Uniq – The Definition

Outside of a few successful MCs like Kanye West, Snoop Dogg and Jay-Z, the South has dominated mainstream Hip Hop music for quite some time now. The popularity of this particular style can be attributed to the club-friendly beats, infectious choruses and charismatic personalities of the rappers from this particular region of the country. On The Definition, Uniq (a rising star from the Dirty) is on a quest for greatness by bringing the often-overlooked quality of heady lyricism back to the Hip Hop table.

On this particular album, the rapper seems more than willing and eager for a taste of super stardom, providing his listeners with a healthy dose of radio-friendly club anthems and thugged-out slow jams. Nevertheless, when the MC is at his most brutally honest, he lets his East Coast roots show, making his complex lyrical style at odds with his feverish desire for success as a bonafied Southern Rap star.

When Uniq decides to tailor his NY-influenced raps to sound more like the laid-back, simplistic offerings of his down south peers, he loses his lyrical edge and the songs ultimately lose their balance. For example, “Fire” is a glaring misstep on the album, a sloppy nod to bounce that feels half-hearted and awkward. He actually begins the track with a warning, as if the MC were trying his best to convince his fans (and mostly, himself) that the song is worthy of being heard. “Back on the Block” is a track with plenty of potential but the chorus seems forgettable and unrefined, considering the rhythmic intricacies of Uniq‘s fluid verses.

Furthermore, the depth of his intense lyrical abilities is where he truly shines as a noteworthy Hip Hop artist, regardless of his Down South affiliation and the mainstream viability of his more radio-friendly songs. “For All You Do” is a sincere dedication for his mother and showcases Uniq‘s poetic ability to paint vivid pictures with honest appraisal. “Outro” is another stellar example of where the rapper really shows off his truly creative side, discussing America’s corrupt political system with earnest passion and lucid complexity rarely heard in Southern music. Other tracks worth listening to include “Play the Wall,” an uplifting anthem that that favorably showcases Uniq‘s clever wordplay and “Johnny 2 Bad”, a lyrical nod to the rapper’s Jamaican roots and unmistakable East Coast upbringing.

On The Definition, Uniq takes his stab at mainstream success with this new collection of songs. The MC combines the tried-and-true formula of club beats and thug treats along with deft lyrical wizardry most often attributed to East Coast rhyme sayers. Even though there are a few miscalculations on the album, especially when Uniq decides to forgo his unique rapping abilities for the sake of fitting in, his latest offering is more than enough evidence that this lyricist is worthy of respect and admiration – no matter where he is from and where his influence comes from.