SXSW 2009: U-N-I

U-N-I - Hollywood Hiatus
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There is no doubting that the West Coast is going through what can only be called a rap revolution lately. The West Coast gangsta rap that we know of is pretty much dead--with Snoop Dog focusing on family life, and Suge Knight getting knocked out by everybody except your mom--and is being replaced by a new class of laid back 80s-influenced indivivudals. Think the Knux, Pacific Division, and Blu amoung others.
But for all the hype surrounding the new class, the rappers that I hear about the lest are U-N-I. The duo of "Thurzday" (Yannick Koffi) and “Y-O” (Yonas Semere Michael) haven't gotten as much chatter as their new class counterparts and that is a shame. The Compton duo combine the harsh realities of living in the 'hood, with 8-bit Nintendo samples and throwback imagery. 
Despite dropping a mixtape with Mick Boogie, U-N-I still has a ways to go. No poppin' champagene here--the duo both have day jobs. Hopefully that will change after SXSW.
UNI will be performing four showcases at SXSW, including the OkayPlayer Showcase on March 21st.