U-N-I

by David Jeffries
Featuring rappers Thurzday (Yannick Koffi) and Y-O (Yonas Semere Michael), the Los Angeles, CA, duo U-N-I came together thanks to their love of hip-hop, limited-edition sneakers, and golden age video games. After releasing the street album Fried Chicken and Watermelon, they flipped the Wu-Tang Clan's "C.R.E.A.M." in 2007 for their own sneaker-loving single "K.R.E.A.M. (Kicks Rule Everything Around Me)." Besides being a YouTube hit, the accompanying video earned U-N-I a spot in Slam magazine's footwear column. Soon, Urb magazine would put the group in its annual "Next 1000" feature, while The Source put U-N-I in its "Unsigned Hype" spotlight. All this press was in anticipation of their 2009 release, A Love Supreme, recorded with producer RO Blvd.