“We’re at the center of the U-N-I verse” as we sat down with Y-O and Thurzday to chat with them about everything from their mission in Hip-Hop, the crazy fans that they encounter & what it’s like to be on the road with them. After listening to what they had to say and kickin’ it around the shop with them for a bit, I have to say that’s it refreshing to meet two great people who haven’t taken the lime light to heart & still remain very down to earth and genuine people. Look out for U-N-I, there here to change the rap game!

Interview after the cut.

What’s your mission?

Thurzday- not to stick to one sound.

YO- to be the Michael Jackson of hip-hop.

 

What’s your favorite cartoon?

Thurzday- Boondocks, shout out to Lascan Thomas

YO- Tom & Jerry

 

What’s the best city you’ve performed in?

Thurzday- New York is Live….but Santa Barbara.

YO- Santa Barbara.

What is it like traveling with you guys?

Thurzday- The first person to fall asleep gets a prank done on them. So we try not to fall asleep first.

YO- a lot of shopping. Going to the hottest boutiques. I love thrift shops, trying to find the hottest things.

 

How does it feel to have MTV status?

YO- that was definitely a blessing.

Thurzday- there’s a lot of hard work that goes into it, and by us having our video played on there showed that we worked hard. It was hard work.

 

YO & Thurzday: how did you get those names?

YO- as a kid, I was always called YO, it always came from my mother and kids heard it so everyone started calling me that. People just wanted to call me YO. No deep meaning behind it, just a name that just rolls off your tongue.

Thurzday- my name came from my biological father it’s a nick name for boy who is born on Friday. I was born on a Thursday so everyone just started calling me that. 

What’s a musical artist that you met that you’ll never forget?

Thurzday- um, Mos Def. when we met him I was nervous. He was an inspiration to both of us. YO went up to him and I was like ‘oh shit’. That’s who we look up to, hes influenced a lot of cats. So I just went up to him and shook his hand.

YO- I would say he’s a good friend now and I was shocked that we were in the studio with Evidence from dilated peoples. He was on the beautiful day remix. He was the first person that we recorded with that was major.

 

Top 5 brands?

YO- L&D, Freshjive, I think I’m about to bring back those Nautica jackets, I like Undrcrwn, its fresh & Vans-, real comfortable and laid back.

Thurzday- Peg Leg, Supra, Pam, Vans and Levis.

 

What’s the craziest thing a fan has ever done for you?

Thurzday- craziest thing is people send us YouTube videos dancing to our songs. Its crazy but I love it. Like, girls writing on their hands UNI and sending us pictures.

YO- the funniest thing happened here in Seattle. These groups of girls all wanted to hang out with us after we performed at Chop Suey. But they wouldn’t fit in the cab with us so they were getting mad. It was just real funny. 

 

What do you think of the direction hip-hop is going in?

Thurzday- its going up . hip-hop is a cycle. Rap artists were newscasters and they were saying what was on their mind. Their getting more substance in their music so its just becoming a cycle. 

YO- it’s wonderful.

 

You’re at a bar-  what do you order?

A: Thurzday- Tokyo tea

YO- French connection.

 

What’s the soundtrack to your life?

Thurzday- Stakes is high, the whole album

YO- Big Pimpin – Jay Z

 

Advice to young cats in the game to reach your status of being successful?

Thurzday- have music first. Have dope music that represents you.

YO- first, make sure you build a tight team…if you have a tight team following behind you. The team is very important, its people that support you. As an artist, do things that no one is doing. Like, don’t be afraid to do what others aren’t doing. Just have fun, don’t be too damn serious. Have fun, be creative. It’s good to do music that everyone can relate to that’s happened to you in your life. The love supreme, our sophomore album its music that everyone can relate to. Fat girls off of FC&W is a song people can relate to.

 

Raekwon or Ghostface?

Thurzday- Ghost

YO- Raekwon

 

Favorite article of clothing?

YO- I gotta go with my Shawn Kemp champion jersey. 

Thurzday- Right now it’s these, BB King Ts

 

What’s on constant repeat on your iPod?

Thurzday- Mos Def

YO- I don’t have an iPod I just have a bunch of CD’s thrown around in my car with Mountain Dew everywhere but it would have to be Starin up, by Bob Marley.

What’s the future look like for UNI?

YO- Grammy after Grammy. Opening doors for other artist that we know. Me, being from Seattle I want to give back.

 

Anything you want to tell your fans?

YO- I’m single [laughs]. I’m single and I’m a Scorpio.

Thurzday- Love Supreme is on the way.

 

 

Shoutouts to U-N-I, & Laced Up!!!!
All Photographs were taken by Brandon Williams.

-Alejandra & Paulina