Smif-N-Wessun

Smif-N-Wessun bring their New York boom‑bap to Urban Spree in Berlin on May 19, 2026. The duo from Brownsville and Bed‑Stuy—Tek and Steele—have represented gritty East Coast rap since the ’90s, rooted in Boot Camp Clik and Duck Down, with a flow that links hardcore and boom‑bap to reggae and dancehall influences.

Their debut album Dah Shinin’ (1995), largely produced by Da Beatminerz, helped shape the sound of its era; tracks like “Bucktown” and “Wontime” have long become touchstones. After recording for a period as Cocoa Brovaz in the late ’90s, they reverted to their original name and kept releasing albums: Reloaded, the collaborative Monumental with Pete Rock, Born and Raised, and most recently The All. A constant throughout: heavy drums, soul samples, dense storytelling from Brooklyn, and a distinctive, unvarnished diction.

On stage, Tek and Steele rely on well‑rehearsed chemistry and punchy delivery, trading verses, using call‑and‑response and precise timing. In Berlin they’ll blend classics with new material and deliver the compact, no‑frills sound that’s their signature. Support acts have been announced.