Xannon Shirley, known as The Tongue, was born in Sydney, Australia. He is a rapper, DJ, and high school teacher who began his music career by releasing the Bad Education EP in 2006 after winning the Revolver MC battle, which led to his signing with Elefant Traks. His debut album, Shock and Awe, was released in 2007. The Tongue's third album, Surrender to Victory, was produced by Cam Bluff and supported by a national Australian tour in May 2013. His fourth solo album, Hard Feelings, was released in 2015. After touring nationally in 2016, The Tongue parted ways with Elefant Traks. In 2022, he released a new single, "Joy", featuring Inês, and in May of the same year, Bloodwork: The Best of the Tongue, a compilation featuring songs from across his albums, EPs, and mixtapes.
