The Visionaries

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This article is about the hip hop band. For other uses, see Visionaries.

The Visionaries is a hip hop band from Los Angeles. The group is notable for focusing on positive issues as well as the diverse ethnic origins of its members. The group has been officially together since 1995. Amongst the group’s six members (LMNO, 2Mex, Lord Zen, Dannu, KeyKool, & DJ Rhettmatic), they’ve released over twenty solo and side projects, including four full-length albums as a group on Up Above Records, “Galleries” (1997), “Sophomore Jinx” (2001), “Pangaea” (2004) and “We Are The Ones" (2006). They have collaborated with some of the finest talents in hip-hop, and blessed stages alongside a long list of luminaries including: Linkin Park, Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Dilated Peoples, De La Soul, Blackalicious, and Jurassic 5.

Pushing forward independently and spreading universal love through art, the Visionaries are breaking down barriers with their own brand of message music. The group was acknowledged for their positive impact and contribution to hip-hop in 2005, as they were formally inducted into the Universal Zulu Nation. Their music was also recently featured on the MTV feature film “Volcano High,” the Warner Brothers’ box-office hit “Oceans Twelve,” and one of Midway’s best-selling video games of 2005 “Blitz: The League.”

The Visionaries are:

  • 2Mex (aka SunGodSuns) is of Mexican descent:
    • 2Mex Words Knot Music (MEMO RECORDS) 2000
    • 2Mex B Boys In Occupied Mexico (2001) (re-issued by UP ABOVE RECORDS) 2005
    • 2Mex Sweat Lodge Infinite (MUSH) 2003
    • 2Mex Self Titled (2004)
    • SONGODSUNS Over The Counter Culture 2005 (UP ABOVE RECORDS)
  • LMNO (born James Kelly) is of European descent, and is known for his spiritual strength and references Jah and unconventionally original deliveries:
    • LMNO Leave My Name Out" 2000 (UP ABOVE RECORDS)
    • LMNO Economic Food Chain Music" 2004 (UP ABOVE RECORDS)
    • LMNO P's & Q's" 2005 (UP ABOVE RECORDS)

and the 1993 EP:

    • LMNO "This EP Reminds me of '93." (UP ABOVE RECORDS)
  • Lord Zen and Dannu (known together as Writer's Block)

Zen of African/Native American/Filipino descent, and Dannu is of Filipino American.

    • "En Route" 2001 (UP ABOVE RECORDS)
    • "Next Stop" 2005


  • Key Kool is Japanese American, and a producer as well as a rapper. The Key-Kool & Rhettmatic 1995 release "Kozmonautz," is considered to be one of the first recognized hip-hop album's by Asian American artists. "Kozmonautz" was the first UP ABOVE RECORDS album release, and features the first VISIONARIES song ever released "Visionaries (Stop Actin' Scary)."
    • Key-Kool & Rhettmatic "Kozmonautz" (UP ABOVE RECORDS) 1995
  • DJ Rhettmatic is Filipino American and a member of the highly-regarded Beat Junkies turntablist crew. He has released 3 official albums:
    • Key-Kool & Rhettmatic "Kozmonautz" (UP ABOVE RECORDS) 1995
    • "World Famous Beat Junkies Vol 2. - DJ Rhettmatic" 1999
    • DJ Rhettmatic "Exclusive Collection" (UP ABOVE RECORDS) 2004

[edit] VISIONARIES Discography

[edit] External links

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