Water For Mars

CYNE (Cultivating Your New Experience) formed in the summer of 2001, in the swamps of Gainesville, Florida. CYNE is: emcees Akin and Cise Star, and producers Speck and Enoch -- four distinct people, with the common goal of creating sincere and honest music.

Their often politically-charged, culturally-introspective, and motivational lyrics find influence rooted in the early works of Nas, Public Enemy, Outkast and Common Sense. The production could be described as warm, soulful and organic -- born out of the school of producers that cite the likes of RZA, Pete Rock, Jay Dee, and DJ Premier. CYNE's 'sound' is impacted by everything from Bad Brains to Krautrock, from Camp Lo to Kate Bush, from Venezuelan Gaita to West African Highlife -- it's a hybrid of emotional, historical, and challenging influences.

The group's debut release was a hard-hitting 12' entitled 'African Elephants' [Rice and Beans, 2001]. Since then, CYNE has released a number of EPs, singles, and two critically-received albums. They have also collaborated on projects with internationally acclaimed artists Daedelus, Four Tet and Nujabes. On or off tour, the band has performed with The Roots, EL-P, KRS One, Talib Kweli, Dalek, Atmosphere, The Beatnuts, Sage Francis, Against Me!, Mr. Lif, ISIS, and Push Button Objects, among others. They have previously released albums on Botanica Del Jibaro, P-Vine and City Centre Offices, creating a reputation as artists that stay true to the lyrical power and the gritty cut and paste aesthetic of classic Hip Hop while managing to explore new sonic territory.