Damon Smith**, (born February 8, 1975) known by his stage name **Smoothe Da Hustler**, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He released his debut LP *[Once Upon a Time in America](/source/Once_Upon_a_Time_in_America_(album))* on [Profile Records](/source/Profile_Records) in 1996. He runs an entertainment company, SMG Entertainment, which includes the record label SMG Records.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Profile records

### "Broken Language"

Smoothe Da Hustler's musical career began when he joined fellow [Brooklyn](/source/Brooklyn%2C_New_York) rapper [The Notorious B.I.G.](/source/The_Notorious_B.I.G.) on his 1994 *[Ready to Die](/source/Ready_to_Die)* promotional tour. The following year, Smoothe Da Hustler teamed up with producer D/R Period to release “Broken Language” independently in his hometown of Brownsville, Brooklyn, NY. The track was a 'Hip Hop Quotable' in the November 1995 issue of *[The Source](/source/The_Source_(magazine))*[1] and led to a record deal with [Profile Records](/source/Profile_Records).

### *Once Upon A Time In America*

[Profile Records](/source/Profile_Records) re-released “Broken Language” on Smoothe Da Hustler's 1996 debut album *[Once Upon a Time in America](/source/Once_Upon_a_Time_in_America_(album))*.[2] The album peaked at No. 11 and spent four weeks on the [*Billboard* 200](/source/Billboard_200).[3] The album's two singles, “Broken Language/Hustlin’” and “Hustler's Theme” spent 24 weeks on the *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))* [Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums](/source/Top_R%26B%2FHip_Hop_Albums) charts.[4] *Billboard* described Smoothe Da Hustler as possessing

"a head-spinning, locomotive flow that sounded like nothing else."[5]

## Def Jam Recordings

Off the momentum of *[Once Upon a Time in America](/source/Once_Upon_a_Time_in_America_(album))*, Smoothe Da Hustler was recruited by [Def Jam Recordings](/source/Def_Jam_Recordings) and wrote for variety of gold- and platinum- certified recording artists, including writing with [Rhymefest](/source/Rhymefest) for [Dr. Dre](/source/Dr._Dre)’s legendary unfinished album, *Detox*.

### Soundtracks

With [Def Jam Recordings](/source/Def_Jam_Recordings), Smoothe Da Hustler wrote and recorded "My Crew Can't Go For That" for [*The Nutty Professor* soundtrack](/source/The_Nutty_Professor_(soundtrack)), and "Game Face" for [Public Enemy](/source/Public_Enemy)'s [*He Got Game* album](/source/He_Got_Game_(soundtrack)), which became the featured soundtrack for [Spike Lee](/source/Spike_Lee)'s [film](/source/He_Got_Game) of the same name.

## SMG Records

### *Repossession: SMG*

In 2002, Smoothe Da Hustler ended his record deals to create SMG Records in order to retain full authority over his music. SMG Records’ debut album, *Repossession: SMG* was a no-holds-barred performance by label-mates [Ice-T](/source/Ice-T), [Trigga tha Gambler](/source/Trigga_tha_Gambler), Marc Live ([Analog Brothers](/source/Analog_Brothers)), and Deuce Fever.[6] Due to high demand, *Repossession: SMG* turned into a U.S. tour. The tour was recorded for the follow-up live performance DVD, released in conjunction with [Penalty Recordings](/source/Penalty_Recordings).[7]

### *Violenttimes Day*

On Valentine's Day 2008, Smoothe Da Hustler released a highly anticipated solo album *Violenttimes Day*, which included only two featured artists- [Trigga tha Gambler](/source/Trigga_tha_Gambler) and DV Alias Kryst- his long-time writing and recording partners.[8] The 16-track album was received enthusiastically by fans worldwide, leading him to release the follow-up album, *Violenttimes Day 2,* with SMG Records on [Valentine's Day](/source/Valentine's_Day) 2012. Due to high-demand, physical copies of the album are no longer available, but *Violenttimes Day 2* will be re-released digitally in 2016 with additional tracks not featured on the original pressing.

### *Dem Brooklyn Boys*

Smoothe Da Hustler is currently writing and producing the soundtrack for *Dem Brooklyn Boys*, which will be released through SMG Records in conjunction with the film in 2017.

## Notable performances

Smoothe Da Hustler has performed alongside [Ice-T](/source/Ice-T), [Onyx](/source/Onyx_(hip_hop_group)), [The Notorious B.I.G.](/source/The_Notorious_B.I.G.), [Busta Rhymes](/source/Busta_Rhymes), [Capone-N-Noreaga](/source/Capone-N-Noreaga), [The Lox](/source/The_Lox), [Ghostface Killah](/source/Ghostface_Killah), [KRS-One](/source/KRS-One), [Public Enemy](/source/Public_Enemy), [Jeru the Damaja](/source/Jeru_the_Damaja), [SWV](/source/SWV), [Nine](/source/Nine_(rapper)), and [Special Ed](/source/Special_Ed_(rapper)), to name a few. Special notable performances include [Jean-Michel Jarre](/source/Jean-Michel_Jarre)'s 50th Anniversary [UNESCO](/source/UNESCO) Celebration at the [Eiffel Tower](/source/Eiffel_Tower) in [Paris, France](/source/Paris), which saw 1.25 million people in attendance, the 2002 [X Games](/source/X_Games), which saw 700,000 people in audience, as well as [Hot 97](/source/Hot_97)'s [Summer Jam](/source/Summer_Jam_(festival))[9] and the [Central Park](/source/Central_Park) [Summerstage](/source/Summerstage) in [New York City](/source/New_York_City).[10]

## Cultural influence

### Television

Broken Language was used by [David Simon](/source/David_Simon) ([The Wire](/source/The_Wire)), [Ed Burns](/source/Ed_Burns) ([The Wire](/source/The_Wire)), and [David Mills](/source/David_Mills_(TV_writer)) ([NYPD Blue](/source/NYPD_Blue), [E.R.](/source/ER_(TV_series))) for their [HBO](/source/HBO) miniseries [The Corner](/source/The_Corner) in 2000.

### Fine arts

In 2013, [José Parlá](/source/Jos%C3%A9_Parl%C3%A1) staged a critically acclaimed art exhibition entitled "Broken Language" at [Haunch of Venison](/source/Haunch_of_Venison) in [London, England](/source/London). He cited Smoothe Da Hustler's "Broken Language" cadence and writing style as the sonic inspiration for his visual art form. "Broken Language" became the title painting, and ultimately, the name of the exhibition and accompanying epitaph. In an interview with [Paddle8](/source/Paddle8), [Parlá](/source/Jos%C3%A9_Parl%C3%A1) stated:

"The idea of 'Broken Language' as a title for my 2013 exhibition at Haunch of Venison, the gallery's last show as a primary gallery, comes from the song of the same title from 1995 by Smoothe Da Hustler from Brooklyn. His cadence and delivery of rhymes made me think of language made up of styles defined by ethnic backgrounds. For example, English with a Spanish accent, or Jamaican Patois or Creole and so forth. I want to imagine works that visually connect the sound and cadence of language transformed by gesture and surface."[11]

## Discography

Year Title Chart positions U.S. Billboard 200 U.S. R&B 1996 Once Upon a Time in America Released: March 19, 1996 Label: Profile 93 11 2008 Violenttimes Day Released: March 28, 2008 Label: SMG Music — — 2016 Violenttimes Day 2 Released: February 14, 2016 Label: SMG Music — — 2017 Full Time Hustle Released: March 8, 2017 — —

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Sure Shot : Smoothe Da Hustler's Hustlin review in The Source (1995)"](https://ifihavent.wordpress.com/2007/08/16/sure-sho-smooth-the-hustlers-hustlin-rewiew-in-the-source-1995/). *Press Rewind If I Haven't..*. August 16, 2007. Retrieved February 24, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Smoothe Da Hustler - Hustlin' / Broken Language"](https://www.discogs.com/Smoothe-Da-Hustler-Hustlin-Broken-Language/release/213203). *Discogs*. 1995. Retrieved February 24, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Smoothe Da Hustler - Chart history | Billboard"](http://www.billboard.com/artist/279639/smoothe-da-hustler/chart). *Billboard.com*. Retrieved February 24, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Smoothe Da Hustler - Chart history | Billboard"](http://www.billboard.com/artist/279639/smoothe-da-hustler/chart?f=367). *Billboard.com*. Retrieved February 24, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [*Billboard*](https://books.google.com/books?id=iw0EAAAAMBAJ). Nielsen Business Media, Inc. April 20, 1996.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["SMG (2) - Repossession"](https://www.discogs.com/SMG-Repossession/release/891360). *Discogs*. Retrieved February 24, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [*Ice-T & SMG - Repossession Live*](https://www.amazon.com/Ice-T-SMG-Repossession-Live/dp/B00006LPE6), Image Entertainment, November 19, 2002, retrieved February 24, 2016

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Smoothe Da Hustler - Violenttimes Day"](https://www.discogs.com/Smoothe-Da-Hustler-Violenttimes-Day/release/1776876). *Discogs*. February 14, 2008. Retrieved February 24, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["MissInfo.tv » Throwback Thursday: Doo Wop "Summer Jam '96""](http://www.missinfo.tv/index.php/throwback-thursday-doo-wop-summer-jam-96/). *Missinfo.tv*. Retrieved February 24, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Central Park Events - SummerStage Presents Rock Steady Crew 37th Anniversary Concert : NYC Parks"](http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/central-park/events/2014/07/27/summerstage-presents-rock-steady-crew-37th-anniversary-concert). *Nycgovparks.org*. Retrieved February 24, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["José Parlá Sees the Writing on the Wall | Paddle8"](https://paddle8.com/editorial/jose-parla-sees-the-writing-on-the-wall/). *Paddle8*. Retrieved February 24, 2016.

## External links

- [Smoothe Da Hustler at Discogs.com](https://www.discogs.com/Smoothe-Da-Hustler-Violenttimes-Day/release/1776876)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Smoothe da Hustler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoothe_da_Hustler) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoothe_da_Hustler?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.