Nicco Tyson graduated from the University of the Pacific, combining courses from the School of International Studies, the Conservatory of Music, and study abroad in Mali and Brazil to receive a BA in international relations with a concentration in world music. He has also studied extensively in Mali, West Africa performing with the Mande Afrobeat group Malikan and starting Studio Nanou, a project to record underground music in Bamako. He has been performing and teaching guitar and harmonica for eight years, playing an eclectic mix of folk, samba, blues, funk, jazz, classical, reggae, rock and African styles.