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IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME...Sorry for the lack of updates, the kid has been crazy busy, working on new music and all that good stuff. The Motion Man album is about 3/4 done. We are looking to finish it over the summer, and unleash in late 2008. Look for another digi-single dropping in September. The next Unagi full-length Reinventing The Eel is in the works. I'm taking my time with it, but right now we are shooting for a Spring 2009 release. This record is gonna be crazy. There are also has some unreleased beats featured on the new DVD Import Models Exposed from the homies over at 360 Video. You can order it here or watch the video trailer.
Check out the latest Unagi press...one from instrumental head blog Strictly Beats: "Unagi has your regular Hip Hop style, his shit is DOPE. You can definitely tell that homeboy is sitting on a SHITLOAD of samples, because every track is laced with all kinds of crazy shit. I recommend Unagi to everybody, he's got a dope sound, really layered beats with alot of character." And another from SF indie record spot Aquarius Records: "Over the course of three solid albums, the Bay Area's Unagi has blended traditional hip hop with the smooothest love-you-down r&b and soul. On his latest release, he's joined by Memphis based MC Infinito 2017. Combined, their sound is super loose and laidback (especially on the mildly chaotic track "On Air Takeover"), but exceedingly 'up' vibe-y. Seven tracks addin' up to 17 minutes of good times!" More updates coming soon, expect some new music & live videos up this summer... UNAGI DJING AT ARGUS LOUNGE SATURDAY JAN 1910pm to 2am, party rap records all night, no cover, cheap drinks.Address is 3187 Mission st. (@ Valencia) next to the gun shop. Come thru if you can!  UNAGI & FRIENDS LIVE IN CONCERT ONE NIGHT ONLYPerformances from Melina Jones, Infinito 2017, Ise Lyfe, Kero One, Nate Krooks, Unagi, and DJ Animal.Thursday Nov. 29th + $5 Cover $2 Drafts + Madrone Lounge + 500 Divisidero @ Fell + San Francisco Show starts at 9pm DON'T MISS IT  NEW DIGITAL SINGLE "POURING YOU MO CHAMPAGNE" WITH MOTION MANThe wait is over! Check out the lead single from Motion Man's forthcoming album Adult Situations
Produced by Unagi and Jethroe, this 2 song digital single will be available for purchase online in late November ****************************************************************************************** READ THE LATEST REVIEW FOR "YOU AND EYE""I love what Unagi does. The California beatmaker stitches soul samples and all manner of groovy bits into fine sonic tapestries...For You & Eye, Unagi enlists Chicago, Illinois emcee Infinito 2017 (Marcellous Lovelace) to do the lyrical honors ...Infinito breathes fire over this 7-track collaboration, with a barrage of flows that surprise like freestyles but cohere like spoken word. His stream of social consciousness connects nicely with Unagi's curling basslines, soaring horns, and hard knock beats, as well as Unagi's knack for tempo changes that would buck the average emcee with the force of a mechanical bull."-- PopMatters UNAGI FEATURED IN THICK MAGAZINE "PRODUCER ISSUE"Be sure to check out THICK magazine issue 66 for an article about Unagi. They're the longest running hip-hop publication in Canada.****************************************************************************************** UNAGI RECORDING WITH MOTION MAN & JETHROEUnagi is grinding in the lab, recording the future classic "Adult Situations" with Motion Man and Jethroe. The album is almost halfway done, and is nothing but hits. The lead single "Pouring You Mo Champagne" will be released on all digital music sites in November. ****************************************************************************************** WATCH THE VIDEO FOR "USE YOUR MIND RIGHT"****************************************************************************************** NEW EP WITH INFINITO 2017 "YOU AND EYE" NOW AVAILABLE!!! After collaborating on 2005's promo-only Live From San Fran, and again on the track "Expanded and Up to Date" off last year's It Came From Beneath The SFC, Bay Area beatmaker Unagi and Chi-town super-emcee Infinito 2017 have reunited for a brand new project, entitled YOU and EYE. The 7-song EP will be released on 442 Records in July of 2007, to be available on this site and through all online digital music stores. 1. Way Back Then (intro) 2. Game Winning Moment 3. Use Your Mind Right 4. On Air Takeover 5. Home For The Weekend 6. Leave Me Alone 7. A Day That Don't End "You and Eye" is now available for purchase at Dusty Groove America For retailers, CDs are also being distributed through Crosstalk ****************************************************************************************** PRESS CLIPS FOR "YOU AND EYE""Infinito 2017 is one deep brother. An accomplished solo artists in his own right, in the following cuts he teams with another fav of mine, Unagi...There's serious talent at work here. A grassroots journey in preach, poetics and soul, make this guy a definite add to your emerging talent collection." -- Fierce.com "This Bay Area cratedigger has our ears' attention over here....All seven tracks here have that feel good early '90's sound that Unagi has mastered." -- THICK magazine "Beat arranger Unagi and Chicago emcee Infinito 2017 once again join forces on this 7-song EP. Hip-hop that's political, socially conscious, and adverturous both in the lyrical format and Unagi's challenging compositions. Sweet samples that aren't always just heavy on the bass are looped with funky abandon. You can nod your head or shake your rump to the clever beats. While it's only 17 minutes long, "You and Eye" is powerful hip-hop that will change people's perspectives." -- Smother Magazine Also check out these interviews on HipHop-Elements.com: Unagi Infinito ****************************************************************************************** UNAGI MTV COMMERCIAL ON YOUTUBEUnagi provides the music for an MTV Urge television commercial that started airing nationwide in January. The song is "Stay Focused" featuring Linkletterz, from last year's album It Came From Beneath The SFC. ****************************************************************************************** UNAGI AND THE LADIESUnagi has several songs featured on 360 Video's new DVD "Girls of 360 Vol. 2 - Sexy Is Officially Back" It's quite tastefully done, not porn, just a bunch of hot models talking and looking fly with some unreleased beats in the mix. You can order it here ****************************************************************************************** NEW EP "UNAGI FOR LOVERS" NOW AVAILABLE!!!Unagi gets romantic on this valentine-themed collection of unrelentingly seductive love jams. Five brand new songs, limited edition collector's item, hand silkscreened cds, not sold in stores  Tracklisting: 1. Hello Girl 2. Afternoon Stroll 3. Let Me Talk To You (Remix feat. Masters of Illusion) 4. Can't Get Enough 5. Lookin For A Lady Purchase with a major credit card via PayPal, by hitting up the order page here ****************************************************************************************** PRESS CLIPS FOR "UNAGI FOR LOVERS"It's really easy to nod your head to...playing like an old school soundtrack to a summer's day... Unagi For Lovers sounds instantly vintage as the producer blends funk and soul samples with hip-hop sensibility, weaving a unique love story with his beats...Unagi For Lovers should be commended for its imaginative production. -- Okayplayer Unagi, California's resident sound wizard, strikes again. This time around, he's adding "matchmaker" to his already impressive title of "beatmaker". In his role as producer- turned-Cupid, Unagi's looking for a love connection, or at least looking to help us find one of our own. To do so, he's armed with five arrows composed of intricately layered samples and soul grooves...Earnest and sweet, like a walk through a flower garden with your significant other or gazing into your lover's eyes. -- Pop Matters ****************************************************************************************** TIS THE SEASONChristmas shopping online? Pick up some Unagi for the music lover in your life. You can order directly from 442 Records right here. Or you can go through Amazon, CDBaby, and Best Buy ****************************************************************************************** UNAGI'S THIRD ALBUM "IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SFC" IN STORES NOW 15 tracks of dope hip-hop featuring Motion Man, King Caesar Infinito 2017, Melina Jones, Kero One, Linkletterz, and DJ Animal It is also on all the major download sites; iTunes, Rhapsody, eMusic, etc. To order direct from 442 Records, hit up the order page for a safe and secure credit card purchase via PayPal For only $10, you get the new CD, free shipping, fast delivery, and the good karma that comes with supporting Unagi directly. ****************************************************************************************** PRESS CLIPS FOR "IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SFC"When Unagi's constructing his beats, he creates a distinctively west-coast vibe, usually seeking out old jazzy horns and dirty drums... Unagi is a pretty creative cat well versed in the art of digging. The samples are unrecognizable, and take on a life of their own within Unagi's work, a skill not many producers can truly master. -- Okayplayer.com Unagi's latest release, It Came From Beneath the SFC, continues to celebrate his uniqueness. His sound is deceptively intricate, building grooves out of loops from the '70s and '80s, and adding jazzy horns and pianos or up-to-date drums and percussion...All in all, Unagi's latest throws a delightful curveball from the norm. -- PopMatters.com The beats on SFC are still dizzying, and far fresher than most anything you'll hear in hip hop today. Eschewing the slickness that has shoved innovation aside in previous years, Unagi crafts his beats the old school way, with actual vinyl on actual turntables, sampling the best bits of unlikely grooves and reassembling them into his own seamless masterpieces. -- Being There Magazine A mixture of instrumental joints and other songs that feature a variety of emcees, Unagi's album is sure to get your head nodding as he brings a unique and laid back approach to beat making concentrating on mastering multiple sounds, instruments and tempos in crafting his pieces. It's the beats that one should really pay attention to as Unagi's instrumentals serve as his highlight moments. Unagi touches on a soulful side of production with a twist of disco and break beat splendor. -- Hip Hop Co-Op Japanese smoked eel is one of the tastiest sushi orders, and Unagi serves itself up accordingly with flair and fun. Bizarre but completely comfortable, this hyper instrumental album is filled with retro vibes and sounds from who-knows-how-many albums. The collage-like album loops in funny ways with a heavy beat...it's even majestic at times...thumbs up. -- Giant Robot (issue 43) Unagi is one hell of a beatmaker...The difference between him and the millions of underground and semi-major producers like him is all in how he does it. This guy really knows how to make proper loops and mix them with like sounds: a skill often overlooked in more image-based circles...More often than not, his beats are strong enough to carry the album by themselves...Unagi's definitely one to watch. --TinyMixTapes.com In an area--the Bay Area, that is--renowned for instrumental hip-hop, Unagi still stands a head above. The soundsmith's palette is rooted in the rich, extraterrestrial textures of '70s jazz, which he seamlessly merges with bumpy street beats and worldly wise verbiage. -- Download.com It's just a matter of time before one of SF's best kept hip-hop secrets becomes a household name. Unagi has proven to be one of the most consistent and challenging producers of forward-minded hip-hop, replete with nodsto the old skool. His latest offering split pretty evenly between warm instrumentals and guest MC tracks that all fit together perfectly as a totally coherent album with NO filler. If you found yourself a little underwhelmed with the latest offerings from Blackalicious and DJ Shadow this might be exactly the record you've been waiting for. -- Aquarius Records Named after some of my favorite types of sushi, Unagi is a hip-hop producer that has a keen ear for distinct loops and rhythms. He returns for his third album in as many years this time finding some incredible rappers from all the corners of America to punctuate Unagi's terrific instrumentals with vocal spittle of urban strife and uplifting lyrics. The backgrounds are peppered with '70's era funk and Motown sleazy synths. Unagi himself waxes poetic grabbing the mic on the romantic crush joint "Lost & Found". Raise 'em up high on this one. -- Smother Magazine While many underground producers choose to limit their palette to classic soul samples, Unagi draws from a variety of decades and genres... Unagi is at his best when reinterpreting this lovemaking music of the '80s, recycling its cheesy components into something fresh. Not content to rely on this strength, he continues to effectively run the gamut of source material, dipping into psychedelia, bossanova and more traditional soul samples. -- Dusted Magazine Unagi has a really progressive yet old-school sound, as I imagine a cat digging through crates of records, hour upon hour, determined to find the perfect fusion of hip-hop, jazz, funk, groove, soul and easy listening. What I really like about "It Came from Beneath the SFC" is that, despite having over 50% instrumental tracks, and the rest trading between a handful of talented yet diverse MCs, the album maintains a great sense of continuity while being able to tell a story with no words. It is a collage, so to speak, of different moods, styles and sounds, and every track brings something refreshing to the listener. -- HipHopLinguistics TO CONTACT UNAGI FOR CUSTOM BEATS, MUSIC LICENSING, BOOKING OR INTERVIEWS:unagi442@gmail.com |
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DISCOGRAPHY Albums:  You and Eye  Unagi For Lovers  It Came From Beneath The SFC  Keepin It Eel  Unagi Collabos:  INFINITO Live From San Fran Compilations:  Amoeba Music Vol. 4 (Hip Hop Slam)  Female Fun Presents... Sssence (Handcuts) [Japan only] Film & TV Soundtrack Work:  documentary film  Skate Maps TV show & DVD theme song  Play 360 import car DVD  Downshift import car DVD |