Cody ChesnuTT

(US)

Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, the helmet-using R&B stylist moved to Los Angeles, where he became a cult figure, when famous hip-hop group The Roots recorded his The Seed in 2002. Cody ChesnuTT’s bluesy vocals and rocky guitar had a lot to do with the song becoming a big hit. Now the focus will no doubt be on his new, very well-received album Landing On A Hundred that sees him moving more to a soul direction. Most of it was recorded at Memphis’ famous Royal Studios.

In LA ChesnuTT first wrote for and produced the R&B group Six Feet Deep. Then he started The Crosswalk, but when the record company booted the band out, he recorded in his bedroom with a 4-track cassette recorder The Headphone Masterpiece. The double vinyl LP included the original version of The Seed and generally described young man’s sexually and otherwise reckless life in uncommonly frank manner. Cody refused the record company’s offer to record “an official version” of the LP that became a cult classic highly valued by hipsters.

After that ChesnuTT made a significant change in his life style and devoted most of his time to his children. The Live Release album was never released, but Cody has performed its songs on stage. The Black Skin No Value EP came out in 2010 upping his steadily rising status as a socially conscious soul singer. One of its songs, Everybody’s Brother, makes a comeback on the new album.