Biography
Charlotte, North Carolina rapper and Dreamville affiliate Lute crafts humble, introspective lyrics that frequently reference his personal hardships and role as a parent. This reflective approach typically aligns with mellow, soul-tinged production, while his artistic development became evident across his 2017 studio debut proper, West 1996, Pt. 2, and the 2021 follow-up, Gold Mouf.
Born Luther Nicholson in 1989, Lute first emerged on the underground hip-hop scene through the rap collective Forever FC, joined by Jimmy Kelso, High I'm Ry, and SchylerChaise. He issued his initial solo mixtape, West 1996, in 2012 during his time with Forever FC, though he stepped back following the arrival of his daughter. After the group and Lute earned recognition from Rick Ross and Pete Rock, J. Cole signed him in 2015 to the expanding Dreamville imprint. Lute’s earliest contribution to the label came late that year on the compilation Revenge of the Dreamers II via “Still Slummin’,” a posthumous J Dilla production.
Two years afterward, the single “Juggin’” marked his return, paving the way for the debut album West 1996, Pt. 2 in 2017, which included guest appearances from EarthGang and Elevator Jay. Lute next featured on the chart-topping 2019 compilation Revenge of the Dreamers III, teaming with J. Cole and DaBaby for the platinum-certified single “Under the Sun.” He put out multiple singles throughout 2020, among them “Life” and “Get It and Go,” before unveiling his second studio album, Gold Mouf, in October 2021. This extensively collaborative effort showcased performances from Saba, JID, Ari Lennox, Westside Boogie, and additional artists, with Phonte handling sequencing and Big Pooh serving as executive producer. A deluxe edition of Gold Mouf arrived in 2022, adding six further tracks.
Born Luther Nicholson in 1989, Lute first emerged on the underground hip-hop scene through the rap collective Forever FC, joined by Jimmy Kelso, High I'm Ry, and SchylerChaise. He issued his initial solo mixtape, West 1996, in 2012 during his time with Forever FC, though he stepped back following the arrival of his daughter. After the group and Lute earned recognition from Rick Ross and Pete Rock, J. Cole signed him in 2015 to the expanding Dreamville imprint. Lute’s earliest contribution to the label came late that year on the compilation Revenge of the Dreamers II via “Still Slummin’,” a posthumous J Dilla production.
Two years afterward, the single “Juggin’” marked his return, paving the way for the debut album West 1996, Pt. 2 in 2017, which included guest appearances from EarthGang and Elevator Jay. Lute next featured on the chart-topping 2019 compilation Revenge of the Dreamers III, teaming with J. Cole and DaBaby for the platinum-certified single “Under the Sun.” He put out multiple singles throughout 2020, among them “Life” and “Get It and Go,” before unveiling his second studio album, Gold Mouf, in October 2021. This extensively collaborative effort showcased performances from Saba, JID, Ari Lennox, Westside Boogie, and additional artists, with Phonte handling sequencing and Big Pooh serving as executive producer. A deluxe edition of Gold Mouf arrived in 2022, adding six further tracks.
Albums
Singles
