Inglewood natives U-N-I link up with Mick Boogie for their current mixtape Before There Was Love. Some progress is being made for this duo and their music is dope. If you missed the NextUp blog I wrote on U-N-I, click here to check it out. Hit up the full story to peep the back cover/track listing, and download link.
As Seen On: illRoots
Showing posts with label U-N-I. Show all posts
Showing posts with label U-N-I. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Mixtape Madness: U-N-I - Before There Was Love
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Seeing is Believing: My Top 10 Videos of 2008
While 2008 is coming to an end, it's only right that I post my favorite music videos of the year. At a time where music video's are repetitive and cliched, the artistic and original videos deserve recognition. Hit up the full story to peep my 10 favorite videos of the year and more! There's more top ten lists to come!
10. U-N-I - Beautiful Day
There's nothing like watching a video filmed in area's you're familiar with. U-N-I cruises through Inglewood (my current stomping grounds), with an ill slow motion effect making it the first entry on my favorite videos of 2008. Very nice track by the way.
9. Young Jeezy - Crazy World
The best way to summarize this video is chaotic. The song title and music video theme compliment each other fairly well. Jeezy shows his interpretation of how crazy the world is going to become if we dont fix economic issues and unfair laws. "Crazy World" is Jeezy's third video off of his semi-political album The Recession.
8. Nas - Ya'll My Niggas
Nas drops a powerful video for one of my favorite tracks off his Untitled album. Nas doesn't appear in the video but instead it features a young kid rapping the lyrics to the track. As I said in the tenth entry of my countdown, it's always a good look seeing places you're familiar with in music videos. A majority of the video was shot on Crenshaw blvd. out here in Los Angeles, which is where I grew up. Nas also added commentary from hip hop's rival, Bill O'Reilly, followed up with a special message from Esco.
7. T-Pain feat. Lil Wayne - Can't Believe It
T-Pain linked up with 2008's hardest working artist, Lil Wayne for his first single off Thr33 Ringz. To brand Thr33 Ringz as a circus-themed album, Pain applied an amusement park concept to "Can't Believe It". Filled with clowns, coasters, and dope effects, T-Pain provides visuals for the lyrics in the song and album theme. "Can't Believe It" isn't only a clean video, it also makes T-Pain one of the most recognizable artists today with his signature top hat that appeared in many of this years videos.
6. Erykah Badu - Honey
Erykah Badu gives her take on classic album covers from Illmatic, to Paid In Full, to De La Soul's Three Feet High and Rising. She also does her imitation of Andre 3000's memorable one-man band video, "Hey Ya". The clever renditions backed up by 9th Wonder's smooth production makes "Honey" one of the most fun videos of the year.
5. Common - Universal Mind Control
Hype Williams does it again with his Common collab for "Universal Mind Control". "UMC"'s robotic, electronic sound makes it obvious that the video would match the style of the track. Common links up with a BBC Robot to deliver one of the most innovative videos of 2008.
4. Kanye West - Flashing Lights
Kanye's third single off Graduation was none other than "Flashing Lights" (one of my favorite tracks from the album), and the unexpected video raised eyebrows and generated a lot of hype over the net. While the video received mixed reviews, I thought it was simple and changed peoples interpretation of the song. Aside from giving the song a new meaning, it also put the busty Rita G on the map. Watching her strip down makes the video well worth an entry on this top 10 list.
There were two other versions of this video that were nice as well and supposedly all three videos are connected.
3. N.E.R.D. feat. Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, & Pusha T - Everyone Nose (Remix)
"Everyone Nose (Remix)" was instantly one of my favorite videos of all time. I'm a huge fan of Hype William's work and he continues to push the envelope in hip hop music videos. Who would've thought you can mix a 80's video game/space theme video with a song about doing lines? I'm not going to do much discussion with this one, I'll let the video do the talking. On a side note, Pharell's shades are strangely dope.
2. Gnarls Barkley - Going On
The number two spot goes to the innovative and eccentric Gnarls Barkley. Gnarls Barkley has a reputation for delivering standout videos, and they continue to be creative with the video for "Going On". Gnarls Barkley brought the song to life with Jamaicans celebrating their discovery of a new dimension, but in the end the main character doesn't want to be followed there.
1. Kanye West - Heartless
My number one pick goes to Heartless. For one, I dig animated videos, and I also feel the video's artistic appeal. Honestly I didn't like Heartless instantly, but the video raised my appreciation. Not to mention it's my Mom's favorite song and video. Originally the video was recorded and later drawn by 65 animators in Hong Kong. The video was also inspired by an flick called "American Pop". I would love to peep the live version of this joint!
Honorable Mentions:
Santogold - LES Artistes
Gnarls Barkley - Who's Going To Save My Soul
Missy Elliott - Ching-a-Ling
Busta Rhymes - Don't Touch Me
Q-Tip - Gettin' Up
Common & Pharrell - Announcement
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Some Fresh New U-N-I For You!
If you haven't heard the Fried, Chicken, & Watermelen LP you are definitely sleepin! Here's their latest vid for "Soul Hop" which hit the net today, and a remix to their smooth track "Beautiful Day" which features Evidence, Big Pooh, Aloe Blacc, Fashawn, Mickey Factz, Theo & Kes Kaos. Gotta love that fresh LA talent!
U-N-I - Soul Hop
Friday, August 8, 2008
Vote U-N-I for Best Breakout LA Artist for the VMA's
U-N-I is nominated for an award for Best Breakout LA Artist for their joint "Beautiful Day" at this years VMA's. They definitely deserve it for this track. I'll let the music do the talkin.
Hit the stash for the blog I wrote on U-N-I. Click Here to Peep the Full Story!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
NextUp: U-N-I
In the early 90's, West Coast Hip Hop was introduced to the world by the likes of Ice-T, NWA, The D.O.C., and many others. Since the West Coat branded itself as the gangsta capital of hip hop, many artists like Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound, and The Game helped perpetuate the reputation of West Coast gangsta rap. While a majority of artists from the West Coast typically represent the street life of the West, a new duo in hip hop is coming with something fresh and new. Meet U-N-I, two dope and innovative MC's who hail from Inglewood, CA. U-N-I consists of intelligent emcee Thurzday, and Y-O who rocks a signature Mohawk. Not only do they possess dope rhymes, they have a unique fashion style and are big time sneakerheads.
U-N-I is a breath of fresh air in not only West Coast hip hop, but hip hop in general. They do as music artists should and keep their music original, personal, and fun. Their street album Fried Chicken & Watermelon is ill. Many hip hop artists rely on popular producers to create a good album, but U-N-I uses upcoming producers who compliment their rap style which results into smooth, vintage-styled hip hop you can vibe to. They touch many subjects and remain creative with their music. Whether their rapping about their love for kicks on "Kream (Kick Rule Everything Around Me)", where they flip Wu-Tang's classic "Cream"; pregnancy scares on "Knock on Wood", or using classic games as a reference to hip hop on "Castlevania" (which samples the boss theme to the classic NES game under the same title). One of my favorite tracks off Fried Chicken & Watermelon is "Beautiful Day", a feel-good track which features production similar to the late Jay Dilla. Peep the video below:
U-N-I have opened up for many hip hop acts such as Redman, Lupe Fiasco, and recently Public Enemy and Ghostface Killah. If you're out in LA, make sure you peep one of their local shows. Below is a link to their myspace where you can hear more music from U-N-I and purchase your copy of the Fried Chicken & Watermelon album.
Click Here to Peep the Full Story!
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