Dope Ass Conversations #8: $UIT
Or: NePh, Nigel, and Webbd
What definition comes to mind when you think of the word “vibe?”
The common phrase has often been used as an umbrella for a number of different things. In the most literal sense, it’s just a shortened version of vibrations. In a colloquial sense though, it is really just used to describe an innate intuition, energy, or aura. Historically, it actually gained popularity amongst jazz musicians upon the invention of the vibraphone in the 1920s, which was an instrument that played a critical role in jazz’s sound. By the 1960s, vibes became a common term for "instinctive feeling.” It was very common for jazz musicians to allude to their jam sessions are just them vibing, or playing freely with no restraint or intensive thinking. Just going with the flow of the musical notes vibrating in the air. This type of approach to playing music can be applied to life as well, thanks to the freewheeling legacy left behind by so many of the great jazz artists in history.
I say all of this to say that $UIT (pronounced dollar sign-U-I-T) are some real vibey ass motherfuckers. As a fellow Viber™, I have no choice but to respect it. I like to describe their sound as laid-back music in a similar vein as rappers like Curren$y, Mick Jenkins, and Larry June. Expect some real rapping over some smooth soul samples. Some music you can roll up, kick back, and relax to, which is my exact type of vibe personally. NePh’s project Pale Moon EP, which Nigel also features prominently on, has become one of my go-to’s since it dropped. I often throw it on YouTube from my Nintendo switch whenever I just wanna unwind to some tunes. It’s the perfect background soundtrack for when I’m smoking, writing, cooking, cleaning, whatever. It’s chill music for whenever I’m trying to have a chill time, which is all the time.
I had the chance to catch up with NePh and Nigel plus $UIT affiliate Webbd. And the conversation was about as vibey as expected. You can go ahead and read on below.
Who are NePh and Nigel? And then what is $UIT?
NePh: Never-ending Piece of Happiness. Never-ending Piece of happiness. NePh aka Nephaniel aka Southside Wavy aka I’m everybody type shit. But at the end of the day, I’m just me. That’s all I can say, I’m just me.
Nigel: Nigel is an oddity, a commodity, and you can say he’s like your neighborhood rapper, but I’m more than that. We’re $UIT. We’re a collective of creators that push the narrative and push the boundaries but still stick within the art medium if that makes sense.
NePH: We all about that 432 Frequency, if you know you know. But besides that, we try to keep calm. It’s like the old mans like back in the day. You know, that’s what we be on, some chill shit. At the same time, we gonna surprise you with some fake trap shit. Don’t get shocked if you get one of those “B*tch, you guessed it” tracks from us. You never know, we just full of surprises.
Nigel: A lot of the time I spend listening to stuff, I’m chilling. So when it comes to me making stuff, it’s a lot of chilling stuff that’s going on. But like he said, there’s gonna be a lot of stuff that’s coming out. Different sounds. It’s like what we say, push the sound, but still stay in that medium. There’s a level of standard that you’re going to get with us.
Y'all are definitely some cannabis aficionados such as myself. So I have to ask, what's your favorite strains? And do you prefer blunts or papers?
Nigel: I smoke. I like papers. I don't mind woods, I prefer them. I don't do cigarillos, but yeah, I'm with all the weed smoke. I mean, at some point gonna start smoking papers. When I get a million dollars.
NePH: Yeah, I'm already smoking papers, he’s tripping. I might start smoking tobacco this year, to be honest, that's how we movin’. And I’m smokin’ Moneybag runtz, that's one of my favorite strains. London pound cake, you know, I love the classic shit that came out within the last five years. What else? I mean, you can't ever go wrong with Cookies shit. Prickly Pear gotta get thrown that in there.
I’ve had Prickly Pear before, it’s definitely gas.
NePh: Exactly. You know, Z-A, that's all we do, that exotic smoke. We like Mobb Deep meets Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y that's all I could say.
Nigel: With some Nirvana and Frank Ocean. [laughs]
How long have you been making music?
Nigel: Too long! That's my answer every time. You can say we OGs in this, but I'm gonna say we still kinda new to the scene at the same time, but we've been making music for a long time. This ain’t nothing new.
NePH: The formula is kinda effortless at this point. So that's why the music, when comes down to it, people are so shocked at how good it is. But we've been doing this for a second, so this a rebranding.
What's next? Are y’all working on a project?
Nigel: The Compilation is the thing that’s next.
NePh: We’re dropping an album called “Shift in Time,” if not “Time Shifting.” We don’t know it yet, it’s a working title. It’s almost done, and when I tell you that shit is different. It's probably one of the best things we'll ever put out. So yeah, definitely want to say that.
You mentioned the 432 frequency. I know what that is. But for the people who don’t know, it's important to educate the people. So what is the 432 frequency?
Nigel: There's more frequencies than that, but the 432 is specifically, from what I know, is the natural sound of Earth, the natural element of sound. And it's just more relaxing, you can say upbeat but it’s not upbeat. It's different. It's not the typical Apple music that you listen. Its definitely very different.
Webbd: Most commercial music is recorded at 440 hz. That's what the standard A-440 is tuned to and that's what most commercial music is based off of. I could be wrong about this, so don't quote me, but I think all the old like Mariah Carey and those old R&B shorties were recording at 432 I think it started like that,
NePH: Webbd also just dropped a fucking project too. Yo, Webbd is super fucking talented. Give him his flowers. He's also a strong $UIT affiliate, associate or whatever you want to call it. This the gang, this brother.
I feel like y’all emphasize rest and relaxation, not just in your music, but just in this conversation. Why is that so important? Especially, you know, living in this capitalist ass, grind-till-you-die society.
Webbd: Fuck the gatekeepers, bro!
NePh: Yeah, fuck gatekeepers bro come on, bro. Let's spread that knowledge. Let the people know also, I didn't get to talk on the 432, shout out to 639 to anybody who need that love. 852 is good for energy. 639 is good for that love. But besides that, like I said, keep it calm bro. Sure, you only hear a lot of murder, bang-bang-bang type shit on the radio, and there ain’t nothing wrong with that, but at the same time—
Nigel: Most people are chilling. Most people are chilling.
NePh: That shit is oversaturated, yes. Majority of the time you're not doing shit until you wanna party. So we chillin' 80% of the time, 20% to party.
How are y’all chilling? What does self-care look like?
Webbd: Showers, bro. Skincare, man. Shoutout lush!
Nigel: Read a book. Take your phone down. That's the biggest self-care for me. Put your phone down for like maybe a day or something. Just do everything else Web said.
Neph: Practice on your craft, have fun, smile more. be happy.
Webbd: It's all about letting everyone make music. I am a strong believer that there's no such thing as bad music because there's literally a market for every fucking kind of music. There's a market for everything. And I hate it when people are like, “Oh no, that's just shit sucks, that shit sucks.” There's no room for that and making good music. I think the love will prevail. I think no matter what if you have a great attitude about music and art and yourself, then success is going to happen no matter what.
Y’all got any last words?
Nigel: follow me @themansNigel
NePh: I'm coming in like Mike this year. I got about three projects dropping just to let y'all know, so it is what it is.
Webbd: $-U-I-T is the next level. Level up, c’mon let’s go!
You can support and follow NePh @southsidewavy , Nigel @themansnigel and Webbd @_webbd_ on IG. Be sure to catch them performing this Friday at Cole’s Bar for Divine Timing. Tix are $13
