It was clear from the start that there was something special about Antonio McLendon. Born and raised in an inner city of Connecticut on December 23, Antonio showed precocious musical talent as a small child. Antonio's journey began at the age of four, residing in Southern Georgia, when he began producing gospel beats with his father's Casio machine. An accomplished bass player, singer and songwriter of the gospel circuit, Antonio Sr. provided his son's musical foundation prior to abandoning his family.
Financially unstable, Antonio's mother, a preacher, moved the family back to the small town of Waterbury, Connecticut. With family struggles at 7, Antonio sought refuge in the musicianship of his family members, teaching himself to play every instrument in his grasp, including the acoustic GUITAR, DRUMS, and PIANO. Citing Kim Burell, Hezekiah Walker, and Karen Clarke as early influences, Antonio cultivated his voice and developed melodic musical and lyrical arrangements while singing in his mother's gospel choir.
Antonio cites his father as the single greatest impact on his sound, “my father is the best singer in the world, vocally and arrangement wise.” His other influences include: The Isley Brothers, D' Angelo, Michael Jackson, Prince and Musiq Soulchild, to name a few. Later in life, Antonio immersed himself in hip-hop, drawing on the talents of his then label mates, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, The Game, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck, Eve and Busta Rhymes, as well as Jay-Z, Biggie, Nas and Lil' Jon.
His story started a few years back as the vanguard male R&B to be released on Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records. At time a newcomer, Antonio McLendon, has every reason to pause and revel in what he had achieved.
Reminiscent of a young Marvin Gaye, Antonio's multi-layered vocals lure the listener into the erroneous conclusion that this young artist could not possibly have room for musical talents beyond his intoxicating voice. However, Antonio is that rare breed of artist that music industry heads tirelessly search for throughout their professional careers—Antonio is an infectious r&b soul singer, accomplished songwriter, breakthrough producer, self-taught instrumentalist (with over 7 instruments in his repertoire to date), beat-boxer and rhyme-slingin' lyrical MC.
Antonio pairs his somniferous vocals with gritty urban lyrics, complemented by intricately layered beats and melodies that will titillate the truest hip-hop heads and delight r&b purists.
The Connecticut native has come a long way from the two years he spent living in his Honda Excel. “The car was sittin' on books. There were no wheels and the windows were busted out, you feel me?” After signing a publishing deal with Sony ATV publishing, Antonio, found himself in the center of a bidding war between the legendary DR. DRE and Neptunes super-producer, PHARRELL WILLIAMS of Star Trak Records.
All of the above came to a halt when Antonio was incarcerated and his career paused until this past summer when Antonio was released and within 2 weeks of being released he was back in the studio composing the hits he wrote while in prison. Hits like “Mend Your Broken Heart”, “You Deserted Me” and the tribute to President Obama “Better Days”.
Now teamed up with artist development/management team WAR of ART Media Group, he plans to take the industry by storm at a time when urban music is turning away from simplistic musical categories; this multi-talented auditory phenomenon provides a fresh and rare amalgamation of welcoming elements. Antonio is certainly a star on the rise and an r&b phenom.
