T’no/~A Beast Like A Lion...My Ear's Near Zi

Antonio "T'no" Johnson was born and raised in the Hollywood Apartments known as Goodwill Village in North Memphis, Tennessee. While briefly attending a performing arts school in South Memphis known as Rozelle, T'no was exposed to many different arts, languages, and ways to express himself. Consequently, these learning experiences would fuel the fire inside of T'no and drive him to become a well known poet and lyricist amongst his peers.After hard times and a horrible relationship with his mother, T'no moved with his father Tony Johnson. He then attended Wooddale Middle and Wooddale High School in East Memphis. It was in the Eighth Grade when T'no discovered that he could write his own rhymes. " I remember when I use to rap other people's music and said that it was me. After a while, I figured that I could do the same," says T'no. After graduating from High School in 2004, T'no attended Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama for one year. Unfortunately, college was too expensive for an out of state student and T'no was forced to go back home. " Man I was on the Dean's List and everything. And they still didn't help a brother out, " says T'no as he jokes about the times he had in college.After returning home, T'no hooked up with Memphis Rap Artists and Producers to work on his first solo project entitled " The Chameleon". He gave his album that name because of his ability to rap fast, rap slow, and to adapt to the different musical patterns of instrumental beats. Artist who collaborated with T'no included T-Mack of Nu Talent records, Yung Flow, and K.P of Game Over and Swat Game. That was only the beginning of T'no's local popularity boost. After deciding that Memphis didn't have anything more to offer, T'no decided to join the Navy Branch of the Military. " I guess it wasn't meant to be. I only made it past Boot Camp," says T'no. The Military lied on T'no's contract which made it a dishonorable contract. Therefore, he was given the opportunity to go back home, and of course he did.T'no returned to Memphis and teamed up with producers T'Mack, Big Juicy, and Texas native Courtney " Architek" Edwards to work on his second solo effort entitled " My Temple". It was the music from this album that caught the attention of then Czar Entertainment A&R LaShawna from New York. Although she was never able to reach an agreement with T'no because of her termination from the company, LaShawna assured him that she would let other A&Rs know who to look for. T'no is currently unsigned and is in the process of creating his own record label with his best friend Brendan. Watch out for this guy. For he definately is a Force To Be Reckoned With!!