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 10 years, 5 albums and 4 official mixtapes, all while having what XXL Magazine described as the "Most Hated Name In Rap".
The result? If you want labels...Southern boom-bap. Too white for BET, too black for MTV2. 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 of any current hip-hop act and one of the most loyal, worldwide fanbases in all of indie rap music.
Backed with gritty beats, quality rhymes and 808 thump, the 'Lynguists intend on recapturing the soul in southern hip-hop. With what Spin Magazine calls "Outkast's tragicomic poignancy", Deacon The Villain, Kno and Natti follow in the footsteps of artists like Goodie Mob, Ya'll So Stupid, Geto Boys and the aforementioned 'Kast 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.
Their critically acclaimed debut LP, Will Rap For Food, was released in October 2001. CunninLynguists were joined by Floridian emcee Mr. SOS for their 2nd LP, Southernunderground, which was independently released April 1, 2003 on Freshchest Records and QN5 Music and re-released in 2004. Guests included Masta Ace, Tonedeff and RJD2. Between Southernunderground and A Piece of Strange, they released two mixtapes titled Sloppy Seconds Vol. 1 and Sloppy Seconds Vol. 2. Their third LP, A Piece of Strange, was released in January of 2006 via LAU Records. Their fourth album, Dirty Acres, was released 2007. In 2009, they released two more mixtapes titled Strange Journey Volume One and Strange Journey Volume Two, featuring such artists as Freddie Gibbs, E-40, Slug, and Killer Mike. Their most recent LP, Oneirology, was released in 2011. Guests included Big K.R.I.T., Tonedeff, Freddie Gibbs, and Anna Wise of Sonnymoon.
The group has toured worldwide, appearing onstage alongside acts like Nappy Roots, Cee-Lo Green, Bun B, Kanye West, Raekwon of Wu-Tang Clan, Brand Nubian and more.
Kno, hailing from Georgia and currently residing in Lexington, Kentucky, has been described as "one of the top loop-miners east of the Mississippi" by URB. He produced the majority of Will Rap For Food and Southernunderground, all of A Piece of Strange, and has also recieved critical acclaim in The NY Times, Rolling Stone and other magazines for his remix of Jay-Z's Black Album, entitled Kno vs. Hov : The White Al-bu-lum in 2004. Kno released a solo LP in 2010 titled Death is Silent.
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. Deacon released an album with Sheisty Khrist titled Niggaz With Latitude in 2010.
The duo has already begun work as a production duo under the name A Piece Of Strange, currently producing for Lil' Scrappy, Devin The Dude, D-12, Immortal Technique, Warner Brothers' rock and roll outfit Melee and others. They are managed by Lee "Skill" Resnick, whose only other clients are platinum producers Denaun Porter, Naughty By Nature's Kay Gee and Mr. Lee from Houston.
The group now officially counts emcee Natti as 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, Lexington, Kentucky native 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
Get Ignorant
CunninLynguists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do I gotta get ignant and show my pigment on the job?
slap the darkest part of my hands across jaws?
these days and times with jobs hard to find
you gotta work a salt mine or work an assault nine
most folks barely staying afloat through proper channels
and think the rich sit with black candles and slaughter mammals
but life’s a skinny bitch it’s a struggle to get a handle
I’m about to just break bad like Malcolm’s dad
be Meth Boy-R-Dee with a lab and a yellow cab
so I can get the white picket fence and yellow lab
that American dream makes me wake up and scream
it consists of old money buying shiny new things
that I’ma about to break as I’m creating a scene
you can use as an anthem for Kanye’s tantrums
cause I’m about a thumb and a finger away from snapping
dammit!
[V2 - DEACON]
I'm early everyday, never took a vacation
through mandatory overtime I always stayed patient
through all the pettie dramas i'm calmer than a sloth
but THE shit don't change like if Obama would've lost
I done worked my ass off for bout 20 leven years
and I'm usually far from anything that Heaven fears
but I'm feelin off kilter, nah I ain't bout to kill ya
but I am about to loosen up the filter
here's you...jerkin' off to Halle Berry on the shitter
then firing a nigga cause he checkin' on his twitter
you mad ‘cause ain't nobody taggin you in pictures?
well here's a good one of you taggin ya wife's sister
like that! I've been knowin' ways to fight back
Vimeo of you sayin you don't like blacks
clearly though, full HD and in stereo
ya network's got holes my dude, cheerio!
[V3 - DEACON]
Success is just a thought, yet it can push us to the edge
put in our heads at an early age like the pledge
give our allegiance, while you're at it give ya souls
won't tell ya till ya grown that all that glitters ain't gold
but we love to watch em race, love to watch em chase dreams
so dirty ain't a cycle that could make clean
got the athletes juicin, singers gettin naked
the rappers spendin' all they money before they even make it
actors scared to age shootin acid in they faces
slaves to the ratings every show is more tasteless
faithless as angels cuttin' wings from they scapula
to trade it all in and be Dracula?
[V4 - KNO]
Genocide in east Africa, but you watchin Battlestar Galactica
Fillin up the data in the back of your digital camera
Taking glamorous
Shots of your mammaries
Surrounded by Vanity Fair magazine
And stuffed animals, in a house your parents paid for
Built by hand on land people slaved for
Get ignorant, stay ignorant in fact get belligerent
If you feel my sentiment attack
Keep kicking and screaming for your sense of entitlement
Flip me off with the same hand you hold the Bible with
All that Botox, every cream, every vitamin
Can't cover up the ignorance thats inside of you
I wouldn't lie to you, it can't cover up the ignorance thats inside of you
The song "Get Ignorant" by CunninLynguists showcases the frustration that the Black community feels in regards to institutional racism and the ongoing struggle for equality. The lyrics in verse one by Natti describe the struggle of finding and keeping a job as a Black man in America. He wonders if he has to resort to violence and show his "pigment" to attain success. He references the American Dream, which seems unattainable for the Black community, as a reason why he is about to "break bad." Similarly, in verse two, Deacon expresses the frustration of being a hard-working Black man for 20 years without getting the recognition and opportunities that he deserves. He likens his frustrations to the monotony of the workplace being akin to watching "Battlestar Galactica," while the world falls apart around him.
In the third verse, Deacon takes a more broad perspective on society as a whole. He discusses how success is a lie that has been sold to people as a way to control them. Institutions like media outlets, celebrities, and politicians have brainwashed us into believing that money and power are the ultimate goals in life. Deacon emphasizes that the pursuit of these things only leads to emptiness and ignorance. Finally, in verse four, Kno makes a direct attack on people's ignorance.
Overall, "Get Ignorant" is a song that exposes the injustices and inequalities that Black people face in America. The harsh lyrics demand respect for the Black community and draw attention to the flawed societal structures that have contributed to their struggle.
Line by Line Meaning
Do I gotta get ignant and show my pigment on the job?
Do I have to act ignorant and emphasize my skin color to get ahead in my job?
slap the darkest part of my hands across jaws?
Be forceful and aggressive with my colleagues?
most folks barely staying afloat through proper channels
Most people are struggling to survive through legitimate and legal means
life’s a skinny bitch it’s a struggle to get a handle
Life can be difficult and challenging to manage
be Meth Boy-R-Dee with a lab and a yellow cab
Become involved in illegal activities like meth production and distribution
that American dream makes me wake up and scream
The traditional American ideal of success and wealth is frustrating and unattainable
cause I’m about a thumb and a finger away from snapping
I am close to losing control and having a breakdown
through mandatory overtime I always stayed patient
I have endured excessive work hours without complaint
but I am about to loosen up the filter
I am about to speak my mind more freely
jerkin' off to Halle Berry on the shitter
Engaging in inappropriate behavior while at work
then firing a nigga cause he checkin' on his twitter
Terminating an employee for checking their social media during work hours
Success is just a thought, yet it can push us to the edge
The idea of success can be motivating but also can be overwhelming
so dirty ain't a cycle that could make clean
There's no way to fix something that is fundamentally flawed or corrupt
ya network's got holes my dude, cheerio!
Your social connections and influence are flawed and unreliable
Genocide in east Africa, but you watchin Battlestar Galactica
Focusing on entertainment instead of global issues
Can't cover up the ignorance that's inside of you
No amount of external beauty treatments can hide one's internal ignorance
Contributed by Taylor B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Toby Kaj
Do I gotta get ign'ant and show my pigment on the job
Slap the darkest part of my hand across jaws
These days and times with jobs hard to find
You gotta work a salt mine or work an assault 9
Most folks barely staying afloat through proper channels
And think the rich sit with black candles and slaughter mammals
And run the globe with mind control and designer sandals
But life's a skinny bitch, it's a struggle to get a handle
I'm about to just break bad, like Malcolm's dad
Be Meth Boyardee with a lab and a yellow cab
So I can get my picket fenceand and yellow lab
That American Dream makes me wake up and scream
That consist of old money buying shiny new things
That I'm about to break as I'm creating a scene
You can use as an anthem for Kanye's tantrums
Cause I'm about a thumb and a finger away from snapping, DAMN
I'm early e'ry day, never took a vacation
Through mandatory overtime I always stay patient
Through all the petty dramas I'm calmer than a sloth
But the shit don't change like if Obama woulda lost
I done worked my ass about 2011 years
And I'm usually far from anything that heaven fears
But I'm feeling off-kilter. I ain't about to kill ya
But I am about to loosen up this filter. Here's you:
Jerking off to Halle Berry on the shitter
You mad cause nobody's tagging you in all the pictures?
Well here's a good one of you tagging your wife's sister
Like THAT- See I been knowing ways to fight back
Vimeo of you saying you don't like blacks
Clearly though, full HD and in stereo
Your network's got holes, my dude, cheerio!
Look, success is just a thought but it can push us to the edge
Put it in our heads at an early age like the Pledge
Give our allegiance, while your at it give your souls
Won't tell you til you're grown that all that glitters ain't gold
Love to watch 'em race, love to watch 'em chase dreams
So dirty there ain't a cycle that you can make clean
Got the athletes juicing, singers getting naked
Rappers spending all they money before they even make it
Actors scared to age, shooting acid in their faces
Slaves to the ratings, every show is more tasteless
Faithless as angels cutting wings from their scapula
To trade it all in and be Dracula
Genocide in East Africa, but you watching Battlestar Gallactica
Filling up the data in the back of your digital camera
Taking glamorous shots of your mammaries
Surrounded by Vanity Fair magazine
And stuffed animals in the house your parents paid for
Built by hand on land people slaved for
Get ignorant, stay ignorant, in fact
Get belligerent-- If you feel my sentiment, attack
Keep kicking it, screaming for your sense of entitlement
Flip me off with the same hand you hold the Bible with
All that botox, every cream, every vitamin
Can't cover up the ignorance that's inside of you
I wouldn't lie to you
It can't cover up the ignorance that's inside of you
poet215
3:00 to 3:37 probably one of my favorite verses of all time. Holy shit Deacon snapped on this track.
Panthaz
"I'm about to just break bad like Malcolm's dad" genius!
Michu
The way the beat changes for Kno's verse is amazing. I could listen to his verse on this all day.
Clayton Jones
Kno is a genius.
Michael Hulsey
Damn....where was I when this came out? This is fire.
Teishu118
Oneirology is their best album for me. This song is just genius.
werlio
This needs 1,000,000 views. Imagine a music video for this, there could be so many good shots!
toifel
just WOW, so damn smooth. great album as expected!
learn2discover
Love this song! especially the last verse.
Makatak Mack
Awesome song, and amazing beat.