Wikipedia

CunninLynguists

CunninLynguistsis an American hip hop group fromLexington, Kentucky.[1]The group consists ofDeacon the Villain,Kno,and Natti.[2]

CunninLynguists
CunninLynguists performing live in 2009
Background information
OriginLexington, Kentucky,U.S.
Genres
Years active2000–present
Labels
  • Freshchest
  • LA Underground
  • APOS Music
  • QN5 Music
Members
Past members
  • Mr. SOS
Websitewww.cunninlynguists.com

Beginnings

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In 1999,Deacon the VillainandKnomet at Club Kaya inAtlanta, Georgiaat an event for the (later defunct)Blaze Magazinethat included members of Atlanta's ownDungeon Family.[3]They had talked online previously through an emcee named Jugga the Bully, who Deacon invited to an open mic he helped throw called "Underground Live" at theMorehouse Collegecampus, which Deacon attended.[4]At the time, Kno was in the group The Continuum, and Deacon was in the group Illstar.[5]Deacon soon returned to his home state of Kentucky and Kno eventually followed. Following several discussions about working together, the two planned an EP where Kno was only producing and Deacon was rhyming, but soon Kno contributed as an emcee as well.[6]

Musical career

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2001–2005:Will Rap for Food,SouthernUndergroundandSloppy Seconds

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The group's debut studio album,Will Rap for Food,was released in October 2001, and was described byPitchfork Mediaas "a solid, accessible debut, filled with clever rhymes and tremendously consistent production".[7][8]

In April 2003, Mr. SOS joined the group on the albumSouthernUnderground,which was independently released on Freshchest Records. The album featured guests includingMasta Ace,Supastitionand others, alongside production fromDomingoandRJD2,but again mostly Kno.[7]M.F. DiBella ofAllMusiccommented on "a lyrical deftness and genuine feel for the music rarely seen in the bling-conscious rap of the latter-day era".[9]

The group landed a distribution contract withCaroline Distributionin 2004, andSouthernUndergroundwas the first project re-released after inking the deal withWill Rap For Foodbeing re-released shortly thereafter in 2005.[7]

Throughout 2003–2005, the group toured throughout the U.S. and Canada, appearing onstage alongside notable acts such asNappy Roots,Cee-Lo GreenofGoodie Moband touring extensively withPeople Under the Stairs,RaekwonofWu-Tang ClanandBrand Nubian.[citation needed]

The group also released the mixtapesSloppy Seconds Volume Onein 2003 andSloppy Seconds Vol. 2in 2005.[10]

2006–2008: Mr. SOS leaves, Natti joins,A Piece of StrangeandDirty Acres

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Following SouthernUnderground, Mr. SOS left the group on peaceful terms.[7]Soon after, the two remaining members met Natti, a fellow Kentucky emcee. Deacon and Kno describe his joining as a casual process, with Natti already being featured onSloppy Seconds Vol. 2and being involved in Deacon's side group Kynfolk.[11]Natti would be the final member to join the group and end its formation.[12][13]

CunninLynguists released the third studio album,A Piece of Strange,on January 24, 2006, viaCaroline Recordsand Groove Attack Distribution. It features guest spots includedCee-Lo Green,Immortal TechniqueandTonedeff,among others, and is entirely produced by Kno.[14]The album marked a significant turning point in the group's musical career, with the members turning their lyrics and music into more passionate material, and minimizing their "silliness".Hypegave the album a five star review describing it as "the best album of the last 12 months".[15]URBgave the album four stars, describing it as "a piece of beauty, a soulful and sweeping assemblage of cuts that ride a steady wave of infectious momentum",[16]andThe A.V. Clubcommented on Kno's "masterful, adventurous production".[17]

The release ofA Piece of Strangealso saw their profile rise and cultivating a bigger and dedicated fanbase, as they toured abroad multiple times[18]in support of the release, appearing live alongside notable acts such asKanye West,[19]Pharrell Williams,[18]andThe Strokes.[18]

CunninLynguists released their fourth studio album,Dirty Acres,on November 27, 2007, through a joint venture between their own label APOS Music and Swedish-based labelBad Taste Records.[20]Produced entirely by Kno, it features artists such asDevin the Dude,PhonteofLittle BrotherandWitchdoctor,[21]and was described byCMJ New Music Monthlyas "a defiant album that questions everything, even the assumed standards of hip hop".[22]It was lauded by Michael Kabran ofPopMattersas "easily one of the best hip-hop albums of 2007 and arguably one of the best albums of the past decade".[23]CunninLynguists made their way across the United States, Europe and Canada in support of the album, headlining the Dirty Acres Tour in 3 parts over the course of 2008.[24]

2009–2013:OneirologyandStrange Journey Volumes One and Two

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The group released two mixtapes in 2009,Strange Journey Volume OneandStrange Journey Volume Two.[25]On March 22, 2011, the group released the fifth studio album,Oneirology.HipHopDXsaid about the album: "This project combines creative sounds with inventive rhymes and stands as an example of how a great group can come together to craft a well-made album worthy of praise."[26]Its concept revolves aroundOneirology,the scientific study of dreams.[27]

2014–present:Strange Journey Volume Three

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In 2014, CunninLynguists released a mixtape,Strange Journey Volume Three.It was curated entirely by the group's fans who gave feedback on and suggested ideas for song concepts, features, packaging, and artwork. It features guest appearances fromAesop Rock,Del the Funky Homosapien,andMurs.[28]

The same year, CunninLynguists'lexiconwas also found to be one of the richest among rappers who perform in English.[29]

In 2017, the group released the sixth studio album,Rose Azura Njano.[30][31]It features guest appearances from Jason Coffey, Trizz, and Farah Elle.[32]

Name

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The name CunninLynguists is aplayon the terms "cunnilingus"and"linguists".When the group was first forming, Deacon andKnocasually came up with the name, not intending for it to be permanent nor serious,[5]instead only wanting listeners to not take their music as seriously as their music sounded.[33]

Style

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At the group's beginning, members Kno and Deacon focused on energetic wordplay and outlandish rhymes, only at times delving into deeper and more introspective material, such as "Mic Like a Memory" or "Family Ties" fromWill Rap For Food.[34]This continued up until their critically acclaimed albumA Piece of Strange,which featured more serious songs, such as "Brain Cell", and playful ones, such as "Beautiful Girl".[11]The group has been applauded for their ability to craft poetic songs that are also very musically enjoyable.[35]

Members

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KnoandDeacon the Villainare the founding members of the group, who appear on all the Cunninlynguists albums. The duo was briefly accompanied by Mr. SOS for their sophomore albumSouthernUnderground,before the addition of Kentucky-based emceeNattias a permanent member in 2004 (who is featured on all material since the 2005 release ofSloppy Seconds Volume 2). Natti released his first solo album,Still Motion,on September 24 (September 30 in CD form).[36]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Mixtapes

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EPs

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  • The WinterFire EP(2014)(withThe GrouchandEligh)
  • The Rose EP(2017)
  • The Azura EP(2017)

Singles

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  • "So Live!" (2001)
  • "Seasons" (2002)
  • "Dirtay" (2004)
  • "Yellow Lines" (2007)
  • "Mexico" b/w "Wonderful" (2007)
  • "Never Come Down (The Brownie Song)" (2009)
  • "Don't Leave (When Winter Comes)" (2009)
  • "Stars Shine Brightest (in the Darkest of Nights)" (2012)
  • "Oh Honey" (2017)
  • ”Forever” (2024)

References

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  1. ^Hess, Mickey (2009).Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide: Volume 1: East Coast and West Coast.Greenwood Press.ISBN978-0-313-34323-0.
  2. ^Wigney, Allan (October 8, 2008)."CunninLynguists serve up southern rap".Canadian Online Explorer.Archived from the original on January 15, 2013.RetrievedApril 13,2010.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^"Artist Interview: The CunninLynguists".WERS.March 27, 2006. Archived fromthe originalon October 16, 2007.
  4. ^"RapReview Feature for December 13, 2005 – CunninLynguists Interview".RapReviews.com.December 13, 2005.RetrievedFebruary 11,2017.
  5. ^ab"Interview: Deacon the Villain of CunninLynguists".Sound of Boston.September 24, 2014.RetrievedFebruary 11,2017.
  6. ^"Cunninlynguists interview (hiphopsite) – Rap Basement Message Board".Rap Basement.RetrievedFebruary 11,2017.
  7. ^abcdJeffries, David."CunninLynguists Biography".AllMusic.RetrievedApril 12,2010.
  8. ^Kallman (May 18, 2003)."CunninLynguists: Southernunderground".Pitchfork.RetrievedApril 12,2010.
  9. ^DiBella, M.F."Southernunderground Review".AllMusic.RetrievedApril 12,2010.
  10. ^"CunninLynguists:: Sloppy Seconds Vol. 2:: The LA Underground/QN5".RapReviews.com.RetrievedFebruary 12,2017.
  11. ^ab"CunninLynguists Look Back on 'A Piece of Strange' Album 10 Years Later".XXL.RetrievedFebruary 11,2017.
  12. ^"Q&A: Kno (of CunninLynguists) Reflects On Group's Beginnings & Future".BallerStatus.March 3, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 11,2017.
  13. ^Strock, Owen (2005)."CunninLynguists A Piece of Strange".CMJ New Music Monthly.RetrievedApril 12,2010.
  14. ^Walker, Verbal (June 3, 2005)."Cunninlynguists new projects".HipHopDX.Archived fromthe originalon April 2, 2015.RetrievedApril 12,2010.
  15. ^"CunninLynguists A Piece of Strange".Hype.2006.[page needed]
  16. ^Polowy, Kevin (2006). "Cunninlynguists – A Piece of Strange".URB.[page needed]
  17. ^Rabin, Nathan (October 26, 2005)."A Piece Of Strange / Chain Letters".The A.V. Club.RetrievedApril 12,2010.
  18. ^abc"QN Calendar: June 2006".QN5 Music.Archived fromthe originalon February 11, 2017.RetrievedNovember 1,2006.
  19. ^"QN Calendar: July 2006".QN5 Music.Archived fromthe originalon February 11, 2017.RetrievedNovember 1,2006.
  20. ^"Bad Taste Records".Bad Taste Records.RetrievedNovember 1,2007.
  21. ^"CunninLynguists – Dirty Acres".YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on December 21, 2021.
  22. ^Youssef, Emily (December 2007)."CunninLynguists Dirty Acres".CMJ New Music Monthly.RetrievedApril 12,2010.
  23. ^Kabran, Michael (April 15, 2009)."CunninLynguists, Alliteration, and a Strange Journey".PopMatters.RetrievedApril 12,2010.
  24. ^"CunninLynguists Tour Dates 2008".QN5 Music.Archived fromthe originalon November 20, 2008.RetrievedNovember 1,2008.
  25. ^"CunninLynguists – Strange Journey Vol. 2 – CD – tracklisting".UGHH.RetrievedFebruary 12,2017.
  26. ^"Cunninlynguists – Oneirology".HipHopDX.March 22, 2011.RetrievedFebruary 11,2017.
  27. ^"CunninLynguists:: Oneirology:: A Piece of Strange/QN5 Music".RapReviews.com.RetrievedFebruary 11,2011.
  28. ^Simmons, Jon (September 24, 2014)."Interview: Deacon Villain of CunninLynguists".Sound of Boston.RetrievedOctober 2,2014.
  29. ^Daniels, Matt (2014)."The Largest Vocabulary in Hip Hop".
  30. ^Weinstein, Max (September 7, 2017)."Cunninlynguists Are Dropping Their First New Album in Six Years".XXL.RetrievedMay 23,2020.
  31. ^India, Lindsey (October 6, 2017)."Cunninlynguists Drop 'Roze Azura Njano' Album".XXL.RetrievedMay 23,2020.
  32. ^Ivey, Justin (October 5, 2017)."CunninLynguists Return With" Rose Azura Njano "Album".HipHopDX.RetrievedMay 23,2020.
  33. ^Simmons, Jon (September 24, 2014)."Interview: Deacon Villain of CunninLynguists".Sound of Boston.RetrievedOctober 2,2014.
  34. ^"CunninLynguists:: Will Rap For Food:: Urban Acres/Freshchest".RapReviews.com.RetrievedFebruary 11,2017.
  35. ^"Review: CunninLynguists – Oneirology".Sputnikmusic.RetrievedFebruary 11,2017.
  36. ^"CunninLynguists' Natti Details" Still Motion "Solo LP".HipHopDX.September 27, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 18,2017.
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