LMNO
Artist Bio
LMNO
Emerging out of Long Beach, CA, James Kelly aka LMNO (Leave My Name Out), is undoubtedly one of the most distinct voices from the LA underground embodying a lyrical skater/surfer slashing through the streets of a city "where Cadillac's have surf racks."

LMNO was introduced to the music industry in late 80's early 90's witnessing at first hand the N.W.A. legacy, (see the LMNO's cameo appearance in the D.O.C.'s "Formula" video with Dr. Dre). LMNO was recruited by Rhyme Syndicate to be in his first group with fellow Visionaries member Key-Kool. After the group disbanded, LMNO worked on various demo projects until his debut on the Circle of Power (of Blak Forest) album. LMNO then contributed works on the Blak Forest crew album "You are Now Entering."

With the West Coast Underground and it's rising star Ras Kass grabbing the attention of the hip-hop world, heads on the West and East tuned into Key-Kool & Rhettmatic's "E=MC5," a posse cut featuring Ras Kass and his crew Western Hemisfear; ironically, the "white kid" from Long Beach named LMNO shocked audiences with the infamous "Don't f--- with LMNO, or I'll send your demo tape to Jerry Heller…" From that point, LMNO began gaining attention, and could very well have fallen into the "shock-line rapper" category, yet, this spiritually maturing artist chose quite a different path, and left the "tongue & cheek" style for others to exploit.

Charging forward as a spiritual soldier, with faith and JAH as motivation, LMNO began evolving as an artist and a person. After shaping and voicing his views on the Visionaries albums "Galleries" and "Sophomore Jinx," LMNO was ready for his debut solo effort. His debut 12 inch sleeper cult-classic "Hit the Fence," as well as the popular 12" inch releases "Radiant" and "Grin & Bear It" had heads waiting for a full length album.

LMNO's debut full-length album LEAVE MY NAME OUT (Battle Axe) was released in 2001 and featured the brilliant LMNO/Madlib (of LootPack/Quasimoto) team-up "Head Locked" which brought LMNO's name to the forefront of hip-hop heads worldwide and had the underground buzzing for more.

In 2004, LMNO toured and promoted the release of the 3rd Visionaries album PANGAEA, as well as his second official studio album ECONOMIC FOOD CHAIN MUSIC which was followed a year later with "P's & Q's" featuring production by up and coming beatmaker LD.

A new Visionaries album in 2006 had LMNO touring with his crew all over the World and in 2008, LMNO released a collaborative album with East Coast Super-Producer Kev Brown for one of the year's best underground hip-hop albums, SELECTIVE HEARING.

Today, LMNO remains a studio fiend recording hundreds of songs over the past few years with some of the best Producers in the World waiting for the right time to release his next classic album.
Discography

Leave My Name Out - Full Length
Economic Food Chain Music - Full Length
P's & Q's - Full Length
Let'eMkNOw - Full Length
Push That Work - Full Length
Drop That - 12in Vinyl Single
Grin & Bear It (re-issue) - 12in Vinyl Single
Better - 12in Vinyl Single
Boom It - 12in Vinyl Single
1888 - 12in Vinyl Single
LMNO - 12in Vinyl Single
HIT - 12in Vinyl Single
Damsel In Distress - 12in Vinyl Single
Industry Revival - 12in Vinyl Single
This Ep Reminds me of 93 - EP
Gallery
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Artist Updated
Artist News
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
LMNO’s “Boom It,” produced by LD (Technicali) is the first single from his latest full-length album, “Work Ethic”. The 12-inch single, which is available now, has been blessed with artwork from original NASA and CA crew member Rich One.

Along with his wildly ingenious Graffiti pieces and characters (as seen on the “Boom It” cover), Rich One has designed for numerous large corporate entities until he and his friends decided to form the rising shoe company Creative Recreation

Rich One has been a huge part of the Up Above family creating the first ever Up Above cover as well as the Visionaries Eyecon that we all know and love.

Other Up Above artwork done by Rich One include the timeless "Can U Hear It" 12-inch vinyl by KeyKool & Rhettmatic, Visionaries "Galleries" and "Sophomore Jinx" album artwork, and numerous covers and designs for Kozmonautz, Beat Junkies, Visionaries, LMNO, Writer’s Block and much more.

Click the link below to check out LMNO’s 12-inch “Boom It” produced by LD with artwork done by Rich One (BIG UPS RICH!) ...Read More
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
LMNO & KEV BROWN releasing a music video for their first single "Who's That?" off their new album "Selective Hearing (The Beat Tape)" coming out March 25, 2008 on Up Above Records.

Directed and edited by KeyKool (co-direction by LMNO), the video takes the viewer through a day in the life of LMNO: Getting a beat tape (from KEV BROWN), writing to the beat tape, heading to the studio to record the track (w/ LD on the scratches), and finally, sharing the track with the world!

Be on the lookout for the limited "Who's That?" 12-inch vinyl single.

Click the link below to check out LMNO & Kev Brown "Who's That?" music video....Read More
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