Oneirology, the name of the CunninLynguists new album, is defined as the study of dreams. Dreams are as diverse as life as they are directly influenced by our endeavors. The title plays as a theme throughout the entire project with Kno’s beats, inundated with soul, sonically directing the album with cohesion and grace. Natty & Deacon The Villain lyrically paint pictures from a multitude of vantage points depicting the lives we lead and the powers we are ran by. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re familiar with indie Hip-Hop beat machine RJD2, you already know dude’s a beast because of his work with Cage, MF Doom and CunninLynguists, not to mention his own diverse and eclectic collection of albums and instrumentals.

What you may not have known, is that he actually is a beast – an eight-foot-tall woolly bully with horns, who can’t seem to get anything right. Well, at least that’s how homeboy’s portrayed in Read the rest of this entry »

It’s nice to see us fans/bloggers aren’t the only ones feeling Gibbs. After guest appearances on tracks from the likes of Mike Posner, CunninLynguists, Joey Scudda and soaring Kansas rapper XV, it’s obvious rappers feel the need to spread some dough around to capitalize on dude’s talent. This one in particular is actually featured on X to the V’s pessimistic new mixtape, Everybody’s Nobody, which happens to be hosted by our homie DJ Benzi, so definitely download that.

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Download — XV Feat. Freddie Gibbs & Shawn Chrystopher – “Me, You” (Remix) (Produced By Seven)

As an extra, here’s another Freddie feature, this one with Mr. Falyon.

Download — Sean Falyon feat. Freddie Gibbs & Bonecrusher – “All I Know”

Sidebar: If you could have it your way like BK, which rapper would you most want to give Gibbs some shine?

If by chance you ever stumbled into the Church of Thugs, there’s a good chance this is what you’d hear the choir singing right before or after “God In The Building.”

Natti and Gibbs provide the testimonials over a head-nod inducing mix of organs and guitar riffs by Kno.  And who’d Freddie take the opportunity to come down to the alter to repent for their sins?  Read the rest of this entry »

Words by Landon A.

Do you remember your first love? I remember mine. She was a 1966 Chevy Malibu with full chrome lips and clean kicks. I wasn’t her first. She’d been with an old lady from Jefferson County for the majority of her life and then she found the Lord when a priest from backwoods Kentucky snatched her up. But I was her third, and she was my first, and for $6,000 of hard earned cash she was mine forever. I was in love. Read the rest of this entry »

“Running Wild” is the official first single from Strange Journey Volume Two, the second installment of this year’s double release from the trio known as CunninLynguists. With Kno on the boards, Natti and Deacon The Villain trade verses with Evidence and E-40 about chaos and violence in today’s world. Read the rest of this entry »

Words by Landon A.

The more stamps your passport gains undoubtedly the more stories you’ll collect. Flat tires, missed flights, traveler’s diarrhea, it all adds to the baggage of being a constant traveler. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you not know that Kno of CunnLynguists makes bomb beats? Have you listed to his Excrementals before? And did you not know that he’s also a capable thief? Peep the jack move Read the rest of this entry »

Words by Landon A.

With the stoner sanctioned festivities of 4.20 10 days out, it’s about time for participants to hit the local grocery joint for the necessary munchables, stock up on Visine and Axe spray if you’re planning on going to work/school and of course hit up your local herbal retailer before his stock goes bone dry like Tickle Me Elmo’s at Toys-R-Us circa 1996.

Now I’m not going to deny or confirm my participation in said day’s festivities, however I know or have heard that it’s imperative to have that perfect array of songs to spark to. Here’s my contribution, the flagship single Read the rest of this entry »

The soundtrack to our daily grind, all in a nice & neat format. You know what it is © Cliff Harris. It’s Crew Love.

Corey Bloom

C-Rayz Walz & Swave Sev – “The Family Crest”

This has to be one of the iller tribute songs I’ve heard, done by one of favorite MC’s for one my favorite duos. C-Rayz and Swave Sev pay homage to Gangstarr with cleverly worded web of the albums, songs, productions and musical significance that built the legacy. More than anything this song has sparked my annual Daily Operation or Mass Appeal debate which has dominated my playlist…Daily Operation.

Z-Man – “Street Creed Need Me”

Z-Man spits so much relevance on this one the whole song is a quotable. Topics cover the spectrum and the wordplay is seasoned with too many flavors to favor. Off the Machete Vox sampler Sneak Preview the DNAE Beats produced banger is undisputable, plus you can’t front on the title.

S. Cadet

Pac Div – “Shut Up”

This is the song of the week already and we didn’t hit the weekend yet. I might have to sneak into the studio Read the rest of this entry »

I got lucky & spoke to Mike on Friday morning when I got to Austin, hoping that he was going to get there a day before his “Put The A In Austin” performance. He told me that he was headed to Kentucky Read the rest of this entry »

In an era in Hip-Hop where artists are more predominant than fans, keeping your name relevant is a must. Whether you’re a new jack looking to make a splash or a seasoned vet looking to make it last, certain tactics have to be put in place to elevate your stature. One way to keep your name in peoples mouths and help your cause is by attaching a respected emcee to your track. Find someone who fits your fanbase, drop some cash for a hot sixteen and reap the benefits of crossover love. Easy enough.

This was the formula recently used by weathered wordsmiths the CunninLynguists and C-Rayz Walz, as they both reached out to longtime underground dweller Slug for that extra component of quality. Read the rest of this entry »

Words By Jason Hortillas

Here’s a new EP by Tunji & Toby, collectively known as Inverse, called So True. Perhaps the best way to describe the vibe is primarily on the smooth tip; thug aficionados Read the rest of this entry »

Words By Landon A.

It’s not very often that I get to put on for my city, but this gem landed in my lap late last night and I felt I had to share it with you all. Read the rest of this entry »

CunninLynguists are geniuses. Not just for their namesake, but because they are one of the most original and creative groups making hip-hop today, and released the best album you probably haven’t heard this year. Their third album is appropriately titled A Piece Of Strange, the album’s dark feel evokes a unique blend of emotions. This is soul music.

A Piece of Strange conjures memories of Outkast with DJ Kno’s (native ATLien) smooth smoke infused grooves and Deacon the Villain’s Kentucky fried slang-filled introspection, or it may cause flashbacks to “Aquemini” on spaced out rock tracks like the album’s Chonkyfired last song, “The Light.” But more than anything else, this album causes the listener to contract a severe case of déjà vu to “Soul Food.”

Just like the Goodie Mob’s debut (hip hop’s most fitting acronym considering their current group status) they sing hooks together on “Nothing To Give,” “What Will You Do,” “Remember Me,” they have a reverence to the group’s most notorious song about mental prison on “Brain Cell,” and by the fourth song it’s no coincidence that one Cee-Lo Green is the album’s first guest on “Caved In.” Just check out the hook on the second song “Since When,”

“I heard ‘em say Southern folk can’t rhyme
Some of yall must be out ya Goddamn mind
Yeah its about that time, we got that shine, and it’s been about them lines
Since when?
Ever since a pocket full of stones
Ridin dirty in the Chevy sitting heavy on chrome
Ever since Goodie Mo’ had Food for Soul and them dirty red dogs hit the do…’”

But don’t get me wrong, they don’t rely on Jay-Z’s liberal interpretation of imitation (or biting) being the highest form of flattery to their heroes. In fact, the parts of the album that don’t sound like it was produced in the The Dungeon during the mid-90s are its highlight.

DJ Kno orchestrates a masterpiece theatre which features multiple interludes which serve as effortless instrumental segues to Deacon’s narrated sinful themes like their hood’s way of life on “Nothing To Give,” a Crash-like racial narration featuring Tonedeff at “The Gates,” and a love song to everyone’s favorite Mary on “Beautiful Girl.” Kno, who was the group’s second MC on CL’s first two albums has allowed newest group member Natti fill his vocal role and now elects to strictly handle the beats. And it’s Kno’s essentially southern, but not regionally biased, sound that gives this album it’s cohesive yet diverse feel. Especially in his excellent usage of guitar throughout the album, it’s almost as if Kno chooses to speak through the beats and his best verses are his guitar solos.

This album is a multi-layered refreshing sound for the ’06 that is open for many interpretations and comparisons. Now listen for yourselves.

Cunninlynguists – A Piece Of Strange

For more info, visit…

http://www.whatisapos.com/

http://www.myspace.com/cunninlynguists

PEACE,

Yikes!