Vid Pick: UZOO – Double O Flow


UZOO is a crew that has steadily been taking over the Connecticut hip-hop scene over the past few years, and after taking a listen to their songs, it’s pretty obvious as to why.

With a Wu-Tang-like variety of styles, flows, and personalities – as well as roster size – each verse provides something different, making UZOO’s songs feel like a batting lineup where everyone is an all-star you can’t wait to see come up to the plate.

With UZOO having recently released a video for their single “Double O Flow,” I caught up with UZOO member Joey Batts – a Connecticut hip-hop legend in his own right – to find out more about the song, the video, and how such a diverse array of artists work so well together as a crew.

If “Double O Flow” is the first UZOO track someone hears, what makes it a perfect introduction to the crew?

I like the style of "Double O Flow.”

This is the first UZOO track produced by Hologram, and he brings a very unique style to the ZOO.

(When it comes to our production) Rudy, our main guy, comes from a strikingly different musical background. Alfredo is more of an old school sampling aficionado. Hologram, who is the producer of all Nu-Irth tracks (formerly Funk Gero), is just the master of this "style."

I think this track serves as an introduction to a bunch of lyrical rappers who enjoy working off of each other's energy. Sloth, Jaden, Criss, and, Ty do a marvelous job here.

How’d you come up with the concept for the video for “Double O Flow,” and how many trips to Spencer’s did you have to make for blacklights, and blacklight paint?

I have always wanted to do a blacklight video, and we wanted really bright colors in a fisheye lens, a la Busta Rhymes.

I went to Spencer's twice after asking Facebook for the best recommendation. My first time I purchased two broken light bulbs. Big ups to Spencer's.

Tell everyone about UZOO’s successful crowdfunding campaign, and the resultant album – The Youngest – that’s come from it.

We launched a Kickstarter campaign in the Spring of 2017 "needing" $6,000. We raised a little over $7,700.

Our friends, fans, and supporters really helped us make this album, and paid for some traveling expenses over the Summer, as well.

The Youngest was completed in August, and was released on September 19th.

How does a supergroup like UZOO exist without egos? How is it that you don’t have arguments over who’s on more tracks, who’s featured more prominently, etc.?

I think that UZOO exists, and works, while dealing with 10+ individual egos. I wouldn't say that we exist "without egos." That would be false. If anything, we have learned to work with one another, and we've figured out our strengths, and comfortability, within the group.

Some guys naturally want to work with others, and some are trying to push the envelop, and develop brand new ideas, and sounds.

We've never had arguments over who gets what beat/song, or verse.

We’ve always pushed one another to write better, and raise the energy, and most of the time, whoever gets to something first is the one who gets to drop a verse.

That rhymed. I didn't even plan it that way.

For more UZOO check them out at uzoocrew.com.

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