U-N-I: A Love Supreme

U-N-I is certainly an integral part of what’s goin’ on in the So Cal rap scene at this point. They don’t have a record deal and have, themselves, seemingly, created any hype that surrounds them. And after a few mix tapes over the last year or so – Before there was Love and Chicken and Waffles – the duo has secured enough of a rep as to have legions awaiting its newest release A Love Supreme.

Of course, the overt Coltrane check is present, but the doesn’t really have any bearing on the music within the downloadable zip file. It’s a curious choice for a title. There’s not a bop sample anywhere here and actually the production – provided by Ro Blvd – is pretty detached from U-N-I’s previous work. The duo, lyrically, also seems a bit less playful and includes a few more sing-song hooks.

In an interview posted today on the newly Okay Player affiliated 2DopeBoyz, Yo and Thurz discuss how the project came together and how the recording process was different than in the past. But most importantly they mention that the work that A Love Supreme represents is a conscious step away from the past.

A line from “Black Sky” pretty accurately describes this new approach: “Best of both worlds Jay-Z and R. Kel.” And while that may dismay some rap fans, some of this work comes off better than others. That track, with its slow beat and almost spoken verses is potentially the low point here. The production from this particular track, though, is pretty indicative of the rest of the disc. It’s all ‘80s synthesizers ala Thriller, which has worked in the past, but here, really comes off rather poorly.

That being said “The Grudge” ends up sitting pretty close to some solo efforts from Beans (Anti Pop Consortium). The beat is still tied to the synthesizer, but it seemingly portends some sort of evil goings on as these dudes criticize folks that carry their dogs around in bags.

“Pulp Fiction, Part One,” though, sounds as if it came from a previous mix tape. The drums come across as almost organic and the keyboard here is more bubbly and full than on other tracks. But of course, no group should be satisfied with rehashing previous efforts. And that’s really the point of all of this. As the duo considers why they don’t have time for college and how to get a few dollars, it becomes clear as to what U-N-I’s plan is.

As the rap world – in part – stagnates, this LA group works to cover as much ground as possible. And even with any complaints that might be levied here – or elsewhere – about the disconnect between A Love Supreme and U-N-I’s previous mix tapes, it would be rather difficult to explain this all away by figuring that these folks aren’t one hundred percent satisfied with anything that they’ve released as of yet. But if this represents a new sound for the duo, the next release will probably be as disconnected from this work as its even older mix tapes.