Lute (born Luther Nicholson, July 6, 1989, Charlotte, North Carolina) is a rapper signed to J. Cole's Dreamville Records. He built his name on introspective, soul-tinged hip-hop that draws on fatherhood, anxiety, and working-class Charlotte life - themes he developed across his albums West 1996 Pt. 2 (2017) and Gold Mouf (2021). His platinum-certified feature on "Under the Sun" with J. Cole and DaBaby, from the Grammy-nominated Dreamville compilation Revenge of the Dreamers III, brought him his first Billboard Hot 100 entry.
Lute performed at the fifth and final Dreamville Festival at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, NC, on April 5, 2025, and hosted his free GoldMouf Garage block party as a pre-festival kickoff.
In an April 2025 interview, Lute said he is working on new music but is taking his time, describing himself as being in a phase of creative realignment.
Lute contributed a feature to "Ice On 77" on Gauxstman's album 28217, continuing his selective approach to outside collaborations.
Lute headlined his first-ever solo show in Charlotte at Neighborhood Theatre on August 17, 2024, performing with a live band.
Lute joined JID on "Ma Boy," the lead single from the Creed III soundtrack, which surpassed 27 million Spotify streams.
![Lute [Dreamville] — Klub Jassmine, Warsaw](/images/events/23111.webp)