NwClr

You may remember me as Smoove, that young R&B singer who climbed the Billboard charts with “Meanwhile Back at the Ranch” and “All About Her,” reaching #39 and #28 respectively and featured on MTV. After those early hits, I didn’t chase another record deal; instead, I dove deeper into the industry as a writer, vocal coach, and collaborator. I became a dad, and my daughter became my world. Music stayed my bread and butter, but family came first.

Life took me from Connecticut to Atlanta, where I juggled more gigs than I can list—studio sessions, writing camps, background vocals—while trying to make ends meet. A collapsed marriage. Promising deals evaporated. I was robbed, became nearly homeless, and lost people that I thought were friends along the way. Yet I kept writing, singing and coaching, because that’s what I knew.

In 2016, another calling pulled me to Tampa: my parents needed me. My father was battling dementia and early Alzheimer’s, and I became his caregiver. I lost him in 2019 after we walked that journey together. During that time I thought I’d found love, remarried, and hoped for stability. 

I’d been tinkering with the idea of changing my stage name as I have been shifting into the new artist I was becoming. I started with “NwClr” (New Color), but it confused people more than it inspired them. Then I found HUE. My last name is Brown—think James Brown, Bobby Brown, Zack Brown, Chris Brown; I am another hue of Brown. I’m HUE Brown. I want to bridge the gap and pick up where Smoove left off . In fact, a label called X5 and Warren Chappell re‑released the Smoove album on streaming platforms in 2024.

My comeback isn’t about nostalgia—it’s about survival and service and my love affair with music.Through Songhouse Labs, I teach kids that music can be their lifeline too; it’s taken me around the world, and I want them to know it can take them anywhere. I still play drums in church, anchor myself in faith, and share my story so no one has to feel as lost as I did.

That’s why I’m launching “Back for the First Time”—a docu‑series for social media that tells my journey in real time, from my earliest hits to the painful middle chapters and into this new phase as HUE Brown. We’ll release singles leading up to the album, with behind‑the‑scenes clips, long‑form updates and raw moments of healing. You’ll see the credits roll, and you’ll stay locked in as I make my way back.

If you’ve ever faced heartbreak, caregiver’s exhaustion, or a dream deferred, I can relate. I hope you’ll walk with me. Together we’ll find our village, restore hope, and write the ending to the story.