Lingo
Encyclopedia
Lingo, Chris Hernandez is an American Christian rap artist, producer, and label owner
), Texas
. His teen years were spent running around with the local gangs, around drugs, and party life. His love for music attracted him to the party scene, learning the art of DJing, mixing and playing for local house parties.
In 1996, during his senior year in high school, he began to turn to his convictions and follow his calling to serve the Lord faithfully and leave behind the life he was leading that lead his peers to jail, death, or a troubled life.
After 2 other independent releases, Tha Bloodline Compilaiton, and D.O.G. Squad The Debut, Lingo landed the label its first national distribution deal with Word Records
via an agreement with LKS Entertainment in 2003. This was a major success for a small label with no major financial backing or big name star power. Groovesound Records went on to release its first nationally distributed record, a solo project by Lingo titled Representin' Tha Finest.
In 2006 Lingo accomplished a dream in his musical career. As a child, Lingo's first exposure to Christian rap was by Christian rap artist "D-Boy" Danny Rodriguez
, also from Dallas, Texas. Because of D-Boy's pre mature death, Lingo never got to meet the artist he respected and admired. In an attempt to allow D-Boy's legacy and music to live on, Lingo and Groovesound Records reached out to Cookie Rodriguez (the mother of D-Boy) for permission to release a tribute album to D-Boy. The album titled The Fallen Soldier Compilation: A Tribute to D-Boy was released in 2006 with contributions from Groovesound Records artists and Fred Lynch, a fellow pioneer in Christian hip hop
.
[Groovesound] Records released a total of 9 releases through Word Records
from 2003 to 2006. After the deal with Word expired, Lingo brought the label to Infinity Music Distribution, an independent Christian music distributor.
In all Lingo has released 12 national distributed records through his label, including his 3 solo efforts, Representin' Tha Finest (2003), All Things 2 All People (2005), and No Cost For Da Streetz (2007). Artist that have appeared on these releases include KJ-52
, D.O.G. Squad, Mr Del, Tre 9, Brother Ig, LAW Click, E Dogg Montana, and more.
All Things 2 All People - 2005
No Cost For Da Streetz - 2007
Compilations
Tha Bloodline Compilation - 2000
Tha Bloodline Compilation: Family Business - 2003
Keep It Gangsta Compilation - 2005
The Fallen Soldier Compilation: A Tribute To D-Boy - 2006
Early years
Lingo was born to Richard and Carmen Hernandez in Dallas, TX. Born into a faith based and God fearing family, Lingo knew the Lord at a young age. Although he was raised with strong Christian convictions, Lingo was also born in and around some of the roughest streets in Dallas (Oak CliffOak Cliff
Oak Cliff is a community in Dallas, Texas, United States that was formerly a separate town located in Dallas County; Dallas annexed Oak Cliff in 1903...
), Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. His teen years were spent running around with the local gangs, around drugs, and party life. His love for music attracted him to the party scene, learning the art of DJing, mixing and playing for local house parties.
In 1996, during his senior year in high school, he began to turn to his convictions and follow his calling to serve the Lord faithfully and leave behind the life he was leading that lead his peers to jail, death, or a troubled life.
Musical career
In 1997 Lingo formed a Christian rap group called Streetype along with DJ "B", a childhood friend, and a Christian emcee named Chris Shock. After shopping the group to various Christian rap record labels, he decided to form an independent label called Groovesound Records. In 1998 Groovesound Records released its first release by Streetype titled Step Into Tha Vibe. The Cd was sold in and around at local and regional shows.After 2 other independent releases, Tha Bloodline Compilaiton, and D.O.G. Squad The Debut, Lingo landed the label its first national distribution deal with Word Records
Word Records
Word Records is a Christian record label based in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a division of Word Entertainment , which, itself is co-owned by Warner Music Group and Curb Records...
via an agreement with LKS Entertainment in 2003. This was a major success for a small label with no major financial backing or big name star power. Groovesound Records went on to release its first nationally distributed record, a solo project by Lingo titled Representin' Tha Finest.
In 2006 Lingo accomplished a dream in his musical career. As a child, Lingo's first exposure to Christian rap was by Christian rap artist "D-Boy" Danny Rodriguez
Danny Rodriguez
Daniel Dimitri Rodriguez , alias D-Boy Rodriguez, was a Christian rap artist. He released two albums that received moderate commercial succes, before being murdered in 1990...
, also from Dallas, Texas. Because of D-Boy's pre mature death, Lingo never got to meet the artist he respected and admired. In an attempt to allow D-Boy's legacy and music to live on, Lingo and Groovesound Records reached out to Cookie Rodriguez (the mother of D-Boy) for permission to release a tribute album to D-Boy. The album titled The Fallen Soldier Compilation: A Tribute to D-Boy was released in 2006 with contributions from Groovesound Records artists and Fred Lynch, a fellow pioneer in Christian hip hop
Christian hip hop
Christian hip hop is hip hop music characterized by a Christian worldview, with the general purposes of evangelization , edifying members of the church and/or simply entertaining.-History:Since hip-hop started in the 1970s, various hip-hop artists have...
.
[Groovesound] Records released a total of 9 releases through Word Records
Word Records
Word Records is a Christian record label based in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a division of Word Entertainment , which, itself is co-owned by Warner Music Group and Curb Records...
from 2003 to 2006. After the deal with Word expired, Lingo brought the label to Infinity Music Distribution, an independent Christian music distributor.
In all Lingo has released 12 national distributed records through his label, including his 3 solo efforts, Representin' Tha Finest (2003), All Things 2 All People (2005), and No Cost For Da Streetz (2007). Artist that have appeared on these releases include KJ-52
KJ-52
KJ-52 is a Christian rapper from Tampa, Florida. The "KJ" part of his name refers to his old rap alias, "King J...
, D.O.G. Squad, Mr Del, Tre 9, Brother Ig, LAW Click, E Dogg Montana, and more.
Personal life
Lingo currently resides in Dallas, TX with his wife and 2 children. He is currently serving as the youth pastor at Holy Spirit Temple - Dallas, TX.Discography
Represtin' Tha Finest - 2003All Things 2 All People - 2005
No Cost For Da Streetz - 2007
Compilations
Tha Bloodline Compilation - 2000
Tha Bloodline Compilation: Family Business - 2003
Keep It Gangsta Compilation - 2005
The Fallen Soldier Compilation: A Tribute To D-Boy - 2006