Words by S. Cadet

Sometimes it takes a minute for an artist or group to grow on you.

“K.R.E.A.M.” was my first foray into U-N-I about a year ago and I wasn’t feeling it at first. The backpacker in me was infuriated at their attempt to flip a classic Wu joint. Plus I was hatin’ on Y-O’s fro hawk hard. All jokes aside it actually wasn’t that serious. However, it would take some time before I started opening up to their music.

Things changed after I heard “Love Supreme” off The Exactly’s mixtape. I was reluctant to give them props but I couldn’t deny that it sounded good to me. Then I heard the “Stakes Is High” (Remix) from the Hip-Hop Honors tape. Honestly they held their own on that track and gave it their own vibe. Plus they still stayed on topic with the track’s original premise of dealing with everyday BS around you. Next was a “Beautiful Day” which sucker punched me with its 90’s vibe beat (the saxophone loop did me in.)

Finally, “Soul Hop” had me hooked. It’s cool beat matched with slick bars like Thurzday’s “We can go bang for bang or Soul 2 Soul/Compare mine to yours, mind pure gold/Like the son in the name of the Father/Reincarnated as the Dalai Lama.” I’ll admit that I’m late but I’m enjoying their songs. I’m even coming around to K.R.E.A.M. The music videos for “Beautiful Day” and “Soul Hop,” which premiered on MTV 2 earlier this month, are dope as well.

Sometimes it only takes time and a few songs to give artists their fair shake. Playing the waiting game on U-N-I led me to appreciate their music way more than I did when I first heard them. Most importantly, the Fro Hawk doesn’t bother me (as much) anymore.

U-N-I – “K.R.E.A.M.”