The following question is posed to every artist with a hugely successful first release:  can you keep the hype?  For Atlanta's Unk, it is time to answer that question 2 years after he created a mega buzz for himself with two monster singles, "Walk it Out," and "2 Step."  While the haters may want to pigeonhole him as a one-hit wonder "ringtone" artist, Unk is confident that his album is the step forward he needs to seriously solidify himself as a major player in the game.  It's a lot of pressure and one he seems to have channeled into his sophomore release, Second Season.

Sixshot spoke with Unk about sophomore jitters, his connection to Chilli [TLC], getting disrespected as a DJ, his fight in an airport, taking anger management classes, and more. 

Sixshot.com:  Do you feel any sort of jitters with this being your second release?

Unk:  I put all my pressure into my album and that was the fun part of making this album.  I traveled all over the world and I seen a lot of stuff.  I seen people party, I went to Japan, I did a tour in Italy, Germany, the U.S., and in Greece.  So I put all that into this album.  The pressure is always gonna be there but I took it out on the album in making more good music.  That's why I call it Secon d Season.  I done did a lot and I love when people party.

Sixshot.com:  What did you learn from traveling and experiencing new cultures?

Unk:  I learned that overseas with the fans it's a whole different world overseas.  I hit Germany and Japan.  I've been around people who don't even speak English but they know your songs from the whole album, not only that but they really, really appreciate music.  They be on the internet looking and searching for what's hot about you and it's all about a connection.

Sixshot.com:  Despite having two hits many people still perceive you as a one-hit wonder.  Does that bother you at all?

Unk:  No, not at all.  I had two songs.  "Walk it Out" did what it did and it was number one for 4 weeks in a row on all urban charts.  I had "2 Step," which hit number 10 on the charts.  So I did two jump out records coming from somebody you never heard of and that's a great thing.  My fans keep me grinding and they want more of me.  We just shot the video for "Show Out," so look out for that.  It's going down, man!

Sixshot.com:  I know that on the video shoot Chilli and her son Tron were there.  How did you two connect?

Unk:  Chilli is cool peeps and came out and supported.  Her son is an incredible bright kid.  He had to bring the moves to the video shoot cause the song's called "Show Out."  So that was a good thing cause Tron and I was showing out and you know Chilli does her thing.

Sixshot.com:  So you and Chilli were friends before the video shoot?

Unk:  We been friends.  Like I said we been working.  Now I think she's up under Koch Records or she got something big coming up, but it's going down.

Sixshot.com:  So is it just friendship between you two?

Unk:  Yeah, just friendship man.  It's all work.  [Laughs]

Sixshot.com:  You said she might sign with Koch?

Unk:  Yeah.  They got a lot of things coming up.  Chilli does a lot.

Sixshot.com:  With this release are you trying to get out of the whole crunk/snap category and expand beyond that?

Unk:  I mean I ain't never gonna try to get out of the category cause that's my lane and that's how I came here.  If I didn't do that you probably would never heard of me.  I'm gonna keep that going and expand.  I got my ear to the streets with new sounds, songs, and new ideas.  So we gonna crank it up for the Second Season.

Sixshot.com:  You spoken out before about a lack of respect for DJ's.  What do you take issue with most?

Unk:  For one, DJ's is the party and it's not a party without a DJ.  I learned from DJ'ing and dealing with different artists—underground and famous.  I felt there was a lack of respect for DJ's.  It's all about how you approach a DJ, network with the DJ, and make the DJ comfortable to even take your music.  So if you got somebody that's playing your music and you can't talk to them right it's too much pressure.  I feel DJ's are supposed to breathe.  There's a way to talk and communicate with everybody.  Like major artists come in and try to go hard on the DJ and tell them to play this, play that, and play this.

Sixshot.com:  What's the most disrespectful experience you had as a DJ?

Unk:  I had an altercation at Club Krucial when they first opened up.  I had the honor of DJ'ing and opening the club for T.I.  There was an incident where the artist was disrespecting me like I wasn't supporting him and playing his music.  He had one of those songs with 8 people on the song and he went to cussing and all that.  He came in the DJ booth hollering and I had to put the hands on him.  I ain't wanted to be the one that get into a fight in the clubs but it was that time.  I'm sorry for how I reacted but I don't like dealing with that type of person.  I know all DJ's all over feel the same way.

Sixshot.com:  What's the name of the artist that mistreated you as a DJ?

Unk:  I forgot the guy's name.  He's some local joker.  If I see him now I might put him on.  [Laughs]

Sixshot.com:  You started out young in 1998 spinning records.  What have you learned in the game so far that has stuck with you?

Unk:  I'm just wiser and wiser.  I'm learning the business more and learning how to network.  I love networking, meeting and greeting—not only with the fans but with the people.  I love music.

Sixhot.com:  What rules have you learned about networking?

Unk:  I mean just always be patient and be calm.  Everything happens for a reason.  It's a respect thing and it's not no territory thing like somebody trying to take somebody's spot.  It's about helping—helping the next person.

Sixshot.com:  Recently Ice-T lashed out at your friend, Soulja Boy.  What was your take on that whole beef

Unk:  I think it's crazy that this man said all that crazy stuff about Soulja Boy.  That's my homeboy and not only that but the kid is incredible.  He came and made one song and it took a whole effect in the world and changed his whole life.  Now he's doing what he's doing.  So for somebody like Ice-T to say stuff like what he said when he did the same thing when he came up—we seen him in the movie breaking with the tight leather pants and the spikes and all that s***.  So that's where we learned it from.  For him to say stuff like that—it's a new generation and new creations.  Shout out to Soulja Boy and Ice-T too but he need to calm down with that s***.

Sixshot.com:  Of course he was wrong for how he expressed himself.  However, many people agree with the underlying message he had regarding how there's an imbalance in today's mainstream music and that not enough of the conscious or lyric driven rap is given play.  Do you think there is something to be said about the lack of balance in today's mainstream music?

Unk:  I don't think anything's out of balance.  It's about different generations.  It went from break dancing to gangsta rap.  You got all categories and its different seasons.  Its the younger generation now that's taking over music.  I think a lot of people mad cause they getting old right now as far as their music.  I remember a lot of people saying that Atlanta and the south took over BET and the radio and the charts.  All we doing is working man and making good music.  That's how we do.

Sixshot.com:  Based off the single "Show Out," what do you like to showoff the most besides your musical skills?

Unk:  Me as a good person.  I'm a good person.  I love to have fun, to meet and greet, and mingle.  I love music and I love what I do.  So me coming back from my first album I did this song for the fans.  I wanted to let them know that okay we about to do this again.

Sixshot.com:  How have you changed and grown over the past couple of years?

Unk:  I grown up a lot.  I had to take anger management.  I had got into a couple situations but I'm out of that.  It's all good—

Sixshot.com:  What kind of situations led to the anger management classes?

Unk:  I got into an altercation at the airport with an African, or should I say like a real African like from Africa.  He's a cab driver and it was a big misunderstanding.  I got pepper sprayed and all this type of stuff.

Sixshot.com:  What was the misunderstanding over?

Unk:  He thought I ran out on a taxi cab.

Sixshot.com:  Without paying?

Unk:  Yeah he thought I ran out on a $15 tab on a cab and I had $200 on my pocket.  I told him I was going to rent a car.  I said soon he pulled up, "Keep it running cause I got to come back out.  All I'm doing is going to show them my I.D. and my credit card to get my papers and rent a car."  He said he was cool with that but I knew he couldn't really—you know how them Africans be talking like, "Okay, okay.  I know, I know."  They just going along with the s*** so he misunderstood that.  So when I got out and told him leave the meter running I started running inside the airport.  I was trying to hurry up so I could not go over the tab.  He ran in the airport and was like, "You need to give me more money."  I said, "I told you to leave the meter running.  I got to come back out.  I'm just showing these people my I.D. and my card so I can get in my car."  He started grabbing on me and whoooo; I had to put them hands on him.  It got messed up cause we was in the airport and we got the charges.  It's all good.

Sixshot.com:  So you were in jail?

Unk:  Yeah, and that was the day of the "2 Step," video shoot.  I had to get there at 8 that morning and I got out of jail at 6:15pm.  I was pepper sprayed and untreated.  They ain't put no water in my eyes or nothing.  I came out with "2 Step," for the video shoot and it was successful.

Sixshot.com:  Did the anger management classes help you?

Unk:  Yeah it helped a whole lot.  I got three little girls that I'm raising which I love and it's just taken a toll on life.  You got to think before you do stuff.  There's ways to handle different situations.  I think that's a good thing.  I took the time out to even listen. I put that in the past and you can't do nothing but move forward.

Sixshot.com:  Was anger an issue for you before then?

Unk:  Yeah, you might see me smile a lot but in certain situations when I feel it's wrong or I feel disrespected or violated--

Sixshot.com:  Does that stem from your childhood?

Unk:  It probably played a little role.

Sixshot.com:  In what way?

Unk:  I don't want to go into it that deep but it's all good.

Sixshot.com:  Okay, well, thank you for the time.

Unk:  I appreciate it.

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