| CYNE | |
| Origin: | Gainesville, Florida, United States |
| Genre: | Alternative hip hop, experimental |
| Years Active: | 1999-present |
| Label: | Botanica Del Jibaro, Hometapes, City Centre Offices, Project Mooncircle |
| Associated Acts: | Nujabes, Four Tet |
| Current Members: | Clyde "Cise Starr" Graham David "Enoch" Newell Michael "Speck" Gersten |
| Past Members: | Akin Yai |
Cyne, often stylized as CYNE ("Cultivating Your New Experience"; pronounced "sign"),[1] is an American alternative hip hop group originating from Gainesville, Florida.[2] The group consists of MCs Akin Yai and Clyde "Cise Starr" Graham, and producers David "Enoch" Newell and Michael "Speck" Gersten, and are currently signed to Hometapes.
Cyne (Cultivating Your New Experience) formed in the summer of 2001. The group consists of vocalists Akin and Cise Starr and producers Speck and Enoch. They are a Hip Hop group originating from Gainesville, Florida, USA. The group aim to create sincere Hip Hop music with a message: Their tracks are politically charged, with culturally introspective, motivational lyrical content influenced by artists such as Public Enemy, Paris, Lakim Shabazz, C.L. Smooth and the early work of Common.The production backing the vocals of Akin and Cise Starr is warm, soulful and organic, influenced by producers such as No I.D., Pete Rock and J Dilla. The group’s first release was the 12” ‘African Elephants’ on the Beta Bodega label Rice and Beans in 2001. Since this initial release the group have released several Eps and 12”s, have collaborated with artists such as Daedelus, Four Tet and Machinedrum and have performed with EL-P, KRS-One, Talib Kweli, Dalek, Atmosphere, The Beatnuts, The Roots, Sage Francis, Against Me!, Holopaw, Big Jus, Mr. Lif, ISIS, Push Button Objects and many more. They have previously released albums on Botanica Del Jibaro, P-Vine, Project: Mooncircle, Home Tapes and City Centre Offices, creating a reputation as artists that stay true to the lyrical power and gritty cut and paste aesthetic of classic Hip Hop whilst managing to explore new sonic territory.[3]
CYNE's 2005 release Evolution Fight was named Album of the Week at Stylus Magazine for the week of August 29 – September 3, 2005.[4] In 2007, CYNE released the Grey Matter EP on their website to be downloaded, free of charge.[5] In 2014, the group released a studio album, All My Angles Are Right, on Hometapes.[6]
Their often socio-politically charged, culturally introspective, and motivational lyrics find influence rooted in blues, jazz, highlife, activism, humanities and philosophy.[7]