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
Hourglass
CunninLynguists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And like true friends
And say, "I'm sorry you're blue"
I don't have you
And like true friends
They still come around
I'm waiting for growth to show up and for hope to manifest
Fate to send caress and a face that I can feel
With weight from heavy breasts
An embrace that helps me chill
Grace that human males can't feel
Unless he builds with a female until time stands still
When we take off our shells and chill
All before fingers learn bodies like we got blindman skill
She speaks no evil but says whatever
After shaking up bed-feathers still prays together
On a parlay flip, permenant private party trip
The next Ruby and Ossie Davis, I'm talking great shit
Up walking late, lit. 4:25, high
Her mighty fine thighs silhoutted by sky-rise
Place the know how, behind my eyes
To take something unfortunate
And show them they're a fortune in my life
Look KY side, lend me a hand, send me a plan
A Remy Shand message of love, tell Cupid we fam'
And to clock something that'll learn who I am
As I learn with, chillin out, watching our hourglass sands
I don't have you
And like true friends
And say, "I'm sorry you're blue"
I don't have you
And like true friends
And say, "I'm sorry you're blue"
Spent Pubescent years, blessed with peers I could trust
Spinning records to a game of checkers after dusk
Laughter rushes out of mouth, clutchin my stomach, abs burning
From fast learning, not cash earning
Cause we wasn't really on 'at yet, just yes' y'alling
At this point, our lil' brainchild was hardly crawling
But had fallen enough times to keep a niggas head strong
Fucked with enough spiders to charm a mama leglong
We's dead wrong, many days and nights
Trying strange thangs
From jane to cane and variants of the same change
Get trapped, you off map, no Peter Pan scenes
Where everythings tight and lily whiter than Klan dreams
Tryna get something ripe, a nice woman queen
Stay strong and fight life, like Sudan kings
Pray to make cents for giving
And make sense out of living
Lord give me patience to gain wisdom, please
In "Hourglass," CunninLynguists speaks to the difficulties of dealing with loneliness and the desire for intimacy. The chorus speaks to being without the person that the singer wants, but still having loyal friends who are willing to listen and empathize. The first verse describes a longing for growth, both in self-improvement and in the appearance of hope. The singer is struggling to find rest and comfort, longing for someone to hold him, someone with whom he can be intimate and experience grace. The second verse reminisces about young friendships, where the singer would laugh until their abs burned, but notes that the struggle for intimacy has only become more complex and difficult as they got older. The verse concludes with a plea for patience and wisdom.
The metaphor of the hourglass, with its finite amount of sand, seems to represent the finite nature of life itself, and the desire for meaningful connections before time runs out. The song speaks to the complexities of loneliness and the desire for intimate relationships, and the difficulty of finding and sustaining them. Ultimately, the singer is left hoping for someone who can see the treasure that he is, and who can build something meaningful and lasting with him.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't have you
I am missing you
And like true friends
I still have friends that care for me
And say, "I'm sorry you're blue"
They offer their support and condolences
I'm waiting for growth to show up and for hope to manifest
I am waiting for positive changes and opportunities to appear
3 A.M.? I'm awaiting awake to hand me rest
I struggle to sleep and rest properly
Fate to send caress and a face that I can feel
I hope to find someone comforting and loving in my life
With weight from heavy breasts
I desire physical intimacy and affection
An embrace that helps me chill
I need someone to comfort and relax me
Grace that human males can't feel
There are some things that only women can provide or understand
Unless he builds with a female until time stands still
A strong, lasting relationship with a woman can provide immense satisfaction
When we take off our shells and chill
When we are vulnerable and intimate with each other without pretense or armor
All before fingers learn bodies like we got blindman skill
We will learn each other's bodies through touch and intimacy, even without sight
She speaks no evil but says whatever
She is honest and straightforward without being hurtful or judgmental
After shaking up bed-feathers still prays together
We will remain connected and spiritual through even the most intimate moments
On a parlay flip, permenant private party trip
We will embark on a long-lasting, fulfilling journey together
The next Ruby and Ossie Davis, I'm talking great shit
We will have an influential and meaningful relationship like the famous couple
Up walking late, lit. 4:25, high
I stay up late, possibly using substances to cope or relax
Her mighty fine thighs silhoutted by sky-rise
I admire her physical appearance and beauty
Place the know how, behind my eyes
I need to develop knowledge and understanding within myself
To take something unfortunate
To go beyond negative circumstances or events
And show them they're a fortune in my life
To see the value and worth of everything that has happened
Look KY side, lend me a hand, send me a plan
I am seeking guidance and assistance from others
A Remy Shand message of love, tell Cupid we fam'
I desire a message of love and connection, and I am familiar with the feeling of love
And to clock something that'll learn who I am
To find someone who truly understands me and all of my qualities
As I learn with, chillin out, watching our hourglass sands
As we grow and learn together, we will watch time pass and cherish every moment
Spent Pubescent years, blessed with peers I could trust
I had good friends and a support system during my adolescence
Spinning records to a game of checkers after dusk
We enjoyed simple, innocent pleasures together
Laughter rushes out of mouth, clutchin my stomach, abs burning
We laughed and had fun together, even to the point of physical exhaustion
From fast learning, not cash earning
We were focused on personal growth and experiences, not material wealth
Cause we wasn't really on 'at yet, just yes' y'alling
We were still figuring things out and growing as individuals
At this point, our lil' brainchild was hardly crawling
Our ideas or goals were just starting to take shape and become real
But had fallen enough times to keep a niggas head strong
We had experienced failures or setbacks, but they only made us stronger
Fucked with enough spiders to charm a mama leglong
We had gone through enough challenges that we were no longer easily intimidated
We's dead wrong, many days and nights
We made mistakes and errors many times along the way
Trying strange thangs
We experimented and took risks in life
From jane to cane and variants of the same change
We tried different lifestyles or mindsets, but they were all ultimately similar
Get trapped, you off map, no Peter Pan scenes
If you get stuck or lost, there is no magic solution or escape
Where everythings tight and lily whiter than Klan dreams
There are no perfect or completely pure situations or people
Tryna get something ripe, a nice woman queen
I am looking for a mature, kind, and beautiful partner
Stay strong and fight life, like Sudan kings
I must be resilient and endure hardships like a strong leader
Pray to make cents for giving
I hope to find fulfillment and purpose in giving and generosity
And make sense out of living
I want to find meaning and understanding in life's experiences
Lord give me patience to gain wisdom, please
I ask for patience and understanding to grow and learn in life
I don't have you
I am still missing you
And like true friends
But I still have supportive friends
And say, "I'm sorry you're blue"
Who offer their condolences for my struggles
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Unison Rights S.L., Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Hipgnosis Songs Group, Fintage House Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AARON FLETCHER, KRISTIAN BIRKIN, PAUL JAMES BUTLER, TIMOTHY DAVID PARKIN, WARREN MICHAEL HAMPSHIRE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Passthekind
on 616 Rewind - Feat. Tonedeff, Sankofa, Kashal Tee & Celph Titled
They got too many ?s on the lyrics.
The first one, you're gone in 60 seconds, like Nicholas Cage is.
2nd one, In the stretcher you went into a physical rubix cube.
3 n 4 got me too, I gotta listen again.
5 What kind of man are you I bet you sit on a urinal too.