"Women Problems" by Pacific Division
I swear...no matter how many times I hear this shit....I can relate to this shit so much. Congrats to Pac Div for signing to Universal. Pac Div interview will be up soon!
What’s up with you cats, man? Introduce yourselves to the HipHopRemix.com world. How did you two meet and why did you pick the name “U-N-I?”
Y-O:
We met at St Bernard High School in 1999 in the courtyard [during] freestyle battles. We recognized each other’s talents and decided to move as a unit. We both played [basketball] ball too.
Thurz:
We came up with the name U-N-I after being inspired by The Roots “Illadelph Halflife.” They had a song with Common titled “U.N.I.verse at War.” It fit us as a first person statement where myself and Y-O go against all contenders while maintaining an “universal” goal in our music to not be “boxed-in” to 1 sound.
There’s been a huge resurrection of hip-hop going on in the Los Angeles area as far as with acts coming out such as Custom Made, Pacific Division, J*Davey, Blu, and as well as you guys. How do you guys feel about the recent wave of hip-hop music that is coming out of your hometown area?
Y-O:
I seen in the “K.R.E.A.M.” video that you cats had a good deal of about 100 pairs of shoes in the main scene. For all of the sneaker heads out there, how many pairs of sneakers do you both have? What’s your favorite pair of sneakers?
Thurz:
I kind of lost count. My favorite kicks at the moment are my Lobster SBs. Them joints are fresh…I’m kind of upset I couldn’t get the special package from the Concept store in
Y-O:
I’m probably approaching 200. My favorite kicks right now are probably….hmmm….I’m going with my Jordan IV’s
When I seen the “Beautiful Day” video on YouTube for the first time months ago, it definitely reminded me of Pharcyde. It was a feel-good joint, and I felt that I could relate to you cats. A lot of the hip-hop now that is coming out is about material things that most people won’t ever able to afford; it’s a breath of fresh air to hear some hip-hop that I can actually relate to. How do you guys feel about the hip-hop scene right now (both mainstream and independent)?
Thurzday:
I feel that a lot of independent artists are receiving more love than mainstream artists. Folks are tired of being force-fed the bullshit music on the radio, so the independent scene serves as a refuge for folks who want some authentic shit, and that’s what we provide. With “Beautiful Day,” we wanted to showcase a nice day in our city over a laid-back track with our own flavor.
Y-O:
A lot of mainstream artist are on their way out, and you definitely know that when you see cats like Nelly biting scenes and concepts from our music video. I think the independent scene is more creative.
Now, man…I gotta ask this! When you made the song, “Fat Girl,” did you guys have anybody in mind when writing it, or were you just making the song just because?
Thurz:
That song was inspired by our good lady friend. We won’t say her name, but the skit before the song is a true story. We started freestyling over the beat about our big ladies and we made it into a song. Lol!
Are you guys currently in the process of signing to a label, or are you going to stay independent?
Y-O:
If somebody comes with a correct offer, we’d definitely take that into consideration.
Thurz:
…Until then, we’re going to keep producing quality music and pumpin’ it out to the internet and streets.
I know that a lot of cats will look at the album title of your first installment and say, “What the hell?!” What made you cats come up with using the title, “Fried Chicken and Watermelon?”
Thurz:
Basicly, black folks are stereotyped as loving fried chicken and watermelon. The West Coast is seen in a similar light of being stereotyped as 1-dimensional and stuck on that gangster tip. The title is used to catch your attention and break the stereotype.
Y-O:
We represent a new movement and we showcase that with our street album.
My favorite song by you cats right now would have to be “Supreme Song.” Will it be on the next album that you guys put out, and when is the next album coming out? What producers and emcee’s will show up on the LP?
Y-O:
“Supreme” is going to be on our 2nd installment titled “A Love Supreme.” It’s being totally produced by
Define your music in one word.
Thurz: Innovative
Y-O: Fuckin sick! LOL
Who are your top five all-time emcee’s and producers?
Thurz:
Y-O:
Are here one of you working on any side projects? Are you guys sponsored by any clothing brands? How would you describe your clothing style?
Thurz:
No side projects. We’re down with Lemar & Dauley and Orisue.
Y-O:
The best way to describe our style is “comfortably fresh.”
Will you guys be going on tour with anyone this summer?
Thurz:
We might be doing something with Aloe Blacc real soon. Stay tuned in
If you guys could work with any artists, bands, composers, etc, (dead or alive), who would you both want to work with?
Thurz:
I think our ideal collab would be J Dilla on the production with a feature from OutKast
I would like to thank U-N-I for taking the time out of their busy schedule to conduct this interview with me; make sure to add them as a friend on Myspace and check out their first installment, “Fried Chicken And Watermelon” (which can be purchased on their Myspace page).
"Taste" by Pacific Division
I feel these cats on gettin' their money, man. Girl I don't know what to tell you; there's a lot of shit I wanna do and if you're not helping to get some money, then you can do it movin'. The Pac Div Interview will be up within a few days.
Provided by GasBuddy.com |
I had no idea that N.E.R.D. was dropping an album today until a friend of mine had told me about it yesterday. I woke this morning and placed “Seeing Sounds” on; I was completely blown away by the beautiful blending of vocals of Pharrell Williams and Shay Haley and Chad Hugo’s production. There’s no other group out that is hardly as eclectic as these two
“Seeing Sounds” is only 12 songs, and will have you wishing that it was 24 tracks longer by how complete and great it is. This album has something for everyone’s musical pallet; “Anti-Matter” and “Everybody Nose” for the hardcore hip-hop heads, “Yeah You” and “You Know What” for the soulful cats, and “Spaz” for the rock fans. The eclectic level of “Seeing Sounds” is damn strong enough to have music fans of all different genres to be able to find songs that will fit their personal preference. “You Know What” being one of those truly feel-good songs has the power to have to nodding your head for the 4 and a half minute vacation to a musical utopia of peace that it takes you to. With the smooth guitar and synth production and dramatic bass line in complete unison placed together with Pharrell’s contagious vocals and lyrical content, “You Know What” compliments “Seeing Sounds” completely. Another song that you can add to that “Get the Party Started” play list for your “getting ready for the club” mood is “Laugh About It.” Pharrell’s vocals over the party-driven beats of Chad Hugo on this song makes you feel at ease with whatever is stressing you in your life; it has that element to bring the most stressed day into an ideal one. By far every song on “Seeing Sounds” is great, but there’s something so incredible about “Sooner or Later.” The breakdown at the end of “Sooner or Later” is so dynamic that you feel invigorated by how talented all three of N.E.R.D.’s members are; a near seven-minute musical wonder it is for sure! Who would have thought a song about an annoying person sending you text messages and calling you all day could sound so smooth? Only N.E.R.D. on the song “Yeah You!”
Unlike most albums nowadays where you’ll buy an album with 15 songs and only 3 will be good, “Seeing Sounds” by N.E.R.D. will not be disappointing at all! Go cop that! NOW! “Seeing Sounds” blows most currently-released albums out of the water with its complete and utter sheer explosiveness of talent. This damn album will be in heavy rotation for a long time.