Today we’d like to introduce you to Langston Gardner.
Hi Langston, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story really starts here in Dallas, Texas. I grew up surrounded by music — gospel in church, soul and R&B in my headphones, and a constant curiosity about how songs made people feel. I started writing songs when I was around ten years old, and before long I was recording my own ideas and experimenting with production.
Over time, that curiosity evolved into a full creative path. Artists like Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, Michael Jackson, and Kendrick Lamar shaped the way I think about sound and storytelling. Their ability to blend emotion, message, and musicality inspired me to create my own lane — something that lives between trap, neo-soul, and R&B.
After high school, I enrolled at Media Tech Institute to study Recording Arts. That experience gave me the technical foundation I needed — from working on SSL boards to mastering Pro Tools — and it also gave me the confidence to build something bigger.
Now I’m the founder of N.E.G.U.S Productions (Nobly Elected Gods Under the Sun), a Dallas-based creative collective focused on music production, sync licensing, and visual storytelling. Through it, I’ve been able to collaborate with a range of artists and push the culture forward by merging sound, business, and vision.
Everything I’m building — from my artist career as Lank G to the projects under N.E.G.U.S — comes from a place of purpose. I want my music to make people feel something, but I also want to inspire other creatives to take control of their art, tell their truth, and treat their creativity like the business it can be.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Hahaha absolutely not — but honestly, I don’t think God ever intended for this to be easy for me. The music industry can be a shady place, and I’ve definitely invested time and money into people and situations that didn’t always have my best interests at heart. I’ve failed more than a few times, lost momentum, and had to learn how to rebuild my consistency.
But I look at all of that as part of the process. Every setback taught me something — about business, people, and myself. It forced me to grow sharper, more disciplined, and more grounded in purpose. Now, when opportunities come, I’m fully equipped to execute. All those lessons turned into armor, and that’s what keeps me moving forward with confidence.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I go by “ Lank G “, I specialize in song structure and lyricism — that’s really where my heart is. From a young age, I studied the greats like Nas and 2Pac, and now I draw a lot of inspiration from artists like Kendrick Lamar who push storytelling and wordplay to another level. I’ve always been intentional about crafting songs that have depth but still connect emotionally — especially through hooks that stick with you. That’s what I love most: building songs that feel good but still say something.
People who know me call me the “golden child”, and I take that seriously. My family, friends, and community have poured a lot of belief into me, and that energy fuels everything I do. I feel like their faith in me gives me a kind of superpower — it keeps me grounded and focused even when the road gets rough.
One of the moments I’m most proud of was in 2019, when I had the chance to work with Kirk Franklin during his Camp Lotus program. I performed my original song “Pain” and ended up being selected for a solo spot — the crowd gave me a standing ovation, and that moment really shifted my confidence as a performer and creator. I’ll always be grateful to Uncle Kirk for that opportunity.
What sets me apart, I think, is that I’m not afraid to blend eras and genres. My sound lives somewhere between trap, neo-soul, and R&B, but the foundation is always authentic storytelling. Whether I’m in the studio producing for others or performing as Lank G, my goal is to make music that feels timeless and intentional.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters to me most are family and freedom — and to me, those two go hand in hand. Family is what got me here; they’re the ones who prepared me for this journey we call life. They’ve been my foundation through every high and low.
Freedom, on the other hand, is that liberating feeling of breaking every chain — emotional, mental, and financial. It’s the ability to live life on your own terms and provide that same peace for the people you love. Everything I do, I do so my family can experience that freedom after all they’ve done for me. That’s what keeps me motivated every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/lankg
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ft.lankg/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/langston-gardner-662b0b252?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdglt8PlvIVfw4Y5Pmsv3TQ
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-83374846
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lankg?lang=en
