Rhythmplaza.com: Where are you all originally from?
OUO: when we say O.U.O which stands for several things, mainly Of Unknown Origin or Official Universal Original we mean it.  Doom and Kev are from the DC Metro area/tri-state, specifically, Doom resides out in VA and Kev strange the beat provider and honorary member is outta MD. Pep, the other one of the emcees hails outta Philly,

Rhythmplaza.com:  When and why did you start using the name OUO?
OUO:We've been O.U.O for like 6 or 7 years now but we just started on the grind as a focused unit since around 1999.

Rhythmplaza.com:  Who was inspirational to you when you were coming up?
OUO: Eric B and Rakim, PE from the days of way back, then groups like Organized Konfusion, Tribe.  Back when hip-hop heads were serious about beats and rhymes and not just coming to the table with the flavor of the week - and i do mean weak.

Rhythmplaza.com: When did you first get into the music game? 
OUO: Doom and Pep have been crafting songs along with Doom's brother  for a long damn time, I mean, cats been in hip-hop since the mid-eighties when they were a breakdance crew, Masterforce and have just kept it moving since. There is a pretty long and intricate history behind the group but that's the abridged version.  As far as official O.U.O releases though, we dropped our first project under the moniker O.U.O in 2000.  Prior to that I had done some work with Hollywood Basic Records out west and worked a short stint at BMI, in New York so I got to see a whole different side of the business.

Rhythmplaza.com:  When did you get your first opportunity to showcase your talent?
OUO: It's hard to remember b/c we've been performing non-stop on many different levels for years but I think personally I rocked a couple talent shows while I was in college at Virginia Tech and as a group we kinda honed our talents at various NYC events early on like a showcase Bobbitto used to do at the Nyorican Poets Cafe and this scene called Elevated that my brother used to put on.  In DC I have always loved Bar Nun b/c its just a warm and progressive environment and I frequently use it as a sounding board for new rhymes and concepts that I create.

Rhythmplaza.com: What does rap music mean to you? Where is it headed?
OUO:  hip-hop has been a part of my life for so long that now its just a part of who i am. Pharoah Monch dropped this gem on me once, he said prophets that lived 1000s of years ago could only speak to people in their immediate vicinity.  Now with music, an artist has the opportunity to reach 100s of thousands if not millions of people all around the world. Knowing that, how are you gonna get on the mic and spit some bullshit.  I think people need to realize that if you come to the table with some garbage you might fool the mainstream for a short while but in the words of Craig Mack, 'you won't be around next year. Heads should really take rapping as something that should last for years and years. I mean Paul McCartney still making records after all these years. How many rappers are gonna make more than 2 or 3 albums before they fall off. Yeah you have a few cats that have been rocking hits since way back, KRS, LL, Rakim, Dre, etc, but there's a lot more that end up on the back of that XXL milk carton.  The industry don't really care, they're about making quick cash no matter what that does to your career.

Rhythmplaza.com:  What’s up with the new album?
OUO: We're real close to finishing up what is turning out to be an epic record. There are so many dimensions to the album and I just can't wait for people to hear it. We have some straight up rhyme spitting songs, some elevated stuff on there, some gully hardcore type tracks, and a bunch of club bangers. Through it all though, we're saying something though and the beats are critical. Since it's officially our debut as O.U.O, we're considering just calling it that O.U.O - OF UNKNOWN ORIGINAL, but at any rate we're gonna drop that piece in April.  We're working on some last minute collaborations with some DC area artists to add some flavor and we're in discussions with a few distributors and indies to try get it to a larger and broader audience when we do drop it.

Rhythmplaza.com:  What do you like to do when you are not rapping?
OUO: I'm into writing and do some freelance record reviews and interviews for a few music publications.  I also like to feed my mind with reading and I'm currently reading some interesting eastern philosophy.

Rhythmplaza.com: What projects are you currently working on?
OUO: We're releasing an independent 4 song, 12 inch though for all the DJs and college stations to have vinyl to set the stage for the full CD. That will drop in mid-March - it is at the presses as we speak.  I'm solidifying my marketing plan for that b/c i definitely want to make sure that O.U.O is gonna blow.  We have songs slated to appear on a couple upcoming compilations, one with One Drop/BSI Records, one with Day by Day Entertainment and a couple other  things in the pipeline.  Once O.U.O drops, we're gonna be putting out the Kev Strange solo album and this group called The Last 8th out of Richmond, VA.

Rhythmplaza.com:  What does music mean to you?
OUO: Music should come from the soul and when it does, there's no force like it on the planet.

Rhythmplaza.com:  How long have you seriously been involved in the music industry? 
OUO: I think i first worked on a music related project within the  industry in around 1994.

Rhythmplaza.com: What advice would you give to some of the up and coming rap artists in the DC area?
OUO: come with something new, ATL got on the map b/c they had their own sound, DC won't ever blow up if we keep copying all these other heads. We have our own style and slang, etc and we can keep it gully on our own terms. Also if we all support each other it will make it easier and a lot better for all of us.  support each others cds, shows, all of that.

Rhythmplaza.com: Tell us about the new project that you have out?
OUO: INFO PROVIDED ABOVE REGARDING THE NEW ALBUM.  SET TO DROP IN APRIL

Rhythmplaza.com:  Who would you like to leave a shout out too?
OUO: big shout to NCP, and my people's over at DChiphop.com. shout to my brother Akim the Funkbuddha, Pep, JTA, last 8th and kev strange aka Oktober Redd. shout to DJ Jabbajaw and VMR graphics for holding us down with the ill graphics for the cd cover. ONE

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