Lyrics Born

A founding member of the Bay Area's famed Solesides/Quannum crew, Lyrics Born makes good-natured, socially conscious hip-hop which channels the spirit of vintage soul, New Orleans funk, and old-school rap. He is distinguished by his unique baritone voice and melodic, conversational rapping style, as well as his organic production and full-band live performances. First receiving attention as half of the abstract hip-hop duo Latyrx (with Lateef the Truth Speaker), Lyrics Born made his full-length solo debut in 2003 with Later That Day..., a primarily self-produced effort. Numerous mixtapes followed, while studio albums such as 2008's Everywhere at Once and the more rock-influenced 2010's As U Were shifted to a more polished, pop-oriented sound. 2015's Real People nodded to LB's blues, jazz, and funk influences, and 2022's Mobile Homies: Season 1 grew from his interview podcast of the same name. Another 2022 release, Vision Board, was both abstract and funky.