CunninLynguists, known for their witty lyrics and edgy productions, emerged as underground rap favorites with their debut album "Will Rap for Food" in 2001. The duo, consisting of Deacon the Villain and Kno, gained critical acclaim and a dedicated following before releasing subsequent albums, including "Southernunderground" in 2003 and "A Piece of Strange" in 2006, which featured collaborations with notable artists like Cee Lo Green and Immortal Technique. Their discography continued with releases like "Dirty Acres" in 2007 and "Oneirology" in 2011, marking their first entry on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Following their studio albums, CunninLynguists engaged in side projects and collaborations, with member Natti releasing a solo album in 2013 and Kno forming the trip-hop group Built to Fade. The group continued to interact with fans, incorporating their input into projects like "Strange Journey, Vol. 3" in 2014 and collaborating with artists like the Grouch and Eligh on "The WinterFire EP." Their releases in 2017, "The Rose EP" and "The Azure EP," culminated in the album "Rose Azura Njano" in October, showcasing their evolution and versatility in the hip-hop scene.