Music Monday 4.29.13 Adinah Kari

UxU fans…Music Monday is back in effect! Sorry for the delay, but we always come back with hotter material to make up for the short hiatus.

This week we are highlighting the DMV grown femcee Adinah Kari. A senior at Old Dominion University, Adinah currently double majors in Mass Communication and Criminal Justice with a goal to work in the entertainment industry. However, her dream is to continue with her music.

Music has always been a part of her life. Growing up, Adinah was somewhat of a troublemaker at home leaving her with plenty of time to hone her crafts. Writing and music were the only things that kept her alive. It was at this moment in her life that she started to write. She began to rap her own songs once she got to college.

Her upcoming mixtape, The Green Mile, is a showcase of her talent and what she describes as “her journey.”

“I say the green mile is a reflection of the road I’m embarking towards success,” Kari said.

This album is the first of many great works to come from this aspiring artist. She is hoping to reach her fans through the messages behind her music. Her style is raw and the one word to describe her lyrics is “real.” 

Adinah’s smooth flow stands out within her music and her messages speak from where she’s come from and what she’s been through. Her experiences, like many other rappers, scream through her 16 bars.

“I want my music to say I can give people what they want to hear, but at the same time have a message behind it,” Kari said. “When I first started writing raps I was influenced by the wrong artists. After maturing and becoming more socially conscious, the content of my music has changed. I want people to be able to rock to my music, but I want the substance to be recognized as well.”

Adinah has worked with a number of rising artists and producers on her mixtape, including the former Music Monday femcee Autumn LaBella. Kari says that the combination of LaBella’s voice and her flow helps to make her track “Lifeline” come to life.

If she could work with anyone, dead or alive, she would love to collaborate with Lauryn Hill, Rick Ross, and Miguel. Although she admires creative lyricist in the rap game, her first love is R&B/Soul. In fact, if she were to press play, Erykah Badu would be blasting through her headphones.

“I listen to more R&B than I do rap music, especially 90’s R&B,” Kari said.” If I was blessed with a good voice I would be pursuing a singing career. But those aren’t the cards I was dealt.”

Adinah doesn’t want fame. She just wants to do what she loves. She doesn’t want to be judged, but rather understood. Although, she is very excited to release her music to the world for the first time.

“Fame frightens me, but my love for my music conquers that fear, so I am excited for people to hear my music,” Kari said.

Be on the lookout for The Green Mile releasing very VERY soon. It’s going to be hot and it’s definitely not something you’d want to miss.

Adinah Kari is on Twitter and InstaGram so show her some love @Adinah_Kari. Follow Back!

Also, be sure to cop some UxU gear at www.uxudmv.com. Tis’ the season to be flyy. Make sure you follow us on InstaGram and Twitter as well @uxudmv.

Remember, being you is the best look. Maintain originality and NEVER conform.

Much Love.

-Snook <3

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TheeBlackMonroe Visit

Last week one of my favorite artists TheeBlackMonroe stopped by the UxU Lab to talk and catch us up on what she's been up to. She showed us the London Zhiloh collab tee with GOLD and I showed her our newest release for 420. I shot a quick video that you can see below.

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UxU Presents :: 4/20 Release 2013 :: Limited Edition Box Logo Tee

Well it's that time of year again. This year were bringing you a 4/20 Limited Edition of the Box Logo Tee. The Tee comes in Purple and White and is available at our Online Shop while supplies last. Gets yours now while you can! 

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Music Monday 4.15.13 District Dre

Good morning UxU fans. Here we are again with another riveting DMV artist, District Dre.

His current project, The Sixth Man, is a showcase of his skills. Lyricism and flow is what District Dre consistently provides for his fans. These skills are beyond the expertise of a normal rapper. You can tell that his craft has everything…he has that “it” factor. This mixtape is no joke and it shows a distinct skill level that many rappers have a hard time to grasp.

The Sixth Man refers to metaphorically getting off the bench and coming into the game with a complete hunger for success.

District Dre also has a body of work that shows his dedication to his music. He has three mixtapes: The Strategy, The Strategy Vol. 2, and The Strategy Vol. 3. His work ethic is relentless as he continues to grind on his craft and become one of the best in the DMV to make it in this hip hop game.

District Dre was greatly influenced by his relative and fellow rapper Young Fresh. His lyrical influence was based on rappers he grew up on such as Jay Z and Eminem. Currently, Drake and Big Sean can be heard booming through his headphones.

This DMV rapper takes his craftsmanship very serious. His flow is his own. You can tell that he has taken his time to mold his own sound and maintain originality.

"At the end of the day you need to sound like you’re not like everyone else. That's how you stay relevant," he said.

District Dre defines his style as versatile. From his “turnt up” flow over hype beats to his soul hitting messages on smooth beats. He can do it all. The song “Life” from his project The Strategy Vol. 3 displays those important messages on a seamless beat. He hopes that his current project The Sixth Man will finally increase his buzz. He wants to be able to continue blessing the streets with that much needed music.

His next mixtape is due to drop this summer. This on-edge anticipation is definitely what the people need this summer. The UxU team can't wait for it to drop. 

District Dre is on twitter @DistrictDre202 and on IG @DistrictDre. Also, subscribe to his YouTube channel: DistrictDreDC. Download his mixtape The Sixth Man other previous projects at datpiff.com.

Download Mixtape | Free Mixtapes Powered by DatPiff.com

Make sure you follow the team on Twitter and IG @uxudmv ASAP! Be sure to cop some gear for the spring season and be on the lookout for coming sales. You know you want it!

Remember: You are only unique if you stand out as individual... Why fit in? That's so boring. Be Uncontemporary.

-Sid J.

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Music Monday 4.8.13 Joey Phantom

Good morning UxU fans. We got another one!

This artist reps his New Orleans roots, but currently resides in the DMV. He goes by the name of Joey Phantom.  

His most recent project, I Am What I Am is a self-proclamation. He is a product of what he has endured, but that is not the end of his story. This album is a look into his life.

Phantom’s lyrics are honest and his entire flow emanates a cool vibe. The beats on his mixtape are definitely something to chill and ride to. His music is a direct reflection of who he has become and why.

“I’m really calm,” he said. “When you rap to calm beats, you can really hear yourself and you can really see things and put them into perspective.”

Phantom listens to more old school Hip Hop than anything else, and he appreciates the first heavyweights. He listens to a lot of Outkast, Biggie, Nas, Scarface, Jay-Z, and the list goes on. He even credits the late Soulja Slim as a direct influence to his style and flow. Although he does listen to A$AP, Ace Hood and a few others, old school is where he tends to float back to for inspiration.

“I’m a rapper,” Phantom said. “You can’t be out here listening to everybody’s songs because you don’t want to sound like them. I want to sound like one of those guys.”

Messages and the sound of Hip Hop are completely different nowadays. Phantom wants to bring back the old school vibe to Hip Hop. He believes that music now is completely different and doesn’t reflect the same passion and honesty from its beginnings. He wants to revamp it, but still maintain its authenticity.

“Music is twisting and turning,” he said. “It’s going everywhere. You gotta grab hold of it and pull some of it your way.”

Phantom defines his style as versatile, but he doesn’t want his music to reflect Gangsta Rap. He knows that all eyes are on him, and he wants to lead by example. Phantom believes that youth are a huge following in Hip Hop and he wants to help influence them positively.

“It’s all about your image,” he said. “You gotta get people to follow you and believe in you. All it is is influencing the youth, and you gotta influence them the right way. I have to show people that there’s more to life.”

He hopes that one day he’ll be able to give back to his community in a way that will help them prosper. Phantom says that “you can’t eat and watch everyone else starve.” It’s important to know where you came from and not leave those that helped you behind.

Here are some other things we asked Phantom:

Favorite track on his mixtape: “Hallucination”à make sure you check it out!!

Direct influence on his life currently: Jay-Z…admires his grind, come-up, and humble beginnings

Future collabs, dead or alive: Tupac, Biggie, and Soulja Slim

Currently listening to: Lil’ Wayne, Jay-Z, and Nas

His second project is in the works, so be on the lookout for it within the next few months. Phantom says that this one will be stronger and very different. His style changes often. Until then, download I Am What I Am on DatPiff.com sooner than later.

Download Mixtape | Free Mixtapes Powered by DatPiff.com

Joey Phantom is on Twitter and InstaGram, so go him some love ASAP @JoeyPhantom504. Also, go check out some of our other Music Monday artists and cop some gear at www.uxudmv.com. Follow us on Twitter and InstaGram @uxudmv.

‘Til next week, be unique and don’t settle for less. Be Uncontemporary.

-Snook <3

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UxU Presents :: C Pitt "Hold On" ft TeVoh Music Video :: Directed By Raza-Ry

Today were proud to bring you a new music video by one of our favorites artist C Pitt for his track with TeVoh titled "Hold On" 

Stay tuned for another video from C Pitt on the blog!

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Music Monday 4.1.13 Breeze

Happy Easter to all.

We have another great talented artist bursting through the hip hop scene, and he goes by the name Breeze.  Breeze is beyond a shadow of a doubt one of the craziest lyricists out right now. He is a junior at North Carolina A&T and a JOMC broadcast production major . Breeze’s future plans are to have and own a radio station.

He was first introduced to the music game by being around his older brother who had a successful music group growing up. He was always exposed to music, but he was in love with the sound of it. Breeze loved how he could express himself through the music and it quickly became a hobby.

His new mixtape, Money Making Mission, is hot and the plans for mixtape are self explanatory. Breeze wants the people to hear him for who he is, and the hunger he’s coming with. On his mixtape, he describes the everyday hustle of a young man on a mission to get paid and become successful. It’s about LOYALTY, and he does it for his family. His intentions are ultimately for people to hear the lyrical content in his music, not just the catchy beats and hooks. This project is all about Breeze revealing himself. He wants to make sure that the music he creates is something all people can relate to, especially those that are on a constant grind. Breeze has worked with Dee Money, Mets Inferno, Lee, and Ryan Hunt on this project, but the list goes on. He has incorporated some of Mets Inferno’s ideas on a few tracks on his mixtape. The music has a smooth flow with hard beats. Ya’ll definitely need to check him out!

As far as Hip Hop is concerned, Breeze believes that it is in a tough spot right now. It has gone too mainstream and the messages within the music are nowhere to be found.

“Hip Hop right now is a little shaky,” Breeze said. “It seems now that everybody is just in it for the money and not the actual music. It's just a lot of trendy rap out right now.”

Hopefully there’ll be some dope artists including Breeze that can shake the game up. Maybe even with his track “Better Days,” which happens to be his favorite song on his project right now. We asked why, but all Breeze could tell us was, “Listen to it and you'll see why." It does have a pretty good flow to it and the message is legit. I’ll let ya’ll be the judge of that.

Breeze has been compared to Mase, who also has that chill vibe,  nice flow, and crazy delivery .

"He had the street cred and ladies,” Breeze commented. “[Mase] reminds me of myself."

Breeze wants to create a name for himself in the music world. Fame isn’t the focus on his agenda, but he’ll take it if it comes. In the end, music is just something he loves and he does it to express himself. Everything else that comes with it is a bonus.

“The money is a plus, but I do it for the fans,” Breeze said. “They are the ones who will purchase your music.”

If Breeze could collaborate with anybody it would be with Kanye West. He sees him as a “musical genius.”. He would also want do some work with J. Cole since he supports North Carolina, and Drake. He thinks that Drake is one of the most talented artists out at the moment .He’s also been checking out a lot of new artists including Joey Badass, Young Scooter , and Future.

Be on the lookout for his future projects that will drop this summer. Follow him on Twitter and InstaGram @breeze919. While you’re at it, follow us on Twitter and InstaGram @uxudmv. Also check out our website for more Music Monday artists and to cop some UxU gear. Spring is officially here!

Remember UxU followers… be who you are, no matter what. That's truly dope.

-Sid J.

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