AfricasGateway.com recently got in touch with this crazy rap duo and talked about their album Will Rap For Food and a bit about the future.

You guys got a great name. Can you explain to us more about the group and how you got started.

Deacon:
I’ll let Kno handle that one…

Kno:
We met in the Clayton County jail in 1998, he was in for bootlegging David Hasselhouf concert tickets, I was locked down for peeing in the middle of Centennial Olympic Park. After we were released we formed the group. CunninLynguists was the name we chose because we thought it sounded funny. I don’t really know what it means though.

Your new album has been very well received by the heads here in South Africa. How has it been received where you from?

Deacon:
We’ve been getting pretty good love from everywhere around the States. I’ve been really happy with the support people have been giving.

Kno:
Word. Support like a too-small jockstrap.

The production was really good, who is KNO and will he be working with you on future projects?

Deacon:
Ummm…KNO is actually a membership, multiple persons…it stands for (Kill No Opposition), they promote peace, love and happiness throughout the world…to love your enemy and to just stand back up and ask for a hug everytime you get stabbed in the back…jus kiddin’… Kno’s the involuntarily appointed leader of CL… He does all the beats, writes all the rhymes, and mixes all the tracks… I just stand over him and keep his whip wounds fresh… all of this is true, except the rhymes statement and the whip wounds statement… I let them heal, the re-open them…jus kiddin’.

Kno:
I’m Swizz Beat’s Casio repairman.

There’s a track on your album where you talking about absent fathers and that really struck a chord with me coz I can relate to that song. To put your feelings out like that, it’s actually quite difficult for most people. You know, this is a problem today, not to repeat the same faults our fathers made. What are your thoughts on this?

Deacon:
I luckily always had support and love from both parents…but most of my friends didn’t…it’s hard for me to speak on this topic…I’ll let Kno expound.

Kno:
Well, it’s weird because just a few days ago my half-sister, whom I’ve never met, instant messaged me out of nowhere. I’m actually contemplating going to meet them now. My Mom was never around, but my Dad loved me so I was good. I think you can make do, you just have to understand it’s not your fault. People do what they do for whatever reasons, but I’ve never blamed myself for my Mom leaving.

Your track 616 Rewind which features a few other great emcees, man, it blew me away. How often do you guys battle and secondly, which ones were the most memorable?

Kno:
I battle once in a while, if I’m in the mood. It’s fun. I don’t really participate in organized battles like some people do, not really my thing. I think Deac’s been in a few. I’ve battled a couple times on the internet for fun, but Deacon’s won some dope shit from online battles, haha.

Deacon:
I used to battle quite often in different audio tourney’s around the net…most recently at rapmusic.com. I’d have to say that those battle tournaments definetly sharpened my flow and got me to where I am today…I love it.

Any artists you’d like to work with in the future?

Deacon:
First: Andre from Outkast
Second: Redman
Next Lifetime: Biggie

Kno:
Lif, Edan, Outkast, and some others.

Are you going to touring the states? Ever thought of coming to Africa?

Kno:
No touring, maybe a few shows though. Back to lab, ASAP! We’d do a show in Africa if someone paid our plane tickets and let us chill at their crib (and fed us some original African cuisine).

You’ve left us with such a dope album, when is the next one coming out?

Deacon:
Probably the end of next year if all goes well…with an addition to the CL lineup and Kno focusing more on the beats…MORE HOT SOUTHERN TRUE UNDERGROUND HOT N’ SAUCY PRODUCTION!

Kno:
Yeah, maybe next year. As soon as Def Jam pays us this 200,000 signing bonus so we can buy a Bentley and some bling.

Any last words or shout outs?

Deacon:
Free Mumia…and let ODB have a VCR and porno’s in the cell…shouts to ILLSTAR, my hometown squadron…shouts to Tonedeff and Domingo for doin’ what you doin’ for a bruthuh.

Kno:
Be on the look out for my beats on Braille’s upcoming solo LP, Icon the MIC King’s upcoming 12” f/ Tonedeff, a QN5 production compilation featuring some big name underground cats, and a whole slew of other crappy hip hop. Peace!

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