DJ UNK bounced onto the scene a year or so ago and wanted us to “Walk It Out” and “2 Step.” It seemed that you could not go to a club without hearing a DJ Unk track from his debut Beat’n Down Yo Block, whose main goal was to move the crowd. Just when we thought the crunk scene was ending, Unk is looking to revive it. Besides being an avid advisor on all things crunk, he is also a family man. With that being said, you will not hear DJ Unk describing scenes of shoot outs or pushing weight. Why? Unk is tired of seeing people fight in the club. Unk’s sophomore, Second Season, drops November 4th and here explains how one goes from being behind the wheels of steels to in front of the mic. Searching for the perfect balance, he promises that this album will still set the club off and keep the party going. Not to mention, keep the grown and sexy’s attention too. AllHipHop.com: For those who aren’t familiar with your background, why did you decide to get involved hands on with rap after being a DJ?DJ UNK: I always wanted to try something new. I had the honor of going out while I was DJ’ing for the first time with Yung One. He is one of Swizz Beat’z artists. I saw a lot of things on the road DJ’ing for him. Seeing how the whole artist thing works. The radio interviews, meetings and greetings. I was looking at my own lifestyle and how I wanted so much. The house, the cars, the clothe,. I wanted all of that. I knew I couldn’t get that s**t DJ’ing. So, I thought that when this tour was over I was going to try something new and this is what happened.
“When my homeboys Dem Franchize Bozs did their first single ‘Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It’ and it blew, I was like this is the movement right here. I did my homework seeing what was going on in clubs and I came up with ‘Walk It Out.’ It opened up doors for other artists like Souljah Boy.”
AllHipHop.com: Your music is fun. Why did you go in that direction with your music?UNK: I started DJ’ing at this club called Club Krucial and a lot of other clubs. We had the whole dance movement. I notice when I would put on a Young Jeezy record the club would respond. But when I would put on a dance record the club would really get off the chain. I didn’t want to talk about dope and saying I killed somebody. I’m not gonna win like that. When my homeboys Dem Franchize Bozs did their first single “Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It” and it blew, I was like this is the movement right here. I gotta get them crunk. I did my homework seeing what was going on in clubs and I came up with “Walk It Out.” It opened up doors for other artists like Souljah Boy. We were trying to make people smile. We got tired of seeing people fighting. I just wanted to bring that to the club.DJ Unk “Show Out” VideoAllHipHop.com: Your songs always have a dance theme to them. Do you develop the dances?UNK: The people who are in clubs do. They really don’t know what they are doing they are just having fun. You might go to the club and see everybody digging in their nose. So when the song comes on everybody is digging in their nose. Whatever they are feeling. AllHipHop.com: Hmmm. Tell me about the new single “Show Out.” UNK: It is my first single from my new album. I’m letting all my fans know that I’m back and we gonna show out. Unk about to get the club back.AllHipHop.com: Are you concerned about the sophomore jinx?UNK: Nah. I wasn’t nervous putting it together. That was the fun part. Making sure everything is right. There is no jinx or pressure. I went to the club when I wanted to record to get an idea. I know I got a good thing going because I have my city with me.
“We have to see what’s new in the club. The new slang, music. Other artists don’t work that way. They are in the studio all damn day, smoking their ass off trying to think of a song but can’t even get on the radio.”
AllHipHop.com: What was the most fun aspect of creating this album versus the most difficult?UNK: The fun part is, me as an artist, I don’t work like other artists. Sitting in the studio all day and all night trying to come up with some songs. I go out and go to clubs. I write lyrics to my songs on my SideKick. My ideas. We go out and have fun while we are working. We have to see what’s new in the club. The new slang, music. Other artists don’t work that way. They are in the studio all damn day, smoking their ass off trying to think of a song but can’t even get on the radio. So, it’s an honor and a blessing to work like this. The difficult part was making sure it was all right.AllHipHop.com: Have you approached this album differently from the first?UNK: That’s a part of my growth. I have grown and sexy on this album. I still keep it for the streets but it’s about growth.AllHipHop.com: You said you have grown and sexy, what else is different on this album?UNK: New sound, new chemistry. I didn’t get a chance to get into the other stuff on Beat’n Down Yo Block. When they heard “Walk It Out” they wanted more of that. I had other songs on the album that could have gotten love. This album here is incredible. There is a song on it for everybody. It is one of those where you can just put it in and ride to it. AllHipHop.com: Any guest appearances on the album?UNK: Three Six Mafia, Sean Kingston, Ray J, Ying Yang Twins. Second Season, you are gonna love it. I call it Obama and Unk.AllHipHop.com: Tell me something about you that your fans may not know.UNK: I’m a family man. When I’m not doing my thing or working I’m at home with my kids trying to make sure they are straight. I got three girls. This Unk’s house not Run’s House.AllHipHop.com: How do you balance your career with your girls?UNK: It makes me mad sometimes because I’m gone so much. But their mother is so incredible and she is on point. As long as she is on point I can stay on point. AllHipHop.com: Anything else you want to add?UNK: I have a song called “In Yo Face”. It is on the 2009 NBA video game [NBA 2K9]. The new album Second Season in stores November 4th.
