Fly in '09
By Travis Hoewischer |
|
Jerreau Smith strides across the dance floor, two Nike Air Max shoes moving in rhythm. It's the comfortable swagger you'd expect from he and his Fly Union counterparts, J Swifa (Jonathan Tribune) and Iye (Ivan Houpe).
The Columbus hip-hop whiz kids grew up a little in the last year - opening for Lupe Fiasco, Wale, and getting the backing of one of the most famous men living in Ohio.
Wouldn't you walk that way if you were one of LeBron James' favorite rappers?
While Fly U have spread their wings a bit in the last year, they're still maintaining their focus on Columbus by instituting two fan-friendly events that have increased the group's profile.
After performing an onslaught of shows leading up to this year, Iye said it was time to get creative. The result was Whudup Wednesday, the bi-weekly part-mixer, part club night at the Icon Bar, where the group spins tracks by Fly U and other local and national artists.
Jerreau, Iye, and J Swifa
Photos: Christopher Atwood
"We want people to know it's okay to party on a Wednesday," Jerreau said.
It was also a way to increase to group's credibility by decreasing their profile, according to Iye.
"We were doing so many shows, it was just redundant," he said. "This offers us a chance to mix it up and party with the people that we're making this music for."
And these days, Fly U is making music for an even bigger audience. The group recently signed a publishing deal as the flagship artist with Spring Hill, the record label under the umbrella of LeBron James' LRMR management firm.
Rubbing shoulders with one of the most famous athletes in the world - who counts himself among the group's fans - has still been surreal for three Columbus kids who have been rapping and making beats since the Cavs were Mark Price's team.
Iye says the group tries to walk the line between being the humble new kids on the block and acting like they've been there before.
"Where we're at now is elevated from where we were one or two years ago, but still, it's weird; it just makes you say, 'Wow,'" he said.
In the meantime, the group is still treating local fans to their work, releasing regular Value Packs, free-to-download EPs of new and previously unreleased material designed to rake in some new fly followers.
"We're just trying to stay relevant and give people a little taste," Iye said. "In the long run, it's always up to the people to decide what everyone's going to pay for."
Value Pack Nos. 1 and 2, the debut album Kill Fly U, and their mix tape, Close Doors, Open Windows are available at flyunion.wordpress.com.
Originally Published: September 1, 2009
