CunninLynguists

There has never been an anomaly in hip-hop quite like the southern trio CunninLynguists. Sampling genres from psych-rock to blues, New Romantic to polka, they have been musically compared to UGK and Atmosphere in the same breath. They have toured and shared stages with Kanye West and Aesop Rock to equal success. They have produced for Lil' Scrappy as well as KRS-One. They have crafted songs with international soul superstar Cee-Lo Green and politically charged indie-favorite Immortal Technique…on the same album. CunninLynguists have eschewed categories, boxes and labels for 23 years, 6 studio albums, 3 compilations, 2 mixtapes, 3 solo albums & countless side-projects all while having what XXL Magazine described as the Worst Name In Rap.

The result? If you want labels...Southern boom-bap. Too white for BET, too black for Good Morning America. A preacher's son, a caucasian guy from rural Georgia and a convicted felon. But mainly a self-made career, one of the most consistent catalogs in the history of hip-hop and one of the most loyal worldwide fanbases in all of indie rap music.

Backed with layered beats, quality rhymes and 808 thump, the 'Lynguists have always tried to recapture the soul in southern hip-hop. With what Spin Magazine called "Outkast's tragicomic poignancy" Deacon The Villain, Kno and Natti follow in the footsteps of artists like Goodie Mob, Y'all So Stupid, Geto Boys and the aforementioned OutKast in painting a picture meant to remind the world that politics, death, racism, relationships, religion and struggle are just as relevant to life below the Mason-Dixon as anywhere else.

Kno, hailing from Georgia and currently residing in Los Angeles, has been described as "one of the top loop-miners east of the Mississippi" by URB. He has produced the majority of CL's discography as well as several side-projects with Sadistik, Marq Spekt & his group Built To Fade.
Born in Versailles, Kentucky, Deacon has also established himself as a producer. His beats have been rocked by the likes of KRS-One, King Tee as well as local Kentucky artists such as Rob Jackson and Bonafide Circle. The son of a reverend, his ear for melody and church trained voice have also landed him hook work for Ruff Ryders, Sean Price and more.

Lexington native Natti is the third and final piece of the CunninLynguists' puzzle -- after turning to music as a positive release after a 2 year prison stint in the early 2000's, Natti's gravely drawl and streetwise lyrics give the group a decidedly interesting 3rd angle on the group's already broad range of subject matter.

Origin: Atlanta, GA
Year Formed: 2001
Members: Deacon the Villain
Kno
Natti

Former Member: Mr. SOS

Official Site: www.cunninlynguists.com