Psycho Les

In 1989 Psycho Les, born Lester Fernandez and known for his dual roles as MC and producer, joined rhyme partner JuJu to launch the Beatnuts, the raucous underground Latin rap outfit celebrated for its high-energy parties. His ear for rare grooves and classic production styles helped shape the crew’s signature approach to digging through crates for obscure samples while staying rooted in traditional hip-hop techniques. On the Strength Entertainment recognized that skill by issuing his mix CD Music for the Soul, Vol. 1 in 2005, giving him a platform to spotlight vintage soul and funk records. Beyond the Beatnuts, his beats have supported artists including Fat Joe, Inspectah Deck, Tony Touch, and Mos Def. He completed his first solo album, Psycho Therapy, in 2007 and released it on his own Pit Fight Records label.