Cocoa Brovaz.

STILL SHININ' IS RIGHT. THE COCOA BROVAZ, or Smif-N-Wessun, are as smooth and melodic as ever. With their third album droppin' sometime this year, the Cocoa B's, Tek and Steele, are solid to the core in rhymin' and everything else they do. With their single bouncin' loud on the new Lyricist Lounge 2, they've grabbed the attention of those who might have forgotten about Smif-N-Wessun. Before hookin' up a dope performance for an emerging artists benefit in the Bay Area, Tek and Steele shared a few blunts and some words of wisdom.

Where you representin'?

Steele: We represent Bucktown, USA--worldwide entertainment. The heart that pumps the blood which circulates through our bones is from BK. My name is the general S-T, double E-L-E.

Tek: Smokey Lah for the kidz representin' Smif-N-Wessun, Big Tek here.

Are you trying to get the Smif-N-Wessun name back?

Tek: We got set up in some litigations, we holla'd at a couple of lawyers and Rawkus seemed interested in trying to get the name back. But it all boiled down to the gun company trying to sue us for hundreds of millions of dollars. So we switched over to Cocoa Brovaz, but we're Smif-N-Wessun 'til we die anyway.

What's the new album like? Where did you get Still Shinin'?

Tek: The title Still Shinin' came from a mixture of the Rude Awakening and our first album, Da Shinin'. It's a mix between them, so you can get both seasons at one time.

Who did you collaborate with for this new joint?

Steele: We did some joints with Smokey Lah, Mr. Rippa, and Buckshot. But right now we just try to keep it real to the core, reminiscent of Da Shinin'--a lot of Tek and Steele. Not too many artists can say that it's just them on their album. We're gonna take it back to the essence of doing songs with just the artists whose names are on the album.

How long have you two been Kickin' it together?

Tek: We've been together since birth. We just let nature run its course; from school, to going to camp together, to livin' in the projects, and our mothers knowin' each other. It's just nature right here.

Steele, what's up with the Bucktown USA album? When is it going to drop?

Steele: Summertime. Its gonna be some real hardcore shit to chew on.

What happened to that project you worked on with Tupac?

Steele: Due to the circumstances of what happened to my comrade, we couldn't tell where the masters went. As soldiers, it was for us to go out there and meet that brother on a personal level, work with him, see his work ethic, and take back to New York what we learned on a positive note. We are the best of both worlds--not choosing sides, 'cause we fuck with the Biggie and we fuck with Pac. It was a blessing, and as individuals it helped our career.

How did you hook up with Lyricist Lounge?

Steele: That's New York, baby. You can't come through Lyricist Lounge without seem' Cocoa B's or feelin' Cocoa B's. We're the gatekeepers of this shit. A lot of cats pass and get expelled and won't be allowed to come back unless they pay respects to this game called hip hop.

Who are you hyping right now? Who is going to be hot?

Steele: Smif-N-Wessun. We got some solid, solid joints. That's what people need to be concentrating on, Smif-N-Wessun, Cocoa B's, Tek and Steele. And the Bucktown USA compilation.

How much weed do you two smoke every day?

Steele: A lot. Smoking isn't even like a thing to do, it's just natural; like breathing. When there's no smoke around, it's like not breathing.

Shout outs...

Steele: Give love to my DJ Logic, give love to my PNC Smoke Dogg, to the whole Bay, Sactown, Cali--all my Bootcampin' Champions, to my tight and my left and to my Duckdown fam and my Rawkus fam.

Tek: Mi casa es su casa. That's a wrap.