With a name that could only have been created by MCs, CunninLynguists performed a headline show last night (6.28.16) at Under the Bridge in London. UHH were actually in the venue to interview and watch Granville Sessions, the support act, but of course we couldn’t leave when we heard the headliner was a hip hop trio from the US (Lexington, Kentucky and Atlanta, Georgia) currently on their Doombox European tour. The MCs individually go by Deacon the Villain, Natti and Kno and have been in the game for 15 years and counting. They have worked with many impressive artists including Cee Lo Green, Killer Mike, Aesop Rock, Masta Ace and BJ the Chicago Kid (way back in 2011) to name but a few.

With a discography longer than Route 1, I was expecting a well-seasoned performance, and that is exactly what I got. CunninLynguists definitely have the dirty South grit about them, although there are some strong Cali vibes coming through, allowing for a smoother experience. They had DJ FlipFlop on the decks, backed by some impactful visuals and colorful lighting, giving an overall impression of a well-rehearsed hip hop show. The most indicative sign for me was the 16 bottles of water waiting for the trio to, I assume, imbibe throughout the show – any act that gets that thirsty is putting on something worth watching.

Some of the crowd favorites included Sticky Green and Drunk Dial, but really they were magnetized from the beginning, and the energy only increased as the set went on. I didn’t know about CunninLynguists before I heard about the show, and it felt like I had been missing out on an insider secret all this time. If you like soulful hip hop with Southern edge and witty lyrics, then I would strongly recommend you give CunninLynguists a chance, or at the very least, tell someone about them just so you say their name out loud.

And if you were wondering, all but a few water bottles were left at the end.

Connect with CunninLynguists at www.cunninlynguists.com

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All photos by Ben Walsh www.benwalshphotos.com